Hist 4339
The Roots of South Asian Nationalism: Communalism and Territory
Elections
• Role of census
• British notion of natural leaders
Hindu Reform Movements
• Western examples seen as positive
• English-language education: English as “link language”
• 1885: Indian National Congress established
• Moderate nationalists initially dominant
• Islamic reform movements: Syed Ahmed Khan (Aligarh), orthodox leaders (Deoband)
• 1905: Bengal partition
• Boycott of British imports in favor of swadeshi goods
• 1906: Simla delegation and formation of Muslim League
Bal Gangadhar Tilak[1] (1856-1920)
• Western style education
• Social reformer, advocate of self-rule:
“Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it!”
• Use of religious symbolism to rally supporters
• 1908: imprisoned for 6 years
• Pooh-poohed Br concessions as meaningless
• Advocated resistance, even violence
• Known by Br as “Father of Indian Unrest”
• Widely mourned when he died in 1920
1907 Congress Split
• 1906: resolutions in favor of swadeshi, swaraj [self-rule]
• 1907: showdown between moderates and extremists
• Moderates walk out
• In the end, radicals driven out of Congress