The Making of the National Movement: 1870s-1947

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The Emergence of Nationalism

India was the people of India where all the people irrespective of class, colour, caste, creed, language, or gender resides.
The British were exercising control over the resources of India.
The political associations were started forming after 1850, especially those that came into being in the 1870s and 1880s.
The important ones were the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, the Indian Association, the Madras Mahajan Sabha, the Bombay Presidency Association, and the Indian National Congress.
The Arms Act was passed in 1878, disallowing Indians from possessing arms.
The Vernacular Press Act was also enacted in 1878 to silence government critics.
The Indian National Congress was established in December 1885 by 72 delegates.
Leaders included Dadabhai Naoroji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Surendranath Banerji, and Romesh Chandra Dutt.

A nation in the making

The Congress was “moderate” in its objectives and methods for the first 20 years.
It demanded high government positions for Indians and civil service exams in India.
It also raised a number of economic issues.

The Growth of Mass Nationalism

By the 1890s, radical methods emerged under Bepin Chandra Pal, Tilak, and Lala Lajpat Rai.
Tilak declared, "Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it!"
The partition of Bengal in 1905 sparked widespread opposition.
The Swadeshi movement promoted self-help and national education.
In 1907, the Congress split but reunited in 1915.
The Lucknow Pact between Congress and the Muslim League was signed in 1916.

The Rowlatt Satyagraha

In 1919, Rowlatt Act curtailed civil liberties and led Gandhiji to call for satyagraha.
The movement was the first all-India struggle against the British.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre happened on 13 April 1919 under General Dyer’s orders.

Khilafat agitation and the Non-Cooperation Movement

Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali led the Khilafat agitation.
Gandhiji merged this with the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22).
Students left government institutions, titles were surrendered, and legislatures were boycotted.

People’s initiatives

Kheda peasants protested against high land revenue.
Liquor shops were picketed in Andhra and Tamil Nadu.
Forest satyagrahas occurred in Guntur.
Muslim traders and peasants supported Khilafat in Sind.
Communal unity was seen in Bengal.
Akali agitation in Punjab and wage demands in Assam tea gardens emerged.

The happenings of 1922-1929

Gandhiji called off the movement after Chauri Chaura violence in 1922.
RSS and Communist Party were formed in mid-1920s.
Purna Swaraj was declared the goal at the 1929 Congress session under Nehru.

The March to Dandi

In 1930, Salt March was led by Gandhiji to break the salt law.
The Government of India Act, 1935 introduced provincial autonomy.
Second World War started in 1939; Congress ministries resigned.

Quit India and Later

In 1942, Gandhiji launched the Quit India Movement.
Leaders were jailed but the movement spread rapidly.

Towards Independence and Partition

In 1940, the Muslim League demanded independent Muslim states.
In 1937, Congress rejected League’s alliance proposal in UP.
After the war, British held talks with Congress and League, but they failed.
The League demanded Pakistan and declared Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946.
Riots broke out in Calcutta and spread elsewhere.
By March 1947, Partition violence was widespread, and Pakistan was born.

MCQs

1. Which of the following achievements of the Moderates cannot be considered true?

(a) The Moderates helped in removing social injustices like the rigid caste structure that divided the Indian society

(b) Due to the persistent efforts of the Moderates, Indians understood the concepts of freedom, secularism and democracy.

(d) This microscopic minority of leaders could change the policies and made a huge impact on British.

► (d) This microscopic minority of leaders could change the policies and made a huge impact on British.

2. Name the Viceroy who was responsible for partitioning Bengal in 1905?

(a) Lord Curzon

(b) Lord Ripon

(d) William Bentinck

► (a) Lord Curzon

3. A few points related to the Moderate leaders are given below. Pick out the one that is not true with respect to the Moderates.

(a) The leaders were well versed with Western thoughts and ideas.

(b) Most of the leaders were teachers, lawyers, journalists, industrialists etc.

(d) The moderate leaders believed that the British could be persuaded to introduce reforms for the benefit of the Indians.

► (c) Most of the moderate leaders were neither educated nor well informed.

4. In 16 October 1905, how was Bengal partitioned as:

(a) West Bengal and North Bengal

(b) East Bengal and West Bengal

(d) East Bengal and South Bengal

► (b) East Bengal and West Bengal

5. Name the movement launched following the Partition of Bengal.

(a) Quit India Movement

(b) Salt Satyagraha

(d) First war of Independence

► (c) Swadeshi Movement

6. Who was the great Indian Muslim philosopher who was also considered as the Father of Muslim Nationalism?

(a) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

(b) Syed Ahmad Khan

(d) Aga Khan

► (b) Syed Ahmad Khan

7. From the following list of the names of the leaders, who did not belong to the trio- Lal-Bal-Pal?

(a) Bipin Chandra Pal

(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

(d) Gopal Krishna Gokhlae

► (d) Gopal Krishna Gokhlae

8. Name the Marathi newspaper edited by Balgangadhar Tilak criticizing the British rule.

(a) Kesari

(b) Lokmat

(d) Dainik Aikya

► (a) Kesari

9. A list of leaders are given below, identify the leader who is not considered as a Moderate but a Radical.

(a) Pherozeshah Mehta

(b) Dadabhai Naoroji

(d) Surendranath Banerjee

► (c) Aurobindo Ghosh

10. In 1837, James Princep deciphered an Inscription in Brahmi script referring to a king called ‘Devanamapiya Piyadassi’. The celebrated monarch known by this epithet was:

(a) Ashoka

(b) Akbar

(d) Chandragupta Vikramaditya

► (a) Ashoka

11. A list of leaders are given below, identify the leader who is not considered as a Moderate but a Radical.

(a) Aurobindo Ghosh

(b) Dadabhai Naoroji

(d) Pherozeshah Mehta

► (a) Aurobindo Ghosh

12. In December 1906, under whose leadership a Muslim deputation met the Viceroy Lord Minto and requested for a separate representation and an organisation for Muslims.

(a) Syed Mohammed

(b) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

(d) Mohammed Ali Jinnah

► (c) Aga Khan

13. Some important features of the Swadeshi Movement are given below: Pick out the one that is not applicable to the Swadeshi Movement

(a) They encouraged the ideas of self help

(b) They boycotted British institutions and goods.

(d) The Swadeshi movement sought to oppose British rule

► (c) Swadeshi movement stressed on the use of English language with minimal use of Indian languages.

14. The Moderates opposed to the usage of a specific word / term because they felt that it involved the use of force. Which word/term did they oppose to?

(a) Nationalist

(b) Radical

(d) Moderate

► (c) Boycott

15. A list of leaders are given below, identify the leader who is not considered as a Radical but a Moderate.

(a) Bipin Chandra Pal

(b) Surendranath Banerjee

(d) Lala Lajpat Rai

► (b) Surendranath Banerjee

16. After a major split between the Moderates and Radicals, in which year did they reunite again?

(a) In December 1930

(b) In December 1940

(d) In December 1915

► (d) In December 1915