The period between 1885 and 1920 marks a formative phase of India’s freedom struggle, marked by the emergence of Indian National Congress (INC) as the representative body articulating the nationalist aspirations of the Indian people. This phase is often categorized into three ideological streams—Early Nationalists (Moderates), Assertive Nationalists (Extremists), and Revolutionaries, each contributing uniquely to the evolution of Indian nationalism.
Birth of the Indian National Congress (1885)
The Indian National Congress was founded on December 28, 1885, in Bombay by Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant. The first session was presided over by W.C. Bonnerjee and attended by 72 delegates from across India.
Objectives at Birth:
- Promote national unity and political dialogue across regions and communities.
- Create a platform to express grievances and seek reforms through constitutional means.
- Develop a sense of national consciousness and political education among Indians.
Though often debated as a ‘safety valve’ for political discontent, the INC evolved into the central instrument for India’s national movement.
Ideologies and Programmes of Indian National Congress (1885–1920)
1. Early Nationalists (Moderates) [1885–1905]
Key Leaders:
Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee.
Ideology:
- Belief in the good intentions of the British Crown.
- Emphasis on peaceful and constitutional methods like petitions, resolutions, deputations, and meetings.
- Aimed at reforming the colonial administration, not ending British rule.
Demands and Programmes:
- Indianisation of the civil services.
- Reduction in land revenue and military expenditure.
- Greater participation of Indians in legislative councils.
- Protection of Indian industries through tariffs.
- Spread of modern education.
Contribution:
- Laid the intellectual foundation of Indian nationalism.
- Created a pan-Indian political platform.
- Propagated economic critique of British rule through ideas like the Drain of Wealth (Dadabhai Naoroji).
Limitations:
- Restricted to educated elites and urban classes.
- Lacked mass appeal.
- Faith in the British sense of justice appeared naïve as the government grew increasingly repressive.
2. Assertive Nationalists (Extremists) [1905–1918]
Key Leaders:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai – collectively known as Lal-Bal-Pal.
Ideology:
- Rejection of the moderate approach as ineffective.
- Advocated for direct action, mass mobilisation, and national pride.
- Believed that Swaraj (self-rule) was the natural right of Indians.
Programmes and Methods:
- Swadeshi and Boycott Movement (especially during the Bengal Partition, 1905).
- Promotion of national education and revival of indigenous institutions.
- Use of festivals like Ganesh Utsav and Shivaji Jayanti to inspire nationalism.
- Emphasis on self-reliance and revival of Indian industries.
Significance:
- Bridged the gap between elite politics and popular involvement.
- Brought emotional and cultural appeal to the freedom movement.
- Set the tone for mass-based politics in the later years.
Setbacks:
- Lack of a cohesive organisational structure.
- Internal split with moderates in the Surat session (1907).
- Government repression and arrest of leaders.
3. Revolutionary Nationalists [1890s–1920]
Ideology:
- Inspired by global revolutionary movements and armed resistance as a means to attain independence.
- Motivated by frustration with constitutional methods and government repression.
- Driven by a sense of heroic patriotism and sacrifice.
Key Organizations and Activities:
- Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar in Bengal.
- India House in London (founded by Shyamji Krishna Varma), associated with Veer Savarkar.
- Ghadar Movement (1913) among Indian diaspora in North America.
- Alipore Bomb Case (1908), Kakori Conspiracy (1925), and attempts to assassinate British officials.
Notable Revolutionaries:
- Khudiram Bose, Prafulla Chaki, V.D. Savarkar, Bhagat Singh (active slightly later), Chandrashekhar Azad.
Impact:
- Though limited in reach, revolutionaries created fear among colonial authorities.
- Their actions stirred national consciousness and romanticised the idea of martyrdom.
- Provided a militant edge to the freedom movement and later inspired militant youth leaders.
Transition: Towards Mass Nationalism (1919–1920)
The First World War, Rowlatt Act, and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre radicalised Indian politics. The ideological divide between Moderates and Extremists began to blur. Gandhi’s arrival in Indian politics by 1919 transformed the nationalist movement into a mass struggle based on non-violent civil disobedience, bringing peasants, workers, and women into the movement.
Conclusion
The Indian National Congress between 1885 and 1920 evolved from a body seeking reforms under British rule to a force determined to attain self-rule and eventual independence. The Moderates built the framework, the Extremists infused passion and mass contact, and the Revolutionaries gave it militant urgency. Each stream, despite internal differences, contributed to creating a broad-based nationalist consciousness that laid the foundation for the final phase of the freedom struggle led by Gandhi and others.
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