Indian Nationalist Movement

What is “Nationalism”

• Patriotic feeling, principles or efforts

• Principle of national independence

Why did the Indian nationalist movement develop?

• British presence increased the feeling of nationalism in India. Indians began to realise they had more in common with each other than they had with foreigners. They began to unite in opposition to British rule.

• Some of the Indian criticisms of the Raj were:– harsh/violent rule– unwillingness to give Indians more say in government– economic exploitation by the British government of

the people of India

Indian National Congress

• Set up in 1885 by Englishman Alan Hume• Many Indians soon joined the Congress,

particularly professional people• The Congress was split into two major factions:

Moderates and Extremists– Moderates: wanted the British to conduct a more

enlightened rule by improving education and opening up more places for Indians in the administration

– Extremists: held a much more radical view; they were far more critical of the Raj and were willing to use violence to achieve their goals

Jawaharlal Nehru

• Born into a wealthy family of Brahmans in 1889• Educated in England and upon his return to India in

1919, was won over by Gandhi and his methods• Supported Gandhi during his satyagrahas, and was

frequently jailed by the British as a result• At the end of World War II, Nehru was released from

prison and became the leader of the Indian National Congress and began independence negotiations with the British

• Became India’s first Prime Minister in 1947• Remained in office until his death in 1964

All India Muslim League

• Established in 1906

• Developed to protect Muslim interests

• Many Muslims were afraid that because of their minority, their interests would not be protected in an independent India

• The division between Muslim and Hindu nationalists would reach its height when independence was granted…

Muhammad Ali Jinnah• Born in Karachi in 1876 into an Islamic family• Sent to England for his education• Returned to India in 1896 and joined the Indian National Congress• Later joined the Muslim League but retained membership in the

Congress• Scorned the popular movement that Gandhi and Nehru encouraged

and was very much a politician of the old style• Became leader of the Muslim League in 1935 and proved absolutely

inflexible during negotiations with the British • Upon independence, Jinnah insisted on the creation of a separate

Muslim state, to be known as Pakistan• Became Pakistan’s first Governor-General in 1947• He died soon after in 1948

Who was the most important man in the Indian nationalist

movement?