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The Struggle Begins – 1858-1905

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1 MODERATE PHASE AND EARLY CONGRESS 1858-1905
2 Factors in Growth of Modern Nationalism
3 Political Associations Before Indian National Congress
4 Foundation of Indian National Congress
5 Moderate Phase 1885-1905
6 Contributions of Moderate Nationalists
7 Attitude of the Government

MODERATE PHASE AND EARLY CONGRESS 1858-1905

  1. Indian nationalism
    1. Partly as a result of colonial policies
    2. Partly as a reaction to colonial policies
    3. Others
      1. Rt to self-determination initiated by French Revolution
      2. Indian renaissance
  2. 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

  1. people realised the contradictions in Indian and colonial interests
  2. Political, administrative and economic unification of the country by Br
    1. Br.India larger than Mauryas and Mughals
    2. Direct rule of Br.India and indirect rule of princely states by Br
    3. Civil service, unified judiciary, codified civil and criminal law unified administration
    4. Railways, roadways, telegraph, electricity helped commercial exploitation, economic penetration and military defence
    5. Nationalist take on unification
      1. Economic fate of different region interlinked
      2. Modern means of transport and communication brought people together
  3. Western thought and education - Milton, shelley, john stuart mill, Rousseau, paine, Spencer and voltaire
  4. Role of press and literature
  5. 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
  6. Progressive Character of Socio-religious Reform Movements
  7. Rise of middle class intelligentsia provided leadership to congress
  8. Impact of contemporary movements worldwide
  9. Reactionary policies and racial arrogance of rulers
    1. Lytton's reactionary policy(19 from 21 ICS age)
    2. Grand Delhi Durbar of 1877 during famine
    3. Vernacular press act 1878
    4. Arms act 1878
    5. Ilbert Bill controversy during Ripon govt

Political Associations Before Indian National Congress

  1. 1836 - Bangabhasha Prakasika Sabha - associates of Raja Ram Mohan Roy
  2. 1838 - Zamindari Association or Landholders' Society
  3. 1843 - Bengal British India Society
  4. 1851 - British Indian Association = Landholder's society + Bengal British India Society
  5. 1866 - East India Association - Dadabhai Naoroji in london
  6. 1875 - Indian League Sisir Kumar Gosh
  7. 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
  8. 1867 - Poona Sarvajanik Sabha - Mahadev Govind Ranade
  9. 1885 - Bombay Presidency Association - Badruddin Tyabji, Pherzsha Mehta and K.T.Telang
  10. 1884 - Madras Mahajan Sabha - M.Viraraghavachari, B.Subramaniya Aiyer, P.Ananda Charlu

Foundation of Indian National Congress

  1. Retired English civil servant A.O.Home founded INC
  2. First session held in 1885 (Bombay).
  3. Indian National Union, formed by A.O. Hume, became Indian National Congress.
  4. 722 delegates and Womesh Chandra Bannerjea
  5. Kadambini Ganguly 1st woman graduate of calcutta univ to address congress session
  6. Foundational theories of INC and prominent believers:
    1. Safety Valve Theory —Lala Lajpat Rai
    2. Conspiracy Theory—R.P. Dutt
    3. Lightning conductor Theory—G.K. Gokhale

Moderate Phase 1885-1905

  1. 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.
  2. Moderates
    1. Create public opinion on national spirit, educate and unite people on common political question
    2. Persuade Br to bring reform on this line
    3. Constitutional agitation within four walls of law
    4. Political education of people
    5. Political connections with Britain in India's interests at that stage
    6. Time not ripe for direct challenge to colonial rule
    7. Create public opinion in India and campaign for support to Indian demands in England
    8. So Br committee of INC established in London in 1899 - Dadabhai Naoroji worked abroad

Contributions of Moderate Nationalists

  1. Economic critique of British imperialism - Dadabhai Naoroji, R.C. Dutt, Dinshaw Wacha
  2. Constitutional reforms and propaganda in legislature - Expand Imp Leg Council - 1892 - Indian Council act conceded
    1. 1st time indirect election to members
    2. 10-16 non-officials
    3. Budget discussed but not voted
    4. Question can be asked not supplementaries
  3. Campaign for general administrative reforms
  4. Defence of civil rights - Tilak arrested and Natu brothers deported
  5. Role of Masses
    1. 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

  1. Govt hostile towards INC despite moderate methods and loyalty to br crown
  2. Condemned congress as seditious brahmins, disloyal babus, a factory of sedition
  3. Divide rule policy
    1. Encouraged reactionaries like Sir Syed Ahmed khan and Raja Shiv Prasad Singh of Benaras to Organise United Patriotic Association to counter INC
    2. Pitted Moderates and against Extremist