Homework: Take notes on evidence of nationalism within the Birth of the Congress and its historical background.

How does nationalism lead to the creation of the Congress? Take notes on examples from the entire reading. Congress & The Freedom Movement
BIRTH OF THE CONGRESS Its Genesis The 1 !" revolt was suppressed. The British #mpire in $ndia was saved. %ueen &ictoria was proclaimed #mpress of $ndia and the new polic' was ushered in. $t was even more reactionar' and in the long run proved ver' harmful. The native princes were now to be used as British tools and propped as bulwark against forces of resistance and progress. (overnment was no longer to encourage social reform. The benign rule was thus to carefull' preserve deca'ing aristocracies) superstition and warring dogmas and cults. These were to provide the pattern for British imperialism with its foundations laid deep in the religious differences) caste and untouchabilit' and the feudal states and the aristocrac'. Economic and Political discontent The polic' of economic exploitation) however) became even worse though more subtle. *ass unrest was the inevitable result of the ever growing povert' and helplessness of the peasantr'. The common people) Hindus and *uslims) struggled against the terrible oppression) wherever the' could and with whatever weapons the' could muster. There was a new #nglish educated class which was used to run the (overnment machiner'. $ was great admirer of ever'thing +estern which lent its support to the (overnment. The belief of the educated classes in the #nglish tradition of liberal thought and institutions received setbacks as a result of various (overnment measures. The ,reedom of the press) introduced earlier b' *etcalfe) was soon done awa' with. The vernacular -ress was gagged in 1 " and the Bengali Amrita Bazar Patrika had to change overnight into an #nglish garb. The .rms .ct was passed in 1 "/. This disillusionment advanced further when the Illbert Bill to abolish 01udicial discrimination) based on racial distinction0 had to be virtuall' dropped on account of fierce opposition b' the #uropean communit' and the Civil 2ervice. The #uropeans did not hesitate to threaten the &icero') 3ord 4ipon) with violence if the Bill was passed. $ndians learned the lesson at this time. $n 1 !5 the first Cotton *ill was established in Bomba'. The number of mills rose to 1!6 b' 1 7. This was an alarming progress and under pressure of 3ancashire) all duties on cotton imports into $ndia were removed in 1 8. Social Renaissance $t was not merel' the economic exploitation and the sense of political sub9ection that gave birth to the Congress. ,or fift' 'ears and more before the birth of the Congress) the leaven of national re9uvenation had been at work. $n fact national life was in a state of ferment as earl' as in the times of Rammohan Roy, who could in a wa' be regarded as the prophet of $ndian :ationalism and the father of modern $ndia. He had a wide vision and a broad outlook. +hile it is true that the socio; religious condition of his da' was the sub9ect of his special attention in his reformist activities) he had nevertheless a keen sense of the grave political wrongs b' which his countr' was afflicted at that time and made a strenuous effort to seek an earl' redress of those wrongs. 4ammohan 4o' was born in 1""6 and passed awa' at Bristol in 1 55. His name is associated with two great reforms in $ndia) namel') the abolition of 2ati and the introduction of +estern learning in the countr'. $n the closing period of his life he chose to visit #ngland and his passion for libert' was so great that when he reached the Cape of (ood Hope he insisted on his being carried to a ,rench vessel where he saw the flag of libert' fl'ing) so that he might be able to do homage to that flag) and when he saw the flag he shouted) 0(lor') (lor') (lor' to the ,lag.0 .lthough he had gone to #ngland primaril' as the ambassador of the *oghul #mperor to plead his cause in 3ondon) 'et he took the opportunit' to place some of the pressing $ndian grievances before a Committee of the House of Commons. He

submitted three papers) on the 4evenue s'stem of $ndia) the 1udicial s'stem of $ndia) and the *aterial condition of $ndia. He was honoured b' the #ast $ndia Compan' with a public dinner. +hen in 1 58 the Charter .ct was before -arliament he vowed that if the Bill was not passed he would give up his residence in the British dominion and reside in .merica. The <niversities were established in 1 ! and the High Courts and the 3egislative Councils in $ndia between 1 61 and 1 65. 1ust before the 0mutin'0) the 0+idow 4e;marriage .ct0 was passed as also the .ct relating to conversion into Christianit'. $n the sixties of the nineteenth centur') an intimate contact was established with +estern learning and literature. +estern legal institutions and -arliamentar' methods were inaugurated) to mark a new era in the field of law and legislation. The impact of +estern civili=ation on the #ast could not but leave a deep impress upon the beliefs and sentiments of the $ndian people who came directl' under its influence. The onl' parts of the countr' which had received some education on modem lines were the provinces of Bengal) Bomba' and *adras. The number of educated men even in these provinces was small. $n the work of settlement that followed the mutin') these educated men found ample scope for their ambition. These races of Babus began to think like their #nglish masters) admired and emulated ever'thing that came from the +est. 2oon) however) there was a reaction against this process of denationali=ation which assumed various forms) some of a s'nthesis of the +est and the #ast and others of a revivalism going to the past. Brahmo Sama & Prarthana Sama The germs of religious reform planted in the da's of 4ammohan 4o' became widespread. >eshab Chandra 2en on whose shoulders fell the mantle of 4ammohan 4o' spread the gospel of the Brahmo 2ama9 far and wide and gave a new social orientation to its tenets. He turned his attention to the temperance movement and made common cause with the temperance reformers in #ngland. He was largel' responsible for the passing of the Civil *arriage .ct $$$ of 1 "8. The Brahmo 2ama9 of Bengal had its repercussions all over the countr'. $n -oona) the movement assumed the name of Prarthana Samaj under the leadership of *. (. 4anade) who) it will be remembered was the founder of the 2ocial 4eform movement which for long 'ears continued to be an ad9unct of the Congress. ?ne feature) however) to this reformist movement was a certain disregard for the past and a spirit of revolt from the time;honoured and traditional beliefs of the countr') which arose from an undue glamour presented b' the +estern institutions and heightened greatl' b' the political prestige associated with them.

E!R"# PH!SE OF THE CONGRESS The $ndian :ational movement was primaril' a movement for freedom from alien domina;nation. The movement has been one comprehensive effort embracing all aspects of the life of the communit'. The birth of the $ndian :ational Congress) perhaps the oldest and the biggest democratic organisation in the world) did not take place in an atmosphere of a fanfare of trumpets nor did it create a stir b' passing flambo'ant resolutions. THE HOME R$"E MO%EMENT +hen (reat Britain was involved in the ,irst +orld +ar) $ndian leaders like Tilak and .nnie Besant decided to put new life in the national movement in the countr'. .s the #nglishmen did not like the word 2wara9 and considered the same to be 0seditious and dangerous)0 Tilak decided to use the term 0Home 4ule@ in place of 2wara9 as the goal of his movement. $n Aecember 1/1!) he had de1eberations with his colleagues and on 8 .pril 1/16 the $ndian Home 4ule 3eague was set up with its headBuarters at -oona. The ob9ect of this 3eague was to 0attain Home 4ule or self;government within the British #mpire b' all constitutional means and to educate and organise public opinion in the countr' towards the attainment of the same.0 . similar Home 4ule 3eague was founded b' .nnie Besant on 1! 2eptember 1/16 with its headBuarters at .d'ar near *adras.

The advocates of the Home 4ule *ovement believed in Constitutional methods and were opposed to violence and revolutionar' agitation. The' had no desire to embarrass the British (overnment which was fighting against (erman' and .ustria;Hungar'. The' were prepared to offer their cooperation to the British (overnment so that it could win the war. However) the' believed that the great of Home 4ule to $ndia was in the interests of the British #mpire in its war against (erman' and .ustria as she could then fight with greater moral force. The 'ear 1/1" was an eventful 'ear in the sense that the two Home 4ule 3eagues of Tilak and .nnie Besant worked in co;operation with each other. Tilak confined his activities to the Bomba' presidenc' and the Central -rovinces and the rest of $ndia was left to .nnie Besant. The branches of the Home 4ule 3eague were set up all over the countr' and there was a popular demand for Home 4ule. Tilak went on a whirlwind tour of the countr' in 1/16 and appealed to the people to unite under the banner of the Home 4ule 3eague. His target was not the British #mpire or the #mperor of $ndia but the bureaucrac' in $ndia. $n his public speeches) he declared emphaticall' that Home 4ule was the onl' cure for $ndiaCs political ills and grievances) that libert' was the birthright of ever' man and that the aspiration to get oneCs libert' was the essence of human nature . small minorit' from outside $ndia could not be allowed to rule the countr' arbitraril'. .nnie Besant also toured the countr' and created a lot of enthusiasm among the people for the national cause. Her articles in the Commonweal and :ew $ndia were ver' popular. C. D. Chintamani sa's: 0.nnie Besant stirred the countr' b' the spoken as well as the written word) as scarcel' as an' one else could do.0 .nnie BesantCs work was particularl' among the women of $ndia who showed 0uncalculating heroism) endurance and the selfless sacrifice of the feminine nature.0 The British (overnment could not be expected to keep Buiet in the face of a stir created b' the Home 4ule 3eagues and their leaders and it decided to curb the activities of those leaders who were in the forefront of the movement. The existing statutes were tightened. There was alread' an ordinance to prevent the entr' of undesirable aliens into $ndia. The Aefence of $ndia .ct) 1/1! superseded the ordinar' criminal law of countr' and action under it could be taken against agitators. The provisions of the $ndian -ress .ct 1/17 were strictl' enforced to stop the propaganda of the Home 4ule 3eaguers. Circulars were issued b' which the students of schools and colleges were forbidden from taking part in the Home 4ule *ovement. $n 1ul' 1/16) Tilak was prosecuted for delivering seditious speeches and was ordered to furnish a personal bond of 4s. 87)777. #xternment orders were served on him and he was ordered not to enter Aelhi and the -un9ab. 2imilar action was taken against .nnie Besant. 2he was ordered to furnish securit' for her press and the Commonweal and New India. $n all) she deposited 4s. 87)777 and the whole of that amount was forfeited b' the (overnment. The (overnment also took action against .nnie Besant and her two associates) B. -. +adia and C. 2. .rundale. The (overnor of *adras called .nnie Besant for an interview and told her that she was to be interned. There was a lot of indignation all over the countr' against her intern -rotest meetings were held allover the countr' at repression b' the police was condemned. G!N&HI'I(S &ECISION *ahatma (andhi had so far believed in the 9ustice and fairpla' of the British (overnment. He had given his full co;operation to the (overnment during the ,irst +orld +ar) inspite of opposition from men like Tilak. But the traged' at 1allianwala Bagh) the imposition of *artial 3aw in the -un9ab and the findings of the Hunter Committee in 1/87 on the tragic events of the -un9ab) completel' shattered the faith of *ahatma (andhi in the good sense of the Britishers. He) therefore) decided to start :on;cooperation *ovement. He felt that the old methods must be given up. . special session of the Congress met at Calcutta from Eth to /th 2eptember) 1/87. Here (andhi9i himself moved the resolution on non;cooperation. He was opposed not onl' b' the -resident elect) 3ala 3a9patrai and b' other stalwarts like Chittaran9an Aas) but ultimatel' he carried the da') -andit *otilal :ehru 9oined (andhi9i at once and gave up his practice. The resolution was carried b' a ma9orit' of 1 !! votes as against "5.

The countr' had now found a wa' to express its intese desire for freedom and a new atmosphere soon began to pervade it. The non;cooperation programme was to be finall' discussed and ratified at :agpur. .n unprecedented number of delegates attended the :agpur session. The :agpur Congress reall' marked the new era in the ,reedom movement. The old feeling of impotent range and importunate reBuests gave place to a new sense of responsibilit' and a self reliance. 3ala9i and Aeshbandhu came to oppose the proposals but sta'ed to be converted. The :agpur Congress made (andhi9i the indisputedl' supreme authorit' in the Congress and outside. 2easoned leaders like B. C. -al and *alavi'a9i) 1innah and >haparde) and stalwarts like C. 4. Aas and 3ala9i were all won over. The :agpur Congress also changed the creed of the Congress) 0in such a fashion as to eliminate the declared adherence of that bod' to the British connection and to constitutional methods of agitation.0 COMING OF G!N&HI'I THE CONGRESS BECOMES ! &#N!MIC ORG!NI)!TION * 'a+aharlal Nehr, +hen (andhi9i entered the Congress organi=ation for the first time he immediatel' brought about a complete change in its constitution. He made it a democratic and a mass based organi=ation. Aemocratic it had been previousl' also but it had so far been limited in franchise and restricted to the upper classes. :ow the peasants rolled in and) in its new garb) it began to assume the look of a vast agrarian organi=ation with a strong sprinkling of the middle;classes. This agrarian character was to grow. $ndustrial workers also came in but as individuals and not in their separate organi=ed capacit'. Ne+ Techni-,e .ction was to be the basis and ob9ective of this organi=ation) action based on peaceful methods. Thus far the alternatives had been: 9ust talking and passing resolutions) or terroristic activit'. Both of these were set aside and terrorism was especiall' condemned as opposed to the basic polic' of the Congress. . new techniBue of action was evolved which) though perfectl' peaceful) 'et involved nonsubmission to what was considered wrong and) as a conseBuence) a willing acceptance of the pain and suffering involved in this. (andhi was an odd kind of pacifist for he was an activist) full of d'namic energ'. There was no submission in him to fate or an'thing that he considered evilF he was full of resistance) though this was peaceful and courteous. The call of action was two;fold. There was of course the action involved in challenging and resisting foreign ruleF there was also the action which led us to fight our own social evils. .part from the fundamental ob9ective of the Congress;the freedom of $ndia;and the method of peaceful action) the principal planks of the Congress were national unit') which involved the solution of the minorit' problems) and the raising of the depressed classes and the ending of the curse of the untouchabilit'. 4eali=ing that the main props of British rule were fear) prestige) the co;operation) willing or unwilling) of the people) and certain classes whose vested interests were centred in British rule) (andhi attacked these foundations. Titles were to be given up and though the title;holders responded to this onl' in small measure) the popular respect for these British;given titles disappeared and the' became s'mbols of degradation. :ew standards and values were set up and the pomp and splendour of the &iceregal court and the -rinces) which used to impress so much suddenl' appeared supremel' ridiculous and vulgar and rather shameful) surrounded as the' were b' the povert' and miser' of the people. 4ich men were not so anxious to flaunt their richesF outwardl' at least man' of them adopted simpler wa's and) in their dress) became almost indistinguishable from the humbler folk. The older leaders of the Congress) nurtured in a different and more Buiescent tradition) did not take easil' to these new wa's and were disturbed b' the upsurge of the masses. Det so powerful was the wave of feeling and sentiment that swept through the countr') that some of that intoxication filled them also. . ver' few fell awa' and among them was *r. *. .. 1innah. He left the Congress not because of an' difference of opinion on the Hindu;*uslim Buestion but because he could not adapt

himself to the new and more advanced ideolog') and even more so because he disliked the crowds of ill;dressed people) talking in Hindustani) who filled the Congress. His idea of politics was of superior variet') more suited to the legislative chamber or to a committee room. ,or some 'ears he felt completel' out of the picture and even decided to leave $ndia for good. He settled down in #ngland and spent several 'ears there. The Programme The programme of the :on;Cooperation *ovement was clearl' stated in the non;cooperation resolution. $t involved the surrender of titles and honorar' offices and resignation from nominated posts in the local bodies. The non;cooperators were not to attend) Aarbars and other official and semi;official functions held b' the (overnment officials or in their honour. The' were to withdraw their children graduall' from schools and colleges and establish national schools and colleges. The' were to bo'cott graduall' the British courts and establish private arbitration courts. The' were not to 9oin the arm' as recruits for service in *esopotamia. The' were not to stand for election to the 3egislatures and the' were also not to vote. The' were to use Swadeshi cloth. Handi;spining and hand;weaving were to be encouraged. <ntouchabilit' was to be removed as there could be no 2wara9 without this reform. *ahatma (andhi promised 2wara9 within one 'ear if people followed his programme sincerel' and whole;heartedl'. .himsa or non;violence was to be strictl' observed b' the non; co;operators. The' were not to give up 2at'a or truth under an' circumstances. The :on;Cooperation *ovement captured the imagination of the people. Both the Hindus and *uslims participated in it. There was wholesale burning of foreign goods. *an' students left schools and colleges and the Congress set up such national educational institutions as the >ashi &id'apeeth) Benares &id'apeeth) (u9arat &id'apeeth) Bihar &id'apeeth) Bengal :ational <niversit') :ational College of 3ahore) 1amia *illia in Aelhi and the :ational *uslim <niversit' of .ligarh. 2eth 1amma 3al Ba9a9 declared that he would give 4s. one lakh a 'ear for the maintenance of non;practising law'ers. ,ort' lakh volunteers were enrolled b' the Congress. Twent' thousand Charkhas were manufactured. The people started deciding their disputes b' means of arbitration. The non;cooperation movement had both a positive and a negative aspect. The positive aspect included the revival of hand;spinning and weaving) removal of untouchabilit') promotion of Hindu;*uslim unit' and prohibition. The negative aspect fell into three parts: bo'cott of legislatures) courts) and government educational institutions. This bo'cott movement spread like wild fire. The (overnment tried to crush the movement b' large;scale arrests) but this onl' helped to strengthen the movement. $n 1ul' 1/81 the .ll $ndia Congress Committee decided to counter the government polic' of repression b' not participating in the welcome to the -rince of +ales who was to visit $ndia in :ovember; Aecember 1/81. +hen the -rince of +ales came to $ndia) he was 0greeted0 with hartals throughout the countr'. The (overnment persisted in the polic' of repressionF the Congress and the >hilafat &olunteersC ?rganisation were declared illegal and large numbers of Congress workers were put behind prison bars. Civil &iso.edience *ahatma (andhi was convinced that the onl' wa' 17 make the (overnment see reason was to start the civil disobedience movement and he decided to start the same in Bardoli in (u9arat. The Congress +orking Committee called upon the people of $ndia to cooperate with the people of Bardoli 0b' refraining from mass or individual civil disobedience of an aggressive character) except upon the express consent of *ahatma (andhi previousl' obtained.0 *ahatma (andhi wrote to the &icero' and gave " da's to accept his demands. The &icero' held the Congress responsible for all the lawlessness in the countr'. *ahatma (andhi was left with no alternative but to launch the civil disobedience movement. <nfortunatel') at this time) the traged' of Chauri Chaura occurred which changed the course of $ndian histor'. +hat actuall' happened was that it mob of 5)777 persons killed 8! policemen and one inspector on ! ,ebruar') 1/88. 2imilar tragic events had alread' occurred on 1" :ovember) 1/81 in Bomba' and on 15 1anuar' 1/88 in *adras. This was too much for *ahatma (andhi who stood for complete non;violence. The result was that *ahatma (andhi gave orders for the suspension of the :on;cooperation *ovement at once. The (overnment

was not satisfied with this action of *ahatma (andhi and the Congress. $t was feared that *ahatma (andhi was out for a bigger trouble and conseBuentl' he was arrested on 15 *arch) 1/88. His trial began in .hmedabad and he pleaded guilt'. He took upon himself full responsibilit' for the occurrences in *adras) Bomba' and Chauri Chaura and told *r. Broomfield) the British 9udge) that be would 0do the same again0 if he was set free. He was sentenced to 6 'ear imprisonment. The action of *ahatma (andhi in suspending the movement was severel' criticised from man' Buarters. .ccording to Ar. -attabhi 2itarama''a) 03ong letters were written from behind the bars b' -t. *otilal :ehru and 3ala 3a9pat 4ai. The' took (andhi to task for punishing the whole countr' for the sins of a place.0 Ar. 4. C. *a9umdar sa's that the most outstanding feature of the :on;cooperation *ovement was the willingness and abilit' of the people in general to endure hardships and punishments inflicted b' the (overnment. $t is true that the movement collapsed but the memor' of its greatness survived and was destined to inspire the nation to launch a more arduous campaign. The movement served as a baptism of fire which initiated the people to a new faith and new hope and inspired them with a new confidence in their power to fight for freedom. .s a result of this movement) the Congress movement for the first time became a reall' mass movement. The national awakening not onl' penetrated to the people at large but also made them active participants in the struggle for freedom. *oreover) the $ndian :ational Congress was turned into a genuine revolutionar' organisation. $t was no longer a deliberative assembl' but an organised fighting part' pledged to revolution.