Growth of Nationalism Question Answers | ICSE History

I. Short Answer Questions

1. Explain the term 'Nationalism'.

Ans: Nationalism refers to the feeling of oneness and common consciousness that develops among people living in a common territory who share the same historical, political, and cultural background, and consider themselves as one nation.

2. Why was the feeling of 'Nationalism' lacking among the Indians before the arrival of the British?

Ans: The feeling of nationalism was lacking among the Indians before the arrival of the British because:

1. India was not one nation but was divided into many kingdoms and states.
2. The loyalty of the people was towards their local king, kingdom or region rather than towards India as a whole.

Therefore, a common feeling of national unity did not exist among the people.

3. State two reasons for the development of nationalism in the late 19th century.

Ans: Two reasons for the development of nationalism in the late 19th century were:

1. Economic Exploitation by the British, which created discontent among peasants, artisans, workers and educated Indians.
2. Repressive Colonial Policies such as the Vernacular Press Act, the Arms Act and the Ilbert Bill controversy, which aroused political consciousness among Indians.

4. Give any two examples to indicate that the British followed the policy of economic exploitation in India.

Ans: 

1. India was made a source of raw materials for British industries and a market for British manufactured goods.
2. Heavy land revenue and taxes were imposed on the peasants, which pushed them into poverty and debt.

5. Give two reasons for industrial stagnation during the British rule in India.

Ans: 

1. The British turned India into a market for British manufactured goods, which led to the decline of Indian industries and handicrafts.
2. The British discouraged the growth of modern industries in India and did not provide adequate protection or support to Indian industrialists.

6. What role did the Press play in the National Movement?

Ans: The Press played an important role in the growth of nationalism in India.

1. Newspapers spread political awareness among the people and informed them about British policies and their effects.
2. They exposed the injustices and discriminatory policies of the British Government and united Indians against colonial rule.
3. The Press helped in promoting nationalist ideas and creating a sense of unity among the people of India.

7. Who passed the Vernacular Press Act in 1878? Why was it passed?

Ans: The Vernacular Press Act was passed by Lord Lytton in 1878. It was passed because the British Government wanted to suppress the growing criticism of its policies in Indian-language newspapers. The Act empowered the government to control and censor the vernacular press and prevent it from publishing material against the British administration.

8. Who repealed the Vernacular Press Act in 1882? What impact did the Act have on Indians?

Ans: The Vernacular Press Act was repealed by Lord Ripon in 1882. Impact of the Act on Indians:

1. The Act created resentment among Indians as it curtailed the freedom of the press.
2. It made Indians more politically conscious and united them against the repressive policies of the British Government.
3. The Act strengthened nationalist feelings and encouraged the growth of the National Movement.

9. Name any two prominent newspapers of the 19th century which played a significant role in arousing national sentiment among the Indians.

Ans: Two prominent newspapers were:

1. The Bengalee (edited by Surendranath Banerjee)
2. Amrita Bazar Patrika (edited by Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal Ghosh)

10. State any two issues that the socio-religious reform movements worked for.

Ans: The socio-religious reform movements worked for:

1. The upliftment of women through measures such as widow remarriage and female education.
2. The abolition of social evils such as caste discrimination, untouchability and child marriage.

11. Name any two socio-religious reformers who prepared the ground for the national movement.

Ans: 

1. Raja Rammohan Roy
2. Jyotiba Phule

12. Name the organisation founded by Jyotiba Phule. Why did he establish this organisation?

Ans: Jyotiba Phule founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj in 1873.
He established this organisation:

1. To secure social justice for the weaker sections of society, especially the lower castes.
2. To promote education and uplift the oppressed classes and women.
3. To fight against caste discrimination and social inequality.

13. What was the objective of the Ilbert Bill? Why was it not passed?

Ans: The objective of the Ilbert Bill (1883) was to empower Indian judges to try European British subjects in criminal cases, thus removing racial discrimination in the judicial system. However, the Bill was not passed in its original form because:

1. The Europeans in India strongly opposed the bill and launched a vigorous agitation against it.
2. They believed that Indian judges were not competent to try European offenders.

As a result, the British Government modified the Bill before passing it.

14. Mention two main objectives of the Indian Association.

Ans: The Indian Association was founded by Surendranath Banerjee and Anand Mohan Bose in 1876. Its two main objectives were:

1. To unite the Indian people on a common political platform and promote national unity.
2. To create strong public opinion on political questions and involve the masses in the national movement.

15. Mention the regional association that each nationalist was associated with:

(a) Surendranath Banerjee (b) Dadabhai Naoroji

Ans: (a) Surendranath Banerjee - Indian Association
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji - East India Association

16. When and by whom was the Indian National Congress established?

Ans: The Indian National Congress (INC) was established on 28 December 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume), a retired British civil servant. The first session of the Congress was held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay, under the presidentship of W.C. Bonnerjee.

17. Where, when and under whose presidentship was the second session of the Congress held?

Ans: The second session of the Indian National Congress was held at Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1886 under the presidentship of Dadabhai Naoroji.

II. Structured Questions

1. Various factors led to the rise and growth of nationalism in India in the 19th century. In this context, explain the role of each of the following:

(a) Socio-religious reform movements.

Ans: The socio-religious reform movements played an important role in the growth of nationalism in India.

1. They worked to remove social evils such as caste discrimination, untouchability, child marriage and the oppression of women.
2. They promoted education, social equality and self-respect among Indians.
3. Reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy and Jyotiba Phule awakened the people and encouraged them to take pride in India's rich cultural heritage.
4. These movements created a sense of unity and national consciousness among the people, which helped in the growth of nationalism.

(b) Repressive Colonial Policies.

Ans: The repressive colonial policies of the British helped in the growth of nationalism in India.

1. The Vernacular Press Act (1878) curtailed the freedom of the Indian-language newspapers and created resentment among Indians.
2. The Arms Act (1878) prohibited Indians from possessing arms without a licence, while Europeans were exempted, showing racial discrimination.
3. The Ilbert Bill Controversy (1883) exposed the racial arrogance of the British, as Europeans opposed the proposal to allow Indian judges to try European offenders.
4. These policies united Indians and made them politically conscious, thereby promoting nationalism.

(c) The Press

Ans: The Press played a significant role in the growth of nationalism in India.

1. Newspapers educated the people about political affairs and spread awareness about the unjust policies of the British Government.
2. They exposed the economic exploitation and racial discrimination practised by the British.
3. The Press helped in creating public opinion and united people from different parts of the country.
4. It promoted nationalist ideas and inspired Indians to participate in the national movement.

2. With reference to Nationalism and the birth of the Indian National Congress, explain each of the following:

(a) Vernacular Press Act, 1878.

Ans: The Vernacular Press Act was passed by Lord Lytton in 1878 to control Indian-language newspapers.

1. The Act empowered the Government to censor and suppress newspapers published in Indian languages if they criticised British policies.
2. It restricted the freedom of the press and prevented newspapers from expressing nationalist views.
3. The Act created widespread resentment among Indians and increased political awareness.
4. Instead of weakening nationalism, it strengthened the national movement by uniting Indians against British repression.

(b) State any three objectives of the Indian National Congress.

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

1. To promote friendly relations and unity among the nationalist workers from different parts of India.
2. To develop and strengthen a feeling of national unity among the people of India irrespective of caste, creed or province.
3. To formulate and present the demands of Indians before the Government and work for political reforms.

(c) Role of Dadabhai Naoroji.

Ans: Dadabhai Naoroji played an important role in the growth of nationalism and the Indian National Congress.

1. He founded the East India Association in London in 1866 to make the British aware of the grievances of the Indians.
2. He exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British through his famous Drain Theory, which explained how India's wealth was being transferred to Britain.
3. He was one of the early nationalist leaders who worked for political reforms and the welfare of Indians.
4. He presided over the second session of the Indian National Congress held at Calcutta in 1886.

3. The establishment of the Indian National Congress was a significant event in the development of national movement in India. In this context:

(a) What was the name of the Indian National Congress before it got this name? Who gave it its present name? Where was it established and who was its founder?

Ans: 

1. Before it was called the Indian National Congress, it was known as the Indian National Union.
2. The name "Indian National Congress" was suggested by Dadabhai Naoroji.
3. It was established at Bombay (Mumbai) on 28 December 1885.
4. Its founder was Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume), a retired British civil servant.

(b) Why did Lord Dufferin favour the formation of the Indian National Congress?

Ans: Lord Dufferin favoured the formation of the Indian National Congress because:

1. He believed that it would provide a platform where educated Indians could express their grievances and demands peacefully.
2. He hoped that the Congress would act as a "safety valve" and prevent the growth of violent opposition against British rule.
3. It would help the British Government understand the views and aspirations of educated Indians.

(c) What was the nature of the political associations formed before the Indian National Congress was established? Name any two associations which acted as the forerunners of the Indian National Congress.

Ans: Nature of the political associations:

1. These associations were regional in character and worked only in particular provinces.
2. They aimed at creating political awareness and placing the grievances and demands of Indians before the British Government.
3. They helped in developing national consciousness and prepared the ground for an all-India political organisation.

Any two associations which acted as the forerunners of the Indian National Congress were:

1. East India Association (1866) founded by Dadabhai Naoroji.
2. Indian Association (1876) founded by Surendranath Banerjee and Anand Mohan Bose.