The Emergence and Growth of Indian Nationalism

The Emergence Of Nationalism

Nationalism is a feeling of common identity and belonging to a nation. In India, this feeling developed gradually under British rule. By the late 19th century, various factors contributed to the emergence of a collective identity among Indians and a growing dissatisfaction with colonial rule, laying the foundation for the nationalist movement.

Several factors played a crucial role in fostering a sense of national unity and the desire for self-rule:

• Political and Administrative Unity: The British unified India under a single administration. They introduced uniform laws, judicial systems, and administrative structures across vast territories. While done for administrative convenience and control, this inadvertently created a sense of geographical unity among diverse regions.
• Economic Exploitation: British economic policies were primarily designed to serve the interests of Britain. This led to the drain of wealth, deindustrialisation of India, ruin of traditional handicrafts, and impoverishment of peasants and artisans. The shared experience of economic exploitation created a common grievance against foreign rule.
• Western Education: The introduction of Western education exposed a section of Indians to ideas of liberty, equality, democracy, and nationalism as they existed in Europe. Educated Indians began applying these concepts to their own situation and questioned the legitimacy of foreign rule.
• Rise of a New Educated Middle Class: Western education created a new class of professionals – lawyers, doctors, teachers, journalists, etc. This class, often drawn from various parts of India, shared similar grievances and aspirations. They became the leading force in articulating national demands and organising public opinion.
• Role of the Press and Literature: The proliferation of newspapers, magazines, and books, published in English and various Indian languages, played a vital role in spreading nationalist ideas, criticising British policies, and creating awareness among the masses about their rights and the nature of colonial rule.
• Development of Modern Means of Communication: The introduction of railways, telegraphs, and a modern postal system facilitated contact between people in different parts of the country, helping in the organisation and spread of the nationalist movement.
• Rediscovery of India's Past: The work of some Western scholars and Indian intellectuals in studying and translating ancient Indian texts revealed the rich cultural heritage of India. This instilled a sense of pride among Indians and countered the British narrative of Indian inferiority.
• Racial Discrimination: The British rulers maintained a clear racial superiority complex and practiced discrimination against Indians in various spheres, including administration, judiciary, and social interaction. Incidents like the Ilbert Bill controversy (1883), where the British opposed an attempt to allow Indian judges to try Europeans, highlighted this racial bias and further alienated educated Indians.

In response to these factors, Indians began to organise. Early associations like the **East India Association** (founded by Dadabhai Naoroji in London), the **Poona Sarvajanik Sabha**, the **Indian Association** (founded by Surendranath Banerjee and Anandamohan Bose in Calcutta), and the **Madras Mahajan Sabha** were formed. These associations raised various demands such as Indian representation in legislative councils, separation of judiciary and executive, reduction in military expenditure, and opportunities for Indians in civil services.

These early efforts culminated in the formation of the **Indian National Congress (INC)** in 1885. Initially moderate in its approach, the INC became the central platform for the organised nationalist movement, gradually demanding greater self-governance and eventually complete independence.

The First World War, Khilafat And Non-Cooperation (Context)

The First World War (1914-1918) had a profound impact on India and the course of the nationalist movement. India, being a British colony, was drawn into the war. Indian soldiers fought on various fronts, and India contributed resources and funds to the British war effort. The war led to significant economic hardships in India, including rising prices, high taxes, and shortages of essential goods.

The war also created expectations. Many Indians believed that their support for Britain during the war would be rewarded with greater political rights or even self-rule after the war. However, these expectations were largely unmet, leading to disillusionment.

It was in this context that **Mahatma Gandhi** emerged as a prominent leader. Having returned to India in 1915 from South Africa, where he had successfully used his method of non-violent resistance against racial discrimination, Gandhi was uniquely positioned to lead the nationalist movement.

The Idea Of Satyagraha

Gandhi's philosophy of resistance was based on **Satyagraha**. The term 'Satyagraha' is derived from Sanskrit words 'Satya' (truth) and 'Agraha' (holding firmly to, or insistence). It literally means 'insistence on truth' or 'truth-force'.

The core principles of Satyagraha are:

• Truth and Justice: A Satyagrahi believes in the power of truth and the justness of their cause.
• Non-Violence (Ahimsa): A Satyagrahi seeks justice without resorting to physical force or violence against the oppressor.
• Appeal to Conscience: Instead of coercing the opponent, a Satyagrahi aims to appeal to the conscience and reason of the oppressor through suffering and non-violent resistance. The suffering of the Satyagrahi is meant to melt the heart of the oppressor and make them see the truth.

Gandhi believed that through non-violent resistance, truth would ultimately prevail. He successfully used Satyagraha in South Africa against discriminatory laws. In India, he applied this method in local movements such as the Champaran Satyagraha (1917) against indigo planters, the Kheda Satyagraha (1918) supporting peasants facing high taxes due to crop failure, and the Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) supporting textile workers demanding better wages. These early movements established Gandhi as a leader who understood the problems of ordinary people and possessed a method to fight injustice.

The Rowlatt Act

Despite India's contribution to the First World War, the British government introduced the **Rowlatt Act** in 1919. This Act was based on the recommendations of the Rowlatt Committee and was designed to curb the growing nationalist activities.

The Rowlatt Act empowered the government to:

• Imprison people without trial.
• Arrest anyone suspected of sedition without a warrant.
• Curtail the freedom of the press and speech.

The Act was passed despite strong opposition from Indian members in the Imperial Legislative Council. It was seen as a severe blow to civil liberties and a betrayal of the promises made during the war. Gandhi called it a "Black Act" and decided to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against it.

A countrywide **hartal** (strike) was called on 6th April 1919. The response was overwhelming. People came out in large numbers, shops were closed down, and demonstrations were held. The protests were particularly intense in Punjab. This led to increased repression by the British authorities.

On 13th April 1919, a large but peaceful crowd had gathered at **Jallianwala Bagh** in Amritsar to protest against the arrest of nationalist leaders and to attend the Baisakhi festival. Brigadier General **Reginald Dyer** ordered his troops to surround the Bagh and open fire on the unarmed crowd. Hundreds were killed and thousands wounded. This brutal massacre shocked the entire nation and intensified the anti-British sentiment.

Why Non-Cooperation?

Following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the imposition of martial law in Punjab, Gandhi felt the need for a more broad-based movement against British rule. Several issues converged to provide the context for the Non-Cooperation Movement:

• The Punjab Grievance: The brutality of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the subsequent treatment of Indians in Punjab created deep resentment and anger.
• The Khilafat Issue: After the First World War, the British dismantled the Ottoman Empire. The harsh terms imposed on the Ottoman Sultan (Khalifa), who was considered the spiritual head of Muslims, angered Indian Muslims. A **Khilafat Movement** was launched by leaders like Maulana Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali to protest against the injustices done to the Khalifa. Gandhi saw this as an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims in a common struggle against the British.
• Swaraj (Self-Rule): Beyond protesting specific injustices, the growing demand for Swaraj was a central motivation.

Gandhi proposed that the British rule in India survived because of the cooperation of Indians. If Indians refused to cooperate, the British rule would collapse within a year, and Swaraj would be achieved. This led to the call for the **Non-Cooperation Movement**, which was endorsed by the Indian National Congress in September 1920. The movement aimed to non-violently withdraw cooperation from the British government through various means, such as boycotting British institutions, goods, and services.