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The development of Indian Nationalism. Indian nationalism was only possible once the British had set up the Raj. Why? The British system required Indian administrators, policemen and soldiers. Educated Indians under British rule ran India.
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Indian nationalism was only possible once the British had set up the Raj. Why? • The British system required Indian administrators, policemen and soldiers. • Educated Indians under British rule ran India. • Why do you think the caste system facilitated British control of India?.
The four caste system consisted of Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders) and Shudras (cultivators). • The Brahmins helped maintain order. • The Kshatriyas made good soldiers and policemen. • The Vaishyas tended to be where the educated Indians came from and were barristers, judges and civil servants. • The Shudras formed the exploited base growing the commodities to trade and were the main source of tax revenue. What about the untouchables?
The caste system was supposedly based on satisfying mutual needs and it should have provided harmony. How might British rule provoke conflict? • Upper caste Hindus felt they were best suited to rule other Hindus. They often admired British values and culture, but resented British racist attitudes towards Indians.
“If only 50 men can be found with sufficient power of self-sacrifice, sufficient love for and pride in their country, sufficient genuine heartfelt patriotism to take the initiative, India can be reborn”. Allan Octavian Hume
The first meeting of the INC. • The INC met in in 1885. • 73 representatives were present and most were barristers. • The Congress (meeting) was simply a forum for discussion. • Only 2 of the representatives were Muslim but this would rise to about 17% of the delegates at the third Congress. • Most were high caste Hindus from the main centres of Indian administration.
The demands of the First congress • To widen Indian participation in government. • The opening of the ICS to Indians. Indians could take the ICS examination but had to travel to Britain. • More of India’s wealth to be spent on improving India. • Abolition of the Secretary of State for India’s council in Whitehall. • The Congress wanted to work with the Raj at first.
The key question: What would be the best way for Indians to realise the goals of the early Congress?