Beginning of Freedom Movement

1. Western education familiarised the educated Indians with modern values such as liberty, equality, democracy, and nationalism.
2. The Asiatic Society at Bengal edited and published hundreds of manuscripts in Sanskrit, Persian, and other Indian languages.
3. The realisation that India had a rich ancient heritage aroused a feeling of national pride, which gave Indians a sense of identity.

1. Though at a slow pace, the contribution of the Indian National Congress was consistent in the initial stages, but the extremists felt the need to intensify the freedom struggle.
2. The Moderates and Extremists were unanimous about the objectives of the Congress, but they had differences regarding the methods to achieve them.
3. The Moderates insisted on constitutional measures, whereas the Extremists wanted to adopt more severe methods.
4. The tension between these groups increased during the Surat session in 1907.
5. This led to the formation of two groups within the Congress.

1. Bengal was a large province, so under the pretext of administrative convenience, Lord Curzon decided to partition it.
2. Accordingly, the Muslim-majority East Bengal and the Hindu-majority West Bengal were created in 1905.
3. The real motive was to create a divide between the Hindus and the Muslims, and thereby weaken the nationalist movement, by using the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’.

The Indian National Congress was established in 1885 with the following objectives:

1. To bring together the people of India on a common platform.
2. To create a feeling of unity among them, irrespective of religion, race, language, or geographical territory.
3. To provide opportunities to understand one another’s problems and views.
4. To increase the feeling of unity among the people.
5. To take measures for the upliftment of the country.

1. With the motive of creating a divide between the Hindus and the Muslims, Lord Curzon divided the province of Bengal into the Muslim-majority East Bengal and the Hindu-majority West Bengal in 1905.
2. The day of partition, 16th October, was observed as ‘National Mourning Day’.
3. Protest meetings were organised all over India to condemn the decision of the government.
4. Singing of Vande Mataram and Raksha Bandhan programmes were arranged to mark the protest.
5. Government-run schools and colleges were boycotted in large numbers by the students.
6. Sensing the intensity and severity of the dissatisfaction, the British annulled the Partition of Bengal.

In the 1906 session of the Indian National Congress, the four-point programme was unanimously accepted.

1. Swadeshi: To make use of capital, resources, and manpower in our own country, so that it becomes self-sufficient.
2. Boycott: It was decided to boycott foreign goods as a first step, and boycott foreign rule as the next step. It would be an attack on the roots of British imperialism.
3. Swaraj: The final objective was to attain freedom.
4. National Education: To impart education that would create pride for the nation among the people.

1. The uniform policies, identical reforms, and equality before the law brought the nation under one roof.
2. The network of roads and railways brought the people of India together.
3. This developed a feeling of unity among Indians.

1. The economic exploitation of India through imperialistic policies led to the drain of Indian wealth to England.
2. Industries declined, and the farmers became bankrupt.
3. The imposition of taxes on the middle class, and the exploitation of the worker class by the capitalists, led to growing discontent.

1. Western education familiarised the educated Indians with modern values and principles such as liberty, equality, and democracy.
2. They accepted principles like rationalism, humanity, and nationalism.
3. They realised that they could carry out the work of the country by following these principles.

1. Manuscripts in Sanskrit, Persian, and many other languages were examined, and research on them was published.
2. Many Western scholars started to study Indian culture.
3. The realisation that India had a rich ancient heritage aroused a feeling of national pride among Indians.

1. Newspapers in English and vernacular languages carried articles criticising the policies of the government.
2. This led to a social and political awakening.