HISTORY

2 GROWTH OF
NATIONALISM
Factors Causing Growth of
Nationalism:

1. Economic Exploitation:
⚫ The Peasants
⚫ The Artisans and Craftsmen
⚫ The Working Class
⚫ The Educated Indians
2. Repressive Colonial
Policies:
Some of these
repressive policies,
especially those
followed by Lord
Lytton, Viceroy of
India from 1876 to 1880
acted as a catalyst for
the growth of
nationalist movement
in India. These included
the following:
i) He organized a grand Delhi Durbar in 1877 to proclaim
Queen Victoria as the Empress of India. Lakhs of rupees
were spent on the event but nothing was done for Indians
who were in the grip of a famine.
ii) He introduced the
Vernacular Press Act (1878)
which forbade vernacular
papers to publish any material
that might excite feelings of
dissatisfaction against the
British Government ( was
repealed in 1881 by Lord
Ripon) and Indian Arms Act
(1879), made it a criminal
offence for Indians to carry
arms without license. This Act
was not applicable to the
British.
iii) The age limit for the Indian Civil Service
examination was reduced from 21 to 19 years, thus,
making it difficult for the Indian to compete for it.
iv) The import duties on British textiles were removed.
It proved harmful for the Indian industry.
v) Sir C.P. Ilbert, the Law member of the Viceroy’s
Council introduced a bill, popularly known as the Ilbert
Bill in 1883.
This Bill made it clear to the Indians that justice and
fairplay could not be expected where the interests of
the European community were involved.
3. Socio- Religious Reform
Movement: The
Socio-Religious reform
movements of the 19th century
were great pioneers of Indian
nationalism. Prominent
among these were Brahmo
Samaj (founded by Raja
Rammohan Roy), Arya
Samaj (founded by Swami
Dayanand Saraswati),
Ramakrishna Mission
(founded by Swami
Vivekananda) and Satya
Shodhak Samaj (founded by
Jyotiba Phule)
 Contribution of Socio-Religious Reform Movements to the
onset of Indian Nationalism

⚫ Swami Dayanand Swaraswati and Swami

Vivekananda proclaimed the superiority of Indian
culture and Civilisation
⚫ The reformers condemned untouchability and the
caste system
⚫ The reformers taught people not to ignore the
importance of women
⚫ They protested against the British domination of
India. Swami Dayanand Swaraswati was the first to
use the word Swaraj and to raise the slogan India for
the Indians
⚫ There form movements drew their inspiration form
India’s cultural heritage and promoted the feeling of
oneness
⚫ The reform movements crated a consciousness of a
new society devoid of privileges base on caste creed
or religion
4. Rediscovery of India’s Past: Some British
officials and writers advanced the thesis that Indians
had never been able to rule themselves in the past,
that Indians were destined to be ruled by foreigners
and that their religion and social life was old
fashioned. Some of them pointed out the richness of
Indian cultural heritage and the political
achievements of the rulers like Ashoka,
Chandragupta, Vikramaditya and Akbar.
5. Influence of Western Education: It provided
opportunities for assimilation of modern western
ideas of democracy and nationalism. This in turn
gave a new direction to Indian political thinking
and to national awakening. The English system of
education opened to the newly educated Indians
the floodgates of liberal European thought.
The spread of the English language in all parts of
India gave to the educated Indians a common
language, in which they could communicate with
one another.
6. Role of Press: Some of the newspapers started in
the later half of the 19th century like Amrit Bazar
Patrika, The Bengali, The Tribune, The Pioneer, The
Times of India, The Hindu and the Statesman in
English and many other newspapers and magazines
in the vernacular languages were also brought out.
These played a significant role in the developing a
strong national sentiment among the Indians.
 How Newspapers played a significant role in
developing Indian Nationalism

1. It was through the press that the message of

patriotism and modern liberal ideals of liberty,
freedom, equality, home rule and independence,
spread among the people
2. The press carried on daily criticism of the unjust
policies of the British and exposed their true nature
3. It made possible the exchange of views among
different social groups from different parts of the
country
It made Indians aware of what was happening in the
world
7. Development of Rapid
Means of Transport and
Communication: A network
of roads and railways, which
linked one province to another
encouraged trade and
commerce and facilitated the
growth of nationalism.
The development of the
modern postal system and the
introduction of telegraph
helped to unify the country.
Telegraph lines brought about
revolution in the speedy
transmission of messages and
communications. It enabled the
Indians to come in contact with
one another and discuss the
problems facing the country.
 Growth of PoliticalAssociation:

East India Association:

For placing the true state of
affairs in India before the
people of England ,Dadabhai
Naoroji, the grand old man of
India, founded the East India
Association in London in 1866.
The Association provided the
information on all Indian
subjects to British citizens and
Members of Parliament.
Indian Association (1876):
It was headed by
Surendranath Banergee. It
was mainly meant to be an
All- India Movement.
Its main objectives
included:
⦿ Creation of a strong body of
public opinion
⦿ Integration of Indian people
on the basis of common
political interests
⦿ Promotion of friendly
relations between Hindus and
Muslims
⦿ Mass participation in public
movements
Achievements:
It launched mass agitation against oppressive Acts
such as the License Act, the Arms Act and Vernacular
Press Act and against lowering the age limit from 21
to 19 years for the I.C.S. examination.
Indian National Conference(1883):
In 1883, Surendranath Banergee convened the All
India National Conference at Kolkata. It was a
Provincial organization. It held its second session in
December 1885, in Kolkata. During the same period
the Indian National Congress held its session in
Mumbai. Both these bodies served the same purpose,
that is, to work for the welfare of Indians. So
National Conference merged with the Indian
National Congress in December 1886.
Formation of Indian National
Congress:
A retired British member of the
Indian Civil Service, A.O. Hume
wrote an open letter to the graduates of
the Calcutta University asking them to
dedicate themselves to the service of
the people by forming a union to
organize a well-defined course of
action. This appeal produced the
desired result.
While the Indian leaders like
Surendranath Banerjee, Dadabai
Naoroji, Pherojshah Mehta, Badruddin
Tyabji and Justice Ranade were moving
towards the formation of an all-India
political body. Luckily for them, help in
this direction came from A.O. Hume.
 Hume laid the foundation of the
Indian National Union. The conference
was convened by the Union at Pune on
December 25, 1885. Due to Plague
venue was changed to Gokuldas Tejpal
Sanskrit College, Mumbai from
December 28 to 31, 1885 under the
leadership of Womesh Chandra
Bonnerjee. It was attended by 72
delegates.
On the suggestion of Dadabhai
Naoroji the name of the Union was
changed to the Indian National
Congress.
Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy, favored
the formation of the Congress to act as
a ‘safety-valve ‘ for popular discontent.
 Aims of Indian National Congress
⦿ To promote friendly relations between nationalist
political workers from different parts of the country.
⦿ To develop and consolidate the feelings of the
national unity irrespective of caste, religion or
province.
⦿ To formulate popular demands and present them
before the government.
⦿ To train and organise public opinion in the country.
THANK
YOU