First Phase of the Indian National Movement (1885-1907) (copy)

Historical Phases of the Indian National Movement

• The history of the Indian National Movement is broadly categorized into three distinct phases:

  • The Early Nationalist Phase: $1885$ to $1907$.

  • The Assertive Phase: $1907$ to $1916$.

  • The Gandhian Era: $1915$ to $1947$.

The Early Nationalist Leaders ($1885-1907$)

• In its initial years, the Indian National Congress was led by the Early Nationalists, drawn primarily from the educated middle class.

• They were professionals including lawyers, barristers, teachers, and officials who were inspired by Western thought.

• Many leaders were educated in England and believed the British intended to be just to Indians, though they were often unaware of the actual conditions in India.

• Key leaders from across India included:

  • Bengal: W.C. Bonnerjee, Rashbehari Ghosh, Surendranath Banerjee, and R.C. Dutt.

  • Maharashtra and Gujarat: Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, and Justice M.G. Ranade.

  • Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu: P.R. Naidu, Subramania Iyer, and Ananda Charlu.

  • Uttar Pradesh: Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.

  • Liberal Englishmen: A.O. Hume and Wedderburn.

Basic Beliefs and Loyalties

• They were staunch believers in open-minded and 'moderate' politics.

• They maintained loyalty to the British Crown. B.C. Pal stated in $1887$: "I am loyal to the British government because with me loyalty to the British government is identical with loyalty to my own people and my own country…"

• Objectives for Governance:

  • They sought for Indians to have a proper and legitimate share in the government.

  • They aimed for eventual self-government.

  • They sought constitutional and other reforms within the legal framework of British rule.

  • They believed the connection with Britain was in the interest of both England and India, and they had faith in the British sense of justice and fair play.

Comprehensive Demands of the Early Nationalists

• Economic Demands:

  • Abolition of the Salt Tax and the duty on sugar.

  • Reduction of land revenue.

  • Demanded that the government provide loans for the development of industries like iron, coal, paper, and sugar in India.

  • Changes in fiscal policy and better job opportunities for the educated middle class.

• Administrative Demands:

  • Indianisation of services through simultaneous Indian Civil Service (I.C.S.) examinations in England and India.

  • Complete separation of the executive from the judiciary to protect Indians from arbitrary bureaucratic acts.

  • Expansion of Legislative Councils and increasing the power of local bodies.

  • Reduction of official control over local bodies, Universities, and Municipalities.

  • Reform of the police system to make it efficient and popular.

  • Repeal of the Arms Act and Licence Act.

• Civil Rights Defense:

  • Opposition to restrictions on the freedom of speech and the press.

  • Abolition of the Preventive Detention Act to protect individual liberties.

  • Restoration of the right to assemble and form associations.

Methods of Struggle: Constitutional Agitation

• The Early Nationalists followed "Constitutional Agitation," advocating for slow, orderly political progress within the legal framework.

• They avoided extreme demands to work on lines of least resistance.

• First Objective: Educate the Indian Public:

  • Holding meetings to pass resolutions on popular demands.

  • Using the press to criticize government policies.

  • Sending carefully drafted memorandums and petitions to officials and the British Parliament (using facts and arguments to educate the Indian people).

• Second Objective: Influence the British Government and Public:

  • The Three P’s: Petitions, Prayers, and Protests.

  • British Committee of the Indian National Congress: Established in London in $1889$; it published a weekly journal called India to present the Indian case.

  • Deputations: Sending leaders to Britain to enlighten politicians and the public about Indian affairs.

Contributions of Dadabhai Naoroji ($1825-1917$)

• Known as the 'Grand Old Man of India', born in a Parsi family in Mumbai on September $4, 1825$.

• Career:

  • Professor of Mathematics at Elphinstone College, Mumbai, for $10$ years.

  • Worked in a firm in England starting in $1855$ and returned to Mumbai in $1869$.

  • Member of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Town Council.

  • Edited the newspaper Rast Goftar ('Speaker of Truth') and started the magazine Dharma Marg Darshak.

• Key Political Achievements:

  • India's Unofficial Ambassador: Fight for the Indian cause while staying in England.

  • Founded the London India Society ($1865$) with W.C. Bonnerjee and the East India Association ($1866$) in London.

  • First Indian to become a member of the British House of Commons in England.

  • Influenced the House of Commons to pass a resolution in favor of simultaneous I.C.S. examinations in $1893$.

  • Served as President of the Indian National Congress three times: $1886$, $1893$, and $1906$.

• Economic and Political Thought:

  • Exposed the economic exploitation of India in his book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India.

  • Formulated the 'Drain Theory' explaining how India’s wealth was being drained to England.

  • Demanded Swaraj (Self-government like Canada or Australia) from the Congress platform in $1906$ for the first time.

Contributions of Gopal Krishna Gokhale ($1866-1915$)

• Born at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, in $1866$. He was a Professor of History and Economics at Fergusson College, Pune.

• Influenced by Justice M.G. Ranade and joined the Deccan Education Society.

• Key Accomplishments:

  • Presided over the Varanasi session of the Congress in $1905$.

  • Persuaded the British for reforms using constitutional means; criticized army expenditure and racial discrimination in high posts.

  • Played a significant role in the passage of the Minto-Morley Reforms.

  • Served on the Imperial Legislative Council ($1889$) and urged for reduction in Salt Duty and excise duty on cotton goods.

  • Founded the Servants of India Society in $1905$ to train national leaders for selfless service.

• Relationship with Gandhi:

  • Helped Gandhiji in South Africa against racial discrimination.

  • Persuaded Gandhiji to return to India. Gandhiji accepted him as his 'political mentor'.

Contributions of Surendranath Banerjee ($1848-1925$)

• Known as the 'Father of Indian Nationalism'.

• Early Career and Associations:

  • Qualified for the I.C.S. but was dismissed for opposing racial discrimination.

  • Founded the Indian Association in $1876$ to create political consciousness and unity.

  • Convened the Indian National Conference in $1883$ (which merged with the Indian National Congress in $1886$).

  • Presided over Congress sessions in $1895$ and $1902$.

• Political and Educational Work:

  • Professor of English at Metropolitan College; founded Ripon College.

  • Edited the newspaper Bengalee.

  • Wrote the book A Nation in the Making.

• Advocacy and Opposition:

  • Famous saying: "Opposition where necessary, co-operation where possible."

  • Protested against the Licence Act, Arms Act, Vernacular Press Act, and lowering the I.C.S. exam age from $21$ to $19$.

  • Opposed the division of Bengal in $1905$ and the Morley-Minto Reforms of $1909$.