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

(d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

(b) Mumbai

(a) Lokmanya Tilak

Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Ferozshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee were all moderate leaders.

Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal were all extremist leaders.

• Western education introduced educated Indians with modern ideas like liberty, equality, democracy, and nationalism.
• Hundreds of manuscripts in Sanskrit, Persian, and other Indian languages were edited and published by the Asiatic Society in Bengal.
• The realisation that India has a rich historic past created a sense of national pride.
• Indians developed a feeling of identity as a result of this.

• Though at a slow pace, the contribution of Indian National Congress was consistent in the initial stage. But the extremists felt to intensify the freedom struggle.
• Moderates and Extremists were unanimous about the objectives of Congress.
• But they had differences regarding the methods/ways to achieve it.
• 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.

• Bengal was a big province. From an administrative standpoint, carrying out the task of this province was difficult.
• Viceroy Lord Curzon announced the division of Bengal province in 1905, for this reasoning.
• With this partition, arrangement was made such that majority Muslims will remain in East Bengal and West Bengal for majority of Hindus.
• The hidden strategy of the British was, if the Hindu-Muslims were divided, due to partition, then the freedom movement will be weakened. The British used the Policy of 'Divide and Rule’.

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 with the following goals in mind:

• To bring together the people of India on a common platform.
• To create a feeling of unity among them, irrespective of religion, race, language, geographical territories.
• To provide opportunities to understand one another's problems and views.
• To increase the feeling of unity among the people.
• To take measures for the upliftment of the country.

• In order to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims, Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal into Muslim-majority East Bengal and Hindu-majority West Bengal in 1905.
• The 16th of October was designated as 'National Mourning Day'.
• Protest gatherings were held across India to criticise the government's decision.
• Vande Mataram and Raksha-bandhan events were organised to mark the protest.
• A big number of students boycotted government-run institutions and universities.
• Recognising the strength and severity of anger, the British cancelled the Partition of Bengal.

In the session of 1906 of the Indian National Congress, the four point programme was unanimously accepted,

• Swadeshi : To make use of capital, resources, manpower in our country so that it becomes self-sufficient.
• Boycott : It was decided t0 boycott foreign goods as a first step, and boycott of foreign rule be the next step, It would be an attack on the roots of British imperialism.
• Swaraj : The final objective is to attain freedom.
• National Education : To impart education which will create pride for the nation among people.

The background behind the establishment of the Indian National Congress in 1885:

Centralisation of administration :

• The country was brought together under one roof by uniform policies, equivalent reforms, and equality before the law.
• The network of roads and trains linked the people of India.
• It created a sense of unity among Indians.

Economic exploitation :

• Economic exploitation of India by imperialistic policies resulted in the outflow of Indian wealth to England.
• Industries collapsed, and farmers went bankrupt.
• The imposition of taxes on the middle class and capitalist exploitation of the worker class fueled discontent.

Western education :

• Western education familiarised the educated Indians with modern values and
• Principles such as liberty, equality and democracy.
• They accepted principles like rationalism, humanity and nationalism.
• They realised that they can carry our work of the country by following them.

Study of Ancient Indian History :

• The manuscripts in Sanskrit, Persian and many other languages were examined and research was published.
• Many western scholars started to study Indian culture.
• The realisation that India had a rich ancient heritage aroused the feeling of national pride among Indians.

Role of newspapers :

• Newspapers in English and vernacular languages carried articles criticising the policies of the government.
• It led to social and political awakening.