Modern Indian History

Lord Curzon had a passion for preserving the ancient monuments of historical importance in India. No Viceroy in India before or after him took such a keen interest in archaeological objects. He passed a law called the Ancient Monuments Act, 1904 which made it obligatory on the part of the government and local authorities to preserve the monuments of archaeological importance and their destruction an offence.

The number of educated Indians increased considerably by the close of the 19th century. Large numbers of them were employed in the administration on low salaries. While many other faced unemployment. Their grievances made them look critically at the nature of British rule. These educated low paid and unemployed Indians became the followers of Assertive Nationalism.

Bipin Chandra Pal reminded the people, "self-help and self-sacrifice is the real force in the field of nationalism".

The nationalist writers and agitators blamed the British rule for the poverty of the people. They made all efforts to develop self-respect and self-confidence among the people. Assertive Nationalist leaders like Aurobindo Ghose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal asked the nationalists to rely on the abilities.

Swami Vivekananda said "The only hope of India is from the masses. The upper classes are physically and morally dead". Thus, there was the realisation that only the masses could make the immense sacrifices needed to win freedom.

The efforts made by the moderate leaders through their writings, agitations and petitions to the British government, exposed the true character of the British rule in India. It was felt that the British rule was responsible for the economic ruin of India and her growing poverty. Some of the political events from 1892 to 1905 like the reduction the number of Indian members in the Calcutta Corporation, the restrictions on the press etc, made Indians realise that instead of giving them more rights, the British were taking away even their few existing rights. All this convinced the Indians that India could not make progress unless British imperialism was replaced by a government run by them. Thus, the Assertive Nationalist ideology found favour with the masses.

The main focus of the Assertive Nationalists was to get a large share for Indians in the administration of their country and to end Britain's economic exploitation of India. They believed that this objective could not be realised without pressure tactics and some sort of direct action. The methods adopted by them can be grouped into four categories. They are:

• Swadeshi
• Boycott
• National Education
• Passive Resistance

Tilak and other Assertive Nationalists had the following four-fold programme for effective political action for the attainment of Swaraj:

• Boycott
• Swadeshi
• National Education
• Resistance: passive, as well as active

After joining the Indian National Congress, and taking part in political agitation in Punjab, Lajpat Rai was deported to Mandalay, Burma, without trial, in May 1907. In November, however, he was allowed to return when the viceroy, Lord Minto, decided that there was insufficient evidence. Lajpat Rai’s supporters attempted to secure his election to the presidency of the party session at Surat in December 1907, but elements favouring co-operation with the British refused to accept him, and the party split over the issues.

 Lala Lajpat Rai wrote Unhappy India. He said, ” A man without a soul is a mere animal. A nation without a soul is only a dumb driven cattle.“

The main objective of the Assertive Nationalist was the immediate attainment of ‘swaraj’. This means complete independence and not just self-government as in the colonies of Australia, New Zealand, etc.

• The efforts made by the moderate leaders through their writings, agitations and petitions to the British government, exposed the true character of the British rule in India.
• It was felt that the British rule was responsible for the economic ruin of India and her growing poverty.    
• Some of the political events from  1892 to 1905, like the reduction in the number of  Indian members in the Calcutta Corporation, the restrictions of the Press, etc., made  Indians realise that instead of giving them more rights the British were taking away their few existing rights.
• All this convinced the Indians that India could not make progress unless British imperialism was replaced by a government run by them.

Because of the efforts and sacrifices made by Assertive leaders that the Partition of Bengal was annulled in 1911. This gave fresh self-confidence to Indian Nationalists.

Lokmanya Tilak was sentenced to six years of imprisonment and exiled to Mandalay (in present-day Myanmar) in 1908 for his writings in Kesari.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak is known as the father of the Assertive Nationalism. He played a leading role in popularizing the cult of patriotism and making the Congress movement broad-based.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak earned the epithet of Lokamanya during the Home Rule movement. Home Rule Leagues were organizations established in April and September 1916 during WW I, by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and  Annie Besant. Many Indian revolutionaries suported the Britishers but Tilak and Besant considered this an opportunity to achieve independence from the British. Thus, they decided to organise a national alliance of leagues across India, specifically to demand Home Rule, or self-government.