NATIONAL MOVEMENT IN INDIA

SUBJECT CODE : 18BPA66S

PREPARED BY : Dr.R.Anitha Guest lecturer

DEPARTMENT : PG and Research Department Of Public Administration

CONTACT NO : 9003500812

E Mail ID : [email protected]

Material prepared according to textbook and reference books given in the syllabus.

SYLLABUS BIRTH AND GROWTH OF INDIAN NATIONAL CONGERSS

BIRTH OF INC: 1. The movement for India’s independence began with the establishment of the ​ Indian National Congress in 1885.Before the birth of the National Congress, a ​ ​ number of organisations were formed.Allan Octavian Hume, a retired I.C.S. officer was instrumental in the formation of Indian National Congress. 2. On 1 March 1883, A.O. Hume addressed students of Calcutta University urging them to form an association for the mental, moral, social, and political regeneration of the people of India. 3. One of the main aims of Hume is facilitating the establishment of the National Congress to offer an outlet “a safety valve” to the rising popular dissatisfaction against the British rule. 4. The first session of the Indian National Congress at Bombay in December, 1885. It was presided over by Womesh Chandra Banerjee of Bengal and attended by 72 delegates. 5. In its early years, the INC was a moderate organisation and limited its means to constitutional methods and dialogue. Its demands were limited to including more Indians in the civil service and the armed forces. It never talked of independence. 6. After a few years, the party became more radical in its demands and approach. By 1905, there was a clear rift in the party which was now divided between old moderates and the newer group, the extremists – who were so called because of their radical methodologies. GROWTH OF INC: ​ The Growth of the Indian National Congress categorised into 2 phase 1.moderates phase 2.Extremist phase. Moderate phase:(1885-1905) 1. The leaders are Dadabhai Naoroji, M.G. Ranade, Sir P.M. Mehta, G.K. Gokhale, W.C. Banerjee & S.N. Banerjee. 2. They were staunch believers in liberalism and Moderate politics. 3. They came from the upper strata and were the product of western education. 4. The moderates had a fascination for British Parliamentary institutions. 5. They were reformers and believed in the British justice. 6. They have opinion against economic exploitation.Dadabhi Naoroji pointed out the root cause of India’s poverty & traced it to the drain of India’s wealth. 7. The Moderates suggested the development of modern industry as a remedy for the eradication of poverty. 8. They popularized the concept of swadeshi as a means of promoting Indian ​ ​ industri 9. Between 1885 and 1905, the Indian National Congress passed several resolutions in its annual sessions. 10. Through the resolutions, the humble demands made by Congress included civil rights, administrative, constitutional and economic policies. Extremist phase: (1905-1920) 1. The leaders are Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal; was known as the Extremist Congress. 2. They believed in radical programmes for the attainment of their demands. 3. According to the extremists the Moderates with their elitist background did not succeed in making any effective impact on the masses 4. They rejected prayer and petition method of moderates.They advocated stronger agitation and mass action. 5. They had deep faith in mass and they planned to achieve swaraj through mass action. 6. They advocated boycott of foreign goods, use of swadesi goods, national education and passive resistance. 7. They had no faith in good intentions of the British government. 8. The extremist aimed at achiveing ‘swaraj’ that meant complete independence from British rule. 9. The new leadership sought to create a passionate love for liberty, accompanied by a spirit of sacrifice and readyness to suffer for the cause of country. 10. Tilak remarked, ‘Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it’. The INC growth plays vital role in Indian national movement.

Aim of INC: 1. The first and foremost major objectives of INC was to promote the nation-building process in India. 2. Promotion of personal intimacy and friendship amongst the countrymen, ​ 3. Eradication of all possible prejudices relating to race, creed or provinces, 4. Consolidation of sentiments of national unity, 5. Recording of the opinions of educated classes on pressing problems of the day, and 6. Laying down lines for future course of action in public interest. 7. This organization initially fought for reforms in the country, and subsequently for the freedom of India from the foreign yoke. 8. To promote political liberal democracy and democratic culture in the country 9. To prepare and put forward the popular demand of Indian national congress before the government. 10. To create a common Pan-India political leadership (or the headquarters of the movement).

Indian Councils Act, 1892

The Indian Councils Act 1892 was an act of the British Parliament that increased the size of the legislative councils in India.

Overview of the Indian Councils Act, 1892:

● Indian Councils Act, 1892 - Introduced by Richard Assheton

● Territorial Extent Territories under the direct control of the British Crown

● Enacted by Parliament of the United Kingdom

● Royal Assent 20th June 1892

● Commenced 3rd February 1893

● Status Repealed by Government of India Act 1915

Indian Councils Act 1892:

● The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed in 1885. There was a growing feeling of nationalism and this led the INC to put forth some demands to the British authorities.

● One of their demands was the reform of the legislative councils.

● They also wanted the principle of the election instead of nomination.

● The INC also wanted the right to hold discussions on financial matters which hitherto not allowed.

● The Viceroy at the time Lord Dufferin set up a committee to look into the matter. But the Secretary of State did not agree to the plan of direct elections. He, however, agreed representation by way of indirect election.

Indian Councils Act 1892 Features: ● The act increased the number of additional or non-official members in the legislative councils as follows: ○ Central Legislative Council: 10 – 16 members ○ Bengal: 20 members ○ Madras: 20 members ○ Bombay: 8 members ○ Oudh: 15 members ○ North Western Province: 15

● In 1892, out of 24 members, only 5 were Indians.

Page 1 of 2 ● The members were given the right to ask questions on the budget (which was barred in the Indian Councils Act 1861) or matters of public interest but had to give notice of 6 days for it.

● They could not ask supplementary questions.

● The principle of representation was initiated through this act. The district boards,universities, municipalities, chambers of commerce and zamindars were authorised to recommend members to the provincial councils.

● The legislative councils were empowered to make new laws and repeal old laws with the permission of the Governor-General.

● It was the first step towards a representative form of government in modern India although there was nothing in it for the common man.

● The number of Indians was increased and this was a positive step.

● However, since the British conceded only a little, this act led indirectly to the rise of many revolutionary movements in India. Many leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak blamed Congress’s moderate policy of petitions and persuasions for a lack of positive developments and called for a more aggressive policy against British rule.

Page 2 of 2 SWADESHI MOVEMENT

Introduction:

 The swadeshi movement was started as a response to the partition decision taken by Lord Curzon. The reason given was administrative but the truth was actual reason was political. The British wanted to crush the national movement at its nerve center “Calcutta”. The partition would have divided Bengal and turned it into a minority and prop up Muslim communalists as an alternative to the congress.

 The formal proclamation of Swadeshi Movement was made on 7th August 1905 in a meeting held at the Calcutta Town Hall. In the meeting, the famous Boycott Resolution was passed.  The Congress Session of 1905- The session took place at Banaras. Gopal Krishna Gokhale took up Swadeshi call.  The Congress Session of 1906- The session took place at Calcutta under the presidentship of Dadabhai Naoroji. In this session, four resolutions on the Swadeshi, Boycott, National Education and Self-Government demands were passed.  It is to be noted that the two terms- Swadeshi and Boycott are complimentary. By the term Swadeshi, we mean adopting indigenous products. And by the term Boycott, we mean rejecting foreign made products.

Page 1 of 5 Protests against the Partition:

 When the partition proposals became public there was a furor of activity. 500 public meetings were held in east Bengal. Pamphlets were distributed, strong press support was seen, and numerous petitions were signed and sent to the British rulers.  Even the big zamindars, loyalist of the raj, turned towards congress. The moderate thinking and style of leadership was at its height i.e. petitioning, speeches, memorandums, public meetings and purpose was to turn public opinion in India and England against the British.  When the government was unmoved and went ahead with partition it became clear that moderate methods weren’t working. At numerous meeting held in small towns it was decided to boycott foreign cloth and swadeshi movement had started. Processions, hartals, protests, fasts were common. Bande Mataram became a cry for unity.  Women, who were traditionally home-centred, especially those of the urban middle classes, took active part in processions and picketing. From now onwards, they were to play a significant role in the national movementicketing. From now onwards, they were to play a significant role in the national movement

Impact of the movement:

Page 2 of 5  People from all walks of life participated in the movement with the greatest contribution coming from students and women.  It resulted in significant decline in the foreign imports during 1905-1908.  It led to building of self-reliance or Atma Shakti asserting on national dignity, honor and confidence.  The Swadeshi movement led the people to learn to challenge and disobey the British government explicitly without fearing the atrocities of the police and imprisonment.  Movement received wide coverage through newspapers and got attention at national level highlighting the true nature of british rule.  The movement however also set the undertones for communal disharmony by invoking religious sentiments, setting foundation for Muslim League.  Movement resulted in growth of extreme nationalism amongst youth which took to violence and wanted to bring an instant end to British dominance.  It forced British dispensation to offer some concession to Indians in forms of Morley-Minto reforms in 1909.  Most of all its concept of constructive swadeshi and boycott was actively used by Gandhi in later nationalist movements.

Aims of the Swadeshi and Boycott movements:  To secure the annulment of the partition of Bengal.  Passive resistance- to oppose the British colonial rule through violation of its unjust laws.

Page 3 of 5  Boycott of British goods such as Manchester cloth and the Liverpool salt and British institutions.  Development of indigenous alternatives, that is, swadeshi goods and national education.

Significance of Swadeshi:

 The movement made a major contribution in taking the idea of nationalism to many sections of the population.  It eroded the hegemony of colonial ideas and institutions.  The movement evolved several new methods and techniques of mass mobilization.  It led to the emergence of the capitalist class which funded the leaders of the national movement in coming years.  This legacy they bequeathed was one on which the later national movement was to draw heavily.

Failures of the movement:

 They weren’t able to garner support of mass Muslims especially Muslim peasantry. This was due to the British strategy of divide and rule. All India Muslim league was propped up as a competitor to the congress. The British used communalism to turn Muslims against the congress.  By 1908 the movement was a spent force. This was due to heavy handed repression by the government. The internal squabbles and the split within the congress also affected the movement.

Page 4 of 5 The entire leadership was imprisoned in one stroke making the movement leaderless.  It lacked an effective organization and a party structure.  Also the very nature of mass movements is that they can’t be endlessly sustained at the same pitch of militancy and self sacrifice.  Most of the upper and middle class Muslims stayed away or, led by Nawab Salimullah of Dacca, supported the partition on the plea that it would give them a Muslim-majority East Bengal.  To further government interests, the All India Muslim League was propped up in 1907 as an anti-Congress front and reactionary elements like Nawab Salimullah of Dacca were encouraged.

Page 5 of 5 SPLIT IN CONGRESS

The Surat Split:

The struggle between various trends within the nationalist articulation of freedom struggle was fought out, and culminated in the Surat split of December, 1907. Rash Behari Ghosh was the president of the Surat Congress session in 1907, although he was vehemently opposed by Tilak and his colleagues. Congress leaders split in to two groups i.e. moderates and extremists at the Surat in 1907. The Rift between these two sections became clearly visible at the Banaras Session of Congress (1905) when some nationalist-led by Tilak denounced the method of the moderates and suggested passive resistance. They also advocated the boycott of British goods and government institutions.

Causes of The Surat Split:

 Bengal partition of 1905 apparently enabled the Extremists to criticize the Moderate strategies and the partition further promoted the extremist ideology.  The Moderate method of constitutional agitation, expressed in three Ps (petition, prayer and protest), remained largely an academic exercise that seemed to have exhausted potentials with the emergence of extremist ideology and revolutionary tendencies which asked direct action against the British.  In Surat Session of Congress, the two main objectives placed by the extremists were: Lala Lajpat Rai to be made the President of the INC and Demand for the resolution of Swaraj. These two demands were not accepted by the moderates, and instead of Lala Lajpat Rai, the moderates supported Rash Behari Ghosh as the President.

Lal-Bal-Pal and a new era of Extremist dominance which resulted into Surat Split of 1907

 The Extremist ideology in Indian National Movement created a leadership trio of Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal), who were the critiques of the Moderates.  Nationalist vocabulary of Indian National Movement was altered by these 3 leaders (Lal-Bal-Pal) as they incorporated the new concepts of boycott, swadeshi, and national education in the Indian National Movement.  In Punjab, Maharashtra and Bengal the Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal respectively were so popular, that the Moderates did not entertain much credibility in these areas.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Page 1 of 3  He was apparently the most prominent militant leader of Extremist phase of Indian freedom struggle.  Tilak articulated his nationalist ideas in both Kesari (in Marathi) and Maratha (in English), long before his active involvement in the Congress and to inspire the youth by drawing upon the patriotism of Shivaji, he introduced the Shivaji festival in 1896.  In 1896, Tilak successfully organized campaign for boycott of foreign clothes in Maharashtra and protested against the imposition of taxes on cotton this led to his prominence in the National Politics.  He advocated for no-tax campaign in areas of Maharashtra, which were adversely affected by the 1896-7 famine and through the campaign itself he tried to expand the base of the Congress by incorporating the peasants, a segment of society which was left by the Moderates.  Tilak demanded immediate self rule or swaraj which was according to him was the government constituted by the Indians themselves which could rule in accordance to the wishes of the people or their representatives, at the same time his concept of Swaraj did not include complete independence.

Results of the Surat Split:

 The efforts by the eminent person like Ravindra Nath Tagore to bring Extremist and Moderates together in the aftermath of the Surat split, were in vain and further in the 1908 Allahabad convention, the adoption of resolutions by the Moderates for permanently disqualifying the Extremist section of the Congress led to the significant decline of nationalism in India.  The moderates after the Surat Split in 1907 demanded colonial self-government, as against the extremist demand of complete independence.  The constitutional politics of the moderates had failed to impress the British government and that was amply reflected in the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909.  As a result, the moderate leaders had lost touch with the younger generation of nationalists who wanted to see the results and this was also the major cause of emergence of revolutionaries.  The British Government followed the policy of divide and Rule' and in order to curb and isolate the militant nationalists and suppress them they tried to win over moderate nationalist opinion.  Extremism was confined mainly to Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab, where outbreak of terrorism allowed the government to unleash repression.  With extremist leaders like Tilak in prison, the moderate-dominated Congress was immersed in total inactivity.  In 1909 the Separate electorates were granted to the Muslims and congress was at its low. The most critical and vocal elements were not a part of the INC. Thus the British had taken absolute advantage over the INC.

British policy of Divide and Rule, saw a major victory in form of Surat Split and the British believed that they were in control of the affairs of the INC after significant period of time. While the leadership of the Congress remained in the hands of the Moderates for some time more, as the Extremists worked

Page 2 of 3 separately till 1916. Later both groups reunited at Lucknow session of Congress in 1916 due to the efforts of the leaders of Home Rule movement.

Difference between Moderates and Extremists

1) Moderates - Social base—zamindars and upper middle classes in towns. Extremists - Social base educated middle classes in towns and lower middle class 2) Moderates - Ideological inspiration— western liberal thought and European history. Extremists - Ideological inspiration—Indian history, cultural heritage and Hindu traditional symbols. 3) Moderates - Believed in England's providential mission in India. Extremists - Rejected 'providential mission theory' as an illusion. 4) Moderates - Believed political connections with Britain to be in India's social, political and cultural interests. Extremists - Had immense faith in the capacity of masses to participate and to make sacrifices. 5) Moderates - Professed loyalty to the British Crown Extremists - Believed that political connections with Britain would perpetuate British exploitation of India. 6) Moderates - Believed that the movement should be limited to middle class intelligentsia; masses not yet ready for participation in political work. Extremists - Believed that the British Crown was unworthy of claiming Indian loyalty. 7) Moderates - Demanded constitutional reforms and share for Indians in services. Extremists - Did not hesitate to use extraconstitutional methods like boycott and passive resistance to achieve their objectives. 8) Moderates - Insisted on the use of constitutional methods only. Extremists - Had immense faith in the capacity of masses to participate and to make sacrifices. 9) Moderates - They were patriots and did not play the role of a comprador (person who acts as an agent for foreign organizations) class. Extremists - Demanded swaraj as panacea for Indian ills. They were patriots who made sacrifices for the sake of the country.

Page 3 of 3 REVOLUTIONARY NATIONALISM

INTRODUCTION:

• Revolutionary nationalism is a broad label that has been applied to many different types of nationalist political movements that wish to achieve their goals through a revolution against the established order. • Individuals and organizations described as being revolutionary nationalist include some political currents within the country.

EXAMPLES:

• French Revolution, • Irish republicans engaged in armed struggle against the British crown, • the Can Vuong movement against French rule in 19th century Vietnam, • the Indian independence movement in the 20th century, • some participants in the Mexican Revolution, • Benito Mussolini and the Italian Fascists the Autonomous Government of Khorasan etc..

REVOLUTIONARY NATIONALISM FOR INDIAN INDEPENDENCE :

• The Revolutionary movement for Indian Independence is a part of the Indian independence movement comprising the actions of the underground revolutionary factions. • Groups believing in armed revolution against the ruling British fall into this category, as opposed to the generally peaceful civil disobedience movement spearheaded by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. • The revolutionary groups were mainly concentrated in Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar, the United Provinces and Punjab. • More groups were scattered across India.

ROLE OF REVOLUTIONARIES :

• The Revolutionaries supplemented the national cause and carried the message of nationalism in the country and outside the country. • They inspired the people to cast off the yoke of slavery and be prepared for any kind of sacrifice for the cause of freedom. • They embraced death cheerfully arid were not scared of the physical and mental injuries inflicted upon them by the cruel rulers.

NOTABLE LEADERS OF REVOLUTIONARY NATIONALISM IN INDIA:

• Rass Behari Bose, Chander Shekhar Azad, Lala Hardyal M.A., Madan Lal Dhingra and . S. Ajit Singh succeeded in expanding the movement of freedom to other countries as well. • Sardar Bhagat Singh and his companions faced brutalities of Britishers boldly, cheerfully and willingly for the cause of their motherland - India. • They gave the nationalist movement a new turn. • Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose orga•nized Azad Hind Fauj and gave us the slogan "Give me blood, I will give you freedom." BIRTH OF MUSLIM LEAGUE ​ 1906 ​

ALL INDIA MUSLIM LEAGUE

The All-India Muslim League (popularised as the Muslim League) was a political party established in 1906 in British India. Its strong advocacy for the establishment of a separate Muslim-majority nation-state, Pakistan, successfully led to the partition of India in 1947 by the British Empire.

MUSLIM LEAGUE FORMATION

● The communal idea that the Muslims are a separate nation was sown into the Indian political ethos first by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a philosopher and Muslim reformist. ● The AIML was the first Muslim political party of India. ● On 30 December 1906, around 3000 delegates attended a conference of the Muhammadan Educational Conference at Dhaka in which the ban on politics was removed and a motion was moved to form the AIML. The name was proposed by Nawab Khwaja Sir Salimullah Bahadur and seconded by Hakim Ajmal Khan. ● The founders of the Muslim League were: Khwaja Salimullah, Vikar-ul-Mulk, Syed Amir Ali, Syed Nabiullah, Khan Bahadur Ghulam and Mustafa Chowdhury. ● The first Honorary President of the League was Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah (Aga Khan III).

Factor promoting the Muslim league

British Plan- Dividing Indian on communal lines and adhered separatist attitude in ​ Indian politics. For example- Separate electorate, Played caste politics between non- Brahmins and Brahmins. Lacks of Education- Muslims were isolated from western and technical ​ education. Loss Sovereignty by Muslims- 1857 revolt makes British to think that Muslims are ​ dangerous for their colonial policy. As they were established their rule after dethroning the Mughal rule. Expression of Religious Colour-Most of the historians and radical nationalists glorified India’s one side of our composite culture. They praises were biased because Shivaji, Rana Pratap etc were paraises but they remained silent on Akbar, Sher Shah Suri, Allauddin Khalji, Tipu Sultan etc. Economic backwardness of India- Lack of Industrialisation causes acute ​ unemployment and British attitude towards cottage industry was pathetic.

Objectives of the formation of league

● To promote loyalty of Indian Muslims towards the British government. ● To protect the political and other rights of the Indian Muslims and to place their needs and aspirations before the Government. ● To overcome on the feeling of hostility among Muslims towards other communities.

Indian Councils Act 1909

Introduction The Indian Councils Act 1909 commonly known as the Morley-Minto or Minto-Morley Reforms, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that brought about a limited increase in the involvement of Indians in the governance of British India.

Background of Morley-Minto Reforms

● The Indian National Congress (INC) was also agitating for more reforms and self- governance of Indians. ● INC demanded home rule for the first time in 1906. ● A group of elite Muslims led by Aga Khan met Lord Minto in 1906 and placed their demand for a separate electorate for the Muslims. ● John Morley was a member of the Liberal government, and he wanted to make positive changes in India’s governance.

Features of the Act

● It considerably increased the size of the legislative councils, both Central and provincial.

● It retained an official majority in the Central Legislative Council but allowed the provincial legislative councils to have a non-official majority

● It enlarged the deliberative functions of the legislative councils at both levels

● It provided (for the first time) for the association of Indians with the executive councils of the Viceroy and Governors.

● It introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims by accepting the concept of a separate electorate’.

● It also provided for the separate representation of presidency corporations, chambers of commerce, universities, and zamindars.

Merits of Minto-Morley Reforms

● the Minto-Morley Reforms had some of their merits. They mark an important stage in the growth of representative institution, and one step ahead towards the responsible association of elected Indians with the administration.

● Further, it also gave recognition to the elective principle as the basis of the composition of legislative council for the first time.

Page 1 of 2 ● It gave some further avenues to Indians to ventilate their grievances.

● They also got opportunity to criticise the executives and make suggestions for better administration.

● The enlargement of the legislatures furthered the demand of complete indianization of the legislature.

Demerits of Minto-Marley Reforms

● Narrow franchises and indirect elections allowed the entry of members in an undemocratic manner

● Limited powers of the Legislative Councils ushered a complete unaccountable government.

● The position of the Governor- General remained unchanged and his veto power remained undiluted

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