The Making of the National Movement: 1870s–1947 | Class 8 Social Science Notes

The Emergence of Nationalism

The emergence of nationalism in India during the late 19th century was a response to the growing dissatisfaction among Indians regarding British colonial rule. This period saw the rise of political associations led primarily by English-educated professionals such as lawyers. These associations, including the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, Indian Association, Madras Mahajan Sabha, Bombay Presidency Association, and notably the Indian National Congress, began articulating the idea that India belonged to all its people regardless of class, caste, creed, language, or gender. They asserted that the country's resources and governance should serve all Indians, not just the British rulers. This new consciousness was a key feature of nationalism, emphasizing the sovereignty of the Indian people to govern their own affairs.

The 1870s and 1880s saw intensifying dissatisfaction with British policies. The Arms Act of 1878 prohibited Indians from possessing arms, and the Vernacular Press Act of the same year sought to silence critical newspapers by allowing government confiscation of their assets if they published objectionable content. The Ilbert Bill controversy of 1883 further exposed racial discrimination when the British government withdrew a bill that would have allowed Indian judges to try British offenders due to white opposition. These events highlighted the racial attitudes of the British and fueled nationalist sentiments.

The need for a pan-Indian political platform culminated in the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885, when 72 delegates from across the country met in Bombay. Early leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, and others, mostly from Bombay and Calcutta, guided the Congress. Naoroji, who was also a member of the British Parliament for some time, provided intellectual leadership. The Congress aimed to represent all communities and classes of India and sought reforms such as greater Indian participation in government, civil service examinations held in India, and the repeal of discriminatory laws. It also raised economic issues like poverty, famines, and the burden of land revenue on peasants, demonstrating concern beyond elite interests.

The early Congress leaders, known as Moderates, believed in constitutional methods, public awareness, and appealing to British ideals of justice to achieve reforms. They published newspapers, wrote articles, and sent representatives to mobilize public opinion. However, by the 1890s, a new group of leaders, later called Radicals, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bipin Chandra Pal, criticized the Moderates for their cautious approach and called for self-reliance, mass mobilization, and more assertive demands for swaraj (self-rule). Tilak famously declared, "Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it!".

This section sets the foundation for understanding the growth of the Indian national movement, highlighting the transition from elite-led petitions to mass-based demands for self-rule.

📊 Diagram: Fig. 2 – Dadabhai Naoroji Naoroji’s book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India offered a scathing criticism of the economic impact of British rule.

🧪 Activity: From the beginning the Congress sought to speak for, and in the name of, all the Indian people. Why did it choose to do so?

🔗 Connection: Leads to the discussion on the early challenges faced by the Congress and the rise of more radical nationalist leaders.