Page 1
This is part 2 of Modern History Value Add. Part one, i.e. Modern History up to 1906 was covered in the previous VAN. This Value Add is also following the same scheme. Since Modern History has been covered in the books extensively, in VAN we have tried to present it in as concise manner as possible.
You need to remember that it is not a text and you will have to read standard books. This is just a tool for quick revision and memorizing the important events for examination point of view. Happy reading!!
Page 2
CONGRESS SPLIT
By 1907 the Moderate Nationalists had exhausted their historic role. The emergence of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement brought a wave of mass movement that demanded a change in ideology of the Nationalist Movement.
Reasons for ‘failure’ of Moderates:
Were considered elitist even by Indians
Did not have faith in the common people
Restricted themselves to political issues and did not entertain specific social issues
Their methodology of legal pleading and articulation was beyond the average uneducated Indian of the time
Did not participate in the Swadeshi and Boycott Movements
Conclusion: Hence they were not able to keep pace with the events. They failed to meet the demands of the new age movement
Policy of Carrot and Stick
British policy makers felt that the moderate led Congress could be easily finished because it’s weak but the British became critical of the Nationalist Movement after Swadeshi and Boycott movement. Their aim was now to isolate the extremists.
Lured moderates by presenting the idea of Morley-Minto Reforms (Lord Minto)
Moderates agreed to cooperate and got disconnected from S and B movement
The Extremists wanted to extend S and B.
This led to Congress split at Surat session in 1907
Impact of the Split
Both sides got it wrong.
Moderates led by Pherozshah Mehta hoped their dream of sharing political and admin power would come true. They couldn’t see that British negotiated because of the fear of the Extremists
Extremists did not see that Moderates were their natural defense line and as a result were brutally suppressed.
Tilak was jailed for 6 years. Aurobindo Ghosh gave up active politics and took up religion. BC Pal temporarily retired from politics and Lala Lajpat Rai went to the US for an extended stay
The spirit was gone from the movement and it entered a dull phase which was to last till the WWI came around
1909 Act Morley- Minto Reforms
Page 3
Separate electorates for Muslims
Membership in Imperial LC increased slightly
Mild powers given like the right to vote on separate budget items, to ask questions
Still the reformed councils enjoyed no real power and remained an advisory body
Page 4
WORLD WAR I
The outbreak of WWI gave a new lease of life to the Nationalist Movement which went dormant since S and B movements. This opportunity was seized in different ways. The Ghadarites attempted a violent overthrow of the British Rule while Home Rule League launched a nationwide agitation to secure Home Rule or Swaraj
Ghadar Movement:
Ghadar Movement
Started by Indian immigrants in North America who faced racial abuse and hostility of white labor force
Biggest Contribution = Through each issue of ‘Ghadar’ magazine, they exposed British Rule enumerating the harmful effects such as:
o Drain of wealth
o Low per capita income of Indians
o High land tax
o Low expenditure on health and high on military
o Destruction of Indian Arts and Industries
o Recurrence of Famines, ‘artificial’ and natural
o Policy of divide and rule among the Indian States
o ‘Dishonoring’ Indian women
o Helping Christian Missionaries spread their religion
o Discord between Hindus and Muslims
In short the entire critique of the British Rule
The movement soon died down with the arrest of their leader Hardayal and outbreak of WWI (Rash Bihari Bose was leader in India)
Page 5
Defense of India Act 1915, to curb Ghadr Movement
Impact of Ghadar Movement:
Gave the movement an international favor. Brought it to the notice of International community
The Nationalist critique of Colonialism, hitherto done by the Moderates was carried in a simple and powerful manner to the masses, especially Indian migrants
Even though on a small scale, it attempted to create a secular environment
Their objective was clear easily grasped by everybody i.e. est of independent India
Weaknesses:
Completely under-estimated the amount of prep at every level – organizational, ideological, strategic and financial
They forgot that to mobilize a few thousand migrants is different from arousing an entire nation
Lack of effective and sustained leadership – a common feature in pre-Gandhian era
Komagata Maru Incident
Canada used to deny entry to Indian immigrants who did not make a direct journey from India. So Canada refused the above mentioned ship which sailed from Singapore. After it finally returned back to Calcutta, the harassed passengers clashed with the British officers
Page 6
The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship that sailed from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada via Japan in May, 1914. It was carrying 376 passengers who were immigrants from Punjab, India. Of these, only 24 were granted admittance in Canada when the ship docked in Vancouver. At that time, Canada had laws restricting entry of migrants of Asian origin. Following a two month stalemate, the ship and its 352 passengers were escorted out of the dock by the Canadian military and forced to sail back to India. The ship returned to Calcutta on 27 September and was stopped by the British. The passengers were put under guard and the ship was allowed to dock in Budge Budge, Calcutta. The British believed that the passengers were law breakers and political agitators. When the police sought to arrest the persons it viewed as leaders of the group, there was resistance and a riot ensued. The police fired shots and 19 passengers were killed. Baba Gurdit Singh, who was one of the persons the British wanted to arrest, escaped with some other persons. Most of the remaining passengers were either arrested or sent back to Punjab. Baba Gurdit Singh later surrendered to the police.
Page 7
HOME RULE MOVEMENT
Home Rule League Flag
Aim = India be granted self-government on the lines of the White colonies (Eg. Scotland, Australia) after the War
Proponents:
Annie Besant
o Worked for Theosophical Society (not its founder)
? Theosophical believed in old religion and transmigration of soul
o Entered Indian Movement in 1914
o Played a major role in re-entry of Extremists into Congress
o Was a member of Fabian Society
o Her newspapers – New India and Commonweal
BG Tilak (released in 1914)
o Started Home Rule before Annie Besant
o Filled up the void before Gandhi
o Active through writing in press
o Was against casteism and communalism and regionalism
Features of the League:
Put forward the demand for Swaraj like White Colonies
Took the moderate methodologies to the masses
Tilak’s league was highly active through press and had 14,000 members
His league touched upon a variety of topics like Casteism and Regionalism
Besant’s main thrust was Home Rule through promoting political education and discussion
Russian revolution, 1917 too influenced their ideology
Lucknow Session of Congress – 1916
Congress formally united
Page 8
Congress League Pact signed – big role of Tilak and Besant
o Pressure British for Self – Government
o Muslims to have 1/3rd representation in Central Legislature
Note – Acceptance of Separate Electorate by Congress in 1919 in exchange for support of Muslim League sowed the seeds of 2 Nation Theory.
Failure of the League
Moderates again pacified through the 1919 Reforms
Annie Besant was herself unsure of how to take forward passive resistance
Tilak, although in more control left for Britain at a crucial point to fight a civil case against him
Montagu’s Statement – 1917
Recognized “self-government” to India is Britain’s responsibility for the first time
Indian leaders objected because no time frame was given
Page 9
MAHATMA GANDHI – EARLY CAREER
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
When Gandhi arrived in India in 1915, his own political understanding did not coincide with any of the political currents that were active in India. His faith in ‘Moderates’ methods was long eroded nor did he agree with the Home Rulers that the best time to agitate for Home Rule was when British were in difficulty. He was deeply convinced that the only answer lay in Satyagraha.
Satyagraha = Policy of passive political resistance, i.e. non-violent opposition to authority
During 1917-18 three significant struggles:
Chamaparan – Bihar
Farmers agitating against the ‘Tinkathia System’ (forced to cultivate Indigo on 3/20th of their land holdings)
Gandhi offered passive resistance upon reaching Chamaparan
Government appointed a Commission to inquire into the whole issue
Commission ordered that peasants can’t be forced and as a result in a decade all planters left.
Ahmedabad – Gujarat
Workers were insisting on the stay of “Plague bonus” which the mill owners wanted to withdraw
Page 10
They offered a 20% and workers wanted 35%. They went on a strike upon Gandhi’s advice.
Finally, the tribunal awarded then 35% bonus
Kheda - Gujarat
Farmers were distressed due to failure of crops
Vallabhbhai Patel (a Kheda native) joined Gandhi in the movement
Finally, government ordered only those who can pay should pay the taxes
Conclusion – Chamaparan, Ahmedabad and Kheda served as demonstrations of Gandhi’s style and method of politics to the country at large.
Rowlatt Act – 1919
Indefinitely extended “emergency” measures enacted during WWI
Authorized government to imprison any person suspected of terrorist activities upto 2 years without trial
Indefinite detention without trial
Arrest without warrant
This is part 2 of Modern History Value Add. Part one, i.e. Modern History up to 1906 was covered in the previous VAN. This Value Add is also following the same scheme. Since Modern History has been covered in the books extensively, in VAN we have tried to present it in as concise manner as possible.
You need to remember that it is not a text and you will have to read standard books. This is just a tool for quick revision and memorizing the important events for examination point of view. Happy reading!!
Page 2
CONGRESS SPLIT
By 1907 the Moderate Nationalists had exhausted their historic role. The emergence of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement brought a wave of mass movement that demanded a change in ideology of the Nationalist Movement.
Reasons for ‘failure’ of Moderates:
Were considered elitist even by Indians
Did not have faith in the common people
Restricted themselves to political issues and did not entertain specific social issues
Their methodology of legal pleading and articulation was beyond the average uneducated Indian of the time
Did not participate in the Swadeshi and Boycott Movements
Conclusion: Hence they were not able to keep pace with the events. They failed to meet the demands of the new age movement
Policy of Carrot and Stick
British policy makers felt that the moderate led Congress could be easily finished because it’s weak but the British became critical of the Nationalist Movement after Swadeshi and Boycott movement. Their aim was now to isolate the extremists.
Lured moderates by presenting the idea of Morley-Minto Reforms (Lord Minto)
Moderates agreed to cooperate and got disconnected from S and B movement
The Extremists wanted to extend S and B.
This led to Congress split at Surat session in 1907
Impact of the Split
Both sides got it wrong.
Moderates led by Pherozshah Mehta hoped their dream of sharing political and admin power would come true. They couldn’t see that British negotiated because of the fear of the Extremists
Extremists did not see that Moderates were their natural defense line and as a result were brutally suppressed.
Tilak was jailed for 6 years. Aurobindo Ghosh gave up active politics and took up religion. BC Pal temporarily retired from politics and Lala Lajpat Rai went to the US for an extended stay
The spirit was gone from the movement and it entered a dull phase which was to last till the WWI came around
1909 Act Morley- Minto Reforms
Page 3
Separate electorates for Muslims
Membership in Imperial LC increased slightly
Mild powers given like the right to vote on separate budget items, to ask questions
Still the reformed councils enjoyed no real power and remained an advisory body
Page 4
WORLD WAR I
The outbreak of WWI gave a new lease of life to the Nationalist Movement which went dormant since S and B movements. This opportunity was seized in different ways. The Ghadarites attempted a violent overthrow of the British Rule while Home Rule League launched a nationwide agitation to secure Home Rule or Swaraj
Ghadar Movement:
Ghadar Movement
Started by Indian immigrants in North America who faced racial abuse and hostility of white labor force
Biggest Contribution = Through each issue of ‘Ghadar’ magazine, they exposed British Rule enumerating the harmful effects such as:
o Drain of wealth
o Low per capita income of Indians
o High land tax
o Low expenditure on health and high on military
o Destruction of Indian Arts and Industries
o Recurrence of Famines, ‘artificial’ and natural
o Policy of divide and rule among the Indian States
o ‘Dishonoring’ Indian women
o Helping Christian Missionaries spread their religion
o Discord between Hindus and Muslims
In short the entire critique of the British Rule
The movement soon died down with the arrest of their leader Hardayal and outbreak of WWI (Rash Bihari Bose was leader in India)
Page 5
Defense of India Act 1915, to curb Ghadr Movement
Impact of Ghadar Movement:
Gave the movement an international favor. Brought it to the notice of International community
The Nationalist critique of Colonialism, hitherto done by the Moderates was carried in a simple and powerful manner to the masses, especially Indian migrants
Even though on a small scale, it attempted to create a secular environment
Their objective was clear easily grasped by everybody i.e. est of independent India
Weaknesses:
Completely under-estimated the amount of prep at every level – organizational, ideological, strategic and financial
They forgot that to mobilize a few thousand migrants is different from arousing an entire nation
Lack of effective and sustained leadership – a common feature in pre-Gandhian era
Komagata Maru Incident
Canada used to deny entry to Indian immigrants who did not make a direct journey from India. So Canada refused the above mentioned ship which sailed from Singapore. After it finally returned back to Calcutta, the harassed passengers clashed with the British officers
Page 6
The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship that sailed from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada via Japan in May, 1914. It was carrying 376 passengers who were immigrants from Punjab, India. Of these, only 24 were granted admittance in Canada when the ship docked in Vancouver. At that time, Canada had laws restricting entry of migrants of Asian origin. Following a two month stalemate, the ship and its 352 passengers were escorted out of the dock by the Canadian military and forced to sail back to India. The ship returned to Calcutta on 27 September and was stopped by the British. The passengers were put under guard and the ship was allowed to dock in Budge Budge, Calcutta. The British believed that the passengers were law breakers and political agitators. When the police sought to arrest the persons it viewed as leaders of the group, there was resistance and a riot ensued. The police fired shots and 19 passengers were killed. Baba Gurdit Singh, who was one of the persons the British wanted to arrest, escaped with some other persons. Most of the remaining passengers were either arrested or sent back to Punjab. Baba Gurdit Singh later surrendered to the police.
Page 7
HOME RULE MOVEMENT
Home Rule League Flag
Aim = India be granted self-government on the lines of the White colonies (Eg. Scotland, Australia) after the War
Proponents:
Annie Besant
o Worked for Theosophical Society (not its founder)
? Theosophical believed in old religion and transmigration of soul
o Entered Indian Movement in 1914
o Played a major role in re-entry of Extremists into Congress
o Was a member of Fabian Society
o Her newspapers – New India and Commonweal
BG Tilak (released in 1914)
o Started Home Rule before Annie Besant
o Filled up the void before Gandhi
o Active through writing in press
o Was against casteism and communalism and regionalism
Features of the League:
Put forward the demand for Swaraj like White Colonies
Took the moderate methodologies to the masses
Tilak’s league was highly active through press and had 14,000 members
His league touched upon a variety of topics like Casteism and Regionalism
Besant’s main thrust was Home Rule through promoting political education and discussion
Russian revolution, 1917 too influenced their ideology
Lucknow Session of Congress – 1916
Congress formally united
Page 8
Congress League Pact signed – big role of Tilak and Besant
o Pressure British for Self – Government
o Muslims to have 1/3rd representation in Central Legislature
Note – Acceptance of Separate Electorate by Congress in 1919 in exchange for support of Muslim League sowed the seeds of 2 Nation Theory.
Failure of the League
Moderates again pacified through the 1919 Reforms
Annie Besant was herself unsure of how to take forward passive resistance
Tilak, although in more control left for Britain at a crucial point to fight a civil case against him
Montagu’s Statement – 1917
Recognized “self-government” to India is Britain’s responsibility for the first time
Indian leaders objected because no time frame was given
Page 9
MAHATMA GANDHI – EARLY CAREER
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
When Gandhi arrived in India in 1915, his own political understanding did not coincide with any of the political currents that were active in India. His faith in ‘Moderates’ methods was long eroded nor did he agree with the Home Rulers that the best time to agitate for Home Rule was when British were in difficulty. He was deeply convinced that the only answer lay in Satyagraha.
Satyagraha = Policy of passive political resistance, i.e. non-violent opposition to authority
During 1917-18 three significant struggles:
Chamaparan – Bihar
Farmers agitating against the ‘Tinkathia System’ (forced to cultivate Indigo on 3/20th of their land holdings)
Gandhi offered passive resistance upon reaching Chamaparan
Government appointed a Commission to inquire into the whole issue
Commission ordered that peasants can’t be forced and as a result in a decade all planters left.
Ahmedabad – Gujarat
Workers were insisting on the stay of “Plague bonus” which the mill owners wanted to withdraw
Page 10
They offered a 20% and workers wanted 35%. They went on a strike upon Gandhi’s advice.
Finally, the tribunal awarded then 35% bonus
Kheda - Gujarat
Farmers were distressed due to failure of crops
Vallabhbhai Patel (a Kheda native) joined Gandhi in the movement
Finally, government ordered only those who can pay should pay the taxes
Conclusion – Chamaparan, Ahmedabad and Kheda served as demonstrations of Gandhi’s style and method of politics to the country at large.
Rowlatt Act – 1919
Indefinitely extended “emergency” measures enacted during WWI
Authorized government to imprison any person suspected of terrorist activities upto 2 years without trial
Indefinite detention without trial
Arrest without warrant
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