Notes-Class 8-History-Chapter-6-Beginning of Freedom Movement-Maharashtra Board

Introduction :

• English education made mixed effects on the Indian society.
• The seeds of nationalism sowed by the reforms of newly educated society.
• They launched reform movements in social, political, religious, economic and cultural field in different parts of the country.
• The political organisations in different parts of the country formed during various movements felt the need to create a political organisation on an all India level having common goal.
• It was necessary to bring together groups and people who had political awareness.
• It was necessary to draw attention of the people towards questions of the nation.
• This led to the emergence of a political organization on all India level.

Establishment of Indian National Congress

• On 28 December 1885, the first session of Indian National Congress was held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit School in Mumbai.
• Seventy two delegates from different provinces of India participated in this session.
• It was presided by Wyomesh Chandra Banerjee, a renowned lawyer from Kolkata.
• Allan Octavian Hume took the initiative in the founding of the Indian National
• Congress.
• Increase in number of Indians in administration and curtailment in the expenditure on the military were the demands sent to the British.
• It paved the way for India's freedom movement.

Objectives of the Indian National Congress :

• To make the people from different parts of India forget the differences in religion, race, caste, language, geographical territories and bring them on a common platform,
• To understand each other’s problems and views.
• To increase the feeling of oneness among the people,
• To take efforts for the development of the country

These were the objectives of the Indian National Congress.

Moderate Phase (1885-1905) :

• The early ten years after establishment of Indian National Congress their contribution was very slow but consistent.

• The leaders of the Indian National Congress who advocated peaceful and constitutional manners were known as Moderates.
• The leaders of the Indian National Congress were realistic and highly educated and had faith on justice of the British.
• The Moderates wanted to carry out nationalistic movement within the framework of law by constitutional means.
• They were of the opinion that a strong foundation needs to be built through organised work.
• The philosophy and principles like liberalism, freedom, equality, fraternity of the western thinkers influenced them.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Ferozshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee were the moderate leaders.

Extremist Phase (1905-1920):

The leaders of the Indian National Congress who believed in severe struggle to attain freedom were known as Extremists.

• Moderates and Extremists were unanimous about the objectives of the Congress. But they had differences regarding the method to achieve it.
• They advocated intensification of the struggle since the British did not respond to the petitions and appeals.
• Lokmanya Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai were the leaders of the extremist group of the Indian National Congress.
• According to these leaders, if lakhs of people participated in the freedom movement and challenge the British movement it will be successful.
• They did not adopt the means of armed revolution but insisted on extensive agitations.

The moderates insisted on constitutional measures whereas extremists wanted to adopt severe methods. The tension between these groups increased during the Surat session in 1907. This led to the formation of two groups within the Congress.

Assassination of Rand :

• In 1897, hundreds of people died in Pune due to the epidemic of plague.
• An officer named Rand was appointed to bring the epidemic under control.
• The plague patients were searched out and oppressive measures were adopted.
• To avenge this oppressive treatment meted out to people, the Chapekar brothers assassinated Rand.
• An unsuccessful attempt was made by the government to connect Lokmanya Tilak with this conspiracy.
• When they failed in their attempt, they imprisoned him.

Partition of Bengal

• Bengal was a very large province.
• Under the pretext of administrative convenience, the province of Bengal was partitioned by Lord Curzon.
• It created the Muslim-majority East Bengal and the Hindu-majority West Bengal in 1905.
• The real motive was to create a divide between the Hindus and the Muslims and thereby weaken the nationalist movement.
• Thus, they adopted the policy of 'Divide and Rule’.

Anti Partition Movement :

• 16^th October was observed as the 'National Mourning Day’.
• Protest meetings were organised to condemn the decision all over India.
• Singing of Vande Mataram, Raksha Bandhan programmes, boycott of government run schools and colleges by students were the programmes held to mark the protest.
• The movement was led by Surendranath Banerjee, Anand Mohan Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and other leaders.
• Indian National Congress widened its reach due to this movement.
• Sensing the intensity of movement and severity of dissatisfaction among the people, the British annulled the partition of Bengal.

Four point programme of the Indian National Congress :

Swaraj, Swadeshi, National Education and Boycott was the four point programme of the Congress which was accepted unanimously during this session.

• To follow the path of Swadeshi to become self-sufficient.
• Need to bring together capital resources, manpower and such other forces for the benefit of the country.
• To boycott foreign goods was the first step and the next step was boycotting the foreign rule.
• Swaraj was the final aim of the movement.

Establishment of Muslim League :

• The British resorted to policy of Divide and Rule once again in view of the overwhelming response to Indian National Congress in the anti-partition movement.
• The British suggested a separate political organisation of the Muslims to safeguard their interests.
• With the encouragement from Governor General Lord Minto, the Muslim League was established by Aga Khan in 1906.

Morley-Minto Act :

• The economic policies of the British increased poverty in India.
• Oppressive policy of Lord Curzon, exclusion of educated Indians in government services, unjust treatment towards Indians in Africa created discontent among Indians.
• As a temporary remedy to suppress this discontent, the Morley-Minto Reform
• Act of 1909 was passed.

According to this act :

• Increased the number of Indians in the Legislature Assembly.
• It created for separate electorate for the Muslims.
• This sowed the seeds of division in India.

Lucknow Pact :

• An attempt was made under the leadership of Lokmanya Tilak to resolve the dispute in the Indian National Congress at its Lucknow session.
• The Lucknow Pact of 1916 ensured cooperation of the Muslim League by giving consent to the separate electorates. It helped the congress to secure political rights for India.
• The Lucknow Pact in 1916 was reached between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
• According to the Pact, the Indian National Congress agreed for separate electorate for the Muslims and in turn the Muslim League agreed to support them to get political rights.

Home Rule Movement :

• Home rule means self rule.
• Due to the First World War, in August 1914, the prices of daily commodities rose and the British Government imposed many restrictions.
• In these circumstances, the Home Rule Movement was started by Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak.
• It demanded right of self-government in India.
• Lokmanya firmly declared, 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.

First World War and India :

• The growing discontent among the Indians, the war in Europe and the popularity of the Home Rule Movement necessitated the co-operation of the Indians to British.
• So, the British government decided to provide some political rights to Indians.
• Montague, the Secretary of State for India, declared in 1917 that Britain would gradually grant to India the right to self-rule and a responsible political system.
• Lokmanya Tilak extended cooperation to the British in their response. This Policy oi Lokmanya Tilak is known as "Responsive Cooperation’.