The onset of World War I in 1914 revitalized the nationalist movement that had been inactive since the fervent days of the Swadeshi Movement. The challenges faced by Britain presented India with a chance for progress. This opportunity was utilized, albeit through different methods and with differing levels of accomplishment, by the Ghadar revolutionaries situated in North America and by prominent figures like Lokamanya Tilak and Annie Besant, along with their Home Rule Leagues within India. The Ghadarites sought a violent overthrow of British rule, whereas the Home Rule Leaguers initiated a nationwide campaign to attain Home Rule or Swaraj.
During World War I (1914-1919), Britain formed alliances with several countries, including France, Russia, the USA, Italy, and Japan, to oppose the Central Powers, primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.
Growth of Indian Nationalism
During this period, the growth of Indian nationalism was evident, and the Indian reaction to British participation in the war can be classified into three distinct approaches:
- Moderates Approach: The Moderates, a faction within the Indian National Congress, expressed support for the British Empire during the war, considering it a moral duty.
- Extremists Approach: The Extremists, led by figures like Bal Gangadhar Tilak (who had been released from prison in June 1914), endorsed the war effort, believing that India’s loyalty would eventually lead to self-governance granted by the British after the war.
- Revolutionaries Approach: Revolutionaries took advantage of the situation to wage a war against British rule and strive for India’s liberation.
First World War (1914-19)
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Home Rule League Movement
The Indian reaction to the First World War displayed a more calculated and influential strategy with the Home Rule Movement, in contrast to the daring yet less productive actions of overseas Indians, exemplified by the idealized Ghadar movement. The Home Rule Movement gave rise to two Indian Home Rule Leagues, drawing inspiration from the Irish Home Rule Leagues, signifying the emergence of a more assertive political stance. Prominent figures like Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak spearheaded this new direction.
Towards to Home Rule League Movement
- Tilak’s Attempts at Re-entry into Congress: Upon Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s release in June 1914 after a six-year imprisonment, India had transformed: Aurobindo Ghose had turned to spiritual pursuits in Pondicherry, Lala Lajpat Rai was in the United States, and the Indian National Congress was grappling with past divisions and disappointments.
- Tilak’s primary focus was to secure re-entry into the Congress for himself and other Extremists.
- Recognizing the Congress’s symbolic importance in India’s national movement, Tilak aimed for its endorsement as a crucial precursor for any political action.
- Tilak’s Changed Approach: To win over the Moderates and avert government suppression, Tilak publicly distanced himself from violent acts in India, emphasising a quest for administrative reform rather than government overthrows.
- He expressed loyalty to the Crown and urged Indians to assist the British Government in its time of need.
- Many Moderate leaders, disenchanted since the Surat split in 1907, sympathized with Tilak’s approach.
- Additionally, pressure from Mrs. Annie Besant, newly involved in the Congress and eager to reignite nationalist fervour, influenced the Moderates to consider readmitting the Extremists, given the Congress’s near dormancy.
Driving Factors
The formation of the Home Rule Movement was driven by various factors, including:
- To get Government Concessions: Some nationalists felt that public pressure should be exerted on the government to obtain concessions.
- Unfruitful Morley-Minto reforms: The Moderates had become disillusioned with the Morley-Minto reforms, deeming them inadequate.
- Wartime difficulties: The population bore the brunt of wartime hardships, characterized by high taxes and increasing prices, making them open to active protest movements.
- Shattered white supremacy: The First World War, a conflict involving major imperialist powers and marked by extensive mutual propaganda, shattered the concept of white supremacy.
- Tilak’s conciliatory approach: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who was released from prison in June 1914, assumed leadership and embraced a conciliatory approach.
- He assured the government of his loyalty and conveyed to the Moderates that he aimed for administrative reforms rather than the overthrow of the government.
- He also acknowledged that acts of violence had impeded political progress in India and called on all Indians to support the British government during its time of crisis.
- Irish Home Rule Leagues influence: Annie Besant, an Irish theosophist residing in India since 1896, expanded her activities to include the formation of a home rule movement, drawing inspiration from the Irish Home Rule Leagues.
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Conclusion
The period during and after World War I marked a pivotal shift in the Indian nationalist movement. While the Ghadarites pursued violent rebellion, the Home Rule Leagues, led by figures like Tilak and Besant, focused on constitutional methods. This era saw the reawakening of Indian nationalism, blending revolutionary fervor with strategic political action, setting the stage for future struggles against British rule and laying the groundwork for India’s eventual independence.
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