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MODERATE PHASE AND EARLY CONGRESS 1858-1905
- Indian nationalism
- Partly as a result of colonial policies
- Partly as a reaction to colonial policies
- Others
- Rt to self-determination initiated by French Revolution
- Indian renaissance
- Views
- The period from 1858 to 1905 was the seed time of Indian nationalism; and the early nationalist sowed the seeds well and deep - Bipin Chandra
Factors in Growth of Modern Nationalism
- people realised the contradictions in Indian and colonial interests
- Political, administrative and economic unification of the country by Br
- Br.India larger than Mauryas and Mughals
- Direct rule of Br.India and indirect rule of princely states by Br
- Civil service, unified judiciary, codified civil and criminal law unified administration
- Railways, roadways, telegraph, electricity helped commercial exploitation, economic penetration and military defence
- Nationalist take on unification
- Economic fate of different region interlinked
- Modern means of transport and communication brought people together
- Western thought and education - Milton, shelley, john stuart mill, Rousseau, paine, Spencer and voltaire
- Role of press and literature
- Rediscovery of India's past—historical researches by Max Mueller, Monier Williams, Roth and Sassoon, R.G.Bhadarkar, R.L.Mitra and Swami Vivekananda - Indo-aryan same ethnic group
- Progressive Character of Socio-religious Reform Movements
- Rise of middle class intelligentsia provided leadership to congress
- Impact of contemporary movements worldwide
- Reactionary policies and racial arrogance of rulers
- Lytton's reactionary policy(19 from 21 ICS age)
- Grand Delhi Durbar of 1877 during famine
- Vernacular press act 1878
- Arms act 1878
- Ilbert Bill controversy during Ripon govt
Political Associations Before Indian National Congress
- 1836 - Bangabhasha Prakasika Sabha - associates of Raja Ram Mohan Roy
- 1838 - Zamindari Association or Landholders' Society
- 1843 - Bengal British India Society
- 1851 - British Indian Association = Landholder's society + Bengal British India Society
- 1866 - East India Association - Dadabhai Naoroji in london
- 1875 - Indian League Sisir Kumar Gosh
- 1876 - Indian Association of Calcutta or Indian National Association - surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose discontented with Br Indian Association for their pro-landlord policies - most imp org before INC
- 1867 - Poona Sarvajanik Sabha - Mahadev Govind Ranade
- 1885 - Bombay Presidency Association - Badruddin Tyabji, Pherzsha Mehta and K.T.Telang
- 1884 - Madras Mahajan Sabha - M.Viraraghavachari, B.Subramaniya Aiyer, P.Ananda Charlu
Foundation of Indian National Congress
- Retired English civil servant A.O.Home founded INC
- First session held in 1885 (Bombay).
- Indian National Union, formed by A.O. Hume, became Indian National Congress.
- 722 delegates and Womesh Chandra Bannerjea
- Kadambini Ganguly 1st woman graduate of calcutta univ to address congress session
- Foundational theories of INC and prominent believers:
- Safety Valve Theory —Lala Lajpat Rai
- Conspiracy Theory—R.P. Dutt
- Lightning conductor Theory—G.K. Gokhale
Moderate Phase 1885-1905
- Important leaders: Dadabhai Naoroji(thrice prez), Badruddin Tyabji, Pherozeshah Mehta, P. Ananda Charlu, Surendranath Banerjea, Romesh Chandra Dutt, Ananda Mohan Bose, G.K.Gokhale, etc.
- Moderates
- Create public opinion on national spirit, educate and unite people on common political question
- Persuade Br to bring reform on this line
- Constitutional agitation within four walls of law
- Political education of people
- Political connections with Britain in India's interests at that stage
- Time not ripe for direct challenge to colonial rule
- Create public opinion in India and campaign for support to Indian demands in England
- So Br committee of INC established in London in 1899 - Dadabhai Naoroji worked abroad
Contributions of Moderate Nationalists
- Economic critique of British imperialism - Dadabhai Naoroji, R.C. Dutt, Dinshaw Wacha
- Constitutional reforms and propaganda in legislature - Expand Imp Leg Council - 1892 - Indian Council act conceded
- 1st time indirect election to members
- 10-16 non-officials
- Budget discussed but not voted
- Question can be asked not supplementaries
- Campaign for general administrative reforms
- Defence of civil rights - Tilak arrested and Natu brothers deported
- Role of Masses
- Masses played passive role bcos moderates didn't believe in them as they were heterogeneous and need to welded together as one nation
Attitude of the Government
- Govt hostile towards INC despite moderate methods and loyalty to br crown
- Condemned congress as seditious brahmins, disloyal babus, a factory of sedition
- Divide rule policy
- Encouraged reactionaries like Sir Syed Ahmed khan and Raja Shiv Prasad Singh of Benaras to Organise United Patriotic Association to counter INC
- Pitted Moderates and against Extremist