a. Factors promoting growth of nationalism
i. Political unity - most regions in India were politically united under a single power under a uniform system of law and govt.
ii. Development of communication and transportation - railways, telegraph, postal services and construction of roads facilitated communication among people.
iii. English language and western education - educated Indians led the national movement and organized it, spread of concepts of liberty, equality, freedom and nationalism
iv. Role of press - both vernacular and English press aroused national conciousness
v. Reform movements - leaders of various organizations such as Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramkrishna Mission aimed to eradicate inequalities and unite people under Indian nationalism
vi. British exploitation - anti-British feeling created by economic policies pursued by them
vii. Racial discrimination - revolt created permanent bitterness among British and Indians, and their feeling of superiority grew
b. Early political associations
i. British Indian Association 1851 - formed by the amalgamation of the Landholders’ Society and the Bengal British India Society. Submissions of petitions to the Government and to the British Parliament on grievances, trust in the good intentions of the rulers. President of the first committee of this organization was Raja Radhakanta Deb, while Debendranath Tagore was its secretary.
ii. Bombay Association 1852 - founded by Naoroji Furdoonji , 1st political organization in Bombay Presidency . It's purpose was to vent public grievances to the British.
iii. East India Association 1866 - founded by Dadabhai Naoroji in London. One of the predecessor organizations of the Indian National Congress. The idea was to present the correct information about India to the British Public and voice Indian grievances.
iv. Madras Native Association 1852 - 1st organization in the Madras Presidency to vent for the rights of Indians was the Madras Native Association which was established by Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty in 1849. Merged with - Madras Mahajana Sabha 1884 - established by P. Anandacharlu and P. Rangaiya Naidu
v. Poona Sarvajanik Sabha 1870 - was founded by Mahadev Govind Ranade. Mediating body between the government and people of India and to popularize the peasants' legal rights
c. Indian National Congress - founded by Octavian Hume in 1995. W.C. Banerjee was first president, session held in Bombay where 72 delegates gathered. History INC can be in three phases
i. Moderate (1885-1905) when Congress continued to be loyal to British Crown.
ii. Home Rule (1906-16) - Swadesi Movement, militant nationalism and Home Rule Movement
iii. Gandhian Era (1917-47)
d. Moderates - leading figures were A.O. Hume, W.C. Banerjee, Surendranath Banerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Feroze Shah Mehta, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Madan Mohan Malviya, Badruddin Tyabjii, M.G. Ranade, G. Subramaniam Aiyar.
i. Surendranath Banerjee was called Indian Burke. Firmly opposed partition of Bengal, founded Indian Association 1876 to agitate for political reforms. Convened Indian National Conference in 1883 which merged with INC in 1886.
ii. G Subramaniam Aiyar - preached nationalism through Madras Mahajan Sabha. Also founded The Hindu and Swadeshmitran
iii. Dadabhai Naoroji - Grand Old Man of India, regarded as India's unofficial ambassador in England. 1st Indian to become member of British House of Commons.
iv. Gopal Krishna Gokhale - political guru of Gandhi. Founded Servants of India Society 1905 to train Indians to dedicate lives to cause of country
Moderates adopted peaceful and constitutional means to achieve their demands
e. Main demands -
i. Expansion and reform of legislative councils
ii. Greater opportunities of Indians in higher posts by holding ICS exam in England and India at the same time
iii. Separation of judiciary from executive
iv. More power for local bodies
v. Reduction of land revenue and protection of peasants
vi. Abolition of salt tax and sugar duty
vii. Reduction of spending on army
viii. Freedom of speech and to form associations
f. Methods of moderates - faith in British sense of justice and fair play. Used petitions, resolutions, meetings, leaflets and pamphlets to present their demands. Confined activities to educated class only, aim to attain political rights and self-govt stage by stage.
i. British govt welcomed INC in beginning. But with increase in their demands, govt became unfriendly. Only demand granted was expansion of legislative councils by Indian Councils Act 1892.
g. Achievements of moderates
i. Able to create wide national awakening among people
ii. Popularized idea of democracy, civil liberties and representative institutions
iii. Brought awakening to level of exploitation - Naoroji in Poverty and UnBritish Rule in India gave Drain Theory. British Govt forced to appoint Welby Commission 1895 to look into the expenditure.
Favored social reforms and protested against child marriage and for widow remarriage.
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