Mains Question
Rise of nationalism during 18th and 19th century of India was a result of world events, British colonial policy and Impact of Socio-Religious reform movements. Explain.
- Reasons for Rise of nationalism was a combination of many factors
- World events
- French Revolution (1789) : Inspirations to Henry Vivian Derozio
- American Revolution
- various other wars
- British Policy
- administrative unity, communication development provided geographical unity,
- printing press: exchange of ideas.
- 1857 mutiny
- Arms act, 1878
- Vernacular press act, 1878
- Afghan Act, 1878
- Ilbert Bill controversy in 1883 => Indian judge can try European. (Rippon)
- Socio Religious Reforms
- introspection on religion
- administrative issues
- European historians to write Indian history (Max Muller)
- Indian Historians and writers => sense of nationalism.
- Single most important feature for rise of Nationalism : 1857 Mutiny.
- hence various factors for rise of nationalism, after formation of INC, it got a concrete foundation
Indian National Congress, formed in 1885 was bound by the circumstances into which it was born, but even then it's early contributions are immense. Comment.
- Circumstances
- can't oppose openly against British policy => hence used AOH
- can't take up social causes because they are bound to unify nation.
- impossible to take mass movement shape => hence adopted PPP model
- have to take special safeguard to minority (to take them in to confidence)
- Aims
- Political education
- nation building, have to give concrete shape, as the divergent society
- contributions
- conclusion: eventhough there was no mass backing, no mass mobilisation, no say in government and administration, no participation in councils, still able to show true nature of british and bring several reforms.
Pre-INC organisations
General Features
- Major aim was for reforms (and never was freedom)
- Majority of them was in confusion, about British rule, that whether it is benevolent or not. (they don't know about their situation)
- only with economic critic, they start to know about themselves.
- all of them are at regional level
Bengal
- Bangabasha Prakashika Sabha, 1836, by associates RRMR
- Land Holders Society (Zamindar Association), 1838, to safeguard interests of Zamindars
- Bengal British India Society, 1843, by George Thomson, collecting information regarding the condition of Indians under EIC rule and disseminating that in Britain.
- British Indian Associations
- 1851, Zamindari Assocition + BBIS (combined to form)
- Demands (accepted and came into force in Charter Act of 1853
- seperation of legislature from executive, Executive and Judical seperation
- reduction in salary of higher officials.
- East India Association
- 1866, Dadabhai Naoroji, in London, to spread awareness among britishers about the demands of Indians
- Indian Association of Calcutta
- 1876, Surendranath Banerjee & Anand Mohan Bose, with aims
- Create public opinion on political question
- unify Indian people
Bombay
- 1852, Bombay Association, to agitate for Indian demands in Britain and spread political awareness
- Puna Sarvajanik Sabha, 1867, M G Ranade, act as bridge b/w government and people.
Madrass
- Madrass Mahajan Sabha,
- 1884,
- B. Subhrahmanya Aiyer and P. Ananda Charlu,
- to cordinate activities of local association and provide leadership.
- Their demands included expansion of councils and separation of executive and judicial functions.
Indian National Conference
- Surendranath Banarjee, 1884, first pan-Indian organisation.
- SB was a civil servent, who resigned, done several attempt to create a pan-India movement but failed because of British opposition (fearing 1857 will repeat)
INC Formation
A O Hume contribution
- of course tried to safeguard British, Safety Valve theory, will negotiate through it with Indian
- recommended to Dufferin that it will be an organisation for Indians to meet and an convey their issues to the government.
- Hence under leadership of Hume, in 28 Dec, 1885, Bombay, 72 delegates, W.C. Bonnerjee.
- How Indians Used AOH
- they used him to persuade Viceroy and government so that it will be formed without British opposition
- for Indians INC was lightening conductor to ignite the masses, and not a safety valve.
Agenda of INC
- Generation of Political awareness
- Nation Building
Challenges before Early INC
- To show the true exploitative nature of British rule to public => done by Early INC.
- to show that British rule can be challenged => done by Extremist and Gandhi.
- a generation which thought that they are inferior to British, hence how we can challenge them
Initial Contribution of INC
- Agitate for constitutional reforms
- Indian Councils act of 1892 (direct effect due to PPP strategy of INC, given right to ask question, indirect election, discussion of budgets)
- Civil Rights
- Repeal of Arms Act, Vernacular Press Act
- press freedoms
- General Administrative Reforms Protests for
- indianisation of higher civil service
- reduction of military expenditure
- favorable trade policies
- Economic Critique (Most important contribution of early INC leaders)
- Drain of Wealth
- Unfavourable trade policy
- Railways
- Factories Act
Dadabhai Naoroji
- Grand Old man of India, devoted his entire wealth and youth and life to cause of Indian people.
- contributed in so many facets of freedom struggle
- participated in Second International, Germany
- President and all of the members stood up and applauded for contributions done by him.
- Dadabhai Naoroji provided the Drain of Wealth theory. Which included
- Expenditure incurred in England by Secy of State on behalf of India, post 1857 this constituted, 24% of total revenue in India and later increased to 50%. (our wealth is used to finance british expenditures in all spheres)
- Civil and military charges
- Interest to be paid on foreign capital investment
- Gifts received by Civil Servant.
- the above contributed around 30 Cr Rs per annum 1883-1892.
Trade Policy of British
- Reduced India from an exporter of finished goods to an exporter of raw materials and importer of finished goods
- after 1813 this trade balance was heavily accentuated.
Railways
- Served as an instrument of colonialism as most railway lines served British Interest.
- 3% return in Britain for steel manufacturers, compared to 5% return in India
- Railways helped in opening up of new markets, bringing in more labour and exploitation of Natural Resources
Factories Act
- Factory Act 1881
- Children under 7yrs not allowed ;
- working hr< 9 hr for child in day.
- minimum 4 holidays for child per month
- Note: so think about Industrial revolution time adult workers: have to work 13-18 hrs, each and every day. (that is why Marxism was so violent. Anybody who lived in such a situation will be take up violence; all the child of marx died because of working in such situations)
- Factory Act 1891
- Children under 9 yrs prohibited and not more than 7 hrs of daily work.
- Women to work not more than 11 hrs daily
- weekly holiday for all.
- These acts were not applicable to British Plantation, hence BGT was opposed to the factory act.
Note:
- both of them opposed by Tilak because these will not be applicable to Plantation, which had more workers and almost are owned by Britishers, other factories are generally less workers and owned by Indians, hence govt aimed to demote them
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