Unit 1: The Emergence of Indian Nationalism (1857-1905)

1. Factors Responsible for the Growth of Indian Nationalism

The rise of nationalistic feelings in India was not a sudden event but a result of several complex factors that converged in the late 19th century.

A. Impact of British Rule

The political and administrative unification of India under the British provided a common framework. The introduction of modern means of transport like Railways and communication like the Telegraph physically linked different parts of the country, facilitating the exchange of ideas among leaders from different regions.

B. Western Education and Ideas

The spread of English education exposed Indians to Western liberal thoughts, including concepts of democracy, liberty, and equality. Thinkers like Mill, Rousseau, and Spencer influenced the emerging Indian middle-class intelligentsia.

C. Economic Exploitation

The "Drain of Wealth" theory, popularized by Dadabhai Naoroji, highlighted how British policies were impoverishing India. The ruin of traditional handicrafts and the high land revenue demands created widespread resentment among peasants and artisans.

D. Socio-Religious Reform Movements

Movements led by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dayananda Saraswati, and others sought to reform Indian society and instill a sense of pride in Indian culture and heritage, which counteracted the feeling of racial inferiority imposed by colonial rule.

2. Growth of Political Associations before 1885

Before the birth of the Indian National Congress, several regional associations paved the way for a national-level organization.

3. Circumstances Leading to the Foundation of the Indian National Congress

The need for an all-India political platform reached a peak by the early 1880s.

A. The Role of A.O. Hume

Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, played a pivotal role. He organized the first session to provide a "safety valve" for the release of Indian grievances, preventing another 1857-style violent uprising.

B. The First Session (1885)

"The first meeting of the Indian National Congress took place at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay in December 1885. It was presided over by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee."

C. Initial Objectives

• To promote friendly relations between political workers from different parts of the country.
• To develop and consolidate feelings of national unity irrespective of caste, religion, or province.
• To formulate popular demands and present them before the government.

4. Activities of the Indian National Congress (1885-1905)

This period is known as the Moderate Phase. The leaders of this era, such as Pherozeshah Mehta, Dadabhai Naoroji, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale, believed in constitutional methods.

A. Methodology: The 3 P's

The Moderates followed a policy of Prayer, Petition, and Protest. They believed that the British were essentially just and would grant reforms if the Indian case was presented logically.

B. Major Demands

1. Constitutional: Expansion of Legislative Councils and increasing Indian representation.
2. Economic: Reduction of land revenue, abolition of salt tax, and decrease in military expenditure.
3. Administrative: Holding Civil Service examinations simultaneously in India and England, and separation of the judiciary from the executive.

C. Achievements

• Created a wide national awakening among the urban educated class.
• Critiqued colonial economics through the "Drain Theory."
• The Indian Councils Act of 1892 was largely a result of their efforts, even though it did not fully satisfy their demands.