Rise of National Movement and Indian National Congress-For RAS RTS Mains Exam and Ras Rts Prelims Examination

Why did national movement arise?

Indian nationalism rose to meet the challenges of foreign domination
The British rule and its direct and indirect consequences provided the material and the moral and intellectual conditions for the development of a national movement in India.
Clash of interest between the interests of the Indian people with British interests in India
Increasingly, the British rule became the major cause of India’s economic backwardness
Every class gradually discovered that their interests were suffering at the hands of the British
- Peasant: Govt took a large part of produce away as land revenue. Laws favoured the Zamindars
- Artisans: Foreign competition ruined the Industry
- Workers: The government sided with the capitalists
- Intelligentsia: They found that the British policies were guided by the interests of British capitalists and were keeping the country economically backward. Politically, the British had no commitment of guiding India towards self-government.
- Indian capitalists: the Growth of Indian industries was constrained by the unfavourable trade, tariff, Taxation and transport policies of the government.
- Zamindars, landlords and princes were the only ones whose interests coincided with those of the British. Hence they remained loyal to them.
Hence, it was the intrinsic nature of foreign imperialism and its harmful effect on the lives of the Indian people that led to the rise of the national movement. This movement could be called the national movement because it united people from different parts of the country as never before for a single cause.

What factors strengthened and facilitated the national movement?

Administration and Economic Unification of the country
- Introduction of modern trade and industries on all-India scale had increasingly made India’s economic life a single whole and interlinked the economic fate of people living in different parts of the country.
- Introduction of railways, telegraph and unified postal system brought together different parts of the country and promoted contact among people like never before.
- This unification led to the emergence of the Indian nation
Western Thought and Education
- A large number of Indians imbibed a modern rational, secular, democratic and nationalist political outlook
- They began to study, admire and emulate the contemporary nationalist movements of European nations
- The western education per se did not create the national movement. It only enabled the educated Indians to imbibe western thought and thus to assume the Leadership of the national movement and to give it a democratic and modern direction
- Modern education created a certain uniformity and community of outlook and interests among the education Indians.
Role of Press and Literature
- Large number of nationalist newspapers appeared in the second half of the 19^th century
- They criticized the policies of the British government and put forth the Indian point of view
- National literature in form of essays, novels and poetry also played an important role. Bamkin Chandra, Tagore: Bengali; Bhartendu Harishchandra: Hindi; Lakshmikanth Bezbarua: Assamese; Vishnu Shastri Chiplunkar: Marathi; Subramanya Bharti: Tamil; Altaf Husain Hali: Urdu
Rediscovery of India’s past
- The British had lowered the self confidence of the Indian through the propaganda that Indians are incapable of self-government
- Nationalist leaders referred to the cultural heritage of India to counter this propaganda. They referred to political achievements of rulers like Ashoka, Chandragupta Vikramaditya and Akbar.
- However, some nationalists went to the extent of glorifying the past uncritically. They emphasized on the achievements of ancient India and not Medieval India. This encouraged the growth of communal sentiments.
Racial arrogance of the rulers
- Englishmen adopted a tone of racial superiority in their dealings with the Indians
- Failure of Justice whenever an Englishman was involved in a dispute with an Indian.
- Indians kept out of European clubs and often were not permitted to travel in same compartment as Englishmen

Rise of Indian National Congress

Predecessors of INC

East India Association
- By Dadabhai Naoroji in 1866 in London
- To discuss the Indian question and to influence the British public men to discuss Indian welfare
- Branches of the association in prominent Indian cities
Indian Association
- Surendranath Banerjee and Ananda Mohan Bose in 1876, Calcutta
- The aim of creating strong public opinion in the country on political questions and the unification of the Indian people on a common political programme
Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
- Justice Ranade, 1870
Madras Mahajan Sabha
- Viraraghavachari, Anand Charloo, G Subramanian Aiyer, 1884
Bombay Presidency Association
- Pherozshah Mehta, K T Telang, Badruddin Tyabji, 1885
These organizations were narrow in their scope and functioning. They dealt mostly with local questions and their membership were confined to a few people belonging to a single city or province

Indian National Congress

Indian National Congress was founded on 28 December 1885 by 72 political workers. A O Hume was the first secretary and was instrumental in establishing the Congress
First session in Bombay. President: W C Bonnerjee
With the formation of INC, the Indian National Movement was launched in a small but organized manner
The Congress itself was to serve not as a party but as a movement
Congress was democratic. The delegates to INC were elected by different local organizations and groups
Sovereignty of the people
In 1890, Kadambini Ganguli, the first woman graduate of Calcutta University addressed the Congress session
Safety Valve Theory
- The INC was started under the official direction, guidance and advice of Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy, to provide a safe, mild, peaceful and constitutional outlet or safety valve for the rising discontent among the masses, which was inevitably leading towards a popular and violent revolution.

Does the safety valve theory explain the formation of Congress?

The safety valve theory is inadequate and misleading
INC represented the urge of the Indian educated class to set up a national organization to work for their political and Economic Development
A number of organizations, as mentioned above, had already been started by the Indians towards that end
Hume’s presence in Congress was used to allay official suspicions

Why was there a need for an All-India organization?

Vernacular Press Act, 1878
Ilbert Bill (1883) which would allow Indian judges to try Europeans was opposed by the European community and was finally enacted in a highly compromised state in 1884.
The Indians realized that they could not get the Ilbert bill passed because they were not united on all India level. Hence need for INC was felt.
In order to give birth to the national movement
- Creation of national leadership was important
- Collective identification was created

Aims of INC

Promotion of friendly relations between nationalist political workers from different parts of the country
Development and consolidation of the feeling of national unity irrespective of caste, religion or province
Formulation of popular demands and their presentation before the government
Training and organization of public opinion in the country

The first major objective of the Indian national movement was to promote weld Indians into a nation, to create an Indian identity
Fuller development and consolidation of sentiments of national unity
- Efforts for unity: In an effort to reach all regions, it was decided to rotate the congress session among different parts of the country. The President was to belong to a region other than where the congress session was being held.
- To reach out to the followers of all religions and to remove the fears of the minorities, a rule was made at the 1888 session that no resolution was to be passed to which an overwhelming majority of Hindu or Muslim delegates objected.
- In 1889, a minority clause was adopted in the resolution demanding reform of legislative councils. According to the clause, wherever Parsis, Christians, Muslims or Hindus were a minority their number elected to the councils would not be less than their proportion in the Population.
- To build a secular nation, the congress itself had to be intensely secular
The second major objective of the early congress was to create a common political platform or programme around which political workers in different parts of the country could gather and conduct their political activities.
- Due to its focus solely on political issues congress did not take up the question of social reform.
Since this form of political participation was new to India, the arousal, training, organization and consolidation of public opinion was seen as a major task by the congress leaders.
- Going beyond the redressal of immediate grievances and organize sustained political activity.

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The Rise of National Movement in India

The Indian National Movement was a political movement that began in the late 19th century and culminated in the independence of India from British rule in 1947. The movement was led by the Indian National Congress (INC), which was founded in 1885.

The early phase of the national movement was characterized by the efforts of the Moderates, who sought to achieve self-government through constitutional means. The Extremists, on the other hand, believed that independence could only be achieved through mass agitation and non-cooperation with the British.

The Swadeshi Movement was a major turning point in the national movement. It was launched in 1905 in response to the partition of Bengal by the British. The movement called for the boycott of British goods and the promotion of Indian-made goods.

The Partition of Bengal was a major setback for the national movement. It led to widespread resentment and anger among Indians. The movement gained momentum in the following years, and in 1919, the INC launched the Non-Cooperation Movement.

The Non-Cooperation Movement was the first major mass movement in the national movement. It was led by Mahatma Gandhi, who called for the boycott of British goods, schools, and courts. The movement was a major success, and it forced the British to make some concessions to the Indian nationalists.

The Khilafat Movement was a religious movement that was launched in 1919 in support of the Ottoman Caliphate. The movement was led by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and it gained widespread support among Muslims in India.

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was a major turning point in the national movement. It was a massacre of unarmed Indian civilians by British troops in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, on April 13, 1919. The massacre led to widespread anger and resentment among Indians, and it further strengthened the resolve of the national movement.

The Simon Commission was a British commission that was appointed in 1927 to investigate the constitutional reforms in India. The commission was boycotted by the INC, and it led to widespread protests and demonstrations.

The Civil Disobedience Movement was a major mass movement that was launched by the INC in 1930. The movement was led by Mahatma Gandhi, and it called for the boycott of British goods, salt, and liquor. The movement was a major success, and it forced the British to make some concessions to the Indian nationalists.

The Round Table Conferences were a series of conferences that were held between the British government and Indian leaders in the 1930s. The conferences were aimed at finding a solution to the constitutional problem in India. The INC boycotted the first two conferences, but it participated in the third and fourth conferences.

The Poona Pact was an agreement that was reached between the INC and the Muslim League in 1932. The pact was aimed at resolving the communal problem in India. The pact granted separate electorates to the Muslims, and it also increased the number of seats reserved for them in the legislatures.

The Government of India Act of 1935 was a major constitutional reform that was enacted by the British government. The act introduced a federal System of Government in India, and it also granted limited self-government to the provinces.

The Quit India Movement was a major mass movement that was launched by the INC in 1942. The movement was led by Mahatma Gandhi, and it called for the British to quit India. The movement was a major success, and it forced the British to agree to the independence of India.

The Indian National Army (INA) was an Indian army that was formed by Indian prisoners of war in Southeast Asia during World War II. The INA was led by Subhas Chandra Bose, and it fought against the British in the hope of liberating India.

The Cabinet Mission Plan was a plan that was proposed by the British government in 1946. The plan was aimed at finding a solution to the constitutional problem in India. The plan proposed a three-tiered Federal System of Government, but it was rejected by both the INC and the Muslim League.

The Partition of India was the division of British India into two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, on August 15, 1947. The partition was a major event in the history of India, and it led to widespread violence and bloodshed.

The Independence of India was achieved on August 15, 1947. It was a major event in the history of India, and it marked the end of British rule in India.

The rise of the national movement in India was a complex process with many causes. Some of the most important factors include:

The growth of a new middle class in India, which was educated and had a growing sense of national identity.
The impact of British rule, which led to economic exploitation and social inequality.
The spread of Western ideas, such as nationalism and Democracy, which inspired Indians to demand greater political rights.
The example of other nationalist movements in Asia and Africa, which showed that it was possible to overthrow colonial rule.

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in 1885 by a group of British-educated Indians who wanted to reform the British Raj. The INC initially focused on social reform and education, but it soon became a leading voice in the Indian independence movement.

The INC led a number of protests and demonstrations against British rule, including the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-32). These movements were met with violence from the British, but they also helped to raise awareness of the Indian independence movement around the world.

In 1942, the INC launched the Quit India Movement, which called for the British to leave India immediately. The British responded by imprisoning many INC leaders, but the movement continued to gain support. In 1947, the British finally agreed to grant India independence.

The Indian independence movement was a long and difficult struggle, but it ultimately led to the creation of a free and independent India. The INC played a key role in this struggle, and its leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, are remembered as national heroes.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the rise of the national movement in India:

What were the causes of the rise of the national movement in India?

The rise of the national movement in India was a complex process with many causes. Some of the most important factors include:

The growth of a new middle class in India, which was educated and had a growing sense of national identity.
The impact of British rule, which led to economic exploitation and social inequality.
The spread of Western ideas, such as nationalism and democracy, which inspired Indians to demand greater political rights.
The example of other nationalist movements in Asia and Africa, which showed that it was possible to overthrow colonial rule.
What was the role of the Indian National Congress in the rise of the national movement?

The INC played a key role in the Indian independence movement, and its leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, are remembered as national heroes.

What were the achievements of the Indian independence movement?

The achievements of the Indian independence movement include:

The end of British rule in India.
The creation of a free and independent India.
The establishment of a secular and democratic republic.
The promotion of social and economic justice.
The development of a strong and vibrant nation.
What were the challenges faced by the Indian independence movement?

The Indian independence movement faced a number of challenges, including:

The strength of the British Empire.
The lack of unity among Indian nationalists.
The opposition of the British government.
The violence of the British Raj.

Despite these challenges, the Indian independence movement was ultimately successful in achieving its goals.

1. Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?
(A) Dadabhai Naoroji
(B) Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee
(C) Surendranath Banerjee
(D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

2. Which of the following was not a demand of the Indian National Congress in the early 20th century?
(A) Swaraj
(B) Home Rule
(C) Elect a majority of Indians to the legislative councils
(D) Increase in the number of elected seats in the legislative councils

3. Who was the leader of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(D) Lala Lajpat Rai

4. Which of the following was not a reason for the failure of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
(A) The Chauri Chaura incident
(B) The government’s use of force
(C) The lack of support from the Muslim community
(D) The economic boycott of British goods

5. Who was the leader of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Subhash Chandra Bose
(D) Vallabhbhai Patel

6. Which of the following was not a demand of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
(A) The end of British rule in India
(B) The release of political prisoners
(C) The reduction of land revenue
(D) The right to practice one’s religion freely

7. Who was the leader of the Quit India Movement?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Subhash Chandra Bose
(D) Vallabhbhai Patel

8. Which of the following was not a reason for the failure of the Quit India Movement?
(A) The government’s use of force
(B) The lack of support from the Muslim community
(C) The economic boycott of British goods
(D) The outbreak of World War II

9. Who was the first Prime Minister of India?
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) Mahatma Gandhi
(C) Vallabhbhai Patel
(D) Sardar Patel

10. Who was the first President of India?
(A) Rajendra Prasad
(B) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
(C) Dr. Zakir Hussain
(D) V.V. Giri