CBSE Class 10 Answered

The following are three important factors promoting the growth of nationalism in India:

Economic Exploitation - Indians gradually realised that the general aim of the British policies in India was to secure the British interests instead of those of the ‘natives’ The exorbitant tax rates pushed the peasants into the clutches of bankruptcy or debt. Also, the British colonial policy systematically destroyed the Indian arts industry and trade and hence rendered Indian artisans jobless.

Repressive Colonial Policies - Many of the policies followed by the colonial administration, especially under Lord Lytton, actually fostered the development of Indian nationalism. Lytton organised a Grand Delhi Darbar in 1877 to proclaim Queen Victoria as the Empress of India but did nothing to alleviate the famine stricken population of India. The Vernacular Press Act (1878) and the Indian Arms Act (1879) passed by the Lytton administration were discriminative towards the Indians as also the decision to reduce the age limit for the Indian Civil Service examination from 21 to 19 years. He also removed the import duties on British textiles which proved harmful for Indian industries.

Influence of Western Education - The introduction of western education in India opened up the vistas of modern liberal ideas of democracy and nationalism. The newly educated Indians studied liberal European thought, history, economic ideas, ideals of liberty, equality, rule of law and self-government and awakened to the need of the independence of their nation. The English language also facilitated greater contact and cooperation between Indians of all regions and helped launch a freedom movement that was truly national in character.

Role of the Press

Many newspapers and magazines started in the later half of the nineteenth century. Some of them were Amrit Bazar Patrika, the Bengali, the tribune, the pioneer, the Hindu etc.

It was through press that the message of liberty, freedom, equality, home rule and independence spread among the people. The newspapers crticised the unjust policies of the British and exposed the true nature of the British rule in India. It encouraged various communities and groups to organise political movements in the country.

Rediscovery of India’s Past

Many Indian and European scholars discovered the ancient glory of the Indian history which filled the hearts of the Indians with the feeling of nationalism. Many Indian Sanskrit texts were translated into English and other languages which established the great technological and cultural advancement made by India in the past. The excavations at Harappa and Mohenjodaro took place under the supervision of the Indian Archeological Survey (with Sir John Marshall as its President). This revealed the existence of ancient civilisation in India in about 2500 BC