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HISTORY
(Based on School, NTSE & Olympiad Syllabus)
(For Class 10X Studying Student)
Topic :
Age of Associations in Bengal
The successful political struggle that was led by
Indian National Congress (INC) was almost synonymous
with Indian freedom struggle. The Indian National
Congress was the biggest and most well known political
associations of India. However, the congress was not
the first political association. There were quite a few
political associations that existed before Congress. Most
of these associations were largely dominated by the
aristocratic people like the zamindars. This was because
the aristocratic class had received English, modern
education that led to a political awakening among them.
The demands of the aristocratic people of these
associations were as following:
 Increasing the Indian representation in the
Executive and Legislative Council.
 Freedom of press.
 Reforms in administration
 Spread of Education
(1) Bangabhasha Prakashika Sabha :
 This was started by associates of Ram Mohan
Roy in 1836.
 It was founded by Dwarkanath Tagore and
Prasanna Kumar Tagore
 It was the first political organisation of the
Bengalis.
 When the British government imposed taxes
on the non-taxable landed properties on the
basis of the law of 1828, the organisation tried
to convene a public meeting to protest against
such imposition of taxes.
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Landholders' Society or 'Zamindar Sabha' (12th
Nov, 1838).
 It was formed in 1838 by Radhakanta Dev.
 The main purpose of the organisation was
safeguarding the interests of landlords.
 They used constitutional methods of agitations
to fulfil their demands.
 From this organisation the people of India learnt
how to voice their demands legitimately.
'Bharat Sabha' or Indian Association:
 Indian Association which was popularly known
as 'Bharat Sabha' was established in the year
1876 through the patronage of Surendranath
Banerjee and Anandamohan Basu.
 The demands of Indian Association of Calcutta
were nationalist in nature, which makes it one
of the most important pre-congress nationalist
association.
 They opened branches in different cities to
expand its membership among the masses.
 This organisation was later merged with the
Indian National Congress.
Hindu Mela or Chaitra Mela:
 Hindu Mela was founded in 1867 in Calcutta
by Nabagopal Mitra with the active support
from the Tagore family.
 The Hindu Mela was also known as Chaitra
Mela. It was largely the product of the combined
efforts of Rajnarayan Basu, Dwijendranath
Tagore and Nabogopal Mitra.
 It was a Social-Cultural organisation.
 But the spirit of Swadeshi that it involved in
 It aimed at receiving the glory of Indian
Civilisation, mobilise the Hindus, especially the the minds of the Bangali's survived, which was
Youth and to cultivate the national language
ideas. subsequently developed during the swadeshi

 The Hindu Mela gradually lost ground unable movement during the early period of twentieth
to cope with the new and complete demands
of the 1880s and 1890s. century.

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