Indian National Movement (1885-1916) PDF

# The Indian National Movement (1885-1916) ## Phases of Indian National Movement The history of the Indian national movement led by the Congress can be divided broadly into three phases: - Early nationalist phase: 1885-1905 - Assertive nationalist phase: 1905-1918 - Gandhian phase: 1918-1947 ##...

# The Indian National Movement (1885-1916) ## Phases of Indian National Movement The history of the Indian national movement led by the Congress can be divided broadly into three phases: - Early nationalist phase: 1885-1905 - Assertive nationalist phase: 1905-1918 - Gandhian phase: 1918-1947 ## The Early Nationalists (The Moderates) (1885-1905) During its initial years, the Congress was led by leaders who were described by later historians as early nationalists. The members of the Congress during the early nationalist phase belonged mainly to the educated middle-class intellectual community (lawyers, teachers, journalists, officials, professionals, industrialists, and others). The important leaders during this period were: - Dadabhai Naoroji - Gopal Krishna Gokhale - Surendranath Banerjea ### Beliefs The early nationalists believed that British rule was a blessing because it had conferred several benefits on India. They felt that at that stage of history, it was in their own interests to remain under the British since they were not yet ready to govern themselves. The early nationalists were convinced that the British could be persuaded to introduce necessary reforms and the government could be transformed to suit the interests of the Indian subjects. They had great faith in the British sense of justice and fair play. ### Objectives The early nationalists wanted proper participation of the Indians in the government in the near future and a gradual move towards self-government in the distant future. ### Methods The Moderates adopted peaceful and constitutional methods. They presented their grievances to the government and waited patiently for the government to pass laws to remove those grievances. They believed that the government would gradually give in to their demands. They promoted unity, spread political awareness among the people, and built up a strong public opinion through meetings, lectures, and the press. They also sent delegations to England to persuade the British government to introduce necessary reforms. ### Demands of the Early Nationalists The early nationalists wanted the British to introduce certain reforms for the welfare of all sections of Indian society. They believed that the British would grant them their requests if they were convinced that the demands were reasonable and just. ### Contribution of the Early Nationalists According to some historians, the early nationalist leaders failed to achieve their objectives. There is no doubt some element of truth in their criticism. However, if we examine the early nationalist phase in the context of the entire movement, the achievements of the Congress become obvious. - The early nationalists established a solid foundation which served as a base for a more radical approach in later years. - They spread political awareness among the people and instilled in them a sense of national unity. The people began to think of themselves as members of one single nation - the Indian nation. The path for a united national struggle was laid. - The Congress under the early nationalists trained the Indians in political affairs. They educated them in political matters and familiarized them with ideas of freedom, government, democracy, secularism, nationalism, etc. This knowledge of, and training in, political affairs helped Indian nationalists to organize and raise the national movement to the next stage of development. The beliefs of the early nationalists - peaceful, orderly change, and a secular approach to national problems - have acquired special relevance in today's world of violence and communal politics. A moderate approach to the complex problems of today is perhaps the only most viable solution that can heal our world. ### The Assertive Nationalists (The Radicals) (1905-1918) The transition in the national movement marked the beginning of the second phase of the national movement. It was known as the assertive nationalist phase and was led by outstanding men like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Aurobindo Ghose. Their political beliefs, aims, and methods were very different from those of the early nationalists. ### Beliefs The assertive nationalists had no faith in the British sense of justice and fair play. They believed that the British rule in India was not a blessing but a curse. They were convinced that the British had no intentions of introducing reforms for the welfare of the Indians. They realized that the British interests were different and clashed with the Indian interests. India could never grow and progress under British rule. ### Objectives The goal of the assertive nationalists was not self-government in 'gradual' stages but immediate freedom (*swaraj*) from British rule. ### Methods The assertive nationalists had no faith in the constitutional methods followed by the early nationalists. Twenty years of appeals, resolutions, and prayers, petitions, representations had failed to yield any concrete results. Tilak knew that the British would never concede to the demand for *swaraj* without a struggle. So, a radical method of active opposition to the government would have to be adopted. *Swaraj* would have to be achieved through a political, anti-government agitation and with the involvement and support of the masses. The Congress would have to be transformed from a platform for debates among the westernized, Indian intelligentsia into a regiment of freedom fighters - united, determined, confident, and willing to make sacrifices. ### The Partition of Bengal (1905) The British partitioned Bengal in 1905 in pursuance of their policy of divide and rule. After the partition in 1905, the assertive nationalists adopted the methods of boycott, *swadeshi*, and national education to achieve the goal of *swaraj*. The people were asked to boycott all British goods and use only Indian or *swadeshi* goods. The assertive nationalists also saw through the evil designs of the British in dividing Bengal on communal lines. This was deliberately done to separate the Hindus from the Muslims and destroy the unity between them. The British policy of divide and rule had created a gap between the Hindu and Muslim communities. ## The Surat Split (1907) The partition of Bengal briefly brought the early nationalists and the assertive nationalists together. The early nationalists supported the radical methods of political agitation - *swadeshi* and boycott - to protest against the partition of Bengal. However, the unity between the two groups was short-lived. Cracks between the two wings of the Congress began to appear in the course of the movement against partition. The early nationalists and their assertive counterparts failed to agree on various aspects of the *swadeshi* and boycott movement, and in 1907, at the Surat session of the Congress, the early nationalist leaders expelled the assertive nationalist leaders from the Congress. The latter continued to function as a separate group till 1916. In the meantime, the British crushed the *swadeshi* movement. Tilak was sentenced to six years of imprisonment. ## The Muslim League (1906) The Muslim League was established in December 1906, under the leadership of Nawab Salimullah Khan in Dacca (now known as Dhaka). Aga Khan and others also joined the Muslim League. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a prominent Congress leader, joined the Muslim League in 1913. The main objectives of the Muslim League were as follows: - To promote among the Muslims a feeling of loyalty towards the British government. - To protect and promote the political rights of the Muslims. - To prevent feelings of hostility towards other communities. The League served as a political platform for upper-class Muslims. It supported the partition of Bengal. The League demanded special safeguards for Muslims in government service. In 1906, it appealed to the Viceroy for separate electorates. This meant that the Muslim voters would elect Muslim representatives. The introduction of separate electorates sounded the death knell of national unity. It was the first definite step on the road to the partition of India. ## The First World War and India (1914-1918) The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 had a significant effect on the national movement. As a colony of the British empire, India was automatically drawn into the war. Initially, there was an outburst of loyalty and the Indian nationalist leaders supported the British government with men and money. More than a million Indian soldiers were sent overseas to join the British army, and a hundred million pounds were given to the British government. ## The Home Rule Leagues (1916) Two Home Rule Leagues were formed in 1916, one under the leadership of Tilak and the other under the leadership of Annie Besant. Together, they spread the Home Rule movement to different parts of the country. The main aim of the Leagues was to achieve self-government within the British empire after the war. Tilak and Annie Besant travelled all over India spreading the message of freedom and self-rule. The movement became very popular. ## The Lucknow Session of the Congress (1916) Another important development during the war was the change in the attitude of the Muslims towards the British government. The pro-British attitude of the Indian Muslims became anti-British. Large sections of the educated Muslims began to support the nationalist movement. Nationalist Muslims like the Ali brothers, Maulana Mohammad Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad spread nationalist ideas among the Muslims. According to them, there was no conflict between Islam and nationalism. Abul Kalam Azad criticized the British policy of divide and rule and urged Muslims to join in the struggle against the real enemy - British imperialism. The changed attitude of the Indian Muslims brought the League and the Congress close to one another. The growing unity between them led to the signing of the Lucknow Pact in 1916. The Lucknow Pact was an agreement signed by the Muslim League and the Congress to pave the way for a joint scheme of political reforms in India. Under the Lucknow Pact, the League, jointly with the Congress, put forward the demand for a Dominion Status for India. This was an important step towards Hindu-Muslim unity. The Lucknow session of the Congress also reunited the Moderates and the Radicals. The two wings of the Congress held a joint meeting for the first time since the Surat Split in 1907. The nationalists realized that it was necessary to put up a united front against the government. The unity between the Muslim League and the Congress, on the one hand, and the early nationalists and the assertive nationalists, on the other, aroused great political enthusiasm and strengthened the national movement. ## Values and Life Skills It is very important to understand that honesty builds trust. It is necessary to reinforce that we should be honest in every sphere of life. Dishonesty hurts both ourselves and others. Being honourable, fair-minded, and dependable are important virtues and help to build mutual trust. What are the ways in which we can help to make our society an honest society? ## Important words - **Early nationalists**: Were the nationalist leaders who led the Congress in its initial years. - **Assertive nationalists**: Were those leaders of the Congress who believed in the radical method of active opposition to the British government. - **Swaraj**: Means self-rule. It refers to the end of foreign rule. - **Partition of Bengal**: Was done in 1905 by Lord Curzon on communal lines, destroying the unity between the Hindus and the Muslims. - **Boycott of foreign goods**: Refers to the refusal to us British goods. - **Swadeshi**: Means the use of indigenous goods, i.e. goods produced and made in India. - **Muslim League**: Served as a political platform for upper-class Muslims. Its establishment checked the growth of national unity and weakened the national movement. - **Separate electorates**: Refer to the voting population of the country, divided into different electorates based on factors like religion, caste, occupation, etc. For example, it meant that Muslim voters could elect Muslim representatives. - **Home Rule Leagues**: Were formed under Tilak and Annie Besant with the aim to achieve self-government within the British. - **The Lucknow Pact**: Was signed between the Muslim League and the Congress in 1916, regarding a joint scheme of political reforms in India.