Indian National Movement (1885-1905) & Ind. Nat. Congress 1885 all about
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT
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Indian National Movement
(1885-1905)
For the first time, most of the regions in India were United politically and administratively under a single power (the British rule). In introduced a uniform system of law and government.
Factors Promoting the Growth of
Nationalism in India
The following causes are responsible for the origin and growth of nationalism in India
Political Unity
For the first time, most of the region's in India were United politically and administratively under a single power (the British rule). It introduced a uniform system of law and government.
Development of Communication and Transport
The introduction of railways, telegraphs and postal services and the construction of roads and canals services facilitated communication among the people. All these brought Indians nearer to each other and provided the facility to organise the national Movement on all India basis.
English Language and Western Education
The English language played an important role in the growth of nationalism in the country. The English educated indian, who led the national Movement, developed Indian nationalism and organised it. Western education facilitated the spread of the concepts of liberty, equality, freedom and nationalism and sowed the seeds of nationalism.
The Role of the Press
The Indian Press, both English and vernacular, had also aroused the national consciousness.
Social and Religious Movement of the Nineteenth Century
The leaders of various organisation like the Brahmo Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Arya Samaj, and Theosophical society generated a feeling of regard for and pride in the motherland.
Economic Exploitation by the British
A good deal of anti-national British feeling was created by the economic policy pursued by the British government in India. The English systematically ruined the Indian trade and native industries. Therefore, economic exploitation by the British was one of the most important causes for the rise of Indian nationalism.
Racial Discrimination
The Revolt of 1857 created a kind of permanent bitterness and suspicion between the British and the Indians. The English feeling of Racial superiority grew. India as a nation and Indians as individuals were subjected to insults, humiliation and contemptuous treatment.
Administration of Lytton
Lord Lytton arranged the Delhi Durbar at a time when the larger part of India was in the grip of famine. He passed the Vernacular Press Act which curbed the liberty of the Indian Press. His Arms Act was a means to prevent the Indian from keeping arms. All these measures created widespread discontent among the Indians.
The Ilbert Bill Controversy
The Ilbert Bill was presented in the Central Legislature during the Viceroyalty of Lord Rupon. The Bill tried to rove racial inequality between Indian and European judges in courts. This Bill was opposed by the British residents in India. Ultimately the Bill was modified.
This various factors contributed to the rise of nationalism and the formation of the Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (1885)
Allan octavian Hume, a retired civil servant in the British Government took the initiative to form an all-india organization. Thus, the India National Congress was founded and it's first session was held at Bombay in 1885. W.C. Banarjee was it's first president. It was attended by 72 delegates from all over India. Persons attending the session belonged to different religious faiths. They discussed the problem of all the the Indians irrespective of their religion, caste, language and regions. Thus Indian National Congress from thr start was an all-india secular movement
Embracing every section of Indian society. The second session was held in Calcutta in 1886 and the third in Madras in 1887.
The history of the Indian National Movement can be studied in three important phases:
The phase of moderate nationalism (1885 - 1905) when the Congress continued to be loyal to the British crown.
The years 1906- 1916 witnessed-Swadeshi Movement, rise of militant nationalism and the Home Rule Movement
The period from 1917 to 1947 is known as the Gandhian era.
Moderate Nationalism
The leading figures during the first phase of the National Movement were A.O. Hume, W.C. Banerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Feroze Shah Mehta, Gopalkrishna Gokhale, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Badruddin Tyabji, Justice Renade ans G.Subramanya Aiyar.
He firmly opposed the Partition of Bengal. He founded the Indian Association (1876) to agitate for political reforms. He had convened the Indian National Conference (1883) which merged with the India National Congress in 1886. G. Subramanya Aiyar preached nationalism through the Madras Sabha. He also founded the Hindi and Swadesamitran. Dadabhai Naoroji was known as the Grand Old Man of India. He is regarded as India's unofficial Ambassador in England. He was the first Indian to become a Member of the British House of Commons. Gopal Krishan Gokhale was regarded as the political guru of Gandhi. Toln train 1905, he founded the servants of India Society Indians to dedicates their lives to the cause of the country.
For a few years the Congress enjoyed the patronage of the British administrators. Between 1885 and 1905,thr Congress Leaders were moderates had faith in the British justice and Goodwill. They were called moderates because they adopted peaceful and constitutional means to achieve their demands.
Main Demands of Moderates
Expansion and reform of legislative councils.
Greater opportunities for Indians in higher posts by holding the ICS examination simultaneously in England and in India.
- Separation of the Judiciary from the executive.
- More powers for the local bodies
- Reduction of land revenue and protection of peasants from unjust landlords
- Abolition of salt and sugar duty.
- Reduction of spending on Army.
- Freedom of speech and expression and freedom to form associations.
Methods of Moderates
The moderates had total faith in the British sense of Justice and Fair play. They were loyal to the British. They looked to England for inspiration and guidance. The moderates used petitions, resolutions, meetings, leaflets and pamphlets, memorandum and delegations to present their demands. They confined thier political activities to the educated classes only their aim was to attain political rights and government stage by stage.
In the beginning, the British Government welcomed the birth of the Indian National Congress in 1886, Governer General Lord Dufferin have a tea garden party for the Congress Members in Calcutta. The government officials had also attended Congress sessions. With the increase in Congress demands, the government became unfriendly. It encouraged the Muslims to stay away from the Congress granted by the British was the expansion of the legislative Council by the Indian Councils Act of 1892.
Achievements of Moderates
The moderates were able to create a wide national awakening among the people.
They popularized the ideas of democracy, civil liberties and representative institutions.
They explained how the British were exploiting Indians. Particularly, Dadabhai Naoroji in his famous book Poverty and UnBritish Rule in India wrote his Drain theory. He showed how India's wealth was going away to England in the form of
a) Salaried
b) Savings
c) Pensions
d) Payments to British troops to appoint the welby commissions, with Dadabhai as the first Indian as itsember, to enquire into the matter.
Some moderates like Ranade and Gokhale favoured social reforms. They protested against child marriage and widowhood.
The moderates had succeeded in getting the expansion of the legislative councils Act of 1892.
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