Nationalism refers to the feeling of oneness that emerges when people consider themselves as one nation. With reference to the growth of nationalism, answer the following questions:
(i) Name the first President of the Congress. Mention any two objectives of the Congress.
(ii) Whether it is fiction, non-fiction, or periodical, all kinds of literature contributed at large in the national consciousness of India in pre-independence times. Mention any three points to analyse the role of the press in the growth of nationalism.
(iii) Explain any four policies of Lord Lytton that showcased his attitude of racial superiority, eventually leading to the growth of nationalism.
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(i) The first President of the Indian National Congress was W.C. Bonnerjee. Two objectives of the Congress are given below:
- To promote friendly relations between nationalist political workers from different parts of the country.
- To formulate popular demands and present them before the government.
(ii) The press played an important role in the growth of nationalism in the following ways:
- It was through the press that the message of patriotism and the modern liberal ideals of liberty, freedom, equality, home rule and independence spread among the people.
- The press carried on a daily criticism of the unjust policies of the British Government and exposed the true nature of British rule in India.
- It made possible the exchange of views among different social groups from different parts of the country, and thus helped in creating a united public opinion.
(iii) Four policies of Lord Lytton that reflected his attitude of racial superiority were:
- The Vernacular Press Act (1878) — It forbade vernacular papers from publishing any material that might incite feelings of dissatisfaction against the British Government. The Act was not applicable to English newspapers.
- The Indian Arms Act (1878) — It made it a criminal offence for Indians to carry arms without a licence. This Act too was not applicable to the British.
- Reduction in the age limit for the I.C.S. examination — The maximum age for appearing in the Indian Civil Service examination was reduced from 21 to 19 years. As the examination was held in London, this made it far more difficult for Indians to compete.
- Removal of import duties on cotton textiles — This was done for the benefit of the British cloth industry at the cost of the growing Indian textile industry.