Early Nationalism and the Gandhian Era

Indian nationalism evolved from polite Congress sessions to Gandhi's mass movements. NDA tests INC presidents, the Moderate-Extremist split, and Gandhi's early satyagrahas.

Founding of Indian National Congress

• 1885: A.O. Hume (retired British civil servant) organised the first INC session.
• First session: 28-31 December 1885, Bombay's Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College. President: W.C. Bonnerjee. 72 delegates.
• Originally: Discussion forum for educated Indians. Demanded Indian representation in administration, civil service reforms, reduced expenditure.
• "Safety valve theory": Lala Lajpat Rai later suggested Hume founded INC as a "safety valve" for rising Indian discontent. R.P. Dutt elaborated this. Modern historians treat it as oversimplified.
• Early Moderates (1885-1905): Dadabhai Naoroji ("Grand Old Man," Drain Theory in Poverty and Un-British Rule in India), Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee.

Rise of Extremists

• Frustration with slow Moderate progress led to the rise of Extremists from ~1900.
• Lal-Bal-Pal trinity: Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab), Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Maharashtra), Bipin Chandra Pal (Bengal).
• Tilak: "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it." Started Ganesh and Shivaji festivals to mobilise mass nationalism. Newspapers: Kesari (Marathi), Mahratta (English).
• Partition of Bengal (1905, Curzon): Triggered massive Swadeshi movement. Boycott of British goods. Bengal partition reversed in 1911.
• Surat Split 1907: INC split between Moderates (led by Mehta, Gokhale) and Extremists (Tilak, Aurobindo). Came together again at Lucknow 1916 (Lucknow Pact with Muslim League).

Gandhi's Arrival and Early Satyagrahas

• 9 January 1915: Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. Travelled India by train for a year on Gokhale's advice. 9 January is now Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
• Champaran (1917): First Indian satyagraha. Bihar indigo farmers' grievance against Tinkathia system (forced indigo cultivation). British concessions; system effectively abolished.
• Kheda (1918): Gujarati peasants couldn't pay revenue due to crop failure. Gandhi's no-tax campaign. Vallabhbhai Patel emerged as key lieutenant.
• Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918): Textile workers' wage dispute. Gandhi fasted. Workers won 35% increase.

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)

• Trigger events:
  • Rowlatt Act 1919: Detention without trial.
  • Jallianwala Bagh massacre (13 April 1919): General Dyer ordered firing on unarmed crowd at Amritsar. ~400+ killed.
  • Khilafat issue: Indian Muslims protesting British treatment of Ottoman Caliph.
• Launch: September 1920, Calcutta Congress session. Reaffirmed at Nagpur session December 1920.
• Programme: Boycott of British titles/honours, courts, schools, councils, foreign cloth. Promoted khadi, national education, panchayat courts.
• Mass response: First truly nationwide movement. Lakhs participated.
• Chauri Chaura (5 Feb 1922): Mob burnt police station, 22 policemen killed. Gandhi called off movement on 12 February — disappointing many.
• Tilak died (1 Aug 1920) on the day Non-Cooperation was scheduled to launch.

After Non-Cooperation: Swarajists

• Swaraj Party (1923): Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das. Contested elections (which Gandhi had wanted to boycott) and entered legislatures to obstruct from within.
• Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Vallabhbhai Patel led Gujarat peasants against revenue increase. Won concessions. Patel earned "Sardar" title.
• Simon Commission (1928): All-white commission to review GoI Act. Met with "Simon Go Back" slogans. Lala Lajpat Rai injured in protest at Lahore; died Nov 1928.
• Nehru Report (1928): First Indian-drafted constitution. By Motilal Nehru and committee. Demanded Dominion Status (not full independence).
• Lahore Session (Dec 1929): Jawaharlal Nehru as president. Declared Purna Swaraj as goal. 26 January 1930 celebrated as first Independence Day (reason it's now Republic Day).

NDA PYQ Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Gandhi call off Non-Cooperation?

After the Chauri Chaura incident (5 February 1922), where 22 policemen were killed by a mob. Gandhi insisted satyagraha must be non-violent; the violence proved Indians weren't yet ready. He called off the movement on 12 February, despite mass opposition from other Congress leaders.

What was the Drain Theory?

Dadabhai Naoroji's theory (in Poverty and Un-British Rule in India, 1901) that British rule systematically transferred wealth from India to Britain through unrequited exports, salary remittances, and home charges. Estimated to drain £30-40 million per year. Foundational for economic nationalism.

What happened at Jallianwala Bagh?

13 April 1919, Baisakhi day. Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered Indian troops to fire on an unarmed crowd of ~10,000 gathered at the walled Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar to protest the Rowlatt Act. ~400+ died, ~1,000+ wounded. Hunter Commission later condemned Dyer's actions.

Who was Annie Besant?

British-born theosophist (1847-1933) who came to India and led the Home Rule Movement (1916). First woman president of INC (Calcutta 1917). Founded Central Hindu School (later BHU). Interned by British during 1917 protests.

What was the Lucknow Pact (1916)?

Joint resolution of INC and Muslim League agreeing on a common scheme of constitutional reform. Notably accepted separate electorates for Muslims (later proved controversial). United Moderate and Extremist Congress factions back together. Set the stage for Khilafat-Non-Cooperation cooperation in 1920.

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