The Early Nationalists in India made significant contributions to the national movement despite their limitations. They played a crucial role in awakening national sentiment, exposing colonial exploitation, and laying the groundwork for future mass movements. Their approach and views varied, with some leaders praising their foundational work and others critiquing their opportunism. The role of the masses was limited during this phase, and the British government's response was initially hostile, adopting divide-and-rule tactics. This evaluation highlights the complex legacy of the Early Nationalists and their impact on India's path to independence.
The early nationalists played a significant role in awakening national sentiment, despite their inability to mobilize the masses.
Progressive Forces: They represented the most progressive forces of their time.
National Awakening: They succeeded in creating a national awakening among Indians, fostering a sense of unity and common purpose against a common enemy.
Political Training: They trained people in political work and popularized modern ideas.
Expose of Colonial Exploitation: They exposed the exploitative nature of colonial rule, undermining its moral foundations.
Realistic Political Approach: Their political work was grounded in hard realities rather than shallow sentiments or religious considerations.
Political Truth: They established the basic truth that India should be ruled in the interest of Indians.
Foundation for Future Movements: They created a solid foundation for a more vigorous, mass-based national movement in the future.
Democratic Base: However, they failed to broaden their democratic base and the scope of their demands.
Justice Mahadeo Govind Ranade (1891): “You don’t realize our place in the history of our country. These memorials are nominally addressed to the Government. In reality, they are addressed to the people, so that they may learn how to think in these matters. This work must be done for many years, without expecting any other results, because politics of this kind is altogether new in this land.”
Pattabhi Sitaramayya: “We cannot blame them for the attitude they adopted as pioneers of Indian political reform any more than we can blame the brick and mortar that is buried six feet deep in the foundation and plinth of a modern edifice. They have made possible the superstructure, storey by storey, by colonial self-government, home rule within the empire, swaraj and on the top of all, complete independence.”
Bipan Chandra: “The period from 1858 to 1905 was the seed time of Indian nationalism; and the early nationalists sowed the seeds well and deep.”
Lala Lajpat Rai: “It was at best an opportunist movement. It opened opportunities for treacheries and hypocrisies. It enabled some people to trade in the name of patriotism.”
The moderate phase of the national movement had a narrow social base, with the masses playing a passive role.
The early nationalists lacked political faith in the masses, perceiving them as ignorant and conservative. They felt that diverse elements within Indian society needed to be unified before engaging in political action.
They failed to realize that only through participation in the freedom struggle could these diverse elements come together.
The lack of mass participation prevented the Moderates from adopting militant political positions against the authorities. The later nationalists differed in this approach.
Despite these shortcomings, the early nationalists represented the emerging Indian nation against colonial interests.
The British Indian Government was initially hostile to the Congress despite its moderate methods and loyalty to the British Crown.
After 1887, as the Congress became increasingly critical of colonial rule, the government's stance hardened. The Congress was labeled as "seditious brahmins" and "disloyal babus." Lord Dufferin even called the Congress "a factory of sedition."
The government adopted a 'divide and rule' policy, encouraging reactionary elements like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to counter Congress propaganda.
Efforts were made to divide the nationalists along religious lines and to pit Moderates against Extremists, but these attempts ultimately failed to stem the rising tide of nationalism.
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