HISTORY
GROWTH OF NATIONALISM
Std. 9
Q.1. With reference to the growth of nationalism in India, explain the relevance
of each of the following:
1. Economic exploitationIt was the most important factor in the growth f nationalism in India. Indians realised that the
general aim of the British policies in India was to promote their own interests at the cost of Indian’s
welfare. The economic discontent of different sections of society was as follows:
The peasants- They were the main victims of British colonial policies. The government took away
a large part of their produce in the form often land revenue & other taxes. They were plagued with
exorbitant taxes thus leading them into the clutches of landlords & money lenders.
The artisans & craftsmen- The British economic policies were against the interests of Indian trade
& industry. The English East India Company used its political power to destroy Indian handicrafts
and industry. The artisans were crippled when India became a source of raw materials of Britain
and a market for its finished products as they were devoid of their sources of livelihood.
The working class- Owing to the growth of modern industries, the birth of a new social class India
emerged- The working class. They were exploited by the factory owners who were generally
Englishmen.
The educated Indians- Only available employment was government service in which competition
was high and chances of promotion were bleak.
2. Repressive colonial policies- The British conquered India to promote their own interests & thus,
followed such repressive policies so as to make India subservient to the needs of Britain.
Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India - Organised a Grand Delhi Durbar by spending lacks of rupees to proclaim Queen Victoria’s as
the Empress of India but nothing was done for Indians who were in the grip of a famine.
- Introduced the Vernacular Press Act (1878) This act forbade vernacular papers to publish any
material that might excite feelings of dissatisfaction against the British government. This Act was
not applicable to English newspapers.
- Introduced the Indian Arms Act (1879) This act made it a criminal offence for Indians to carry
arms without a licence. This Act was not applicable to the British.
- The maximum age limit for the Indian Civil Service Examination was reduced from 21yrs to
19yrs, thus, making it difficult for Indians to compete for it.
- The import duties on British textiles was removed, thus proving harmful for the Indian industry.
- Sir. C.P.Illbert introduced a bill known as the Illbert Bill in 1883 which sought to abolish judicial
disqualifications based on race distinctions. Being resented by the British, the Government
ultimately withdrew the bill & enacted a more moderate measure which vested the power of trying
Europeans to a Session Judge and a district magistrate who might be a Indian.
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3. Socio - Religious Reform Movements- The impact of western education led to a rational,
humanitarian and scientific approach to life. Thus helping Indians realise the need to reform their
religion and society. They realised the path to progress lay in the acceptance of the best of the East
& the West.
In the social sphere, reforms strove to abolish Sati, caste system, child marriage, dowry system,
purdah system and infanticide.
In the religious sphere, reform movements combated religious superstitions, attacked idolatory,
polytheism and hereditary priesthood.
Founder: Raja Rammohan Roy - One of the
greatest Indian social & religious reformers
(19th Century) whose efforts resulted in
William Bentick passing a law which made the
practice of sati illegal & punishable by law.
Jyotiba Phule - An urban educated
member of low caste, whose experiences
had made him critical of Hindu religion.
He pioneered the Widow Remarriage
movement in Maharashtra & worked for
the education of women.
Founded the Brahmo Samaj
Founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj
Founded a school for untouchables
Started a private orphanage for the
widows.
Raja Rammohan Roy wanted to do away with
the religious and social evils prevalent in
Bengal.
Raja Rammohan Roy was against the rigidity
of the caste system. He started a campaign for
the abolition of sati & the purdah system &
advocated the right for widows to remarry. He
discouraged child marriage and polygamy.
Jyotiba Phule wanted to liberate the
depressed classes & make them aware of
their rights by educating them.
Brahmo Samaj believed in Monotheism,
prayer, meditation, charity, morality and
strengthening the bonds of unity between all
religions.
It condemned idol worship.
Satya Shodhak Samaj’s aim was to
secure social justice for the weaker
sections of society.
4. Development of the means of transport and communication- A network of roads was
constructed which linked one province to the next. The first railway line connecting Mumbai to
Thane was laid down. Besides encouraging trade & commerce, the railways facilitated the growth
of nationalism. The development of the modern postal system & the introduction of the telegraph
helped to unify the country and brought about a revolution in the speedy transmission of messages.
5. Influence of western education- The introduction of western education by the British in India
gave a new direction to Indian political thinking & national awakening. The English system of
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education opened the floodgates of liberal European thought to the newly educated Indians.
Through the study of European history, political thought and economic ideas, educated Indians had
access to ideals of liberty, nationality, equality, self-government, etc. The spread of English
language in all parts of India gave a common language to the educated Indians for the purpose of
communication.
6. Rediscovery of India’s past- The British were under the impression that Indians had never been
able to rule themselves in the past & they were destined to be ruled by foreigners and their religion
& social life was old fashioned.
Some reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy tried to arouse self-confidence within the people by
pointing out the richness of Indian cultural heritage. As well as the political achievements of
Ashoka, Chandragupta, Akbar, etc.
European scholars like the ones listed below also contributed to the rediscovery of India’s past:
- Sir William Jones founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal to encourage Oriental studies which
translated Indian classics into English. He also translated the Manu Smriti.
- Sir Charles Wilkins translated the Bhagvaw Gita into English.
- Max Mueller translated the Rigveda into English.
- James Princep deciphered Ashoka’s edicts.
- Sir Alexander Cunningham excavated one of the most sacred Buddhist shrines at Sarnath &
prepared drawings of the sculptures.
- Under Sir John Marshall’s leadership, the Indian Archaeological Survey excavated Harappa &
Mohenjo-daro
Q. In what way did the rediscovery of India’s glorious past help with national consciousness?
- To restore people’s self-confidence & self-respect.
- To counter the western propaganda that Indians had never been able to rule themselves & that they
were destined to be ruled by foreigners.
Q.2. a) How did the role of the press play a significant role in the growth of Indian
nationalism?
- It was through the press that messages of patriotism and modern ideals of liberty, equality, home
rule and independence were spread among the people.
- The press carried daily criticism of the unjust policies of the British Government in India.
Organising movements and exchanging views among different social groups in the country became
possible.
- By making Indians aware of what was happening in the world, it helped them to understand the
political & social development of the outside world & thus shape their own politics.
b) State any 4 prominent writers/newspapers that stirred the national consciousness through
literature.
- Some prominent newspapers that were started in English were ‘The Bengali’ ‘The Pioneer’ ‘The
Times of India’ ‘The Hindu’, ‘The Tribune’, etc.
- Many other newspapers & magazines were brought out in vernacular languages. Some prominent
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writers were Bankim Chandra Chatterjee & Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali, Altaf Hussain Ali in
Urdu, Subramanaya Bharti in Tamil, etc.
Q.3. Describe the various repressive policies of Lord Lytton.
Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India;
- Organised a Grand Delhi Durbar by spending lacks of rupees to proclaim Queen Victoria’s as
the Empress of India but nothing was done for Indians who were in the grip of a famine.
- Introduced the Vernacular Press Act (1878) This act forbade vernacular papers to publish any
material that might excite feelings of dissatisfaction against the British government. This Act was
not applicable to English newspapers.
- Introduced the Indian Arms Act (1879) This act made it a criminal offence for Indians to carry
arms without a licence. This Act was not applicable to the British.
- The maximum age limit for the Indian Civil Service Examination was reduced from 21yrs to
19yrs, thus, making it difficult for Indians to compete for it.
- The import duties on British textiles was removed, thus proving harmful for the Indian industry.
These repressive colonial policies provided a stimulus to political agitation & quickened the
pace of Indian nationalism.
Q.4. Briefly mention how the East India Association & the Indian Association helped in the
formation of an all-India political organization called the Congress.
East India Association - 1866
Indian Association - 1876
Founded by Dadabhai Nowrojee
Founded by Surendranath Banerjee
Dadabhai Nowrojee thought that the British
were basically just & good, thus he wanted to
place the true state of Indian affairs before
the British so that their problems may be
resolved.
Its members included lawyers, professionals
& educated middle class.
Its objectives: - The Association provided
information on all Indian subjects to British
citizens & parliament members.
- It voiced the Indians’ grievances &
suggested remedial measures.
Its objectives: - Creation of a strong body of
public opinion.
- Integration of Indians on the basis of
common political interests.
- Promotions of friendly relations between
Hindus & Muslims.
- Mass participation in public movements.
Branches at Mumbai, Kolkata & Chennai.
Branches in Bengal and in towns outside
Bengal.
Achievements: - It lunched agitations against
the Licence Act, the Arms Act, the
Vernacular Press Act & the age limit for the
I.C.S. examinations.
- It took up the cause of the workers on the
Bristish-owned plantations.
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Q.5. a) Describe the formation of the Indian National Congress.
- A.O. Hume, a retired British member of the I.C.S wanted to set up an organization that would
draw the government’s attention to the administrative drawbacks & suggest means to rectify them.
- In consultation with leaders like Surendranath Bonerjee, Dadabhai Naorojee, Pherozeshah Mehta,
Badruddin Tyabji & Justice Ranade who were moving to form an all-India political body,
A.O.Hume laid the foundation of the Indian national Union.
- The Union’s meeting which was attended by 72 delegates was held at Mumbai from 28th to 31st
Dec, 1885 under Wyomesh Chandra Bonnerjee’s presidentship.
- On Dadabhai Naorojee’s suggestion, the Union was changed to the Indian National Congress &
the foundation of the same is 28th December, 1885.
- Lord Dufferin , the Viceroy, favoured the formation of the congress, as he wanted it to act as a
‘safety-valve’ for popular discontent, thus safeguarding the British interest in India.
b) State the aims of the Indian National Congress.
In the presidential address of the first session of the Indian National Congress, W.C.Bonnerjee
declared the following as the aims of the INC- To promote friendly relations between nationalist political workers from different parts of the
country.
- To develop and consolidate the feelings of national unity irrespective of caste, religion or
province.
- To formulate proper demands and present them to the government.
- To train and organise the public opinion in the country.
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