Growth of Nationalism

Short Answer Questions

Question 1

State two reasons for the development of nationalism in the late 19th century.

Answer

Two reasons for the development of nationalism in the late 19th century are-

1. Economic exploitation of India by the British

2. Repressive Colonial policies of the British

Question 2

Give two reasons for industrial stagnation during the British rule in India.

Answer

Two reasons for industrial stagnation during the British rule in India are-

1. Raw materials were exported to Britain and hence India rapidly declined as a
manufacturing and an industrial sector.
2. The British by following the policy of 'Free Trade' destroyed the Indian textile
and handicraft industries.

Question 3

Who passed the Vernacular Press Act in 1878? Why was it passed?

Answer

Lord Lytton introduced the Vernacular Press Act in 1878.

The Vernacular Press Act tried to control the press and forbade vernacular papers to
publish any material that might excite feelings of dissatisfaction against the British
Government. This act was not applicable to English newspapers.
Question 4

Who repealed the Vernacular Press Act in 1882? What impact did the Act have on
Indians?

Answer

The Vernacular Press Act was repealed by Lord Ripon in 1882.

It left deep scars of dissatisfaction and discontentment among the Indian people.

Question 5

Name any two prominent newspapers of the 19th century which played a significant
role in arousing national sentiment among the Indians.

Answer

Two prominent newspapers of the 19th century which played a significant role in
arousing national sentiment among the Indians are-

1. Samwad Kaumudi
2. Amrit Bazar Patrika

Question 6

State any two issues that the socio-religious reform movements worked for.

Answer

Two issues that the socio-religious reform movements worked for are-

1. Sati pratha
2. Child marriage

Question 7

Name any two socio-religious reformers who prepared the ground for national
movement.

Answer

Two socio-religious reformers who prepared the ground for national movement are-
 1. Raja Rammohan Roy
2. Jyotiba Phule

Question 8

Write a short note on Raja Rammohan Roy's approach to religion.

Answer

Raja Rammohan Roy was a great humanist, who stressed the unity of all religions. As
a young man, he studied Sanskrit and Hindu philosophy, the Quran, the Bible as well
as Persian and Arabic literature.

In 1809, he wrote in Persian, Gift of Monotheists in which he put forth his views
against beliefs in many Gods and for the worship of a single God. He strongly held
the view that all the principal ancient texts of the Hindus preached monotheism.

In 1814, he started the Atmiya Sabha and carried on a persistent struggle against
worship of idols and meaningless religious rituals. In 1828, he founded Brahmo
Samaj. It believed in monotheism, condemned idol worship and laid emphasis on
prayer, meditation, charity, morality and strengthening the bonds of unity between
men of all religions and creeds.

Question 9

Name the organisation founded by Raja Rammohan Roy. Why did he establish this
organisation?

Answer

In 1828, Raja Rammohan Roy founded Brahmo Samaj.

This organisation was established to reform Hindu religion — promote monotheism,

condemn idol worship, lay emphasis on prayer, meditation, charity, morality and
strengthen the bonds of unity between men of all religions and creeds.

Question 10

What was the objective of the Ilbert Bill? Why was it not passed?

Answer
The objective of the Ilbert Bill was to provide for the trial of British or European
persons by Indians. By this Act, the British tried to introduce equality between British
and Indian judges in India.

This Bill was not passed because it was resented by the British and they started a
Defence Association to defend their special privileges. This reaction provoked
counter-agitation by educated Indians. The government ultimately withdrew the Bill.

Question 11

Mention two main objectives of the Indian Association.

Answer

Two main objectives of the Indian Association are-

1. Creation of a strong body of public opinion.

2. Integration of Indian people on the basis of common political interests.

Question 12

Mention the regional association that each nationalist was associated with:

(a) Surendranath Banerjee

(b) Dadabhai Naoroji

Answer

(a) Surendranath Banerjee headed the Indian Association in 1876.

(b) Dadabhai Naoroji founded the East India Association in London in 1866

Structured Questions

Question 1

Various factors led to the rise and growth of nationalism in India in the 19th century. In this context,
explain the role of each of the following:

(a) Economic Exploitation.

(b) Repressive Colonial Policies.

(c) The Press.

Answer

(a) Economic Exploitation :

1. The British government took large part of produce from peasants in the form of land revenue and other
taxes.
2. These exorbitant taxes led the peasants into the clutches of land lords and moneylenders.
3. The East India company destroyed indigenous industries and handicrafts of India.
4. They exploited India as a source of cheap raw materials.
5. The growth of modern industries in India led to exploitation of working class. They were paid very less by
the factory owners who were Englishmen.
6. The Educated Indian class were not offered high rank jobs. All these attempts were made to keep India
backward.

(b) Repressive Colonial Policies:

1. The nature of the British Colonial rule over India helped the growth of national sentiment among the
Indians.
2. The British had conquered India to promote their own interests and therefore, followed such repressive
policies so as to make India subservient to the needs of Britain.
3. These policies became the major barrier to India's economic, social, cultural, intellectual and political
development.
4. Some of these repressive policies, especially those followed by Lord Lytton, Viceroy of India from 1876 to
1880 acted as a catalyst for the growth of nationalist movement in India.

(c) The Press

Large number of newspapers were started in the later half of the 19th century. Some of the prominent
newspaper were the Amrit Bazar Patrika, The Bengali, The Tribune, The Pioneer, The Times of India, The
Hindu and The Statesman in English. These newspapers played a significant role in developing a strong
national sentiment among the Indians in the following manner:

1. It was through the press that the message of patriotism and modern liberal ideals of liberty, freedom,
equality, home rule and independence, spread among the people.
2. The press carried on daily criticism of the unjust policies of the British Government in India and exposed
the true nature of British rule in India.
3. It made possible the exchange of views among different social groups from different parts of the country
and to organise political movements.
4. It made Indians aware of what was happening in the world. This awareness helped them to understand
the political and social development of the outside world and shape their own policies and programmes.
Question 2

With reference to Nationalism and the birth of the Indian National Congress, explain each of the
following:

(a) Vernacular Press Act, 1878.

(b) State any three objectives of the Indian National Congress.

(c) Role of Dadabhai Naoroji.

Answer

(a) Vernacular Press Act, 1878:

1. Lord Lytton introduced the Vernacular Press Act in 1878

2. The Vernacular Press Act forbade vernacular papers to publish any material that might excite feelings of
dissatisfaction against the British Government.
3. This Act was not applicable to English newspapers.

(b) Three objectives of the Indian National Congress were-

1. To promote friendly relations between nationalist political workers from different parts of the country.
2. To develop and consolidate the feelings of national unity irrespective of caste, religion or province.
3. To formulate popular demands and present them before the government.

(c) Dadabhai Naoroji played a significant role in the rise of Nationalism and the birth of the Indian
National Congress.

1. The East India Association was founded in London in 1866 by Dadabhai Naoroji.
2. The Association provided information on all Indian subjects to British citizens and Members of Parliament.
3. It voiced the grievances of Indians and suggested remedial measures.
4. Dadabhai Naoroji, the Grand Old Man of India, was of the opinion that the British were basically just and
good.
5. He wanted to place the true state of affairs in India before the people of England so that the problems of
the Indians may be resolved.
6. The association had its branches in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
7. Later, he supported the formation of Indian National Congress.
8. The second session of the Congress was held at Kolkata in 1886, under the Presidentship of Dadabhai
Naoroji.

Question 3

The establishment of the Indian National Congress was a significant event in the development of
national movement in India. In this context:
(a) What was the name of the Indian National Congress before it got this name? Who gave it its present
name? Where was it established and who was its founder?

(b) Why did Lord Dufferin favour the formation of the Indian National Congress?

(c) What was the nature of the political associations formed before the Indian National Congress was
established? Name any two associations which acted as the forerunners of the Indian National
Congress.

Answer

(a) At the time of its foundation, Indian National Congress was called Indian National Union. On the
suggestion of Dadabhai Naoroji the name of the Union was changed to the Indian National Congress.

In 1884, A.O. Hume, in consultation with the Indian leaders, laid the foundation of Indian National
Congress at Mumbai on December 28, 1885.

(b) The Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, favoured the formation of the Indian National Congress because he
wanted it to act as a 'safety-valve' for popular discontent, thereby, safeguarding the British interest in
India.

(c) By the second half of the 19th century, there emerged a consciousness among the Indians that the
British were exercising control over the resources of India and the lives of its people and until this
control was ended, India could not be a sovereign nation. This consciousness led to the formation of a
number of political associations led by English-educated professionals.

1. Though many of these associations were formed in specific parts of the country, they had common goals
for all the people of India.
2. They did not work for any one religion, community or class.
3. The first political association to be started in India was the 'Landholders' Society in Kolkata in 1838.
4. Many public associations were started in different parts of India like Bengal British India Society, British
Indian Association, East India Association, the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, London Indian Society and Indian
Association. These associations served as a base for the formation of the Congress — an all India political
organisation.

Picture Study

Question 1

(a) Identify the person in the given picture. Name the organisation formed by him. State any two beliefs
of this organisation with regard to upliftment of women.
(b) Mention his contribution to the growth of Indian National movement.

(c) How did the socio-religious reform movements of the 19th century act as pioneers of Indian
Nationalism?

Answer

(a) The person in the given picture is Jyotiba Phule. In 1873, he founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj.

Two beliefs of this organisation with regard to upliftment of women were —

1. Jyotiba Phule and his organisation considered women superior to men and to maintain it he wanted to
provide education to women.
2. Jyotiba Phule and his organisation pioneered the widow remarriage movement in Maharashtra and started
a private orphanage for the widows.

(b) The contributions of Jyotiba Phule to the growth of Indian National movement were:

1. He worked for the upliftment of women. To provide them education, he along with his wife Savitribai Phule
started one of the first girls school in Pune.'
2. He pioneered widow remarriage and started a private orphanage for the widows.
3. He considered the caste system prevalent in India as an epitome of slavery. In his famous book,
'Ghulamgiri', he described the hardships and distress felt by the lower castes.
4. In 1873, he founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj with the aim of securing social justice for the weaker
sections of society.

(c) The socio-religious reform movements of the 19th century were great pioneers of Indian nationalism
in the following ways:

1. The impact of Western education, which led to a rational, humanitarian and scientific approach to life,
made the educated Indians realise the need to reform their religion and society.
2. The reformers condemned untouchability and the caste system. The ideas of brotherhood and equality
attracted the so called lower castes.
3. The reformers taught people not to ignore the importance of women, who could participate in the national
movement.
4. In the social sphere, these movements worked for the abolition of caste system, child marriage, dowry
system, purdah system, sati and infanticide.
5. In the religious sphere, these reform movements combated religious superstitions, attacked idolatry,
polytheism and hereditary priesthood.
6. The reform movements created a consciousness of a new society devoid of privileges based on caste,
creed or religion.
7. They protested against the British domination of India. Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Swami
Vivekananda proclaimed the superiority of Indian culture and civilisation. Swami Dayanand Saraswati was
the first to use the word 'Swaraj' and to raise the slogan 'India for the Indians'.