Conquest of Britishers influenced the lives of peasants and tribals and also challenged the caste system and damaged the craft industry. This ultimately turned into revolt against British Rule and the Indian National Movement Started. The movement gave India many leaders but Gandhiji was the most influential. 

The Emergence of Nationalism

Inclusive Vision of India: A realisation that India was the people of India – all the people irrespective of class, colour, caste, creed, language, or gender. 

• Shared Ownership: And the country, its resources and systems, were meant for all of them. 
• Recognition of British Control: The consciousness that the British were exercising control over the resources of India and the lives of its people.
• • Assertion Against British Control: And until this control was ended India could not be for Indians, began to be clearly stated by the political associations formed after 1850. 
• Leadership: Most of these associations were led by English-educated professionals such as lawyers. 
• Associations: The more important ones were the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (literal meaning of “sarvajanik” is “of or for all the people” (sarva = all + janik = of the people), the Indian Association, the Madras Mahajan Sabha, the Bombay Presidency Association, and of course the Indian National Congress. 
• Nationalist Goals Across Regions: Though many of these associations functioned in specific parts of the country, their goals were stated as the goals of all the people of India, not those of any one region, community or class. 
• Emphasis on Popular Sovereignty: They worked with the idea that the people should be sovereign (a modern consciousness and a key feature of nationalism) and that the people of India should be empowered to take decisions regarding their affairs. 

The dissatisfaction with British rule (1870s – 1880s)

• The Arms Act of 1878: This act disallowed Indians from possessing arms. 
• The Vernacular Press Act 1878:  The act was enacted in an effort to silence those who were critical of the government. 
  • Objective: The Act allowed the government to confiscate the assets of newspapers including their printing presses if the newspapers published anything that was found “objectionable”. 

• The Ilbert Bill, 1883: The bill provided for the trial of European persons by Indians, and sought equality between British and Indian judges in the country. 
  • Opposition by Britishers: But when white opposed the bill and forced the government to withdraw the bill, Indians were enraged. 
  • Racial Attitude: The event highlighted the racial attitudes of the British in India. 
  • The Ilbert Bill controversy deepened the desire for an all-India organization of educated Indians .

Formation of the Indian National Congress (INC), 1885

Establishment: It was established when 72 delegates from all over the country met at Bombay in December 1885. 

• Leadership: Leaders such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, W.C. Bonnerji, Surendranath Banerji, Romesh Chandra Dutt, S. Subramania Iyer, were largely from Bombay and Calcutta. 
• Dadabhai Naoroji: A businessman and publicist settled in London, and for a time member of the British Parliament, guided the younger nationalists. 
• A.O. Hume: A retired British official, A.O. Hume also contributed in bringing Indians from the various regions together. 

A Nation in the Making

Moderation in Objectives: The Congress in the first twenty years was “moderate” in its objectives and methods. 

• Greater Indian Representation: It demanded a greater voice for Indians in the government and in administration. 
• Reforming Legislative Councils: It wanted the Legislative Councils to be made more representative, given more power, and introduced in provinces where none existed. 
• Civil Service Examinations:It called for civil service examinations to be held in India as well, not just in London to place Indians in high positions. 
• Indianisation of Administration: It was part of a movement against racism, since important jobs at the time were monopolised by white officials, and it was assumed that Indians could not be given positions of responsibility. 
• Drain of Wealth: It was hoped that Indianisation would also reduce the drain of wealth to England. 
• Judicial Separation and Arms Act Repeal: Early Congress also demanded the separation of the judiciary from the executive, the repeal of the Arms Act, the freedom of speech and expression and raised a number of economic issues. speeches and sent representatives 
• Economic Issues and Revenue Demands: It also declared that increase in the land revenue had impoverished peasants and zamindars, and exports of grains to Europe had created food shortages. 
• The Congress demanded reduction of revenue, cut in military expenditure, and more funds for irrigation and also passed resolutions on the salt tax, treatment of Indian labourers abroad, and the sufferings of forest dwellers – caused by an interfering forest administration. 
• Mobilizing Public Awareness: All this shows that despite being a body of the educated elite, they wanted to develop public awareness about the unjust nature of British rule. 
• Criticism of British Rule: They published newspapers, wrote articles, and showed how British rule was leading to the economic ruin of the country. 
• Criticized Rule: They even criticised British rule in their to different parts of the country to mobilise public opinion. 
• Hope in British Respect for Justice:They felt that the British had respect for the ideals of freedom and justice, and so they would accept the just demands of Indians.

Conclusion

The early Indian National Congress (INC) emerged in response to British control. Nationalist leaders sought greater representation and an end to economic exploitation. Despite being elite, the INC aimed to raise public awareness about British injustices.

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