Rise/ Birth of Indian Nationalism

Introduction

• The emergence of Indian Nationalism during 1860s added a glorious chapter to

the history of India because for the first time in the entire Indian history a
strong collective consciousness developed among the citizens.
• Nationalism is a ‘cultural concept’. It is an ideology that believes in ‘common
identity’. It emphasised that all the citizens inhabiting a land are part of one
large family.
1. The spirit of nationalism manifest itself when the citizens start sharing the
pleasure and pain of each other. The events taking place in one part of country
start generating reactions in other parts.
2. Such development started becoming visible in India during 1860s.

Factors Responsible for The Emergence of Indian Nationalism

• The rise of Indian Nationalism was the outcome of combined effect of large
number of factors.
• Among these factors the role of British rule, contribution of Indian social
reformers of 19th century, the impact of contemporary international
development and the sense of pride indicated by new researchers was most
important.

Role of Positive Impacts of British rule

• The changes witnessed in India after the establishment of the British rule
played an important role in creating the circumstances responsible for the
emergence of Indian Nationalism.
• The British carried out the political unification of India by annexing a
number of neighbouring state and subjugating others.
1. Uniform administration system was introduced by British in India.
2. A new judicial system based on the concept of the rule of law was
introduced by British that replaced the traditional caste and religion
based judicial system.

MALUKA IAS -53/6, 2ND FLOOR , OLD RAJINDER NAGAR , DELHI – 9910133084
 3. The positive initiatives undertaken by British rule paved the way for
one common political identity which gradually got transformed into a
common cultural consciousness.

• The British introduced modern means of communication in the form of

railways, telegraph, and a better postal system.
These new communication systems greatly reduced the geographical
distance prevailing among the citizens living in various parts of India.
As a result of which the people started realising that all of them were
a part of one larger entity known as India.
• The modern press played a very important role in the rise of Indian
Nationalism because it brought about a strong intellectual unity.
(a) The Indians living in different geographical regions could come to
know about the events taking place in other territories.
(b) The Indian Vernacular Press was not only a newspaper but it was an
example of views paper as well. The Indian leaders propagated their
nationalist thinking among the masses with the help of the
newspapers. As a result of which a strong nationalist consciousness
begins to manifest in India by 1860s.
• The western education introduced by British resulted in the spread of
scientific and rational thinking.
(a) The liberal and progressive ideas of enlightenment entered India
along with the western education. Nationalism was also a part of
these western ideas because the nationalist thinking had emerged in
Europe during end of the 18th century.
(b) The hold of the traditional ideas over the Indian psyche was greatly
weakened by the modern western ideas brought by western
education.

Critical Examination of Role of British Rule

MALUKA IAS -53/6, 2ND FLOOR , OLD RAJINDER NAGAR , DELHI – 9910133084
1) The positive impact of British rule had contributed immensely to the emergence
of Indian Nationalism and because of this, the British scholars like Richard
Coupland emphasised that ‘Indian Nationalism was the child of British Raj’.
a) Once Indian Nationalism was on the scene and the British could not succeed in
suppressing it, they started taking credit of its emergence so that the anti-
British attitude among the Indian nationalist could be reduced.

2) Though it cannot be denied that the role of British rule was quite significant in the
creation of circumstances leading to the emergence of Indian Nationalism but at
the same time it must be emphasized that none of the positive developments
witnessed under British rule was aimed at the progress or the awaking of
Indians.
i) Political unification of India was carried out so that an extensive colonial
empire could be established.
ii) Uniform administration was introduced so that India could be ruled
effectively.
iii) Railways were developed in India to connect the parts with markets and
fields so that maximum possible amount of British manufactured goods
could be imported and maximum possible amount of raw material could be
exported from India.
iv) Telegraph and modern Postal system were also introduced for the
convenience of the British colonial rule.
v) The modern Western Education was introduced to create a class in India
that would be Indian in blood and color but European in taste.

2) Since the fundamental objective behind the positive changes introduced by British
rule was the benefit for British colonial empire. The British can never take the
credit for the emergence of Indian Nationalism.
a) The nationalist thinking emerged among the Indians as a result of unintended
consequences of their initiatives. Therefore, Indian Nationalism cannot be
accepted as a child of British Raj.

Role of Negative Impact of British Rule

MALUKA IAS -53/6, 2ND FLOOR , OLD RAJINDER NAGAR , DELHI – 9910133084
 ü The British rule in India was colonial in character. It was despotic, anti-people,
resistive, unethical, immoral, alien, insensible and exploitative.
ü The British rule was guided by the British interest. Its only motive was to
exploit Indian resources to maximum possible extent.
ü To achieve these colonial objectives the British carried out a number of
changes in civil, judicial and revenue administration. The millions of Indian
peasants were deprived of their right over land. Indian wealth was
systematically drained out and Indian handicrafts was destroyed
deliberately.
ü These negative developments witnessed under British rule resulted in the
emergence of strong anti-British sentiment among the masses and this
opposition to British colonial rule was the first expression of Indian
Nationalism.

Role of Socio-Religious Reform Movement

v The Socio-Religious reformers of the 19th century such as Rajaram Mohan Roy,
Keshav Chandra Sen and Devendra Nath Tagore played a very important role in
creating the circumstances leading to the emergence of Indian Nationalism.
Ø These reform movement of 19th century was religious in character but
nationalist in content. It appears that the reformers were busy in the taste of
creating an Indian nation.

v These reforms examined the traditional beliefs and practices in the light of the
new knowledge.
Ø The reformers emphasised on logic and reasons.
Ø The divisive forces such as classism and untouchability were contemned
strongly.
Ø The common elements present among diverse Indian cultures were
highlighted.
Ø The greatness of Indian culture was put in front of the masses.

v These efforts made by the reformers strengthened socio-cultural unity among

the people. This paved the way for the growth of a common collective
consciousness.

MALUKA IAS -53/6, 2ND FLOOR , OLD RAJINDER NAGAR , DELHI – 9910133084
 Ø Their efforts developed a sence of pride among Indians about their culture
and heritage. These cultural prides gradually got transformed into a strong
nationalist consciousness that is why it is commented that the national
democratic awakening in India manifested as first in socio-religious arena.

Role of New Historical Researches

v The emergence of Indian nationalist school of Indian history during 1840s also
contributed to creation of the circumstances leading to the concept of Indian
Nationalism.
v The nationalist historians interpreted India’s past in a positive light.
Ø The Indian achievement were highlighted by them.
Ø The age of imperial Gupta’s was put forward as the age of Golden History.
Ø The decipherment of Ashokan edicts by James Pricep in 1837 brought to light
the glory of Mauryan empire. It shattered the myth that the British were the
first to unify India politically because the Mauryan empire was covering almost
whole of Indian subcontinent.
v These researches filled the heart and mind of Indians with the sense of pride
which very soon got transformed into Indian Nationalism.

Role of Contemporary International Developments

o The first half of 19th century was the age of nationalist transformation in
Europe. The Italians and Germans fought hard for more than a decade to
carry out their political unification. The success of Italian and German
nationalist inspired the citizens all over the world to fight for their national
identity.
o The impact of the ideas of American revolution of 1776 and the French
revolution of 1789 also inspired the Indian intelligentsia to stand for their
national identity.

● Role of other factors

1) The reactionary policy of Lord Lytton (1876-1880) intensified the anti-British
sentiments among the masses.
● The maximum age for Civil Services were reduced from 21 to 19 years to
keep Indians out.

MALUKA IAS -53/6, 2ND FLOOR , OLD RAJINDER NAGAR , DELHI – 9910133084
 ● Vernacular Press Act was enacted in 1878 to suppress the Indian Native
press.
● Arms Act was enacted to deprive the Indian of the right to get arms
without license.
● When millions were dying due to infamous Madras famine (1876-78).
Lytton I was busy in celebrating Delhi Darbar in the owner of Queen
Victoria.
● In 1879, import duties were removed to facilitate the entry of British
textiles.
All these anti India measures intensified Nationalist awakening.

2) The Ilbert Bill controversy (1883-84) exposed the true face of British Colonial
rule. It revealed that the Europeans could go any extend even to deny justice
to Indians.
● Ilbert bill was drafted by justice C.P. IIlbert at the instruction of Governor
General Lord Ripon to empower Indian judges to try the criminal cases
involving Europeans.
● In 1836, the Indian judges were allowed to try civil cases involving
Europeans but the criminal cases involving European could be tried only
by European judges. As a result of this, Indians never used to get proper
justice.
● Lord Ripon was a liberal and progressive Governor-General instructed
justice C.P. Illbert to draft a bill so that the racial discrimination
prevailing in criminal justice system could be removed.
● The Ilbert bill was strongly opposed by European both in India and
Britain. This pressure compelled the British government to instruct Lord
Ripon to change the contents of Ilbert bill. This modified Bill provided
that Indian judges could try the criminal cases involving Europeans but
the Europeans could demand their trial by a jury in which not less than
half of the members were to be Europeans or Americans.
● This modification defeated the purpose of Ilbert Bill that is why it is
commented that Ilbert bill controversy was climax of white racism. This
controversy deeply hurt the Indian Nationalist and the anti-British
sentiments got intensified.

MALUKA IAS -53/6, 2ND FLOOR , OLD RAJINDER NAGAR , DELHI – 9910133084