Nationalist Movement (1917 - 1939)

-

  • After the end of the war, there was a resurgence of nationalist activity in India and in many other colonies in Asia and Africa.

Nationalist Resurgence Now
Post-War Economic Hardships
  • War ended, all sections of the Indian population were experiencing hardships on various fronts.
  • Industry - increase in prices.
  • Workers and Artisans - unemployment and bore the brunt of high prices.
  • Peasantry - high taxation and poverty, lead to protest.
  • Soldiers - abroad gave an idea of their experience to the rural folk, return to a country impoverished and had less liberty than before.
  • Educated Urban Classes - Unemployment acute racism in the attitude of the British.
Expectations of Political Gains for Cooperation in the War
  • After the war, there were high expectations of political gains from the British government
Nationalist Disillusionment with Imperialism Worldwide
  • Promised them an era of democracy and self determination after the war.
  • Imperialist powers had no intention of loosening their hold over the colonies, divide the colonies of the vanquished powers among themselves.
  • Post-war period saw a resurgence of militant nationalist activity throughout Asia and Africa.
Impact of Russian Revolution (November 7, 1917)
  • Soviet Union unilaterally renounced the Czarist imperialist rights in China and the rest of Asia, gave rights of self-determination to former Czarist colonies in Asia and gave equal status to the Asian nationalities within its borders.
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and Government of India Act, 1919
  • Not prepared to part with or even share its power with the Indians.
  • policy of ‘carrot and stick’
    • carrot - Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
    • Stick - Rowlatt Act.
Main Features
Provincial Government—Introduction of Dyarchy
Executive
  • Two executive councillors and popular ministers was introduced.
  • Reserved & Transferred subject.
    • Reserved subjects - administered by the governor through his executive council of bureaucrats.
    • Transferred subjects - administered by ministers nominated from among the elected members of the legislative council
  • Ministers were to be responsible to the legislature, executive councillors were not to be responsible to the legislature.
  • Failure of constitutional machinery in province, governor could take over the administration.
  • Secretary of state & Governor general interfere in respect of reserved subjects, transferred interference was restricted.
Legislature
  • Provincial legislative - 70% be elected.
  • System of communal and class electorates.
  • Women - right to vote.
  • councils could initiate legislation but the governor’s assent was required. The governor could veto bills and issue ordinances.
  • Legislative councils could reject the budget but the governor could restore.
  • Legislators enjoyed freedom of speech.
Central Government - Still Without Responsible Government
Executive
  • Governor-general was to be the chief executive authority
  • Central and provincial list.
  • viceroy’s executive council of eight, three were to be Indians.
  • Governor-general retained full control over reserved subjects.
  • Governor-general, cuts in grants, certify bills rejected & Issue Ordinance.
Legislature
  • Bicameral arrangement
  • Lower house or Central Legislative Assembly - tenure of 3 years
  • Upper house or Council of State - tenure of 5 years
  • legislators could ask questions and supplementaries, pass adjournment motions and vote a part of the budget, but 75% of the budget was still not votable.
Some Indians into important committees.
Secretary of State for India, paid out of the British exchequer.
Drawbacks
  • Franchise was very limited.
  • At Central, legislature had no control over the viceroy and his executive council.
  • Division of subjects was not satisfactory at the centre.
  • Allocation of seats for central legislature to the provinces was based on ‘importance’ of provinces.
  • Division of subjects and parallel administration of two parts was irrational.
  • provincial ministers had no control over finances and over the bureaucrats
Congress’s Reaction
  • August 1918, special session at Bombay under Hasan Imam’s presidency.
  • Reforms to be “disappointing” and “unsatisfactory” and demanded effective self-government instead.
  • "Unworthy and disappointing - a sunless dawn" by Tilak.
  • Annie Besant found them "unworthy of England to offer and India to accept"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Indian Painting - Pre History

-
Image
    History and Evolution of Painting in India - An Overview India has a long tradition of artistic excellence and painting is one of the major mediums that has been used to express it. There is several evidence suggesting that painting flourished in India since ancient times. Archaeologists have found wall paintings in parts of India, which suggest that even the early historic man in India was engaged in activities of art and leisure The history of painting can be traced through the ancient and medieval period where the books were illustrated with paintings Then came the miniature style that dominated the Mughal and Rajput courts. With the coming of the Europeans, the art of painting and engraving took a western turn. Modern painters experimented with styles, colours and designs. Many Indian painters have gained worldwide recognition and are winning prizes and accolades for their vision. Principles of Painting The history of paintings can be known from primitive rock paintings of Bhim
Read more

Classification of Indian Paintings

-
Image
    Classification of Indian Paintings Indian Paintings have been broadly classified into two. Mural Paintings Miniature Paintings Mural Paintings The work on the walls or a solid structure are referred to as Murals. These have existed in India since ancient times and can be dated between 10th century BC and 10th century AD. The evidence of such paintings can be found at several locations in India. The beauty and the exquisiteness of mural paintings can be seen in places like Ajanta, Armamalai Cave, Ravan Chhaya Rock Shelter, Bagh Caves, Sittanavasal Caves and Kailash Temple in Ellora. Most of the mural paintings are either in natural caves or in rock cut chambers. The paintings follow a theme, the most common being Hindu, Buddhist and Jain. Mural paintings were also made to adorn any mundane premise. For e.g. Ancient theatre room in Jogimara Caves. Ajanta Cave Paintings One of the oldest surviving murals of Indian sub-continent, Ajanta caves were carved between 2nd century BC to 5th c
Read more

Solar system

-
Image
Galaxy Gravitational bound system of star, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter. Ex: Milky way. A galaxy is a huge system of billions of stars. Our solar system is a part of the milky way galaxy. Our Milky way galaxy was named “Akash ganga”. There are millions of galaxies that make the Universe. Distance galaxy: GN-z11 (March 2016) Hubble classification Eliptical (E) Spiral (S): Andromeda & Sombrero (unbarred) Lenticular Celestial bodies: Sun, Moon. Two types: Emit light (Star), Don’t Emit Light (Planets) North Star – Pole Star – Indicates north Direction Constellations (Group of star) – 88 Official Ursa Major – Big Dipper Tail – Alioth – Brightest in Ursa Major Saptarishi Mandal Polaris – Brightest in Ursa Minor The Sun Made up of extremely hot gases. The sun is about 150 million km away from the earth. 30 times greater than Earth. Black hole – It absorb light but does not emit due to high gravitational force. Corona – Outer surface of the sun (About 6000 k) S
Read more