Page 133 - DHIS204_DHIS205_INDIAN_FREEDOM_STRUGGLE_HINDI

Indian Freedom Struggle (1707–1947 A.D.)

Notes hearing in England. He exhorted the people that if they really cared for their country, “they
would have to strike a blow for freedom themselves, and they should be prepared to give
unmistakable proof of their earnestness.
The younger generation of Congressmen (also called Nationalists or Extremists) had nothing
but disgust for the Old Guard. According to them the only ‘political religion’ of the Congress
was— loyalty to the Crown; their only ‘political aim’-to improve their chances of getting seats
in the central/provinicial legislatures or judicial services or acquiring titles etc.; their only
‘political activity’— excessive speechyfying and attending Congress session towards December-
end every year. The Moderate leaders were accused of limiting the range of their activities for
the benefit of the middle class intelligentsia and limiting the membership of the Congress to
the middle class—for fear of losing their leadership if the masses joined the movement. Thus
the Moderate leaders were accused of ‘trading in the name of patriotism’. Tilak described the
Congress as ‘a Congress of flatterers and Congress session ‘a holiday recreation while Lajpat
Rai dubbed Congress meeting the annual national festival of educated Indians.’ Both Tilak and
Lajpat Rai believed that the Congress had no constructive activity. Tilak affirmed: “We will not
achieve any success in our labours if we croak once a year like a frog.”
4. Deteriorating Economic Condition of India: The economic miseries of the closing years of the
19th century provided a congenial atmosphere for the growth of extremism in Indian national
activity. The terrible famines of 1896-97 and 1899-1900 coupled with the bubonic plague which
broke out in Maharashtra took a heavy toll of life. The Government relief machinery was
inadequate, slow-moving and badly organised. Tilak criticised the callous and over-bearing
Government Plague Commissioners who caused more harm than good. He thundered that fear
and anxiety was the cause of the disease arid that “plague is less cruel to us than the official
measures”. Riots broke out in the Deccan and the Government tried to stifle public opinion and
suppress lawlessness. These events revealed to the Indians their plight of utter helplessness.
Even recurring famines were attributed to the antinational policy followed by the Government.
In his presidential speech in 1903 Lal Mohan Ghose referred to the Durbar of 1903 and said:
“Nothing could seem more heartless than the spectacle of a great Government imposing the
heaviest taxation upon the poorest population in the world, and then lavishly spending the
money so obtained over fire-works and pompous pageants, while millions of the poor were
dying of starvation.
5. Contemporary International Influences: Events outside India exercised a powerful influence
on the younger generation. The humiliating treatment meted out to Indians in British colonies,
especially in South Africa, created anti- British feelings. Further, nationalist movements in
Egypt, Persia, Turkey and Russia gave Indians new hopes and new aspirations. Indian
nationalists gained more confidence and drew inspiration from Abyssinia’s repulsion of the
Italian army (1896) and Japan’s thumping victory over Russia (1905). If Japan could become a
great power on its own, what— but for the British grip—was holding India back. The spell of
European invincibility was broken.
6. Curzon’s Reactionary Policies: Cutzon’s seven-year rule in India which was full of ‘missions,
omissions and commissions’ created a sharp reaction in the Indian mind. Curzon refused to
recongnise that India was a ‘nation’ and characterized their activity as the ‘letting off of gas’.
He insulted Indian Intelligentsia and talked very low of Indian character ; at the Calcutta
University Convocation Curzon said, “Undoubtedly truth took a high place in the codes of the
West before it had been similarly honoured in the East, where craftiness and diplomatic wile
have always been held in high repute.” The Calcutta Corporation Act, the official Secrets Act
and the Indian Universities Act created great resentment in India. The Delhi Durbar held in
1903, coming at a time when India had not fully recovered from the devastating effects of the
famine of 1899-1900 was interpreted as ‘a pompous pageant to a starving population’.
7. The Partition of Bengal: The partition forced in teeth of Bengali opposition and protests from
the Indian National Congress (in 1904) showed the contemptuous disregard Curzon and the
Home authorities had for Indian public opinion. It was abundantly clear that the partition of
Bengal was a machiavellian devise to divide the people on the basis of religion and to put the

128 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY