The Making of the National Movement
Overview
The Making of the National Movement traces how Indians gradually united against British rule from the late 19th century onward. It covers the founding of the Indian National Congress in 1885, the rise of militant nationalism, the partition of Bengal in 1905, the Swadeshi Movement, the Lucknow Pact, the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience, and the final push toward independence, showing how diverse groups joined a mass struggle that eventually ended colonial rule in 1947.
Typed Notes
Birth of the Indian National Congress (1885)
The Indian National Congress (INC) was established in December 1885 in Bombay, with A.O. Hume, a retired British civil servant, playing a key role in its formation. Early leaders included Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, and Surendranath Banerjee. These moderate leaders believed in constitutional methods: sending petitions, passing resolutions, and holding annual sessions to voice Indian grievances. Dadabhai Naoroji famously argued that British rule was draining India's wealth—an idea called the 'drain of wealth' theory. The early Congress demanded greater Indian representation in government services and legislative councils.
Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement (1905)
In 1905 Viceroy Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal, dividing it into a Hindu-majority west and a Muslim-majority east. Indians saw this as a deliberate attempt to weaken Bengali unity and the nationalist movement. Mass protests erupted, giving rise to the Swadeshi Movement. People boycotted British goods, burned foreign cloth, and promoted Indian-made (swadeshi) products. Nationalist leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Lala Lajpat Rai—together called Lal-Bal-Pal—advocated aggressive agitation. The partition was eventually annulled in 1911. The movement also saw the founding of the Muslim League in 1906 at Dhaka.
Gandhi and Mass Nationalism (1915–1930)
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915 and soon transformed the national movement. He introduced satyagraha—truth-force or non-violent resistance—as a political weapon. After the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919, in which British troops killed hundreds of unarmed civilians at Amritsar, Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. Indians were asked to return titles, boycott schools, courts, and foreign goods. The movement was called off after the Chauri Chaura violence of 1922. In 1930 Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement with the famous Dandi March, walking 240 miles to make salt and defy British law.
Toward Independence: 1930s–1947
The Civil Disobedience Movement drew millions into the freedom struggle, including women, peasants, and tribal communities. The Government of India Act 1935 introduced provincial autonomy, and Congress won elections in many provinces in 1937. During World War II, Congress launched the Quit India Movement in August 1942, demanding immediate British withdrawal; the slogan 'Do or Die' was given by Gandhi. Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Indian National Army (INA) to fight the British militarily. After the war, mounting pressure, INA trials, and naval mutinies weakened British resolve. India finally gained independence on 15 August 1947, and the nation was partitioned into India and Pakistan.
Key Concepts
Revision ke liye ek nazar — exam se pehle yahi padhna hai.
- 01The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume; its early leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji used moderate methods such as petitions and resolutions.
- 02The partition of Bengal in 1905 by Lord Curzon sparked the Swadeshi Movement, promoting Indian-made goods and boycott of British products.
- 03Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularised the slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it,' representing the militant or assertive nationalist approach.
- 04Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 and the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930, transforming the national movement into a mass struggle.
- 05The Muslim League was founded in 1906; the Lucknow Pact of 1916 brought Congress and the League together, briefly uniting Hindu and Muslim political leaders.
Questions & Solutions
Pehle khud try karo — phir solution kholo. Yahi tariqa topper banata hai.
Why was the Indian National Congress founded in 1885, and what methods did its early leaders use?
What was the significance of the partition of Bengal in 1905?
How did Mahatma Gandhi change the nature of the national movement after 1915?
What was the Quit India Movement of 1942, and why was it important?
How did the role of different social groups—women, peasants, and tribal communities—change during the national movement?
From 1885 onward, Indians built a national movement against British rule through moderate petitions, militant agitation, and Gandhian mass movements. Key events—the Swadeshi Movement (1905), Non-Cooperation (1920), Civil Disobedience (1930), and Quit India (1942)—drew ever-wider sections of society into the struggle. The combined pressure of mass protests, the INA, and post-war unrest forced Britain to grant independence on 15 August 1947, though the subcontinent was simultaneously partitioned into India and Pakistan.
Chapter-end quiz
4 MCQsOption tap karo — turant pata chalega sahi ya galat, explanation ke saath.
Q1.In which year was the Indian National Congress founded?
Q2.Which Viceroy ordered the partition of Bengal in 1905?
Q3.What was the name of Gandhi's famous march in 1930 that began the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Q4.Which slogan did Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularise during the national movement?
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