Hindu-led Protests [7]

Question 1

What immediate steps did the British take to suppress Hindu-led protests against the partition of Bengal?

Answer 1

• The British responded quickly to Hindu-led protests by restricting newspapers and public meetings.
• Between 1906 and 1908, several newspaper editors were prosecuted and imprisoned for their anti-British writings.
• In 1908, the British introduced the Press Act, which granted the government even greater control over newspapers, further limiting anti-British sentiments.

Question 2

How did the British deal with leaders of Hindu-led protests?

Answer 2

• The British arrested key Hindu leaders involved in the protests.
• In June 1908, Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Poona was arrested and deported to Burma, where he was sentenced to six years in prison for making provocative speeches against the British.
• Other radical leaders fled India to avoid arrest.
• Inspired by Tilak, young revolutionaries formed an underground movement, but the British took strong action by arresting, executing, or imprisoning those involved.

Question 3

How did the British attempt to win the support of moderate Hindus?

Answer 3

• The British realized that harsh measures alone were not enough to suppress Hindu opposition.
• Instead, they sought to gain the support of moderate Hindus through political reforms.
• Lord Minto was appointed Viceroy in 1905, and he collaborated with John Morley, the Secretary of State for India, to introduce the Morley-Minto Reforms in 1909.
• These reforms expanded the Imperial Council to 60 members and added 60 new members to the Central Executive Council.
• Provincial councils were also enlarged, with 50 members in larger provinces and 30 in smaller ones.
• Additionally, Muslims were granted the right to separate electorates, which was strongly opposed by the Indian National Congress.