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.