The Making of National Movemen

Cheatsheet Content

### The Rise of Nationalism (1870s) - **Emergence of Political Associations:** Many associations formed in the 1870s and 1880s, mostly by educated Indians in major cities like Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. - **Common Goals:** These associations aimed to protect the interests of Indians, promote public awareness about British injustice, and demand reforms in administration. - **Key Associations:** - **Poona Sarvajanik Sabha:** (1870) Focus on peasants' rights. - **Indian Association:** (1876) Led by Surendranath Banerjee, aimed to create an all-India political organization. - **Madras Mahajan Sabha:** (1884) - **Bombay Presidency Association:** (1885) - **Shared Belief:** The idea that Indians should be empowered to make decisions about their own affairs. ### Factors Contributing to Nationalism - **Arms Act (1878):** Disallowed Indians from possessing arms, while Europeans were allowed. - **Vernacular Press Act (1878):** Allowed the government to confiscate assets of newspapers that published "objectionable" material. - **Ilbert Bill (1883):** Proposed to allow Indian judges to try cases involving Europeans. Faced strong opposition from Europeans, leading to its withdrawal, highlighting racial inequality. - **Economic Exploitation:** British policies led to poverty, famines, and drain of wealth from India. - **Spread of Western Education:** Introduced new ideas of liberty, equality, and nationalism. - **Rediscovery of India's Past:** Archaeological and literary works by Indian and European scholars instilled pride in India's rich heritage. ### Formation of the Indian National Congress (1885) - **Objectives:** To promote political education, foster national unity, and voice Indian grievances. - **Early Leadership:** Founders included A.O. Hume (a retired British civil servant), Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee, Pherozeshah Mehta, W.C. Bonnerji, Romesh Chandra Dutt, S. Subramania Iyer. - **Early Demands (Moderate Phase - 1885-1905):** - Greater representation for Indians in legislative councils. - Indianisation of civil services. - Separation of judiciary from executive. - Reduction of military expenditure. - Greater autonomy for provinces. - Freedom of speech and expression. - **Methods:** Petitions, resolutions, public meetings, articles in newspapers. They believed in constitutional agitation. ### Rise of Militant Nationalism (Early 20th Century) - **Reasons for Discontent:** Failure of moderates to achieve significant reforms, famines, plague, economic hardship. - **Key Leaders (Lal-Bal-Pal):** Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal. - **Ideology:** Advocated for self-reliance, swadeshi (boycott of foreign goods), and direct action. Believed in more assertive methods and mass mobilization. - **Tilak's Slogan:** "Swaraj (self-rule) is my birthright and I shall have it." ### Partition of Bengal (1905) - **Lord Curzon's Decision:** Divided Bengal into East and West Bengal, ostensibly for administrative convenience, but actually to weaken Bengali nationalism. - **Massive Protest:** Led to widespread protests across India, especially in Bengal. - **Swadeshi Movement:** Emerged as a powerful anti-partition movement, advocating for the boycott of British goods and promotion of Indian-made products. - **Impact:** Encouraged indigenous industries, nationalist education, and cultural revival. - **Annulment of Partition:** The partition was annulled in 1911 due to sustained protests. ### Gandhi and Mass Movement (1915-1947) - **Arrival of Mahatma Gandhi (1915):** Returned from South Africa, where he had successfully fought against racial discrimination using non-violent civil disobedience (Satyagraha). - **Early Satyagrahas in India:** - **Champaran (1917):** Against oppressive indigo planters. - **Kheda (1918):** For peasants demanding revenue remission. - **Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918):** For textile workers' wages. - **Rowlatt Act (1919):** Allowed imprisonment without trial. Led to widespread protests and the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. - **Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919):** General Dyer ordered troops to fire on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar, killing hundreds. - **Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922):** - **Objectives:** Swaraj, redressal of Punjab wrongs, Khilafat issue. - **Methods:** Boycott of British institutions (schools, colleges, courts, foreign goods), renunciation of titles. - **Chauri Chaura Incident (1922):** Violent incident led Gandhi to call off the movement. - **Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934):** - **Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha - 1930):** Gandhi marched to Dandi to break the salt law, symbolizing defiance against British rule. - **Impact:** Wide participation, especially by women, peasants, and tribals. - **Quit India Movement (1942):** - **Context:** World War II, failure of Cripps Mission. - **Slogan:** "Do or Die." - **Impact:** Mass arrests, widespread protests, and violence. Signified the final push for independence. ### Towards Independence and Partition - **World War II (1939-1945):** Weakened Britain, increasing pressure for Indian independence. - **Cabinet Mission (1946):** Failed to reach an agreement on a united India. - **Direct Action Day (1946):** Called by the Muslim League, led to widespread communal violence. - **Mountbatten Plan (1947):** Proposed partition of India into India and Pakistan. - **Indian Independence Act (1947):** India gained independence on August 15, 1947, but also faced the tragedy of partition and communal riots. ### Key Personalities - **Moderates:** Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee, Gopal Krishna Gokhale. - **Extremists:** Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal. - **Revolutionaries:** Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose. - **Mahatma Gandhi:** Non-violent resistance. - **Jawaharlal Nehru:** First Prime Minister of India. - **Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel:** Integrated princely states. - **Muhammad Ali Jinnah:** Leader of the Muslim League. ### Legacy of the National Movement - **Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic:** India adopted these principles as enshrined in its Constitution. - **Unity in Diversity:** Despite the challenges of partition and regional differences, India has largely maintained its diverse character and democratic framework. - **Inspiration for Other Movements:** India's freedom struggle, particularly the non-violent methods employed by Mahatma Gandhi, inspired anti-colonial and civil rights movements globally. - **Challenges and Achievements:** The newly independent nation faced immense challenges such as communalism, poverty, and illiteracy, but also established a strong democratic foundation, economic planning, and social reforms.