First Phase of the Indian National Movement (1885 -1907)
•First Phase of the Indian Nationalist Movement
The period between 1866 and 1885 saw the coming up of a number of political associations. They are regarded as the 'Precursors' of what was to come (the Congress).
1. The East India Association : Dadabhai Naoroji founded in London on 1st October, 1866, the East India Association. It aimed at providing members of the British Parliament information regarding India's genuine grievances. The Association attracted a large number of Englishmen who sympathised with India's distress. It recommended the abolition of cotton duties and petitioned the government to withdraw the Vernacular Press Act. The Association became popular and soon had branches in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
2. The Indian Association Headed by Surendranath Banerjee : In 1876 came up in Kolkata the Indian Association founded by Surendranath Banerjee
The Objects of the Association were:
(i) To unite the Indians upon the basis of common political interests and beliefs ;
(ii) To promote brotherly feelings between Hindus and the Muslims; and
(iii) To agitate for a constitutional government.
The Association launched agitation against the Arms Act and the Vernacular Press Act. Surendranath Banerjee led an all-India campaign for a better representation of Indians in the Indian Civil Service. 'The Bengalee' a daily newspaper edited by Surendranath Banerjee, became the chief organ of this Association.
•Three Phases of the National Movement
The National Movement in India was more or less synonymous with the Congress Movement. It can be classified into three phases on the basis of the objectives and the methods of struggle. The three phases are :
(a) The Early Nationalists (Moderate) Phase (1885-1905 A.D.), aimed at gaining more concessions for Indians. They adopted purely constitutional methods such as making Petitions and Praying to the Government for acceptance of their moderate demands. They made those demands in the form of Resolutions and Petitions.
(b) The Aggressive Phase (1905-1919 A.D.), aimed at socio-economic and political progress of the people, leading to Swaraj as the ultimate goal; their methods included the extremist measures such as the Swadeshi, Swaraj, National Education and Boycott.
(c) The Gandhian Phase (1919-1947 A.D.), aimed at Poorna Swaraj, i.e., Complete Independence; the methods included Gandhi's Non-violent Non-cooperation Movements, Civil Disobedience and Satyagraha.
•Who were the Early Nationalists? (Mode- rates)
Objectives :
(i) To awaken and organise organic public opinion.
(ii) To arouse political consciousness and national spirit of the Indians.
(iii) To educate and unite Indians on common political and economic issues.
(iv) To create a strong British public opinion in favour of the genuine grievances of the Indians.
(v) To establish colonial form of self-government.
•Programmes of the Early Nationalists Moderates?
1. Political Programme or Constitutional Reforms :
The Early Nationalists (moderates) demanded :
(i) to form the Governor General's Legislative Council at the Centre and to ask for the expansion of the provincial Legislative Councils as established under the Indian Councils Act of 1861 AD.
(ii) to give more powers to the Legislative Councils at the Centre and Provinces to enable them to discuss the budget and suggest interpolation.
(iii) to seek the abolition of the "Indian Council" in England.
2. Administrative Reforms :
The Early Nationalists Programme included the following Administrative Reforms :
(i) Wider employment to Indians in higher jobs under the Government.
(ii) Indianization of civil services and simultaneous I.C.S. Examinations to be held in England and India.
(iii) Adequate representation of Indians in the Executive Council of the Viceroy and the Provincial Governors.
(iv) Higher jobs to Indians in the Army.
(v) Raising of the Indian Volunteer Force.
(vi) Repeal of the Arms Act of 1878 AD. and Licence Act.
(vii) An increase in the powers of the local bodies and reducing official control on them.
(viii) Separation of executive and judicial functions so as to protect Indians from arbitrary acts of police and bureaucracy.
3. Socio-Economic Programme :
The Early Nationalists programme included the following Socio-Economic Demands :
(i) Reduction in the rate of land revenue.
(ii) Reduction in the rate of interests from the peasants charged by the Zamindars.
(iii) Availability of cheap credit to the peasants from Agricultural Banks.
(iv) Development in the irrigation system, banking, medical and health facilities for people.
(v) Duty on sugar and salt to be totally abolished.
(vi) Tariff protection for industrial growth; Government loans for the development of iron, coal, paper and sugar industries in India.
(vii) Reduction in expenditure on the Home Government charges and on the army. The money thus saved to be spent on health, education and other social services. More funds for technical education be provided.
(viii) An enquiry to be made in India's growing poverty and recurring famines and remedial steps taken.
4. Programme Relating to Civil Rights and Liberties:
The Early Nationalists demanded the following Civil Rights and Liberties :
(i) Right of freedom of speech and expression.
(ii) Right to assemble and to form association, and to organize meetings to educate the people.
(iii) Right to circulate leaflets, pamphlets and the repeal of the laws imposing censor on the press i.e., Vernacular Press Act.
(iv) Repeal of the Preventive Detention Acts and the restoration of civil liberties.
•Methods of Struggle of Early Nationalists
The Method of Struggle of the Early Nationalists was known as Constitutional Agitation. This included discussions, processions, speeches, peaceful propaganda through press, memoranda, sending delegations to the Government in India and England, holding annual sessions of the Congress and passing resolutions there. They sent Petitions to high officials, held meetings in towns and cities, distributed leaflets and handbills. In short, Prayers, Petitions and pleas were the methods used by them to arouse public opinion to national causes and to get redress from British Government.
(i) By Resolution and Petitions : Upto 1905 A.D., the Indian National Congress (INC) was influenced and dominated by the moderates. Therefore, the Indian National Congress wanted to adopt peaceful means or methods for the fulfilment of its demands. The Congress used to pass the resolutions during its annual sessions. Certainly, the early nationalists had criticised the improper policies of the British Government in India, but at the same time, they also proved that they were loyal to the British Government in India.
(ii) By Newspapers: The early nationalists used the newspapers for preparing public opinion and for the propagation of their views and opinions. In these newspapers, the articles or essays by the moderate leaders of the Indian National Congress were published. Through these articles or essays, the people of India came to know about the policy of the British Government in India.
(iii) By Deputation : The early nationalists also adopted the method of sending deputations for the fulfilment of its programme and to divert the attention of the British Government in India towards the special or particular subjects. These deputations made the Government officers and employees familiar with the feelings of the people of India.
(iv) By raising issues in the Imperial Legislative Council : Many Congress leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale also tried to raise the public issues in the Imperial Legislative Council.
•Failures and Achievments of Early Nationalists
The early Congressmen have been criticised on the following grounds
1 . They have been named Armchair Politicians. The methods used by the early nationalists, i.e., passing resolutions and sending petitions were criticised as inadequate and half-hearted.
2. They failed to realise that the British and the Indian interests clashed with each other. Britain was using India's resources to increase its wealth.
3. The early nationalist leaders failed to draw the masses into the mainstream of the national movement. Their area of influence was limited to the urban educated Indians. In particular, their leadership was confined to professional groups such as lawyers, doctors, journalists and teachers.
Achievements
In spite of many limitations, the moderates laid the foundation of the national movement which ultimately gained freedom for India.
(i) Foundation of Secular and Democratic National Movement : The early nationalist leaders started a movement that incorporated people of all religions, castes, creeds, regions and colour. They were successful in promoting the spirit of common brotherhood surpassing religious and regional diversities and also made the Indians realise their potentialities.
(ii) Political Education of the Indians : They were successful to a great extent in arousing political awakening and national consciousness among the Indians. They popularised the ideas of democracy, civil liberties and representative institutions among the people of India.
(iii) Exposure of the True Nature of British Rule : They were the first to develop an economic critique of colonialism. They successfully exposed the true nature o f British Imperialism in India. They told the people how the Britishers were exploiting the Indian economy. Early Nationalist leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji through his book, Poverty and Un-British Rule in India highlighted how the British were draining India's resources.
Thus, they helped in formulating public opinion and also evolving a common political and economic programme around which the Indians could wage their struggle against the British.
(iv) Social Reforms : The early nationalists like Govind Ranade and Gopal Krishna Gokhale were passionate supporters of social reforms in India. They raised their voice against social evils such as child marriage, sati system, etc. The Servants of India Society established by Gokhale worked for the upliftment of the depressed classes.
v) Formation of Various Commissions and Committees : Their efforts resulted in the appointment of a Public Service Commission in 1886; passing a resolution in the House of Commons (1893) for simultaneous examination for the I.C.S. in London and India; and appointment of the Welby Commission on Indian Expenditure (1895).
(vi) Indian Councils Act : Besides these, another significant achievement which may be attributed to the early nationalists was the passing of the Indian Councils Act of 1892 A.D. under which association of Indians in Law-making bodies was accepted. The Legislative Councils also got the power to discuss the budget, (but not vote upon it) and ask questions from the executive members with the permission of the Governor General.
Although the methods of the early nationalists were criticised as "political mendicancy", i.e., political begging, yet the above points prove that the early nationalists had definitely some achievements to their credit.
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