Modern Indian History

The Indian Home Rule Society (IHRS) was an Indian organisation founded by Shyamji Krishna Varma in London in 1905 that sought to promote the cause of self-rule in British India. It was open for membership "to Indians only", and found significant support amongst Indian students.

Sri Aurobindo was an early Indian revolutionary, who later left politics to pursue his spiritual sadhana. He supported non-co-operation and passive resistance to the British rule. He hoped to capture the Congress and make it the directing centre of an organised national action.

Sri Aurobindo was an early Indian revolutionary, who later left politics to pursue his spiritual sadhana. He supported non-co-operation and passive resistance to the British rule. He hoped to capture the Congress and make it the directing centre of an organised national action. In April 1910, Aurobindo Ghoseh secretly moved to Pondicherry (which was then a French Colony) to start a new life. With a few followers he established Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926.

The author of 'A Nation in the Making' was Surendanath Banerjee. It is his autobiography and also a commentary on public life. It was published in 1925.

The National Liberal Federation was founded by Surendranath Banerjee and other moderate leaders who left the Indian National Congress after the rise of the extremist faction.

The majority of the moderate leaders were educated professionals, such as lawyers, journalists, and teachers, who were concentrated in urban centers like Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.

• Chittaranjan Das, a revolutionary freedom fighter, was endearingly called ‘Deshabandhu’ (Friend of the Nation). Born on 5 November 1870 in Calcutta, he belonged to an upper middle-class family of Telirbagh, in Dacca district.
• Chittaranjan’s patriotic ideas were greatly influenced by his father, Bhuban Mohan Das, a reputed Solicitor of the Calcutta High Court. It was Bankim Chandra who influenced him in his political ideas. It was not before 1917 that Das came to the forefront of nationalist politics. In that year he was invited to preside over the Bengal Provincial Conference held at Bhowanipore. His political career was brief but meteoric. In the course of only eight years he rose to all-India fame by virtue of his intense patriotism, sincerity and oratorical power.

Moderates believed in constitutional and peaceful methods. They aimed at administrative and constitutional reforms and  wanted more Indians in the administration. To bring political awareness among the people they held meetings and discussions on social, economic and cultural matters. The early Nationalists used press for criticizing the worng policies of the government.  

Demands of Early Nationalists were divided in to four parts:

• Constitutional Reforms
• Economic Reforms
• Administrative Demands
• Defence of Civil Rights

• Availability of cheap credits to peasants through agricultural banks.
• Development of banking, irrigation, medical and health facilities for the people.
• Total abolition of Salt tax and the duty on sugar.
• An enquiry into India's growing poverty and famines.

During the first twenty years of its inception the Congress was completely controlled by the liberal leaders known as the Moderates. They believed that British rule should continue in India as it was gradually preparing the Indians to be capable for self rule. Their objective was to reform legislature. They demanded Wider employment of Indians in higher public services, Establishment of representative institutions, more funds for technical education, cuts in military expenditure, etc.

The methods used by the Early Nationalists of passing resolutions and sending petitions were seen as inadequate by critics who argued that they depended on the generosity of the British instead of relying on their own strength and challenging the imperialist might. They failed to realise that British and Indian interests clashed with each other and that Britain was using India's resources to increase its wealth. The Early Nationalists failed to draw the masses into the mainstream of the national movement such that their area of influence remained limited to urban educated Indians. In particular, their leadership comprised only members of professional groups such as lawyers, doctors, journalists and teachers.

The early nationalists used constitutional agitation, petitions, and public discourse to expose the contradictions and injustices of British rule, thereby undermining its moral legitimacy.

Dadabhai Naoroji is widely recognized as the first leader to systematically build and promote the freedom struggle, laying the groundwork for the Indian National Congress.

The Servants of India Society aimed to prepare selfless workers and train national missionaries to serve the country, combining both objectives mentioned in the options.

Dadabhai Naoraji was the first person in India to use the poverty line to identify the poor people.