The Emergence Of Nationalism
The roots of Indian nationalism go back to the late 19th century when people began to question their country’s identity and purpose. They recognized that India belonged to all of its peoples, regardless of social status, religion, language, or gender, and that the British were not acting in the best interests of Indians. This led to the formation of various political associations such as Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, Indian Association, Madras Mahajan Sabha, Bombay Presidency Association, and Indian National Congress in the 1870s and 1880s, which were mainly governed by English-speaking professionals like lawyers.
While these associations operated in specific regions of the country, they were intended to represent the aspirations of all indigenous peoples, not any particular community or class. They believed that India should be sovereign and have the right to decide its own affairs. This idea of popular sovereignty was a key feature of nationalism, which was relatively modern at the time. Dissatisfaction with the British government increased during the 1870s and 1880s as the British government passed legislation restricting Indian liberties. The Gun Act of 1878 prohibited Native Americans from owning firearms, and the Vernacular Press Act of the same year authorized the government to confiscate the assets of newspapers that published anything deemed “offensive”. In 1883, the Ilbert Act was introduced to ensure greater equality between British and Indian judges but was eventually withdrawn in 1887 due to opposition from whites.
This incident exposed the racist attitude of the British in India and fueled a desire to create an all-Indian organization of educated Indians. When 72 delegates from all over India gathered in Bombay in December 1885, the Indian National Congress was formed. Early Congress leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, W.C. Surendra Nath Banerji, Bonnerji, Romesh Chandra Dutt, and S.Subramania Iyer were mainly from Bombay and Calcutta. Naoroji, a London businessman, columnist, and former MP, advises young nationalists. A retired British civil servant, A.O. Hume, was also instrumental in bringing together Native Americans from different regions.
Rise of Nationalism in India
Rise of Nationalism in India has a connection with the anti-colonial movement going on in India. Different groups of people in India had come to share a common sense of bonding with each other, because of the oppression which were being faced under the rule of colonialism of the Britishers.
Table of Content
- Rise of Nationalism in India- Under Moderates and Radicals
- Rise of Nationalism in India- Leadership of Mahatma Gandhi
- Civil Disobedience Movement- by Mahatma Gandhi
- The Emergence Of Nationalism
- A Nation in the Making
Nationalism in India