The Making of the Indian National Movement
The idea of National Movement originated after different political organisations came into effect after the period of 1850’s.
Most of such organizations were made between the years 1870 to 1880.
There were also various reasons behind the Indian National Movement.
Reasons Behind Indian National Movement
The Arms Act was made in the year 1878.
In the period between 1850 and 1880, many political organizations were made. These organizations had numerous well-educated people who knew the pain of being controlled. Indian National Congress, Poona Sarvajanik sabha, Madras Mahajan Sabha, Bombay Presidency Association and many others.
Problems associated with the introduction of Ilbert Bill by Viceroy Ripon (1883-allow senior Indian magistrates for the trials of Europeans in India)
The infamous Vernacular Press Act was made by Lord Lytton and it was passed in the year 1878 to suppress the Indian Press who criticised the government & its various actions.
Formation of the Indian National Congress (Dadabhai Naoroji, W.C. Bannerjee, R.C. Dutt)
Make the Legislative Councils more representative to indians and give them more power
Indians should also be designated to higher ranks in government services.
The administration should be Indianised.
The judiciary must also be separated from the executive.
Freedom of speech & repeal of the Arms Act were the other demands of Congress.
The method of political bargaining of the INC was criticised by some leaders after the year 1890.
Major opponents of INC were Bal Gangadhar Tilak, B.C. Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai and others. More radical objectives & methods were supported by them.
Self Reliance and Constructive Work
People must rely on their own strength not on others good intentions.
The British Govt. also played a divide and rule policy to neutralize the Bengali leaders by partitioning Bengal into two parts. It was opposed by the leaders of INC.
The movement against the partition of Bengal is called as the Swadeshi Movement. The Swadeshi Movement is of immense historical significance.
The Swadeshi Movement also brought the idea of boycotting the British products by promoting the ideas of self-help, swadeshi enterprise, national education etc. An idea of revolutionary violence was then realized to give an end to British rule in India.
Congress was later split in the year 1907 by opposing the idea of a boycott. INC was separated into two parts namely Moderates and Extremists.
INC was reunited then in 1915 session and signed the famous Lucknow Pact with the Muslim League in the year 1916.
The Growth of Mass Nationalism
After 1919, the unfortunate struggle against Britain rule simultaneously formed into a mass movement.
This movement consisted of tribals, students, peasants, and women, in abundance.
In some circumstances, these movements also comprise factory workers. After World War I took place, India’s political and economic situation was drastically disrupted.
This thus led to an extreme rise in the Indian Government’s defence expenditure. Moreover, even individual income taxes and business profit taxes were increased.
The Advent of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was known as a mass leader. He reached India in 1915 from South Africa. He then established non-violent protests against different racial restrictions.
The Rowlatt Satyagraha
In 1919, Mahatma Gandhi called for a satyagraha movement against the Rowlatt act. This act prohibited the fundamental rights of Indians like freedom of expression and even strengthened the police powers.
Khilafat agitation and the Non-cooperation Movement
In 1920 the British imposed a harsh treaty on the Turkish Sultan or Khalifa.
The leaders of the Khilafat agitation, Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, initiated a full-fledged Non-Cooperation Movement. Gandhiji supported their movement and urged the Congress to campaign against the Jallianwala massacre, the Khilafat was wrong and demanded swaraj.
The Non-Cooperation Movement gained momentum through 1921-22.C. British titles were surrendered, and boycotted the legislature. The imports of foreign cloth fell drastically between 1920 and 1922. Large parts of the country were on the brink of a formidable revolt.
The happenings of 1922-1929
Mahatma Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement with the Chauri Chaura Incident in 1922.
When the Non-Cooperation movement was over, Gandhi’s followers stressed that Congress must undertake constructive work in rural areas. Other leaders argued that the party should fight elections to the councils.
In 1930, the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched. Two important developments of the mid-1920s were the formation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu organisation, and the Communist Party of India.
By the end of the decade, Congress resolved to fight for Purna Swaraj in 1929 under the presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru. Consequently, “Independence Day ” was observed on 26 January 1930 all over the country.
The March to Dandi
Around 1930, Mahatma Gandhi marched along with his followers for breaking the salt law. This law states that the state consisted of a monopoly on the manufacturing and selling of salt. The salt March thus linked the common desire of freedom to a particular grievance shared by all Indians. This further united Indians abundantly.
Quit India and Later
The last section of this chapter deals with ‘Quit India’. Mahatma Gandhi started a new and final phase of the National Movement, also known as the Quit India movement. He was dedicated to making the British leave India. He motivated the people of India by saying phrases like ‘do or die’. He continued this movement with non-violence and even attracted the youth and peasants that gave up their jobs and studies to fight for the independence of India. Students will learn more about the last movement that took place before India attained independence.
In 1940, India’s Muslim league claimed independent states for Muslims altogether. The league thus began in the late 1930s itself. The league further viewed Muslims as a whole different nation from that of Hindus. The provincial elections that took place in 1937 convinced the Muslims that they were nothing more than a minority. This thus emerged a sort of threat among the Muslims.
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