Early Political Associations and the Causes of Indian Nationalism
Indian nationalism grew out of the clash between British economic and racial rule and the new ideas of the educated middle class, and was first organised in regional associations before the Congress.
Causes of the rise of nationalism
- Economic exploitation: drain of wealth, ruin of handicrafts, famines, heavy taxes.
- Western education and the spread of ideas of liberty and equality.
- Better communications: railways, post and telegraph, and the press brought Indians together.
- Rediscovery of India's past by scholars (William Jones, Max Muller, R.G. Bhandarkar).
- Social and religious reform movements, which created a sense of self-respect.
- Racial discrimination: the Ilbert Bill controversy (1883).
- Reactionary policies of Lytton (Vernacular Press Act, Arms Act, Royal Titles Act, reduction of ICS age).
Early regional associations
| Body | Year | Place / leaders |
|---|---|---|
| Landholders' Society | 1837 | Calcutta; Dwarkanath Tagore. First political association. |
| Bengal British India Society | 1843 | Calcutta; William Adam, George Thompson. |
| British Indian Association | 1851 | Calcutta; Debendranath Tagore, Radhakanta Deb. Merged the two earlier societies. Petitioned for the Charter Act 1853. |
| Madras Native Association and Bombay Association | 1852 | Madras and Bombay. |
| East India Association | 1866 | London; Dadabhai Naoroji. |
| Poona Sarvajanik Sabha | 1870 | M.G. Ranade, G.V. Joshi. |
| Indian Association | 1876 | Calcutta; Surendranath Banerjea and Anand Mohan Bose. Campaign against lowering the ICS age limit (1877). Held the Indian National Conference (1883). |
| Madras Mahajana Sabha | 1884 | M. Viraraghavachari, G. Subramania Iyer, P. Anandacharlu. |
| Bombay Presidency Association | 1885 | Pherozeshah Mehta, K.T. Telang, Badruddin Tyabji. |
The Ilbert Bill (1883)
Courtenay Ilbert, Law member under Ripon, proposed that Indian judges could try Europeans in the districts. Europeans protested in what is called the "White Mutiny", and the Bill was changed (juries to include at least half Europeans). It showed the racial attitude of the British, and showed Indians how effective organised agitation could be.
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Prepared for exam revision from standard sources such as NCERT, Bipan Chandra, Spectrum and official records. Historians differ on some dates, figures and interpretations, so check your exam syllabus and a standard textbook. Found a mistake? Tell us.