COORG PUBLIC SCHOOL, GONIKOPPAL

X History Notes Chapters 3 and 4

The Early Nationalists (Moderates) First phase of Indian National Movement

1. Name few early nationalists.

W.C Bannerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Surendranath Bannerjee, Firoz
Shah Mehta
2. Why were the early nationalists called the moderates?
• Their demands were moderate in nature
• Their methods of struggle were moderate
• They had faith in the British Government

3. Explain the methods followed by the early nationalists.

The method followed by the early nationalists was popularly known as Constitutional
agitation Method. They believed in the policy of constitutional agitation within the legal
framework and slow orderly political progress. Their methods had two objectives.
First set of methods: Their first objective was to educate the Indians in modern politics
which would help the Indians arouse national feeling and create united public opinion. For
this they used the following methods:

• They held meetings where speeches were made and resolutions for popular
demands were passed
• They made use of the press to criticise government policies
• They sent memorandums and petitions to government officials and the British
Parliament. These petitions were carefully drafted with facts and arguments

Second set of methods; The second objective was to influence the British government and
the British public. For this they used the following methods
• They made use of the three P’s i.e Petitions, Prayers and Protests. They sent
petitions, requests and letters of protest to the British government to look into
the problems of the Indians.
• A British Council of the INC was founded in London. This committee started a
journal called India to present India’s case before the British public.
• Indian leaders were sent to Britain to create awareness among the british people
and the politicians about the plight of the Indians.eg. Dadhabai Naoroji

4. What was the objective of the early nationalists?

The early nationalists aimed at a self-reliant government within the framework of the British.
They also aimed at constitutional reforms within the frame work of the British rule.
 5. Mention the contributions of the following leaders.

Dadabhai Naoroji [ Grand Old Man of India]

• The East India Association was found by him in London in 1866
• The London Indian Society was found by him with the help of W.C Bannerjee
• He was the first Indian to become the member of the British House of the Commons in
England
• Rast Goftar (Speaker of the Truth) was a newspaper edited by him. Dharma Marg
Dharshak started a magazine started by him.
• He took an active part in the foundation of the INC and was elected as the President of INC
for three times in 1886,1893,1906
• His famous work Poverty and UnBritish Rule in India explains about the exploitation of India
by the British
• His famous drain theory explained how India’s wealth was being drained to England.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale [Was awarded the title Companion of the Indian Empire]
• He set up the Servants of India Society in 1905 to train the national leaders
• He played an important role in the passage of the Minto Morley reforms
• He made a strong plea for the reform of Legislative Council and separation of the Judiciary
from the Executive
• He helped Ghandiji in South Africa to fight against the racial discrimination
• The stressed on the British government to reduce the land tax
• He was the editor of Sarvajanik Sabha
• He criticised the government on issues such as:
Huge expenditure on British Army
Imposing production taxes on cotton

Surendranath Bannerjee [Father of Indian Nationalism]

• He was the first Indian to qualify for the Indian Civil Service Examination
• He founded the Indian Association in 1876
• He convened the Indian National Conference at Kolkata in 1883 to create an All-
India Political Organisation
• He presided over the INC in 1895 and 1902
• He started agitation against the Vernacular Press Act, Indian Arms Act etc.
• He edited a newspaper-Bengalee
• His book Nation for Making gives his views on self-government
• He also opposed the partition of Bengal Partition of Bengal
 Chapter 4
ASSERTIVE NATIONALISTS [EXREMISTS & RADICALS]
SECOND PHASE OF INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT

1.When was Bengal partitioned? Who was the Viceroy responsible for the partition?
Bengal was partitioned on October 16, 1905. Lord Curzon was the Viceroy responsible for the
partition of Bengal.

2. What was the reason given by the British for the partition of Bengal?
According to the British, Bengal was a huge province and it was too big to be efficiently
administered by a single provincial government.

3.What was the real intention of the British behind the partition of Bengal?
• Bengal was the nerve centre of Indian nationalism at that time so the British wanted to cut
the very roots of nationalism.
• The Hindus and the Muslims of Bengal were united and were taking part in nationalism. So,
the British thought this is the best way to divide them.
• The curb the Bengali influence by reducing the Bengalis to a minority

4. What were the reactions of the Nationalists for the partition of Bengal?
• The partition of Bengal bought the political leader of India together.
• Many protest meetings were held by eminent leaders like Surendranath Banerjee, B. C. Pal, P. C.
Ray.
• The leaders condemned the partition of Bengal throughout newspapers like Bengali,
Hitabadi.

5.Explain the Surat split.

At the Surat split of Congress in 1907 the Assertive Nationalists proposed the name of Lala Lajpat
Rai as the president of the Surat session. The Early Nationalists proposed the name of
Rashbehari Ghosh. When the session at Surat began in December there was utter confusion
regarding the presidentship and the programs of both the groups. This led to the split in the
Congress and the Assertive Nationalists leaders were expelled. For nine years they remained out
of the Congress. One more reason for the Surat spilt was the differences in the methods adopted
by the early Nationalists and Assertive nationalists.

6.Name the prominent Assertive Nationalists.

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• Lala Lajpat Rai
• Bipin Chandra Pal
They are famous as Lal Bal Pal trio.

7. What was the main objective of the Assertive Nationalists?

The main objective of the Assertive Nationalists was the immediate attainment of Swaraj. This
means complete independence and not just self government.
8. Explain the methods adopted by the Assertive Nationalists to achieve their aims.
• Swadeshi: Swadeshi means producing necessary goods in one’s own country and using
them without depending on other countries imported goods. The Assertive Nationalist
popularised this idea by occasional bonfire of foreign goods.
• Boycott: Swadeshi and Boycott are like two sides of the same coin. Practise of Swadeshi
means Boycott of foreign goods. Boycotts aimed at encouraging Indian industries and
provide job opportunities to the Indians.
• National Educations: A national scheme of education was planned to replace the British
Government controlled universities and colleges. The Assertive Nationalists set up a large
number of national schools in East Bengal. Bengal National College was set up at Calcutta.
• Passive Resistance: The Assertive Nationalists adopted a policy of non-violent resistance
and vigorous political action to achieve their aims. They asked the people to refuse to
cooperate with the British Government and to Boycott government and to Boycott
government service, courts, schools and colleges.

9. Write the difference between the Early Nationalists and Assertive Nationalists.

EARLY NATIONALISTS:
• The Early Nationalists wanted to achieve self-government and they strived for autonomy
within the Empire and not for absolute independence.
• They believed in constitutional methods and worked within the framework of the law.
• They held good positions under the British government.
• They had faith in the British sense of justice and fair play.
• They received their support from the intelligentsia.
• They were inspired by the ideas of Western philosophers.

ASSERTIVE NATIONALISTS:
• The Assertive Nationalists aimed at nothing short of Swaraj as it existed in the United
Kingdom.
• They were assertive in their approach.
• They denounced British rule and defied it.
• They rejected British rule and held it responsible for poverty of the Indian people.
• They drew their support from the masses.
• They drew their inspiration from India’s past.

10. Write the contributions of:

a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Father of Assertive Ntionalists):
• He founded the Deccan Education Society.
• He organised many akharas and lathi clubs where physical training was given to
youngsters.
• He started the Ganapathy and Shivaji festivals to propagate nationalist ideas and unite the
Indians
• He started two newspapers – Maratha (English) and Kesari (Marathi).
• He wrote two books – Gita Rahasya and the Arctic Home of the Vedas.
• He set up the Home Rule League in 1916.
 • He was the first to openly declare the demand for Swaraj.

b) Bipin Chandra Pal (Father of Revolutionary Thought in India):

• He was a journalist and worked for the Bengal Public Opinion, The Tribune and New India.
• He brought many social and economic reforms like:
➢ He opposed the caste system.
➢ He advocated widow remarriage.
➢ He stressed the need to develop Indian industries.
➢ He wanted to establish equality in the society.
➢ He demanded 48 hours of work in a week and an increase in the vages.

c) Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab Kesari, Sher-e-Punjab)

• He started a monthly magazine called Young India.
• His publications included – The Call to Young India, England’s Debt to India, The Political
Future of India.
• He started newspapers like Punjabi, Vande Matharam (Urdu Daily) and People (English
weekly).
• He wrote a book on National Education that called for reform of educational system.
• He was instrumental in the expansion of DAV College at Lahore.
• He set up Servants of the People Society for the welfare of the down trodden and out
castes.