Bipan Chandra Summary: The Home Rule Movement And Its Fallout | PSIR Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Bal Gangadhar Tilak's Release

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak was released from a six-year prison sentence on 16 June 1914, most of which he spent in Mandalay, Burma.
• Upon his return to India, Tilak found the political landscape changed, with key leaders like Aurobindo Ghose having taken sanyas (renounced worldly life), and Lala Lajpat Rai being in the United States.
• The Indian National Congress was still recovering from the 1907 split in Surat and the government’s harsh repression of the Swadeshi Movement.
• Tilak aimed to secure readmission for himself and other Extremists into the Congress, believing it essential for effective political action.
• To placate the Moderates and avoid government reprisals, he clarified that they sought administrative reform like the Irish Home-rulers, not the overthrow of the Government.
• He professed loyalty to the Crown and urged all Indians to support the British Government during its crisis.

Moderate Leaders' Response

• Many Moderate leaders regretted their 1907 decision in Surat and the Congress's inactivity, leading them to sympathize with Tilak.
• They faced pressure from Mrs. Annie Besant, who had recently joined the Indian National Congress and was keen to enhance nationalist activity.

Annie Besant's Political Career

• At the age of sixty-six in 1914, Annie Besant embarked on her political journey in England, promoting Free Thought, Radicalism, and Theosophy.
• She arrived in India in 1893 to collaborate with the Theosophical Society and had garnered followers among educated circles since 1907.
• In 1914, Besant aimed to establish a Home Rule movement akin to the Irish Home Rule League, requiring both Congress endorsement and Extremist collaboration.
• She endeavoured to convince Moderate leaders to permit Tilak and his Extremist supporters back into the Congress.

Disappointment at the Annual Congress Session

• The December 1914 Congress session was underwhelming as Pherozeshah Mehta's Moderate faction excluded the Extremists.
• In reaction, Tilak and Besant resolved to revive political activity independently while continuing to advocate for the re-admittance of Extremists into Congress.

Campaign for Self-Government

• In early 1915, Annie Besant initiated a campaign through her publications, New India and Commonweal, advocating for India’s self-government post-War.
• From April 1915, her tone grew more assertive and confrontational.
• Concurrently, Lokamanya Tilak commenced his political activities, being cautious not to unsettle the Moderates or circumvent Congress.

Agency to Enlighten Villagers

• In many towns in Maharashtra, local groups formed in August and September concentrated more on the need for unity within the Congress rather than on increasing political activities.
• Tilak sometimes used threats to motivate the more conservative Moderates but aimed to persuade the majority with his reasonableness and caution.
• His efforts, along with those of Annie Besant, soon proved successful.
• At the Congress annual session in December 1915, it was agreed that the Extremists could rejoin the Congress.
• The opposition from the Bombay group weakened significantly with the death of Pherozeshah Mehta.

Challenges for Annie Besant

• Annie Besant encountered significant challenges in securing support from both the Congress and the Muslim League for her Home Rule Leagues.
• Despite these challenges, she successfully persuaded the Congress to commit to a programme of educational propaganda and to revive local Congress committees.
• Anticipating that the Congress might not take action, she included a stipulation that if no progress was made by September 1916, she would establish her own League.

Formation of the Home Rule League

• Tilak, unburdened by such commitments, took the initiative and founded the Home Rule League at the Bombay Provincial Conference in Belgaum in April 1916.
• Annoyed by the delays, Annie Besant ’s enthusiastic followers received her approval to initiate Home Rule groups.
• Jamnadas Dwarkadas, Shankerlal Banker, and Indulal Yagnik launched a Bombay publication called Young India and established an All India Propaganda Fund to distribute pamphlets in various regional languages and English.
• In September 1916, observing the lack of Congress activity, Annie Besant proclaimed the formation of her Home Rule League, appointing George Arundale as Organising Secretary.

Demarcation of Activities

• The two Leagues maintained a harmonious coexistence by distinctly outlining their operational territories.
• Tilak ’s League concentrated on Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city ), Karnataka, the Central Provinces, and Berar.
• Annie Besant ’s League took charge of the rest of India.
• Despite their collaboration, a merger was avoided due to lingering mutual dislike among their respective followers, as noted by Annie Besant.

Tilak’s Campaign for Home Rule

• Tilak spearheaded the Home Rule campaign with a tour across Maharashtra, elucidating and popularising the demand for Home Rule.
• He drew a parallel between India and a matured son, asserting that India deserved what was owed to him.
• He emphasised that the people of India must claim this right for themselves.
• He linked Swaraj to the demands for linguistic states and the importance of education in local languages.
• He advocated for separate states for Marathi, Telugu, and Kanarese provinces, highlighting the significance of education in vernacular languages.
• During the Bombay Provincial Conference in 1915, he encouraged members to speak in Kannada to assert the right to use that language.
• Tilak demonstrated impartiality, showing no regional or linguistic bias in his advocacy.

Stand on Caste Issues

• Tilak 's stance on non-Brahmin representation and untouchability indicated his non-casteist perspective.
• When non-Brahmins in Maharashtra submitted a separate memorandum to the Government, Tilak urged those who disagreed to exercise patience.
• He believed that by supporting non-Brahmin demands, their struggle for social equality would eventually align with the broader fight for rights.
• Tilak argued that the real divide was between the educated and the uneducated, rather than between Brahmins and non-Brahmins.
• He pointed out that Brahmins had better job prospects due to their education, despite the Government's sympathy towards non-Brahmins.

Tilak and the Home Rule Movement

Bal Gangadhar Tilak played a crucial role in the Home Rule Movement, which aimed to secure greater self-governance for India within the British Empire. His efforts were instrumental in promoting the idea of self-rule among Indians.

Tilak’s approach to the movement was marked by a strong emphasis on secular principles. He believed that the British were alien rulers not because of their religion but because they acted against Indian interests. According to Tilak, what made someone an alien was not their skin color or faith but their disregard for the welfare of the Indian people.

Tilak’s League

• Promotion of Tilak’s League. The League spread its message through pamphlets, with a significant number sold in various languages.
• Branch Locations. The League had branches in Central Maharashtra, Bombay city, Karnataka, Central Provinces, and Berar.
• Government Reaction. As the Home Rule movement gained traction, the government reacted strongly, even on Tilak’s birthday.
• Legal Defense. Tilak was defended by a group of lawyers, including Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
• Court Outcomes. Tilak lost in the Magistrate’s Court but was exonerated by the High Court later, a victory celebrated nationwide.
• Public Sentiment. The public celebrated the High Court’s decision as a victory for the Home Rule cause.
• Campaign Intensification. Tilak used the court victory to boost the Home Rule campaign, significantly increasing membership.

Annie Besant’s League

• Establishment and Structure. Annie Besant’s League was less structured than Tilak’s, allowing for more flexibility in forming branches.
• Branch Formation. Besant’s League quickly established 200 branches, some in towns and others in villages, focusing on grassroots organization.
• Leadership. While an Executive Council was elected, most of the League’s activities were directed by Besant and her close associates from the headquarters in Adyar.
• Communication and Instructions. Instructions were disseminated informally, relying on personal communication and articles in publications like New India.
• Membership Growth. The League grew to 7,000 members by March 1917, attracting many Theosophical followers.
• Activity Levels. The effectiveness of branches varied, with some, like those in Bombay city and certain U.P. towns, being very active, while others, like many in Madras city, being less so.
• Focus of Activities. The League focused on building support for Home Rule through political education, discussion, and various forms of community engagement.

Political Meetings and Lectures

• Political discussions and lectures were organized to persuade friends to support the Home Rule movement and encourage them to join.
• Many branches actively promoted political discussion and debate.

Propaganda Efforts

• The scale of the propaganda effort was enormous. By September 1916, when Annie Besant 's League was officially formed, the Propaganda Fund had already distributed 300,000 copies of twenty-six English pamphlets.
• These pamphlets primarily focused on the existing government system in India and advocated for self-government.
• After the League's formation, the pamphlets were republished, and new ones in Indian languages were introduced.
• Most branches held public meetings and lectures, responding to national calls for protests on various issues.

Responses to Externments

• When Annie Besant was removed from the Central Provinces and Berar in November 1916, many branches held meetings and sent protest resolutions to the Viceroy and the Secretary of State.
• Similarly, Tilak 's removal from Punjab and Delhi in February 1917 prompted a similar response.

Moderate Congressmen and Home Rule Agitation

• Many dissatisfied Moderate Congressmen joined the Home Rule movement due to the Congress's inactivity.
• Although members of Gokhale's Servants of India Society could not join the League, they were encouraged to support the demand for Home Rule through lectures and pamphlets.
• Other Moderate nationalists worked with Home Rule Leaguers in U.P. to prepare for the Lucknow session of Congress in December 1916.

Meetings and Discussions

• Meetings were typically held in local Bar libraries, attended by students, professionals, businessmen, and farmers, especially on market days.
• Speakers highlighted India's current poverty compared to its glorious past and discussed key elements of European independence movements.
• The involvement of Moderates was expected, as the Home Rule Leagues were merely carrying out the propaganda and educational efforts they had long supported.

The Lucknow Session of Congress​​​

• The Lucknow session in December 1916 was a significant opportunity for Home Rule Leaguers to demonstrate their strength.
• Tilak 's Home Rule League established a tradition of a special train, known as the 'Congress Special' or 'Home Rule Special', to transport delegates from Western India to Lucknow.
• Arundale urged every League member to be elected as a delegate to the session to increase the presence of Home Rule Leaguers in Congress.
• Moderate president Ambika Charan Mazumdar welcomed Tilak and his followers back into Congress, acknowledging the need for unity.

The Lucknow Pact

• The Lucknow Congress was also notable for the Congress League Pact, known as the Lucknow Pact.
• Both Tilak and Annie Besant played key roles in facilitating this agreement between the Congress and the League, despite opposition from significant leaders like Madan Mohan Malaviya.
• In response to criticisms that the Pact conceded too much to the Muslim League, Tilak stated that the Hindu community could not have yielded too much.
• He expressed that he would not mind if self-government rights were granted exclusively to any community, as long as it was through the British Government's assessment.

When to Unite Against a Third Party

When facing an external challenge, it’s crucial to come together as a united front, regardless of our differences.

• Race: We must stand together, putting aside any racial differences.
• Religion: Our religious beliefs should not divide us; instead, they should strengthen our unity.
• Political Creed: Despite our varying political beliefs, it’s important to present a united front.

The Lucknow Congress and Constitutional Reforms

• The Lucknow Congress advocated for increased constitutional reforms as a means to achieve self-governance. Although this did not fully align with the aspirations of the Home Rule League members, they accepted it to maintain unity within the Congress.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak proposed the formation of a small, efficient Working Committee within the Congress to manage daily activities and execute resolutions from annual meetings. This was intended to enhance the Congress’s capacity for action, but the Moderates opposed this idea.
• In 1920, Mahatma Gandhi introduced a revised constitution for the Congress, which was seen as essential for the Congress to effectively lead a sustained movement.

Joint Meeting of the Home Rule Leagues

• Following the Congress session, a joint meeting of the two Home Rule Leagues took place with over 1,000 delegates. The Congress League Pact was praised, and leaders like Annie Besant and Tilak spoke at the event.
• Tilak and Besant undertook successful tours in various parts of North, Central, and Eastern India.
• The Home Rule Movement’s growing popularity attracted the Government’s attention, with the Madras Government being particularly stringent. They were the first to prohibit students from attending political meetings. This action faced widespread backlash, and Tilak criticized the Government, emphasizing the importance of an energetic youth for the nation’s progress.

The Pivotal Moment in the Movement

• A significant shift occurred in June 1917 when the Madras Government decided to detain Mrs. Besant and her colleagues, which ignited nationwide protests.
• In a bold move, Sir S. Subramania Aiyar renounced his knighthood in protest. Prominent Moderate leaders who had previously distanced themselves, such as Madan Mohan Malaviya, Surendranath Banerjea, and M.A. Jinnah, joined the Home Rule Leagues to express solidarity with the detained leaders and condemn the Government’s actions.
• During an AICC meeting on 28 July 1917, Tilak suggested employing passive resistance or civil disobedience if the detained individuals were not released. This idea was circulated for feedback among Provincial Congress Committees.
• While Berar and Madras were ready to adopt it immediately, other provinces preferred to wait. At Gandhi ’s suggestion, Shankerlal Banker and Jamnadas Dwarkadas began gathering signatures from individuals willing to defy the internment orders and march to Mrs. Besant’s detention site. They also started collecting signatures from a million peasants and workers for a Home Rule petition, visiting towns and villages in Gujarat to help establish League branches.
• In summary, the repression only strengthened the resolve of the agitators and deepened their commitment to resisting the Government.
• Montague noted in his diary the Government’s misguided actions, comparing it to a mythological tale about Shiva. This prompted the British Government to reconsider its approach and adopt a more conciliatory stance.
• The new Secretary of State, Montague, made a significant statement in the House of Commons on 20 August 1917, expressing the Government’s policy of increasing Indian involvement in all branches of administration.

The Gradual Development of Self-Governing Institutions

The gradual development of self-governing institutions aimed at achieving responsible government in India was seen as part of the British Empire. This view sharply contrasted with Lord Morley's statement when introducing Constitutional Reforms in 1909, where he clearly stated that these reforms were not intended to lead to self-government. The significance of Montague’s Declaration was that it marked a turning point; from then on, the demand for Home Rule or self-government could no longer be dismissed as seditious.

However, this did not mean that the British Government was ready to grant self-government. The accompanying clause in Montague's statement, which specified that the nature and timing of the move towards responsible government would be decided solely by the Government, allowed them enough flexibility to delay any real transfer of power to Indian hands.

Conciliatory Stance and Leadership Changes

• In line with the conciliatory approach of the Montague Declaration, Annie Besant was released in September 1917.
• She was elected President at the annual session of the Congress in December 1917, following her rise in popularity and Tilak’s suggestion.

By 1918, several factors led to a decline in the energies focused on the Home Rule agitation:

• Moderates who joined after Besant’s arrest were appeased by the promise of reforms and her release.
• They were also discouraged by the discussions of civil disobedience and stopped attending Congress meetings from September 1918.
• The publication of the government reform scheme in July 1918 divided nationalists; some wanted to accept it, others to reject it outright, while many thought it should at least be tried.
• Annie Besant showed uncertainty over passive resistance; at times she opposed it, but under pressure from her younger followers, she would support it.
• Initially, she and Tilak deemed the reforms unworthy of acceptance, but later she argued for their acceptance.
• Tilak remained more consistent, but with Besant’s indecision and the Moderates’ change of heart, he struggled to keep the movement strong.
• Later in the year, Tilak went to England for a libel case, leaving the movement without leadership during critical months.

With Besant unable to provide strong leadership and Tilak absent, the movement lost direction.

Achievements of the Home Rule Movement

• The greatest achievement of the Home Rule Movement was the creation of a generation of passionate nationalists who would later support the national movement under Mahatma Gandhi.
• The Home Rule Leagues established vital connections between urban and rural areas, which would be invaluable later.
• By popularising the idea of Home Rule or self-government, they fostered a widespread pro-nationalist sentiment across the country.

By the end of the First World War in 1918, a new generation of nationalists became politically aware and impatient with the slow pace of change. They were eager to express their views through effective political action, but the leaders of the Home Rule League struggled to provide guidance.

This set the stage for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to enter the scene. He had already gained recognition for leading the struggles of Indians in South Africa and for supporting Indian peasants and workers in Champaran, Ahmedabad, and Kheda. In March 1919, when he called for a Satyagraha against the unpopular ‘Rowlatt’ Act, he became a focal point for many who had been awakened to politics by the Home Rule Movement.