2nd Phase Flashcards
Bengal partition reasons by British and real reasons
The main motive for the partition of Bengal according to the British rulers, was administrative necessity. They said that the province of Bengal was too big to be efficiently administered by a single provincial government. However, they had other concealed motives.
1. Bengal was the nerve centre of Indian Nationalism at that time. So the British hoped to stop the rising tide of Nationalism by partitioning Bengal.
2. The Partition of the state was intended to curb Bengali influence by not placing Bengalis under two administrations but by reducing them to a minority in Bengal itself.
3. The Partition was meant to foster division on the basis of religion. East Bengal would be predominantly a Muslim majority state and West Bengal would have a Hindu majority.
2 Provinces of Bengal
- Bengal which included the western districts of Bengal proper Bihar and Odisha.
- Eastern Bengal and Assam which comprised the eastern districts of Bengal proper and Assam.
Why did Indians condemn the partition?
They saw that it was a deliberate attempt to divide the Bengalis on religious and territorial ground thereby disrupt and weaken nationalism in Bengal.
They felt that administrative efficiency could have been better secured by separating them on the basis of language.
The manner in which the announcement of partition was made without any regard for the public opinion, hurt the sentiments of sensitive Bengalis.
The Anti Partition movement was initiated. The ideas of Swadeshi and Boycott became popular.
What was the Surat Split?
At the Congress session in Surat in 1907, the Assertive Nationalists proposed the name of Lala Lajpat Rai as President while the Early Nationalists proposed the name of Rashbehari Ghosh.
This led to the split in the Congress and the Assertive Nationalist leaders were expelled.
The split in the Congress was unfortunate because it gave an opportunity to the British to exploit the situation to their advantage.
main objective of the assertive nationalists
Immediate achievement of Swaraj to be achieved by more self-reliant methods.
They wanted to have a mass-base for their movement.
4 Methods of the assertive nationalists
Swadeshi: It means producing necessary item in one’s own country and using them for one’s use without being dependent on imported goods.
Boycott: Economic boycott of British goods use of swadeshi was designed to encourage Indian industries and provide the people more opportunities for employment. It also proved to be the most effective weapon for harming British interests in India.
National Education: National leaders advocated national universities that were free from government control.
Passive Resistance: The assertive leaders believed in adopting the policy of non-violent resistance and vigorous political action to achieve their aims.
Difference between early and assertive nationalists
Early Nationalists
They wanted to achieve self-government and they strove for autonomy within the Empire and not for absolute independence. They believed in Constitutional methods and worked within the framework of the law. They had faith in the British sense of justice and fair play. They received their support from the intelligentsia.
Assertive Nationalists
They aimed at nothing short of Swaraj.
They were assertive in their approach. Used methods like swadeshi, mass involvement. They rejected British rule and held it responsible for poverty of the Indian people. They drew inspiration from India’s masses.
Who was Bal Gangadhar Tilak? What were his contributions?
Bal Gangadhar Tilak is known as the ‘Father of Assertive Nationalism’.
He was the first to openly declare the demand for Swaraj. He said, ‘Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it.’
Tilak started using the traditional religious Ganapati festival to propagate nationalist ideas through songs and speeches.
Tilak set up a Home Rule League at Pune to attain self-government within the Empire by constitutional means.
In order to inculcate courage, self defence and patriotism, he organised akharas and lathi clubs where physical training was taught.
Bepin Chandra Pal contributions
He is known as the ‘Father of Revolutionary Thought in India’.
As a journalist, he worked for newspapers like Bengal Public opinion to propagate his brand of nationalism.
He wanted National Education to be the base of the freedom movement.
As a social reformer, he opposed the caste system and advocated widow remarriage.
He stressed the need to develop indigenous industries.
Lala Lajpat Rai
He was popularly known as ‘Punjab Kesari’ or ‘Sher-e-Punjab.
He was a prolific writer. When he was in USA, he started a monthly magazine ‘Young India’ to spread the message of the right of India to attain Swaraj.
As a social reformer he was associated with the Arya Samaj Movement. He set up Servants of the People Society for the welfare of the downtrodden and out castes.
He went abroad to mobilise opinion in favour of India’s struggle for freedom. When he went to America, he joined the Ghadar Party there.
While leading a procession against the Simon Commission he was injured in a lathi charge. He succumbed to his injuries.
