Tag: civics

The first session of Congress was held in Bombay in 1885 presided over by WC Banerjee. It was attended by 72 delegates representing each province of the country. The INC was founded in 1885 by AO Hume with an aim to obtain a greater share in government for educated Indians and create a platform for civic and political dialogue with the British Raj.

In the presidential adress of the first session of Indian National Congress held at Mumbai in December, 1885. W.C. Banerjee declared the following as the aim of the Indian National Congress:

• To promote and consolidate the feeling of National unity
• To formulate popular demands and present them before the government.
• To bring together leaders from different parts of the country.
• To train and organise public opinion in the country.

 Indian Universities Act, which came into force on March, 1904 was based on the recommendations of Indian Universities Commission. Some of the important changes introduced by it were:

Mother India is a book by American historian Katherine Mayo which attacks Indian society, religion and culture. Katherine Mayo was an American researcher and historian. Mayo entered public life as a political writer advocating White Anglo-Saxon Protestant Nativism. It was a widely criticised book in India as it showed the country in negative light.

Lord Curzon had a passion for preserving the ancient monuments of historical importance in India. No Viceroy in India before or after him took such a keen interest in archaeological objects. He passed a law called the Ancient Monuments Act, 1904 which made it obligatory on the part of the government and local authorities to preserve the monuments of archaeological importance and their destruction an offence.

The number of educated Indians increased considerably by the close of the 19th century. Large numbers of them were employed in the administration on low salaries. While many other faced unemployment. Their grievances made them look critically at the nature of British rule. These educated low paid and unemployed Indians became the followers of Assertive Nationalism.

Bipin Chandra Pal reminded the people, "self-help and self-sacrifice is the real force in the field of nationalism".

The nationalist writers and agitators blamed the British rule for the poverty of the people. They made all efforts to develop self-respect and self-confidence among the people.