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P ointer Notes
Impact of the First World War on Indian Nationalism
P olitical Responses
Moderates' Stance:
● Supported British war efforts as a matter of duty.
● Viewed it as a strategic move to gain concessions post-war.
Extremists' Stance:
● Disagreed with the Moderates.
● Tilak's Position:
○ Diverged from other Extremists.
○ Popular Statement: “Tilak pledged loyalty to the Crown and urged allIndianstoassist
Britain in its hour of difficulty.”
Disillusionment with Reforms:
● oderates became dissatisfied with theMorley-Minto Reforms.
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● A section of nationalists emphasized the need for popular pressure to secure concessions.
E conomic Impact and Industrialists Role
O pportunities for Industrialists:
● ar-induced economic crisis in Britain led to shortages of industrial goods.
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● British dependency on Indian industries accelerated the growth of Indian industries.
Post-War Momentum:
● Industrialists sought to maintain their wartime gains.
● Supported nationalist movements to ensure favorable post-war policies.
Public Hardship:
● Wartime miseries such ashigh taxationandrising pricescreated widespread discontent.
● Result: Increased public willingness to join aggressive protest movements.
Cultural and Ideological Shifts
Myth of White Superiority Shattered:
● Propaganda during the war among imperialist powers exposed their internal contradictions.
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Tilak’s Leadership (Post-1914):
● Released inJune 1914, Tilak adopted a conciliatory approach:
○ R eassured the Government of his loyalty.
○ Advocated for administrative reforms similar toIrish Home Rulerather than complete
overthrow.
Besant’s Contributions:
● Expanded her activities to include theHome Rule Movement, inspired by the Irish Home Rule
Leagues.
○ ElectedPresident of the Indian National Congress (1917).
Theosophical Society:
● Founded in1875byHP BlavatskyandColonel Olcottin New York.
● Established its first headquarters inAdyar, near Madras (1882).
HOME RULE LEAGUE MOVEMENT - 1916
ORIGIN AND CONTEXT
Indian Response to World War I:
● TheHome Rule Movementemerged as India’s reaction to the global conflict, inspired by theIrish
Home Rule Leagues.
● It marked therise of aggressive politics, contrasting with earlier moderate approaches.
● Core Aim-To achieveHome Rule(self-government) throughpolitical education and mass
mobilization.
Methods Adopted:
● Public meetings andpolitical discussions.
● Establishinglibraries,reading rooms, and classes on politics.
● Propaganda through newspapers (New India,Commonweal), pamphlets, posters, and even
religious songsandplays.Collection of funds, local social work, and participation in local
governance.
Joint Efforts of Tilak and Annie Besant:
● Both realized cooperation between Moderates and Extremists was crucial.
● However, after failing to reconcile differences during the1914 Congress session, they initiated
separate leagues in1916to revive political activity
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HRLM -Tilak’s Home Rule League
● Formation:
○ Established inApril 1916at the Bombay Provincial Conference inBelgaum.
○ Key Members: G.S. Khaparde.
● Territorial Focus:
○ CoveredMaharashtra (excluding Bombay city),Karnataka, andCentral Provinces and
Berar. • It hadsix branches.
● Demands:
○ Swarajya,formation of linguistic states, andeducation in vernacular languages.
● Key Slogans and Statements:
○ Famous declaration:“Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it.”
○ Advocated againstuntouchability:“If God were to tolerate untouchability, I would not
recognize him as God at all.”
● Legal Victory:
○ Faced British opposition, but theHigh Court exonerated Tilak, leading him to declare the
movement hadlegal sanction.
● Growth:
○ By 1917, the league had14,000 registered members.
HRLM -Annie Besant’s Home Rule League
● Formation:
○ E stablished inSeptember 1916inMadras.
○ Covered the rest of India, includingBombay city.
○ Key Members:George Arundale(Organizing Secretary),Sir S. Subramania Iyer
(President).
● Territorial Focus:
○ Covered the rest of India, includingBombay city. It had 200 branches.
● Activities:
○ Earlier, in 1916, her impatient followers likeJamnadas Dwarkadas,Shankerlal Banker,
andIndulal Yagnikhad started Home Rule groups and the Bombay newspaperYoung
India.
○ Besant campaigned throughNew IndiaandCommonwealand mobilized over200
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branchesacross India.
○ T he Home Rule agitation was later joined by Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru,
BhulabhaiDesai,ChittaranjanDas,MadanMohanMalaviya,MohammadAliJinnah,
Tej Bahadur Sapru and Lala Lajpat Rai.
○ Someoftheseleadersbecameheadsoflocalbranches. (Joseph“Kaka”Baptistawas
another prominent activist of the Home Rule Movement from Bombay)
B ritish Government Repression
Actions Taken by the Government:
● Severe repression, particularly inMadras, where students were prohibited from attending
p olitical meetings.
● InJune 1917,Annie Besant, along withB.P. WadiaandGeorge Arundale, was arrested.
Reactions to Repression:
● Sir S. Subramaniyam Iyerrenounced hisknighthoodin protest.
● Tilakadvocated for apassive resistanceprogram.
● Outcome: Annie Besant was released inSeptember 1917, marking a partial success for the
movement.
Shortcomings - HRLM
● Organizational Weakness: Lack ofeffective organizationand coordination.
● Communal Tensions-Communal riotsoccurred during1917-18, hampering unity.
● Division in Leadership:
○ Moderates'Withdrawal:Pacifiedbythetalkofreformsin Montagu'sStatement(1917)
andMrs. Besant’s release.
○ Extremist Approach: Talk of passive resistance by Extremists discouraged Moderate
participation afterSeptember 1918.
● ImpactofReforms: Montagu-ChelmsfordReforms(July1918):Thesedividedthenationalist
ranks further, reducing momentum.
● Leadership Vacuum: Tilak went abroad in September 1918 for a case while Annie Besant
vacillated in her response to reforms and the use of passive resistance.
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Contributions of HRLM
P olitical and Organizational Gains
Engagement of Moderates:
● T he movement more vigorously implemented the Moderate program ofpolitical education,
enlisting support from several Moderates.
● Members ofGokhale’s Servants of India Societyextended significant support. (not permitted to
become members of the Leagues)
Shift in Focus:
● Moved the emphasis from theeducated eliteto themasses, ensuring greater participation.
● Established anorganizational linkbetween urban and rural areas.
Creation of Nationalist Sentiment:
● Developed a generation of ardent nationalists, who later contributed to India’s independence
struggle.
● Prepared the masses for theGandhian style of politicsemphasizing nonviolent resistance.
Revival of Congress and Unity
TheLucknow Pact (1916):
● Efforts byTilakandAnnie BesantforModerate-Extremist unityrevived Congress as an effective
tool for nationalism.
● Strengthened ties between Congress and theMuslim League, marking a rare moment of
Hindu-Muslim cooperation.
Joint Meeting of Leagues:
● After the 1916 Congress session, over1,000 delegatesattended a joint meeting ofTilak’sand
Besant’s leagues, signaling growing momentum.
An Example of Early Aggressive Politics:
● Demonstrated the potential of organized public education, propaganda, and coordinated
activism to challenge colonial rule.
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L ucknow Session of the Indian National Congress, 1916
Readmission of the Extremists to Congress
Context:
● After years of division following the Surat Split (1907), the Extremists, led by Tilak, were
r eadmitted to the Congress.
● The session was presided over byAmbika Charan Majumdar, a Moderate leader.
● Reasons for Reconciliation:
○ ThedeathsofprominentModerateleaderslikeGopalKrishnaGokhaleandPherozeshah
Mehtain 1915, who had strongly opposed the Extremists’ return.
Unique Initiative by Tilak:
● “Home Rule Special” Train: Tilak organized a special train, also called theCongress Special, to
carry delegates from Western India to Lucknow, starting a new Congress tradition.
Proposed Reforms by Tilak:
● Tilak pushed for the creation of aCongress Working Committee:
○ A permanent body responsible for implementing Congress resolutions and conducting
continuous political activity.
○ Outcome: This proposal was rejected by the Congress.
Lucknow Pact Between Congress and Muslim League
● Agreement:
○ TheCongressandMuslim Leaguepresentedjoint constitutional demandsto the British
G overnment.
○ The Congress accepted theMuslim League's demandforseparate electorates, with the
provision that they would continue until any community voluntarily opted for joint
electorates.
○ Muslims were allocated afixed proportion of seatsin legislatures at both the provincial
and all-India levels.
● Joint Demands of the Pact:
○ Expansion ofrepresentative assembliesat central and provincial levels with an elected
majority and enhanced powers.
○ Five-year termfor Legislative Councils.
○ Half the membersof the Viceroy’s and provincial governors’ executive councils to be
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Indians.
● O pposition:
○ Madan Mohan Malviyaopposed the pact, particularly the acceptance of separate
electorates, as he believed it would deepen communal divisions.
ontagu’s Statement (August 1917)
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Policy Announcement:
● The British Government declared its intention to promote theprogressive realization of
responsible governmentin India.
● This included:
○ Increasing participation of Indiansin administration.
○ Gradual development of institutions for self-governance.
Impact:
● Though vague, the statement was intended to pacify Moderate nationalists.
● It laid the groundwork for theMontagu-Chelmsford Reformsof 1919.
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