Early Political Activities: 1858-1905 [Complete Notes for UPSC]

Early Political Activities: 1858-1905

The revolt of 1857 was the first major large-scale revolt against the British. However, it failed to overthrow British imperialism. The failure of the revolt in 1857 demonstrated that revolutions based on old outlooks and social forces were ineffective against modern imperialism. In this aspect, the need arises for the political consciousness with the new movement:

• It was necessary to have new ideologies, new social forces, and a modern political movement that was based on the awareness of colonialism and was capable of mobilising the masses for nationwide political activity.
• Modern nationalist intellectuals initiated movements to spread awareness of colonialism during the second half of the 19th century.
• The new movement had a far narrower social base but was motivated by new political ideas and new social, economic, and political goals.
• It also represented new leading classes, new forces and forms of struggle and new techniques of political organisation.

Factors Responsible for The Growth of Modern Nationalism:

Nationalism refers to the collective identity based on race, ethnicity, language, etc. Lack of nationalism was a major factor in the failure of the revolt of 1857. However, in the second half of the 19^th century,  various factors were responsible for the growth of modern nationalism

1. Political, Economic and Administrative Unification of the country (link 10)

• Geographical unification and modern means of communication brought people, especially the leaders from different parts of the country, together.
• Due to the economic unification, the economic interests of the people of different regions got linked together.
• The introduction of a uniform system of administration in India also brought a feeling of unity among Indians.

2. Western Thought and Education

British rule in India made closer relations with the West possible. This made the flow of modern ideas possible.

• The introduction of Western education in India led to the assimilation of modern Western ideas.
• The liberal and radical thoughts of European scholars like Milton, John Stuart Mill, Rosseau, Spencer, and Voltaire helped Indians imbibe modern rational, secular, democratic, and nationalist ideas.

3. Development of Indian Press and literature (Link- British policy on Indian Press (10)):

The press has been a major instrument in spreading modern nationalist ideas. It acted as a conduit to link different regions and people to develop a common identity. It also helped in the following ways:

• The press played an important role in criticising and censuring government policies.
• It helped spread modern ideas of self-government, civil rights, democracy, etc.
• The “Anand Math” of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee has rightly been regarded as the “Bible” of modern Bengali patriotism.

4. Socio-Religious Reform Movements

The socio-religious movements tried to eliminate the social evils that divided society. These movements also contributed to getting rid of the inferiority complex among the educated middle class regarding their culture.

5. Rediscovery of India’s Past

Archaelogical survey started in India that discovered the past of India. It highlighted the past big empires of Ashoka, etc. that helped in the development of nationalism. It can be seen in the following points:

• The works of European scholars and orientalists such as Max Muller and Monier Williams and by Indian scholars such as RG Bhandarkar and RL Mitra emphasised India’s rich heritage and past glory.
• The Indo-Aryan theory, which indicated that the Indians and Europeans belonged to the same ethnic groups, gave a psychological boost to educated Indians.

6. Impact of Contemporary Movements Around the World

• The national liberation movements of Italy, Greece, and Ireland, particularly, deeply influenced the nationalists.
• During that period, most of the countries of Latin America slipped out of the hands of Iberian powers (Spain and Portugal) that ruled the region.

7. Understanding of Indian And Colonial Interests

• With the repression of the British, it was realised that the British economic policies were not in the interests of Indians.
• People understood that colonial rule was the major cause of extreme poverty, frequent famines, and the destruction of traditional industries.
• During the 1870s and the 1880s, a comprehensive nationalist critique of British rule emerged in India. Dadabhai Naoroji gave the concept of the drain of wealth.

8. Reactionary Policies and Racial Arrogance

Following are the open, reactionary character of Lytton’s tenure from 1876 to 1880 accelerated the growth of Indian nationalism:

• The Arms Act of 1878 had exclusionary and discriminatory provisions.
• The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 sought to repress the increasing Indian criticism of British rule.
• Reduction of maximum age limit to appear in the ICS exam from 21 years to 19 years.
• The holding of a lavish Delhi Durbar in 1877, at a time when lakhs of Indians were succumbing to famine and the waging of an expensive war against Afghanistan at the expense of the Indian economy.
• The elimination of import duties on textile imports from Britain threatened the existence of the newly emerging Indian textile industry.
• Delhi Durbar 1877 
• Ilbert Bill Controversy

Lord Rippon tried to pass a law to enable the Indian district magistrates and session judges to try the Europeans in criminal cases. However, the Europeans in India organised a vehement agitation against the bill. According to them, even the most highly educated Indians were unfit to try the Europeans. It increased racial bitterness and increased national discontent.

Political Associations Before Indian National Congress

Various political associations were formed that played an important role in laying the foundation for the Nationwide political association. These political associations had the following features:

• These organisations were political in nature, and their main aim was to protest against British policies through petitions and resolutions.
• They tried to awaken the masses through public meetings and statements.
• These political organisations paved the way for the formation of a robust all-India organisation, the Indian National Congress.

The Bangbhasha Prakashika Sabha	Established by associates of Raja Rammohan Roy in 1836.
The Zamindari Association/Landholders’ Society	Formed in 1838 by Dwarkanath Tagore. Aimed to protect the interests of the landlords. Marked the beginning of organised political activity and the use of constitutional methods.
The Bengal British India Society	Founded in 1843. George Thompson was its protagonist. It was dominated by Bengali intellectuals, particularly members of Young Bengal. Its goal was to make people aware of the state of governance and their rights.
British Indian Association	Landholders’ Society and the Bengal British India Society were merged in 1851 to form the British Indian Association. Radhakant Deb was its first president. They sent a petition to the British Parliament to include some of their suggestions in upcoming reforms. Establishment of a separate legislature Separation of the executive from judicial functions. Abolition of salt duties, etc.
Madras native association	Formed by Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty in 1852. It was the first Indian political organisation in the Madras Presidency. It was a platform for educated Indians to protest against any injustice by the British.
Bombay Association	It was formed in 1852 and was the first political association in the Bombay presidency. Formed by Jagannath Shankersheth. Sir Jamshedji Bhai, Naoroji Fardonji, and Dadabhai Naoroji were its members.
The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha	Founded in 1867 by Mahadev Govind Ranade. It aimed to bridge the distance between the people and the government. In 1875, it sent a petition to the House of Commons seeking direct representation of India in the British parliament.
The Indian League	Started in 1875 by Sisir Kumar Ghosh. To spread political education and stimulate nationalistic sentiments among the people.
The Indian Association of Calcutta/Indian National Association	Founded in 1876 by young nationalists like Anand Mohan Bose and Surendra Nath Banerjee. Aimed to create strong public opinion on political questions and unify Indian people in a common political programme. It merged with the Indian National Congress in 1886.
The Madras Mahajan Sabha	Formed in 1884, by M. Viraraghavachari, G. Subramaniya Aiyer and P. Ananda Charlu.
The Bombay PresidencyAssociation	Formed in 1885 by Badruddin Tyabji, Pherozshah Mehta and K. T. Telang. Formed in response to the reactionary policies of Lord Lytton and Ilbert Bill controversy.
Outside India
British India Society	Formed in 1839 in London by William Adam, a Friend of Raja Rammohan Roy It aimed to make the British people aware of the situation of the Indian people.
The East India Association	Formed in 1866 in London by Dadabhai Naoroji. To make the general public of England familiar with the condition of Indians. Its branches were opened in Prominent Indian cities.

The Emergence of The Indian National Congress

A conducive environment for an all-India organisation was formed in the country in the late nineteenth century due to the emergence of various political associations.

• The final shape of the organisation was given by AO Hume, a retired English civil servant, with the cooperation of political workers such as Dadabhai Nauroji, Badruddin Tayabji, KT Telang and Justice MG Ranade.
• The first session of the Indian National Congress was organised in Bombay in December 1885. It was presided over by WC Banerjee and attended by 72 deligates.