Rise of Radicals and Partition of Bengal

New Trends in the Congress - The Rise of Radicals

• By the end of the 19th century, numerous Indians questioned the moderate leaders' political stance
• This was due to famines, British inaction, and repressive measures causing widespread dissatisfaction
• Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal (Lal-Bal-Pal) criticized moderate's "politics of prayers"
• They advocated for more radical methods and aims, becoming known as radicals or extremists
• Radicals believed Indians should depend on themselves rather than the British government's goodwill
• They sought stronger tactics like strikes, boycotts, and demonstrations to achieve Swaraj (self-rule)
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak declared "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it!"
• Radicals gained support, especially after the 1905 partition of Bengal

Partition of Bengal

• In 1905, Viceroy Curzon divided Bengal, splitting Muslim-majority East Bengal from Hindu-majority Bengal
• East Bengal then merged with Assam
• Ostensibly, the British claimed it was for easier administration due to Bengal's size
• Indians were outraged, believing it was a politically motivated attempt to weaken Indian nationalism by dividing Bengal along communal lines
• The Indian National Congress, including both moderates and radicals, condemned the partition
• They organized mass protests and demonstrations
• October 16, the day the partition took effect, became a day of national mourning and fasting
• The streets of Calcutta resounded with cries of Bande Mataram
• The partition inadvertently strengthened nationalism
• It led to a more radical, organized national movement with greater mass backing
• Extremists gained dominance in Congress
• The partition also spurred new, more radical methods of protest, such as Swadeshi and boycott

Swadeshi and Boycott Movements

• "Swadeshi" signifies "of one's own country"
• These movements promoted the use of Indian goods, national education, Indian languages, and the concept of Swaraj
• Aimed at mass mobilization via protests and demonstrations, they advocated boycotting British goods and institutions
• Mass gatherings were organized for people to pledge boycotts of items, titles, organizations, and institutions
• The goal was to strike a blow to British trade while boosting Indian industry
• Starting in Bengal, the 'swadeshi' call spread to other Indian provinces
• Boycott movements were organized in Bombay, Madras, and northern India
• Some people set fire to British goods and picketed shops selling foreign products
• Some radicals advocated violence to end British rule
• Concerned by the widespread support, the British used repressive measures
• They curbed the press, deported/imprisoned leaders, and jailed students

Calcutta Session (1906)

• During the 1906 Calcutta session, the Indian National Congress, led by Dadabhai Naoroji, supported the Swadeshi and boycott movements
• The Congress passed a resolution to promote swadeshi goods
• It declared Swaraj (self-governance) as its primary objective
• This marked a significant shift in the Congress's attitude, especially among moderates

The Surat Split (1907)

• Long-brewing differences between moderates and radicals led to the splitting of the Congress in 1907
• Moderates wanted Swadeshi and boycott movements to stay confined to Bengal to reverse the partition
• Extremists wanted to broaden the anti-partition movements into national movements
• Additionally, they were in favor of national education and sought an end to Western education while moderates didn't support this idea
• Moderates opposed the extremists' call for boycott as they thought it involved violence which would alienate the British so they wanted to withdraw support for it
• After the split in Surat, most radicals left Congress
• The Congress was then controlled by moderates who declared their goal which was to attain self-governing dominion for India under the British through constitutional means
• The radicals and moderates didn't join hands again until 1915

Formation of the Muslim League (1906)

• Muslim landlords and Nawabs founded the All India Muslim League in Dacca in 1906
• The British played a role by reversing their anti-Muslim approach after the 1857 Revolt
• Aiming to counter the growing Congress influence, they began courting Muslim leaders based on their "divide and rule" policy
• They convinced leaders that a Hindu-dominated Congress wouldn't protect Muslim interests
• Some Muslim leaders, such as Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, feared marginalization under the Congress
• They advised Muslims to stay away from it because they thought that Muslims would have little role in the representative government
• In October 1906, led by Aga Khan, Muslim leaders met Viceroy Minto in Simla that the Muslims should be treated a separate community as well as be granted separate representation in representative bodies
• The Muslim League was established to safeguard Muslim interests
• The Nawab of Dacca, Salimullah Khan, played role
• It supported the Bengal partition
• A key demand was a separate electorate for Muslims, granted by the British in 1909
• Aga Khan was appointed the first Honorary President of the Muslim League
• The headquarters were in Lucknow

Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)

• Worried about the reaction to the partition of Bengal, the British introduced the Indian Councils Act (Morley-Minto Reforms) in 1909
• Lord Minto (Viceroy of India) and John Morley (Britain's Secretary of State for India) drafted the reforms
• Key features included:
  • Increased Indian representation in central and provincial legislative councils
  • Introduction of separate electorates for Muslims

Delhi Durbar or Imperial Durbar (1911)

• In 1911, to mark King George V's coronation on the British throne, The British held a Durbar in Delhi
• The British government announced two key decisions:
  • the reunification of Bengal
  • shifting the capital from Calcutta to Delhi

Rise of Revolutionaries - Early Phase

• Some radicals believed violence was necessary to overthrow the British
• They were called revolutionaries
• Many revolutionary groups formed in Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Madras after the partition of Bengal
• Revolutionaries formed underground societies and attacked / used violence in other forms to force the British
• Some prominent revolutionary societies were the Anushilan Samiti and the Jugantar Dal in Bengal, and the Abhinava Bharat Society in Maharashtra

National Movement and World War-I

• It had a major impact on the growth of nationalistic feelings in India
• The fight against the British became a mass movement
• The British forced Indians to join army and participate in the war
• Aware of the colonial exploitation by the British in Asia and Africa, the Indian soldiers wanted to oust the British from India
• To support the war, they began imposing higher taxes on people and businesses which created an outcry
• Also, news of workers/peasants struggles in other countries like Russia inspired many Indian nationalists
• They intensified calls for self-rule

Home Rule Leagues

• Indian leaders decided to put the British under greater pressure to give in to their demand for self-rule
• Between 1915 and 1916, two Home Rule Leagues were launched:
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak launched one in Poona
  • Annie Besant launched another in Madras

Emergence of Mahatma Gandhi

• Mahatma Gandhi arrived in India during World War-I after leading successful campaign against racism in South Africa
• Gandhi Born in Porbandar, Gujarat (October 2, 1869), studied law in England, and practiced law in South Africa.
• He Challenged the British's racial discrimination ,Gandhi led Indians peacefully.
• In 1915, he traveled across India to understand issues
• In 1916, Gandhi formed the Sabarmati Ashram, which promoted spinning cloth with a charkha to eliminate untouchability
• Gandhi helped peasants get better prices for indigo in Champaran (1917), as well as led workers for better wages in Ahmedabad (1918) Farmers in Kheda, Gujarat wanted to be excused from paying land revenue because their crops had failed so Gandhi supported them and the British government gave in
• Gandhi launched mass movements advocating for non-violent means
• Gandhi helped the British in World War-1 as he believed that they would grant India Swaraj , which did not
• The Rowlatt At was Passed because the British turned back of giving Indians more freedom after World war-1 and Gandhi's moderate Perception changed

Montague-Chelmsford Reforms and Rowlatt Act

• In 1918, Lord Chelmsford (Indian Viceroy) and Edwin Montague proposed reforms for self-governance in India
  • Basis of Government of India Act of 1919
• Important features of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms:
  • Enlarged provincial legislative councils
  • It was decided that the majority of the member are to be elected
  • Provincial governments given power under "diarchy"
    • Some governance aspects (finance, law and order) under Governor control
    • Other aspects (education, health, local self-govt) controlled by ministers to legislatures
  • Central government maintained unrestricted control over provincial governments
  • Voting rights still severely limited
• The Act failed to fulfil what what the Indian leaders Had sought Gandhi call for non-violent strikes As Gandhi supported the British in World war -I
• Alarmed by potential mass agitation the Brtisih Government put the Rowlatt Act into effectwhich gave excessive power to the police with the power to keep an in prison whithout a trial. Fundamental right like freedom of speech was taken way this caused outrage acorss all
• Birtish act was also known as the "black bill" in result of which many launched movents across India against it

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

On April 1913, 1919 in the Jallianwala bagh of Amristar peaceful protest took place agianst the arrest of 2 nationals

• The Two natioanl leaders which was Dr. Satya Pal and Dr. saifuddin Kitchlew. Were Peaceful . General dyer and the British block the parks only enterance which resulted into hundreads of death included man, women and children
• The Killing caused and uproar and protest all over the country the Renounce of knighthood by rabindtanath Tagire for to ptoest the act
• The Movent against the rollatt and the Brithis action resulted into a freedom strugle this let to the Britsh rule needed to end in india

Causes for the Revolt

• Indians were unhappy because the British were forcing them to surrender they kingdoms and powers Landlords/peasants suffered because the company charged high revenue from them.
• Tribals angry at the loss of the traditional lifestyle
• Craftsperson resents the economic policy that cost then their lives
• Hindu sepoys were unhappy because they were getting paid less than the British

The Revolt Spreads

• Soldiers revolted against the British and the Revolt Spread rapidly across Northern India. Regimen after the rejoin the troops.
• Many places all classes (artisans, craftperson, pesants, joined together
• The intial phase resulted to the British who was to be to outnumber by the rebels

Leaders

• Nana Saheb, led the revolt against the British
• Begum Hazrat Mahal, organise British in Lucknow she also declare minor son
• Kunar Singh was appointed to by a center friguere revolt

suppression that leat to the Revlot Failed

• The British brought the soldiers to the front
• revolt did not spread all over the country and in northern India
• siks Gurkhas who remain royal British and help British againt the force
• Rulers did not join revolts

concequances

End of the east Indian company

• Indians began felt their relious norm werrwe attacked
• Governmnet allow missionareies to own the land

Social Cueses

• The British werr to the coninves to to make effort to reform the Indian societ
• They made a abolise practies
• To enforce the education on the girl
• Also enfore ththe use of engligh language to speark in school

social cuese

British we trying to destroy

###Rise of Nationalism

• As a result of goverce of the nation were all under the same
• The spread of education