Unit 2 part 1 (1905-18)
● Why Militant Nationalism Grew 1. Realisation that the true nature of British rule was exploitative, and that the British India government, instead of conceding more, was taking away even what existed. 2. Growth of self-confidence and self-respect. 3. Impact of growth of education—increase in awareness and unemployment. 4. International influences and events which demolished the myth of white/European supremacy. These included — emergence of Japan—an Asian country—as an industrial power — Abyssinia’s (Ethiopia) victory over Italy. — Boer Wars (1899-1902) in which the British faced reverses. — Japan’s victory over Russia (1905). 5. Reaction to increasing westernisation. 6. Dissatisfaction with the achievements as well as the methods of the Moderates. 7. Reactionary policies of Curzon such as the Calcutta Corporation Act (1899), the Official Secrets Act (1904), the Indian Universities Act (1904) and partition of Bengal (1905). 8. Existence of a militant school of thought. 9. Emergence of a trained leadership. ● The Extremist Ideology (i) Hatred for foreign rule (ii) Belief in the capacity of the masses (iii) Swarajya as goal (iv) Advocacy of direct political action and self-sacrifice.