PARTITION OF BENGAL (1905)
Curzon announced the partition of Bengal. The reason for partition was given as an attempt to improve administration. But the real aim was to ‘Divide and Rule’. The partition was done in order to create a separate State for Muslims and so introduce the poison of Communalism in the country. However the Indians viewed the partition as an attempt by the British to disrupt the growing national movement in Bengal and divide the Hindus and Muslims of the region. Widespread agitation ensued in the streets and in the press. People of different parts of India opposed the partition of Bengal all over the country. This opposition was carried on by organized meetings, processions and demonstrations etc. Hindus and Muslims tied ‘rakhi’ on each other’s hands to show their unity and their protest. The use of Swadeshi (made in our own country by our own people) goods, business, national Education and Indian languages were encouraged. The new nationalist spirit of self reliance- shed the fear of repression including imprisonment and painful torture by the British rule. It was Bal Gangadhar Tilak who realized the importance of boycott as a weapon that could be used to paralyze the whole British administrative machinery in India. The boycott and Swadeshi movements were instrumental in the establishment of swadeshi enterprises – textile mills, banks, hosiery, tanneries, chemical works and insurance companies. Swadeshi stores were opened. Volunteers supplied goods at the doorstep of every household. The movement spread to all classes and groups of people. Everyone, including Women and children, came forward to take part. The most active were school and college students. This made the British reverse the partition of Bengal and unite it in 1911. During this time, the role of Radical Nationalists in the Indian National Congress, who were called the ‘Garam Dal’, came to be appreciated. They tried to involve people from all classes and groups including peasants, worker, students as well as women. They succeeded in uniting the Indian people against the common enemy – the British. The young people were roused to the highest level of patriotism and zeal to free their country. They helped in making people self confident and self reliant. They also revived the Indian Cottage Industry.
THE RISE OF RADICAL NATIONALISTS
The mild policies of the Moderates in the Congress led to the rise of passionate, radical nationalists, who came to be called the ‘Garam Dal’. Thus the first phase of the nationalist movement came to an end with government reaction against the Congress on the one hand and a split in the Congress in 1907 on the other. That is why the period after 1905 till 1918 can be referred to as the ‘Era of Passionate Nationalists or Garam Dal’. Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal (Lal-Bal-Pal) were important leaders of this Radical group. When the Moderates were in the forefront of the action, they had maintained a low profile but now they swung into action. Their entry marked the beginning of a new trend and a new face in India’s struggle for freedom. According to them, the Moderates had failed to define India’s political goals and the methods adopted by them were mild and ineffective. Besides, the Moderates remained confined to the upper, landed class and failed to enlist mass support as a basis for negotiating with the British.
The Garam Dal realized that the British were out to exploit Indians, destroy their self-sufficiency and drain India of its wealth. They felt that Indians should now become free of foreign rule and govern themselves. This group, instead of making petitions to the government, believed in organizing mass protests, criticizing government policies, boycotting foreign goods and use of Swadeshi (home-made) goods etc. They did not believe in depending on the mercy of the Britishers, but believed that freedom was their right. Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave a slogan ‘Freedom is our birth right and we must have it’. In 1916 the two groups were again united with the efforts of Mrs. Annie Besant. She started working for The Home Rule Movement in 1914. She was convinced that India should be granted Self-Government. In 1916, Muslim League and Congress also came to an understanding with each other and signed the Lucknow Pact. Later, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose became the eminent figures of Indian National Congress, who led the freedom movement of India forward.
FORMATION OF THE MUSLIM LEAGUE (1906)
As the radical movement grew stronger the British began to look for ways and means to break the unity among Indian. They tried to do this through the partition of Bengal and by sowing the seed of communalism among Indian people. They motivated Muslims to form a permanent political association of their own. In December, 1906, during the Muhammadan Educational conference in Dacca, Nawab Salim Ullah Khan raised the idea of establishing a Central Muhammadan Association to take care of Muslim interests. Accordingly, on 30th December, 1906, the All India Muslim League was founded. Another prominent person, Aga Khan was chosen as its president. The main objective of the league was to protect and advance the rights of Muslims in India and represent their needs to the government. By encouraging the issue of separate electorates, the government sowed the seed of communalism and separatism among Indians. The formation of the Muslim League is considered to be the first fruit of the British master strategy of ‘Divide and Rule’. Mohammad Ali Jinnah later joined the League.
MORLEY-MINTO REFORMS (1909)
The Council Act of 1909 was an extension of the 1892 reforms, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms after the names of the then Secretary of State (Lord Morley) and the then Viceroy (Lord Minto). It increased the members of the Legislative Assembly from sixteen to sixty. A few non-elected members were also added. Though the members of the Legislative Council were increased, they had no real powers. They remained mainly advisory in character. They could not stop any bills from being passed. Nor did they have any power over the budget.
The British made another calculated move to sow the seed of communalism in Indian politics by introducing separate electorates for the Muslims. This meant that from the constituencies dominated by Muslims only Muslim candidates could be elected. Hindus could only vote for Hindus, and Muslims could only vote for Muslims. Many leaders protested against this communal electorate policy of the British to ‘Divide and Rule’.
THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
The First World War started in the year of 1914. This War was fought among the nations of Europe to get colonial monopoly. During war time, the British Government made an appeal to the Indian leaders to join hands with them in their time of crisis. Indian leaders agreed but they put their own terms and conditions i.e. after the war was over, the British government would give Constitutional (legislative and administrative) powers to the Indian People. Unfortunately, the steps taken by the British government during the World War I created unrest among the Indian people. This was because the British government had taken a huge loan during war time which they had to repay. They increased rent from the land, i.e. lagan. They forcefully recruited Indians in the British Army. They increased the price of necessary goods and imposed taxes on personal and professional income. As a result, they had to face protest from the Society/”>Indian Society. Farmers and workers of Champaran, Bardoli, Kheda and Ahmedabad actively protested against the exploitative policies of British government. Lakhs of students left schools and colleges. Hundreds of lawyers gave up their practice. Women also significantly contributed in this movement and their participation became wider with the emergence of Gandhi. The boycott of foreign cloth became a mass movement, with thousands of bonfires of foreign cloth lighting the Indian sky.,
The Indian independence movement was a long and complex struggle that culminated in the end of British rule in India in 1947. The movement was led by a variety of individuals and groups, and it took many different forms.
One of the earliest and most important movements in the Indian independence movement was the Swadeshi movement. The Swadeshi movement was a boycott of British goods and a promotion of Indian-made goods. It began in 1905 in response to the partition of Bengal. The partition of Bengal was the division of the province of Bengal into two parts, one predominantly Muslim and one predominantly Hindu. The Swadeshi movement was a major turning point in the Indian independence movement, and it helped to unite Indians against British rule.
Another important movement in the Indian independence movement was the Non-Cooperation Movement. The Non-Cooperation Movement was a mass movement of civil disobedience against British rule. It began in 1920, and it was led by Mahatma Gandhi. The Non-Cooperation Movement was a major success, and it helped to weaken British rule in India.
The Khilafat Movement was a movement to support the Ottoman Caliphate, which was the religious and political authority of Muslims. The Khilafat Movement was launched in 1919, and it was led by Maulana Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali. The Khilafat Movement was a major factor in the Non-Cooperation Movement, and it helped to unite Hindus and Muslims against British rule.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was a massacre of unarmed Indian civilians by British troops on April 13, 1919. The massacre took place in Jallianwala Bagh, a public garden in Amritsar, Punjab. The massacre was a major turning point in the Indian independence movement, and it helped to galvanize support for independence.
The Chauri Chaura Incident was an incident in which a group of Indian protesters set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh, on February 4, 1922. The incident led to the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
The Simon Commission was a British commission that was appointed in 1927 to investigate the possibility of granting self-government to India. The commission was boycotted by Indian nationalists, and it led to the rise of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
The Civil Disobedience Movement was a mass movement of civil disobedience against British rule. It began in 1930, and it was led by Mahatma Gandhi. The Civil Disobedience Movement was a major success, and it helped to weaken British rule in India.
The Quit India Movement was a mass movement of civil disobedience against British rule. It began in 1942, and it was led by Mahatma Gandhi. The Quit India Movement was a major success, and it helped to bring about the end of British rule in India in 1947.
The Indian independence movement was a long and complex struggle that culminated in the end of British rule in India in 1947. The movement was led by a variety of individuals and groups, and it took many different forms. The Swadeshi movement, the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Khilafat Movement, the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, the Chauri Chaura Incident, the Simon Commission, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the Quit India Movement were all important movements in the Indian independence movement.
The Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II was a period of intense political and social upheaval in India. The Indian National Congress (INC), founded in 1885, emerged as the leading nationalist organization during this time. The INC’s goal was to achieve swaraj, or self-rule, for India.
The INC’s first major success came in 1905, when it led a successful boycott of British goods. This boycott was in response to the British government’s decision to partition Bengal. The partition of Bengal was seen by many Indians as a deliberate attempt to divide and weaken the Indian people.
The INC’s boycott of British goods was followed by a series of other protests and demonstrations. In 1906, the INC launched the Swadeshi movement, which encouraged Indians to boycott British goods and produce their own goods instead. The Swadeshi movement was a major success, and it helped to raise the consciousness of the Indian people about the need for independence.
In 1907, the INC split into two factions: the Moderates and the Extremists. The Moderates believed that India could achieve independence through peaceful means, such as petitions and protests. The Extremists, on the other hand, believed that India could only achieve independence through violent means, such as Armed Rebellion.
The split in the INC led to a period of intense rivalry between the two factions. The Moderates were eventually forced to step aside, and the Extremists took control of the INC. The Extremists’ Leadership led to a more radical and militant approach to the freedom struggle.
In 1908, the Extremists launched the Home Rule movement, which demanded self-government for India. The Home Rule movement was a major success, and it helped to further raise the consciousness of the Indian people about the need for independence.
The Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II was a period of great progress for the Indian independence movement. The INC emerged as the leading nationalist organization, and it adopted a more radical and militant approach to the freedom struggle. The Indian people became more conscious of the need for independence, and they were willing to fight for it.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II:
-
What was the Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II?
The Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II was a period of intense political and social upheaval in India. The Indian National Congress (INC), founded in 1885, emerged as the leading nationalist organization during this time. The INC’s goal was to achieve swaraj, or self-rule, for India. -
What were the major events of the Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II?
The major events of the Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II included the partition of Bengal, the Swadeshi movement, the Home Rule movement, and the split in the INC. -
What were the effects of the Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II?
The effects of the Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II were far-reaching. The INC emerged as the leading nationalist organization, and it adopted a more radical and militant approach to the freedom struggle. The Indian people became more conscious of the need for independence, and they were willing to fight for it. -
What were the contributions of the Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II to the Indian independence movement?
The contributions of the Freedom Struggle 1905-1920- Phase II to the Indian independence movement were significant. The INC emerged as the leading nationalist organization, and it adopted a more radical and militant approach to the freedom struggle. The Indian people became more conscious of the need for independence, and they were willing to fight for it.
-
The Swadeshi movement was started in response to the:
(a) Partition of Bengal
(b) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
(c) Rowlatt Act
(d) Simon Commission -
The Non-Cooperation Movement was started in 1920 by:
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
(d) Bipin Chandra Pal -
The Khilafat Movement was started in 1919 to support the:
(a) Ottoman Empire
(b) British Empire
(c) Russian Empire
(d) French Empire -
The Simon Commission was a British commission that was appointed in 1927 to:
(a) Investigate the working of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
(b) Draft a new constitution for India
(c) Investigate the causes of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
(d) Investigate the causes of the Non-Cooperation Movement -
The Civil Disobedience Movement was started in 1930 by Mahatma Gandhi to:
(a) Oppose the salt monopoly of the British government
(b) Oppose the Simon Commission
(c) Oppose the Rowlatt Act
(d) Oppose the Government of India Act, 1935 -
The Quit India Movement was started in 1942 by Mahatma Gandhi to:
(a) Demand that the British leave India
(b) Demand that the British give India independence
(c) Demand that the British stop the war with Japan
(d) Demand that the British stop the partition of India -
The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by:
(a) Allan Octavian Hume
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak -
The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906 by:
(a) Mohammed Ali Jinnah
(b) Aga Khan III
(c) Nawab Salimullah
(d) Liaqat Ali Khan -
The Partition of India took place in 1947 and resulted in the creation of:
(a) India and Pakistan
(b) India and Bangladesh
(c) India and Sri Lanka
(d) India and Nepal -
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 by:
(a) Nathuram Godse
(b) Rajguru
(c) Sukhdev Thapar
(d) Narayan Apte