Recognition Of The Real Purpose Of British Rule: Militant Nationalism In The Period Of Modern India (1905–1909)

 

A militant nationalist attitude to political participation began to evolve in the 1890s and became apparent by 1905. A revolutionary wing moreover evolved along with this tendency. Now that they could see and understand the true nature of British rule, politically aware Indians were persuaded that its major objective was to economically exploit India and benefit England at the expense of India. They could clearly see that only an Indian government that would support and protect it could advance the Indian economy and industry. 

 

•    Over the years, militant nationalism, usually referred to as extremism, has increasingly increased in the nation. The Bengal anti-partition movement of 1905 was where it took shape.

 

•    The Indian national movement had already raised many people's awareness of the perils of foreign rule and the value of developing patriotism even in its early stages.

 

•    It had given educated Indians the political education they required. In actuality, it had altered the national spirit and given rise to a new way of life.

 

•    At the same time, the British government's failure to concede to any of the key nationalist demands caused the politically aware to lose faith in the ideologies and strategies of the predominately moderate leadership.

 

•    The British monarchs insulted and derided moderate nationalists rather than trying to placate them.

 

•    There was a tremendous need for political activity and methods that were more active than meetings, petitions, memorials, and speeches in legislative councils as a result. 

 

•    The politics of the moderate nationalists were founded on the idea that British rule might be changed from within.

 

•    This assumption was eventually challenged by the growth of knowledge about political and economic issues. The political agitation of the moderates was largely to blame for this.

 

•    The poverty of the populace was attributed to British rule by nationalist writers and activists.

 

•    Politically informed Indians were persuaded that British rule was intended to economically exploit India, enriching England at India's expense.

 

•    They understood that India would not advance economically unless British imperialism was replaced with a government governed and operated by the Indian people.

 

•    Particularly nationalists realized that without an Indian government to safeguard and support them, Indian enterprises could not prosper.

 

•    In the view of the populace, the devastating famines that plagued India from 1896 to 1900, killing over 90 lakh people, represented the negative economic effects of foreign control.

 

 

•    Nationalists were also dissatisfied by the political developments of 1892–1905, which led them to adopt more radical policies. Even the people's existing political rights were under threat.

 

•    An act that incited "disaffection" towards a foreign government was made illegal in 1898. In 1899, there were less Indian members of the Calcutta Corporation.

 

•    In 1904, the Indian Official Secrets Act was created, which restricted journalistic freedom. The accusations against the Natu brothers were never made public and they were deported in 1897 without being tried.

 

•    The same year, Lokamanya Tilak and other newspaper editors received lengthy prison sentences for stirring up opposition to a foreign administration.

 

•    As a result, the populace learned that the ruling class was actually reducing even the meagre political liberties that already existed.

 

•    As a result, an increasing number of Indians came to believe that political servitude meant that their people's development would be stunted and that self-government was essential for the nation's economic, political, and cultural advancement.

 

In the first decade of the 20th century, the extremists arrived overnight. Since the Revolt of 1857, the radical ideology had been simmering, and the Bengal division in 1905 was the catalyst for it to come to light. Indian educated citizens have previously been taught in political activism by moderate politics. Some of them were losing hope in the moderates' strategies because they had produced few results and received a dismissive and icy response from the British. There was a significant call for more active political action than just petitions, marches, and prayers as a result.