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Home , Early Nationalists, Pherozeshah Mehta

11 National Movement - The Early Phase

CHAPTER A 1885-1919

The National Movement in forms British rule and fight to end it. This was the an important epoch in history as it helped beginning of the national movement in Fig 11A.1 : to weld diverse people and sections of India. Meeting at Surat society into one nation. All sections came The seeds of new consciousness began together to not only fight against the British in the second half of the 19 th century. The rule but also to build a new country. educated Indians after studying the nature Early Associations of the British rule and its impact on India became more and more critical of the In Class VII you have read about the British policies in India. They began to get consciousness and a key feature of (INC) at Bombay in December 1885. It revolt of 1857 in which the soldiers, together and discuss these issues and also nationalism. In other words, they believed was presided over by W. C. Banerjee and ordinary peasants, artisans and landlords formed associations for this. In 1866, that the Indian people should be attended by 72 delegates from different and even princes joined the struggle against organized the “East India empowered to take decisions regarding the British rule. While the movement was parts of India. The early leaders – Dadabhai Association” in London to discuss the their affairs. Many of these intellectuals opposed to the British, it did not have any Nouroji, , Badruddin Indian question. During 1866 to 1885, also led campaigns against some British new vision of the country. It in fact wanted Tyabji, W. C. Banerjee, Surendranath various leaders like , policies like taxes on textiles, racial to restore the rule of the old kings and Banerjee, Ramesh Chandra Dutt, Justice M.G.. Ranade, , discrimination against Indians, repressive queens and also the same caste based S. Subramania Iyer, among others – were K. C. Telang and G Subramaniam organized laws against Indian newspapers etc. They society. largely from Bombay (), Madras associations in Calcutta, , Bombay and realised the importance of discussing the () and Calcutta (). With the growth of English education Madras to discuss the problems faced by policies of the government and organising A. O. Hume, a retired British official also during the late nineteenth century in some Indians in those provinces. These campaigns to change them. major cities like Calcutta, Madras and played an important role in establishing the associations had nationalistic zeal and tried Do you know of any association in Bombay a new consciousness began to Congress. The leaders of the Congress to unite intellectuals. Though many of your village or town which discusses develop. The intellectuals of the time realised that the foremost task before them these associations functioned in specific problems faced by all the people (not opposed to the inequalities and injustices parts of the country, their goals were stated was to build a nationalist consciousness just of one caste or community)? of the old social system. They wanted a as the goals of all the people of India, not among the diverse people of India and unite What do they discuss? What democratic political order and they wanted those of any one region, community or them. At the same time they realised that suggestions do they have for solving at the same time to point out the class. They worked with the idea that the this unity could be built only by exploitation and injustice caused by the those problems? Discuss some people should be sovereign – a modern accommodating the special requirements examples in the class. of different regions and religious The : The communities of India. They therefore Moderate Phase 1885-1905 decided to hold the Congress sessions in All these provincial nationalistic different parts of the country every year intellectuals came together in the first and not to pass any resolution which was session of the Indian National Congress objected to by any one religious group. Surendranath Banerjee G.K. Ghokale Dadabhai Naoroji Free distribution by A.P. Government 121 122 Political Systems and Governance National Movement - The Early Phase 1885-1919

urged the Government to introduce a The Moderate leaders reached out to number of reforms. They demanded a people in different parts of the country by greater voice for Indians in the government holding lectures, meetings and tours. They and in administration. believed that the British were committed They wanted the Imperial Legislative to freedom and justice and would accept Council to be made more representative, the demands when expressed properly. They given more power, and introduced in carried on their agitation through provinces where none existed. They newspapers, public lectures. They passed demanded that Indians be placed in high resolutions, led deputations to submit positions in the government. For this petitions to the government. In short, it purpose it called for civil service may be said, they adopted a policy of pray, examinations to be held in India as well, petition and protest. Often they were not not just in London. The demand for able to persuade the government to change, Indianisation of the administration was part but in the process formulated Indian opinion of a movement against racism, since most on important issues. This was very important jobs at the time were important for the future growth of Indian Fig 11A.2 : Delegates of the First Indian National Congress meeting, 1885 monopolised by the white Europeans. national movement. Leaders like Naoroji, R.C. Dutt and The second major objective of the early take up issues relating to social reform as Why did the believe Ranade studied the economic impact of the Congress was to create a common political it would divide the Indian people. Reform that the British were responsible for British Rule and concluded that the British platform or programme around which was to be carried on through different were draining India of her wealth through the poverty and famines in India? political workers in different parts of the forums. taxes and other means and leaving her country could gather and conduct their Why do you think the early In 1886, delegates to the Congress poorer and poorer. They drew attention to political activities, educating and nationalists did not want to numbering 436 were elected by different the problem of poverty and famines and mobilizing people on an all-India basis. This reestablish the rule of the old kings local organisations and groups indicating blamed it on the British policies of was to be accomplished by taking up those of India? Would it not have been its popularity in one year. Hereafter, the excessive land revenue, export of grains etc. grievances and fighting for those rights National Congress met every year in The Congress passed many resolutions on better than the British rule? which Indians had in common in relation December in different parts of the country. the salt tax, treatment of Indian labourers to the rulers. They studied the grievances Extremist Phase 1905 -1920 The number of delegates soon increased to abroad, and the sufferings of forest of people and wrote appeals to the (Swadeshi Movement) thousands. Its delegates were mostly dwellers caused by an interfering forest government and also used them to educate lawyers, journalists, traders, industrialists, administration. The early leaders were With the start of the Swadeshi the people about their political rights. teachers and landlords. There were very few convinced of the need for national Movement around 1903, the Indian national The third major objective was to women like Kadambari Ganguli who was industrial development to end poverty in movement took a major leap forward. promote democratic ideals and functioning the first woman graduate from Calcutta. India. However, the British rule was Women, students and a large section of the in India. The Indian National Congress Mostly men from higher social background standing in the way of development as they functioned democratically, discussing all attended these sessions. not only were draining the wealth of India urban and rural population of Bengal and issues and trying to evolve consensus or During the first 20 years, the Congress to England but also enabling cheap selling other parts of India became actively sometimes voting also. was led by the leaders who are known as of British goods in India and restraining involved in politics for the first time. One At this stage the INC decided not to Moderate Nationalists. The Moderates Indian crafts and industries.

Free distribution by A.P. Government 123 124 Political Systems and Governance National Movement - The Early Phase 1885-1919 major trigger for the movement was the cooperate with the government to run it and On the day of Partition of Bengal proposal for partitioning of Bengal into in this way undermine its position. The On 16 th October 1905, the day the partition of Bengal East and West Bengal in 1903 by Curzon. Swadeshi Movement gave tremendous went into effect, was observed in Bengal as a day of The Nationalists immediately saw this as a impetus to Indian industry. In fact mourning. Throughout Bengal, no cooking was done and political act by the government to divide beginnings were made in the manufacture shops and market places were closed. In Calcutta a hartal the Bengali people and also weaken the of Swadeshi salt, sugar, matches and other was declared, people took out processions and bathed in national movement. Even the ordinary products on a large-scale. The movement the Ganges in the morning and then paraded on the streets people of Bengal were enraged by this act gave a stimulus to P. C. Ray’s Bengal singing “Vande mataram” . People tied rakhis on each Bankimchandra Chatterji and took to streets to protest against it. Chemical Works, and encouraged other’s hands as a symbol of unity of the two halves of Bengal. Later in the day Ananda There were massive protests, petitions and Jamshedji Tata of Bombay to open his Mohan Bose and Surendranath Banerjee addressed two mass meetings attended by about 75,000 people. campaigns but they were not heeded to and famous Steel Plant in Bihar. The movement in 1915 when Tilak came back from his the government partitioned Bengal in 1905. also created tremendous demand for and eventually led to a split of the Congress in 1907 Surat session into two. The exile and joined hands with Several protest meetings were held and a indigenous goods. The textile industry of extremist leaders like Tilak were forced to to launch a movement for ‘Home Rule’. call was given for boycotting English cloth India, in particular received a great impetus leave the Congress. The two factions of the Congress united and salt. There was a tremendous mass from the Swadeshi movement. Soon the government came down again in 1916 through pact. response to this call. Boycott and public The Moderates and the Extremists heavily upon the extremists and the Imagine yourself as a student burning of foreign cloth, picketing of shops In the next Congress session (1905), activists of the movement. Most of participating in a burning of foreign selling foreign goods became common in the extremist Nationalists led by Tilak, the leaders like Tilak were imprisoned and cloth. Describe what all would have exiled. Gradually the movement petered remote corners of Bengal and in many and Lala Lajapat Rai were happened on that day and your in favour of extending the movement to the out. Many young Swarajists felt let down important towns and cities throughout the feelings at that time. country. Women refused to wear foreign rest of India and to demand for full fledged by these developments and began to turn freedom or ‘Swaraj’ . to terrorist attacks on unpopular British If authorities do not agree to the just bangles and use foreign utensils, gave the famous slogan, “Swaraj is my officials. They hoped to restrain the requests of people, what do you think washermen refused to wash foreign clothes birthright and I shall have it.” They wanted repression and oppression unleashed by the the people should do? and even priests declined offerings which to move away from the earlier strategy of British in this way. Even though they did The First World War : 1914–1919 contained foreign sugar. This spontaneous submitting petitions to government to not succeed and were caught and hanged or The First World War broke out in 1914 unity of diverse social groups is the basis mobilising the masses against the British imprisoned, they kept alive the spirit of with Britain, France, Russia on one side and of nationalism. The early nationalists were rule and forcing the British to give up and nationalism and the idea of making Germany and its allies on the other side. It successful in germinating it. go. They called the earlier strategy as supreme sacrifices for it. lasted for nearly five years till Germany ‘mendicancy’ (or begging for alms). The old The national movement revived again was finally defeated. This caused There was also a call for boycott of all leaders, called ‘Moderate nationalists’ government institutions like schools, wanted to continue on a more gradual pace colleges, courts etc. People set up of movement and felt that the masses were Swadeshi schools and colleges and parallel as yet not ready for a full scale movement courts in which they settled their mutual for freedom and self rule. The difference disputes. The idea was to refuse to between the two sections of leaders grew Lala Lajapati Rai B.G. Tilak Bipin Chandra Pal Annie Besant

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Krishna Patrika of Machilipatnam expected that the British will accept the Improve your learning Krishna Patrika was started in just demands for Machilipatnam in 1902. Mutnuri Krishna 1. Correct the false statements: democratic rule in Rao was one of the founders of the paper a. In the early phase of Indian National Congress it included only people India and bring in the and from 1902 was associated with it as from Bombay. constitutional reforms. its Sub-editor. In 1907 he became its However this was not b. Indian industrialist began to establish companies in different parts of India. editor and continued to serve the journal, to be and the British c. People in India expected that India will become democratic after the first world till he died in 1945. The Krishna Patrika introduced harsher war. carried on publicity for all the phases of laws. It was under these India’s struggle for freedom, like, the 2. Write an imaginary dialogue between the extremist and moderate activists of Indian Mutnuri Krishna Rao conditions when the Vandemataram movement, the Home-Rule movement, the Non- National congress in the context of their a) main demands; and b) mode of discontent of the Cooperation Movement, the Civil-disobedience Movement and the mobilisation. people was increasing Quit India Movement. The Krishna Patrika influenced not only 3. After reading this chapter Mariamma thinks early phase of national movement was and the British were the urban educated elite but also the rural masses. Both the magazine largely participated by educated Indians. And many of their ideas were of western getting more and its editor courted the wrath of the British rulers several times. origin. Will you agree with her? Give reasons. repressive that unprecedented human suffering and came back from South 4. Why was it important to understand the economic impact of British rule in India? destruction. As the war ended an era of Africa and joined the Indian freedom 5. What do you understand by swadeshi ? What were the major areas of its impact? revolutions started in Europe. A socialist movement. 6. How did different parts of the country and people respond to division of Bengal? revolution took place in Russia in which Find out more about the First World 7. Locate the following in India map: peasants, workers and soldiers led by War and its impact on the lives of communists deposed the Emperor and 1. Calcutta (Kolkata) 2. Madras (Chennai) 3. Bombay (Mumbai) 4. Lucknow ordinary people. abolished landlordism and private 8. Locate the following in the World map: ownership of land and factories. They also During that period there were 1. Britain 2. France 3. Russia 4. Germany massive movements of people who advocated equality among nations and 9. A few leaders like Gandhiji, Tilak, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh sacrified opposed the war and asked their freedom for all nations subjugated by their lives for the sake of our nation. colonial powers. In India, the war brought governments to cease fighting with What would have happened, if they did not do so? great suffering for the common people as other countries and restore peace. the British tried to raise funds and Do you think it was correct? Project: resources for the war by raising taxes, 1. Collect photos of national leaders who participated in freedom struggle and prepare exporting food and other necessities to the an album. Make a report on it and present in the class. armies. Key words This increased the discontent among 1. Sovereign 2. Racial discrimination the people against the British rule. As the 3. Resolution 4. Moderates news of the Russian Revolution spread, it 5. Petitions 6. Swadeshi too inspired people that unjust rulers can be got rid of and a society can be built with 7. Boycott 8. Picketing equality and justice for all. Everyone 9. Swaraj 10. Protest 11. Extremism

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