India's Struggle for Freedom — Phase 1

Two examples to indicate that the British followed the policy of economic exploitation in India are:

1. The British government took away a large part of the produce from the peasants in the form of land revenue and other taxes. These exorbitant taxes led the peasants into the clutches of landlords and moneylenders. In case of non-payment of taxes, they were evicted from their land.
2. The British economic policies were against the interests of Indian trade and industry. India became a source of raw material for the British industries and a market for its finished products. This policy crippled the artisans and craftsmen as they were devoid of their sources of livelihood.

Two reasons for industrial stagnation during the British rule in India were:

1. The British economic policies were against the interest of Indian trade and industry. The English East India Company used its political power to destroy Indian handicraft and industry. India became a source of raw materials for the industries of the company and a market for its finished products. This policy crippled the artisans and craftsmen as they were devoid of their sources of livelihood.
2. The growth of modern industries led to the birth of a new social class in India — the working class. They were exploited by the factory owners, who were generally Englishmen.

The press played a significant role in developing a strong national sentiment:

1. by reading the message of patriotism and modern liberal ideas of freedom, equality, home rule and independence.
2. by making people aware of unjust policies of the British government and exposing the true nature of British rule in India through various articles in the newspapers.
3. by allowing different groups of people belonging to different parts of the country to exchange views.
4. by making Indians aware of the different happenings in the world and comparing them with Indian condition and thus arousing national awakening.

The Vernacular Press Act was passed by Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India.

This act forbade vernacular papers to publish any material that might excite feelings of dissatisfaction against the British government.

Two prominent newspapers of the 19^th century which played a significant role in arousing national sentiment among the Indians were Maharatta and Kesari.

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume.

The period from 1885 to 1905 is known as the period of the Early Nationalist.

Three Early Nationalist leaders were:

1. Sir Phirozshah Mehta
2. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
3. Surendranath Banerjee.

The early Nationalist used to put their demands in the form of three P's i.e., Petitions, Prayers and Protests to achieve their objectives. They discussed various problems at the Congress annual sessions and passed resolutions concerning them. Then they petitioned the British government to remove them and propagated its views among the people. They wrote articles in news papers to carry out a criticism of the government policies. Sometimes they protested against some policies but by remaining in constitutional limits.

The Assertive Nationalists were leaders who emerged by 1905 when the Early Nationalists had reached the limits of their political growth. They were so called because they were more assertive in their demands as they had no faith in the British sense of fair play and justice.

The three prominent Assertive Nationalist leaders were:

1. Lala Lajpat Rai
2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
3. Bipin Chandra Pal

The aim of the Assertive Nationalist as far as the national movement was concerned was immediate attainment of 'Swaraj'. This meant complete independence and not just self government as existed in the colonies of Australia and New zealand.

(i) Swadeshi literally means of one's own country. It aimed at the promotion of indigenous industries for strengthening the nation.

(ii) Boycott meant 'abstaining from the purchase of British goods'.

The idea of Swadeshi marked the beginning of a new era by helping Indians to be united against the British in the following way:

1. It brought into politics new classes of people without any distinction of caste and creed. Many zamindars, women, students and Muslim leaders joined the movement.
2. It encouraged the establishment of indigenous industries for strengthening the country. Many Swadeshi stores were also setup across the country. This gave employment to a number of people.
3. It gave impetus to nationalist poetry, prose and journalism.
4. It gave education a national orientation by drawing a scheme of National education.
5. It brought nationalism from a realm of theory into the field of practical politics.

(a) The movement shown in this picture is Swadeshi movement.

The event that triggered this movement was partition of Bengal.

(b) The hidden agendas behind the Division of Bengal were:

1. Bengal was the nerve centre of Indian nationalism at that time. So the British hoped to stop the rising tide of nationalism by partitioning Bengal.
2. It was intended to curb Bengali influence by not only placing Bengalis under two administrations but by reducing them to a minority in Bengal itself.
3. It was meant to foster division on the basis of religion. East Bengal would be predominantly a Muslim majority state and West Bengal would have a Hindu Majority.

(c) Impacts of Swadeshi movement were:

1. It brought into politics new classes of people without any distinction of caste and creed. Many zamindars, women, students and Muslim leaders joined the movement.
2. It encouraged the establishment of indigenous industries for strengthening the country. Many Swadeshi stores were also setup across the country. This gave employment to a number of people.
3. It gave impetus to nationalist poetry, prose and journalism.
4. It gave education a national orientation by drawing a scheme of National education.
5. It brought nationalism from a realm of theory into the field of practical politics.