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📖 Summaries › History and Civics

Growth of Nationalism

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Chapter in a nutshell: Nationalism — a feeling of oneness and common identity — grew in 19th-century India as a reaction to British rule. Its causes were economic exploitation, English education, the press, socio-religious reforms, better transport/communication, racial discrimination and repressive laws. Early political associations led to the founding of the Indian National Congress (1885).

1. What Is Nationalism?

Nationalism is the feeling of unity, common identity and love for one's country. In India it developed as a shared resistance to British colonial rule, cutting across region, religion and language.

2. Causes of the Growth of Nationalism

Economic exploitation

  • The drain of wealth, ruin of handicrafts, and harsh land-revenue systems (Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, Mahalwari) impoverished Indians → discontent.

Political & administrative unity + Western education

  • The British unified India administratively (one law, currency, railways) — making a common political consciousness possible.
  • English education introduced ideas of liberty, equality, democracy and nationalism (from the French/American revolutions) to educated Indians.

Press & literature

  • Newspapers (Kesari, Amrita Bazar Patrika, The Hindu) and patriotic literature spread nationalist ideas and exposed British injustice.

Socio-religious reform movements

  • Reformers (Raja Rammohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, Jyotiba Phule, Dayananda Saraswati) fought social evils (Sati, untouchability), restored pride in Indian culture and awakened unity.

Transport & communication

  • Railways, telegraph and postal services linked Indians, enabling the exchange of ideas and easier organisation.

Racial discrimination

  • Insulting treatment of Indians and the Ilbert Bill controversy (1883) showed British prejudice, uniting Indians.

Repressive laws

  • The Vernacular Press Act (1878), Arms Act, and later the Rowlatt Act bred resentment and the urge to unite.

3. Early Political Associations

  • East India Association — founded by Dadabhai Naoroji (London).
  • Indian National Association — founded by Surendranath Banerjee.
These represented Indian grievances and prepared the ground for a national body.

4. Foundation of the Indian National Congress (1885)

  • Founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume (a retired British official).
  • First session: Bombay, 1885; president W.C. Bonnerjee.
  • Aims: create a platform for educated Indians, promote unity, present Indian demands to the government, and train leaders. (Early Congress used constitutional/peaceful methods — petitions and resolutions.)

5. Worked / Structured Examples (ICSE pattern)

Q1. Define nationalism. Solution: The feeling of unity and common identity among people of a nation. Q2. How did Western education promote nationalism? Solution: It exposed Indians to ideas of liberty, equality and democracy, inspiring a desire for self-rule. Q3. Name two newspapers that spread nationalist ideas. Solution: Kesari and Amrita Bazar Patrika. Q4. Who founded the INC and when? Solution: A.O. Hume, in 1885. Q5. How did railways contribute to nationalism? Solution: They connected distant regions, helping Indians meet, organise and share ideas.

6. Key Terms — Quick Glossary

TermOne-line definition
Nationalismfeeling of unity and common identity in a nation.
Drain of wealthflow of India's resources to Britain.
Vernacular Press Act1878 law curbing Indian-language newspapers.
Ilbert Bill1883 bill exposing racial discrimination.
Indian National Congressnational political body founded in 1885.
A.O. HumeBritish founder of the INC.
Socio-religious reformmovements removing social evils + reviving pride.
Western educationEnglish education spreading liberal ideas.

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Crediting the INC's founding to an Indian — it was A.O. Hume (a Briton).
  • Saying nationalism had a single cause — it had many (economic, educational, social, etc.).
  • Confusing the Vernacular Press Act (press) with the Arms Act (weapons).
  • Forgetting the early Congress used peaceful/constitutional methods.
  • Mixing up founders: East India Association (Naoroji), Indian National Association (Banerjee).

8. Likely Exam Questions (with crisp answers)

  1. What is nationalism? → A feeling of unity and common identity among a country's people.
  2. State two economic causes of nationalism. → Drain of wealth and ruin of Indian industry.
  3. How did English education foster nationalism? → It introduced ideas of liberty, equality and democracy.
  4. Name two reformers who awakened national pride. → Raja Rammohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda.
  5. Name two nationalist newspapers. → Kesari and The Hindu.
  6. What was the Vernacular Press Act? → An 1878 law restricting Indian-language newspapers.
  7. What was the Ilbert Bill controversy? → A dispute exposing British racial discrimination against Indians.
  8. Who founded the INC and who presided over its first session? → A.O. Hume; W.C. Bonnerjee.
  9. Name two early political associations and their founders. → East India Association (Dadabhai Naoroji); Indian National Association (Surendranath Banerjee).
  10. How did transport and communication help nationalism? → Railways, telegraph and post linked Indians, easing organisation.
  11. State one aim of the early Congress. → To present Indian demands and unite educated Indians.
  12. Why did racial discrimination promote nationalism? → It united Indians against unfair, prejudiced treatment.
  13. Name the year and city of the first INC session. → 1885, Bombay.
  14. What methods did the early Congress use? → Peaceful, constitutional means (petitions, resolutions).

9. Factors at a Glance

FactorHow it built nationalism
Economic exploitationpoverty + drain → discontent
Political unityone administration → common identity
English educationliberal ideas, a common language for leaders
Press & literaturespread ideas, exposed injustice
Socio-religious reformpride in culture, removal of evils
Transport/communicationlinked distant Indians
Racial discriminationunited Indians against prejudice
Repressive lawsprovoked organised resistance

10. Reformers & Their Contributions

  • Raja Rammohan Roy (Brahmo Samaj) — abolition of Sati, modern education.
  • Dayananda Saraswati (Arya Samaj) — "back to the Vedas", social reform.
  • Swami Vivekananda (Ramakrishna Mission) — pride in Indian spirituality.
  • Jyotiba Phule — education and rights for lower castes and women.

11. Why the Press Was Powerful

Newspapers in English and vernacular languages reached the educated middle class, criticised British policies, reported injustices, and built public opinion — which is why the British tried to muzzle it (Vernacular Press Act).

12. More Worked / Structured Examples

Q6. Why did the British pass the Vernacular Press Act? Solution: To silence Indian-language newspapers that criticised British rule. Q7. Name the reformer linked to the Arya Samaj. Solution: Swami Dayananda Saraswati. Q8. How did the rediscovery of India's past help nationalism? Solution: It gave Indians pride in their heritage and confidence to seek self-rule. Q9. Why is 1885 an important year? Solution: The Indian National Congress was founded that year.

13. More Exam Questions (with crisp answers)

  1. Name the organisation founded by Dadabhai Naoroji. → The East India Association.
  2. Who is called the "Grand Old Man of India"? → Dadabhai Naoroji.
  3. Name the social evil Raja Rammohan Roy fought. → Sati (also child marriage).
  4. State one repressive law that fuelled nationalism. → The Vernacular Press Act of 1878.
  5. Which class led the early nationalist movement? → The Western-educated Indian middle class.
  6. Name a reform movement and its founder. → Brahmo Samaj — Raja Rammohan Roy.
  7. Why did the British policy of unification backfire? → It gave Indians a common identity to organise against them.
  8. Who presided over the first session of the INC? → W.C. Bonnerjee.
  9. State one aim of socio-religious reformers. → To remove social evils and uplift women and the oppressed.

14. Final Quick-Revision Q&A

  1. Define drain of wealth. → The transfer of India wealth to Britain without fair return.
  2. Name the 1883 controversy showing racial bias. → The Ilbert Bill controversy.
  3. Which Mission did Vivekananda found? → The Ramakrishna Mission.
  4. Name two ideas English education spread. → Liberty and equality (also democracy, nationalism).
  5. Which newspaper was associated with Tilak? → Kesari.
  6. State one role of the press in the freedom struggle. → It built public opinion and exposed British injustice.
  7. Name the body formed in 1885 to voice Indian demands. → The Indian National Congress.
  8. Why did reform movements help unite Indians? → They revived pride in Indian culture and fought common social evils.
  9. Name the founder of the Brahmo Samaj. → Raja Rammohan Roy.
  10. How did the postal and telegraph systems aid nationalists? → They allowed quick communication and coordination across India.
  11. Name the retired officer who helped start the Congress. → A.O. Hume.
  12. Which class of Indians first led the nationalist movement and why? → The educated middle class, exposed to liberal Western ideas.
  13. State one way British rule unintentionally promoted unity. → A common administration, language (English) and rail network linked Indians.
  14. Name the reformer who worked for lower-caste education. → Jyotiba Phule.
  15. Which Act allowed detention without trial and angered Indians? → The Rowlatt Act (1919).
  16. What common feeling did all these factors create? → A shared national identity and the desire for self-rule.