Nationalism in India

Nationalism in India

• Indian nationalism was fueled by a shared sense of history, economic goals, and cultural bonds
• Indian craftsmen could not compete with cheaper British machine-made goods
• The educated middle class was frustrated by a lack of administrative roles and were relegated to low-paying jobs
• The rising capitalist class wanted protection from the British government
• British imperialism negatively impacted the lives of Indian people

Administrative and Economic Unification

• Railways, telegraphs, and the postal system connected the country, promoting nationalistic feelings
• British administrative and economic policies united India as a nation

The Indian National Congress (INC)

• The INC was founded in Bombay (Mumbai) on December 28-30, 1885
• The meeting was organized by retired British official Allan Octavio Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji and others
• 72 delegates from all over India attended the first meeting
• Attendees included Womesh Chandra Bannerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Badruddin Tyabji, Pherozeshah Mehta, and Surendranath Bannerjee

The Moderate Phase (1885-1905)

• Dominated by leaders known as Moderates, who sought Indian participation in administration through persuasion
• Their methods included petitions, meetings, and speeches
• Moderates advocated for more Indian representation in legislative councils and higher government posts
• They wanted the Indian Civil Service Examination to be held in India

The Extremist Phase

• Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh emphasized self-reliance
• They believed Indians should be fearless and strong
• They sought Swaraj (self-governance) through mass action
• Tilak's slogan was "Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it"
• Their demands were more radical than the Moderates

Partition of Bengal (1905)

• The growing spirit of militant nationalism was boosted when Bengal was partitioned in 1905
• Viceroy Lord Curzon divided Bengal into two parts.
• Aimed to create a new province comprising Bihar and Orissa (Odisha).

Rise of Revolutionaries

• Some groups rejected the Congress's peaceful methods to remove to British physically
• Revolutionaries were active in Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu
• In 1897, the Chapekar brothers assassinated two British officials in Poona
• The revolutionary newspaper Yugantar declared, "Force must be stopped by force"
• Their methods included assassinations, looting arms and cash, and sabotage.

Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)

• Enacted by the British, also known as the Indian Councils Act
• Aimed to appease Moderates by increasing elected members in legislative councils
• Councils lacked real power.
• Introduced separate electorates for Muslims, furthering a "Divide and Rule" policy

Satyagraha

• Gandhi said a true Satyagrahi will always be truthful and peaceful and never submit to what he considered wrong.
• Gandhi believed non-violence was not a weapon of the weak, but of the strong and brave
• Gandhi said "The only virtue I want to claim is truth and non-violence Non-violence is the law of our species, as the brute violence is the law of
• Focused on villages, where the majority of Indians lived.

Formation of Swaraj Party

• After the withdrawal of the Khilafat and Non-cooperation Movement, some congressmen led by Chitaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party
• They decided to fight the elections to the legislative councils, enter the legislative council and put forward their demands
• They would oppose the government if their demands were not fulfilled

Revival of Revolutionary Movement

• Chandrashekhar Azad formed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)
• Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly on April 8, 1929, to warn the British
• In Bengal, revolutionaries organized a raid at the government armoury under Surya Sen
• Women participated in the revolutionary movement in Bengal

Simon Commission (1927)

• Appointed by the British Government to suggest further constitutional reforms
• Consisted entirely of Englishmen, leading to protests from Indian nationalists
• Protests included hartals and black flag demonstrations with the slogan "Simon go back"

The Lahore Session (1929)

• The Lahore session of the Congress passed the Poorna Swaraj Resolution demanding complete independence
• The newly adopted tri-colour flag of freedom was hoisted
• January 26 was declared as Independence Day

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34)

• Started by Gandhiji on March 12, 1930, with the Dandi March
• Gandhiji and 78 followers walked from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi (375 km)
• On April 6, Gandhiji broke the salt law, symbolizing the refusal to live under British rule
• People violated salt laws, forest laws, boycotted foreign goods, and refused to pay taxes
• Women widely participated

Round Table Conference

• The First Round Table Conference was organized by the British Government in 1930 to discuss the Simon Commission Report, but the Congress boycotted it
• The British wanted the Congress to attend the Second Round Table Conference
• Viceroy Lord Irwin signed a pact with Gandhiji, called Gandhi-Irwin Pact
• Gandhiji agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference, after suspending the Civil Disobedience Movement
• The conference failed due to the British unwillingness to accept Congress's demands
• Gandhiji resumed the Civil Disobedience Movement until 1934

Government of India Act of 1935

• Passed by the British government due to Indian agitations
• Gave autonomy to Indian provinces
• Elections were held for provincial legislatures
• Congress formed ministries in 7 out of 11 provinces in 1937
• Fell short of fully meeting Indian expectations

Indian National Movement During the Second World War (1939-1945)

• Congress was ready to support the British in the war if India was granted independence after the conflict
• The British refused this demand
• Congress ministries resigned in protest

Failure of the Cripps Mission

• Sent in March 1942, led by Sir Stafford Cripps, to secure Indian cooperation in the war
• Negotiations failed as Indian leaders were unsatisfied with vague promises
• The British government refused to transfer effective power to Indians immediately

Quit India Movement (1942)

• Congress, under Gandhiji, demanded an immediate end to British rule on August 8, 1942
• On August 9, Gandhiji and other leaders were arrested, and Congress was declared illegal
• Hartals, strikes, and demonstrations occurred across the country
• People attacked police stations, post offices, and railway stations.
• Parallel governments were set up in many places
• Gandhi said on August 8, "We shall either free India or die in the attempt"

Indian National Army (INA) and Subhash Chandra Bose

• Subhash Chandra Bose escaped from India to organize an armed struggle
• He formed the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) in Singapore
• Bose inspired people with the words "Give me blood and I will give you freedom"
• Bose gave his followers the slogan of Jai Hind
• The INA joined the Japanese army in its march on India
• The INA set an inspiring example of patriotism

Indian Nationalism After the Second World War

• The British realized they could no longer rule India
• A Cabinet Mission was sent to India in March 1946 to negotiate the transfer of power
• The Cabinet Mission suggested a federation of India with autonomy for provinces and states
• Congress and the Muslim League disagreed on aspects of the proposal
• The British policy of "Divide and Rule" created a rift between Congress and the Muslim League
• In 1940, the Muslim League demanded the creation of Pakistan
• Large-scale communal riots started after the failure of the Cabinet Mission

India Wins Freedom (1947)

• Lord Mountbatten announced that India would become a free nation and Pakistan would be created
• Nationalist leaders agreed to the partition to end communal riots
• On August 15, 1947, India celebrated its first day of freedom
• Nehru said, "At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom"

Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka was also a colony of the British Empire
• An important military base during World War II
• Arose a nationalist movement in the early 20th century
• Si Lanka became free in 1948

Definitions

• Nationalism: a sense of loyalty for one's nation
• Divide and rule policy: the strategy of creating disunity in order to rule
• Extremists: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal demanded swaraj and were called extremists
• Moderates: those early congress leaders who believed in peaceful and democratic means of struggle against the British rule to get their demands addressed
• Revolutionaries: the nationalists who wanted to overthrow the British by force
• Satyagraha: a way of struggle devised by Mahatma Gandhi based on truth and non-violence

Indian nationalism arose from shared history, economic goals and cultural unity. British policies negatively impacted Indian people. The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in 1885 to further nationalist goals.