The Making of the National Movement

The Making of the National Movement

Open Ended

What was the British colonial rule like from the experience of the Indian masses?

India as Sovereign

They worked with the idea that the people should be sovereign – a modern consciousness and a key feature of nationalism. In other words, they believed that the Indian people should be empowered to take decisions regarding their affairs.

Dissatisfaction Intensified

• . The Arms Act was passed in 1878, disallowing Indians from possessing arms. 

•  Vernacular Press Act was also enacted in an effort to silence those who were critical of the government. The Act allowed the government to confiscate the assets of newspapers including their printing presses if the newspapers published anything that was found “objectionable”.

IIbert Bill

In 1883, there was a furore over the attempt by the government to introduce the Ilbert Bill. The bill provided for the trial of British or European persons by Indians, and sought equality between British and Indian judges in the country. But when white opposition forced the government to withdraw the bill, Indians were enraged. The event highlighted the racial attitudes of the British in India.

Indian National Congress is established

•  The Indian National Congress was established when 72 delegates from all over the country met at Bombay in December 1885.

• The most significant among early leaders is Dadabhai Naoroji

Dadabhai Naoroji

Naoroji, a businessman and publicist settled in London, and for a time member of the British Parliament, guided the younger nationalists.

Naoroji’s book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India offered scathing criticism of the economic impact of British rule.

Multiple Choice

The Arms Act was passed in ______.

• A) 1876

• B) 1875

• C) 1878

• D) 1880

Multiple Choice

________ allowed for trial of Europeans by Indians.

• A) Ilbert Bill

• B) Vernacular Press Act

• C) Judiciary Bill

• D) Arms Bill

Multiple Choice

________ allowed for trial of Europeans by Indians.

• A) Ilbert Bill

• B) Vernacular Press Act

• C) Judiciary Bill

• D) Arms Bill

Moderate Approach

• It has often been said that the Congress in the first twenty years was “moderate” in its objectives and methods. During this period it demanded a greater voice for Indians in the government and in administration. It wanted the Legislative Councils to be made more representative, given more power and introduced in provinces where none existed. It demanded that Indians be placed in high positions in the government. For this purpose, it called for civil service examinations to be held in India as well, not just in London.

Issues Raised by INC

• The demand for Indianisation of the administration was part of a movement against racisim

• Separation of the judiciary from the executive, the repeal of the Arms Act and the freedom of speech and expression.

Issues raised by INC

The early Congress also raised a number of economic issues. It declared that British rule had led to poverty and famines: increase in the land revenue had impoverished peasants and zamindars, and exports of grains to Europe had created food shortages. The Congress demanded reduction of revenue, cut in military expenditure, and more funds for irrigation. It passed many resolutions on the salt tax, treatment of Indian labourers abroad, and the sufferings of forest dwellers – caused by an interfering forest administration. All this shows that despite being a body of the educated elite, the Congress did not talk only on behalf of professional groups, zamindars or industrialists

“Freedom is our birthright”

By the 1890s many Indians began to raise questions about the political style of the Congress. In Bengal, Maharashtra, and Punjab, leaders such as Bepin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Lala Lajpat Rai were beginning to explore more radical objectives and methods. They criticized the Moderates for their “politics of prayers”, and emphasized the importance of self-reliance and constructive work. They argued that people must rely on their own strength, not on the “good” intentions of the government; people must fight for swaraj. Tilak raised the slogan, “Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it!”  Kesari, a Marathi newspaper edited by Tilak, became one of the strongest critics of British rule

Multiple Choice

______ was one of the Congress leaders from Bengal with radical objectives.

• A) Bipin Chandra Pal

• B) Ravindranath Tagore

• C) Raja Rammohan Roy

• D) R C Mukherjee

Multiple Choice

______ was a Indian businessman and publicist based in London.

• A) Lala Hadayal

• B) Dadabhai Naroji

• C) Jawaharlal Nehru

• D) Bhagat Singh

Multiple Choice

Who said the slogan ''Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it''

• Bepin Chandra Pal

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak

• Lala Lajpat Rai

Multiple Choice

Who said the slogan ''Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it''

• Bepin Chandra Pal

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak

• Lala Lajpat Rai

Bengal Partition

• In 1905 Viceroy Curzon partitioned Bengal. At that time Bengal was the biggest province of British India and included Bihar and parts of Orissa. The British argued for dividing Bengal for reasons of administrative convenience. But what did “administrative convenience” mean?

• Clearly, it was closely tied to the interests of British officials and businessmen. Even so, instead of removing the non-Bengali areas from the province, the government separated East Bengal and merged it with Assam. Perhaps the main British motives were to curtail the influence of Bengali politicians and to split the Bengali people.

Bengal Swadeshi Movement

• The partition of Bengal infuriated people all over India. All sections of the Congress – the Moderates and the Radicals, as they may be called – opposed it. Large public meetings and demonstrations were organized and novel methods of mass protest developed. The struggle that unfolded came to be known as the Swadeshi movement

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Bengal Swadeshi Movement

• The Swadeshi movement sought to oppose British rule and encourage the ideas of self-help, swadeshi enterprise, national education, and the use of Indian languages. To fight for swaraj, the radicals advocated mass mobilization and boycott of British institutions and goods. Some individuals also began to suggest that “revolutionary violence” would be necessary to overthrow British rule. 

Multiple Choice

______ was Viceroy of India when partition of Bengal was announced.

• A) Lord Curzon

• B) Lord Minto

• C) Lord Hastings

• D) Lord Clive

Multiple Choice

______ was a Marathi newspaper edited by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

• A) Muktangan

• B) Kesari

• C) Sakal

• D) Gazette

Multiple Choice

Partition of Bengal was announced in ____.

• A) 1902

• B) 1905

• C) 1909

• D) 1907

Multiple Choice

The reason for Partition of Bengal given by Viceroy Curzon was

• administrative convenience

• dominion status

• ensure peace in Bengal

Multiple Choice

The reason for Partition of Bengal given by Viceroy Curzon was

• administrative convenience

• dominion status

• ensure peace in Bengal

All India Muslim League

A group of Muslim landlords and nawabs formed the All India Muslim League at Dacca in 1906.