Unit 2 part 4 (1905-1918)
● Home Rule League Movement Manifestation of a trend of aggressive politics in national movement; was pioneered by Tilak and Annie Besant on lines of a similar movement in Ireland. * Factors Favouring the Movement 1. Need being felt for popular pressure to attain concessions. 2. Disillusionment with Morley-Minto Reforms. 3. Wartime miseries—public ready to protest. 4. Tilak, Besant ready to assume leadership. * Aim of the Movement To convey to the common man the concept of Home Rule as self-government. * Tilak’s League—Started in April 1916 and operated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Central Provinces and Berar; had six branches. * Besant’s League—Started in September 1916 and operated in rest of India; had 200 branches. Later, the leagues were joined by others including Moderate Congressmen. * Methods used Organising discussions, reading rooms, propaganda through public meetings, newspapers, pamphlets, posters, etc. * Positive Gains Emphasis shifted to the masses permanently; organisational link established between town and country; prepared a generation of ardent nationalists, influenced Moderate-Extremist reunion at Lucknow (1916) ● Lucknow Session of INC—1916 Extremists were readmitted to Congress Muslim League and Congress put up joint demands under Lucknow Pact. Congress accepted the League’s position on separate electorates. ● Importance of Montagu’s Statement Attainment of self-government for Indians became a government policy.