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The Indian Association worked at the national
another. The British wanted to rule India and
oppress them as much as possible. It resulted in level and opposed when the qualifying age of All
racial arrogance. Disrespect to Indians, beating of India Civil Services was reduced from twenty-one
to nineteen. It also opposed the Arms Act and the
Indian people, disrespect to Indian women etc.
were some very common measures which the Vernacular Press Act, and supported the Ilbert Bill.
British adopted. These incidents were widely This association held the first Indian National
reported in the newspapers and this inflamed the Conference in Calcutta in 1883. Its second session
Indian minds against the British. It contributed to was held in 1885 in Bombay. Later, its leaders
joined the Indian National Congress, with which
the growth of national consciousness.
this association came to an end.
Formation of Indian National Congress
In addition to these organisations, some other
The formation of Indian National Congress was a organisations were the Bombay Presidency
major step towards the growth of nationalism Association formed by Pherozeshah Mehta and
among the Indians as they found a platform to Badruddin Taiyabji in 1885 in Bombay, the Poona
give a vent to their feelings. It was formed in 1885 Sarvajanika Sabha in 1867 in Poona and the
and led the national movement for freedom. Mahajana Sabha in 1884 in Madras.
F ind Outind Out
How was Lord Lytton responsible for the rise of
nationalism in India?
POLITICAL ACTIVITY BEFORE THE
FORMATION OF INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
Peaceful political activities began in India during
Pherozeshah Mehta Badruddin Taiyabji
the second half of the nineteenth century. Though
the educated Indians had not participated in the Though these organisations operated on the
revolt of 1857, yet they were not indifferent to the regional basis, yet the nature of their demands was
national in essence. As these organisations were
oppression of the British. The educated Indians
were responsible for political activities, such as small, the British hardly cared for them.
demanding representative bodies, freedom of All these organisations were shadowed by the
press, free expression of ideas, end to economic formation of the Indian National Congress which
exploitation of the country etc. These demands became the foremost political organisation in
matured into the demand for self-rule later. India.
The organisations started to be formed to put
forward demands and oppose any oppressive FORMATION OF INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
British steps. For this purpose, the Bengal Indian The organisations formed before the Indian
Association was formed in Calcutta in 1851. The National Congress were small and regional, so a
India League was formed in need was felt to set up an organisation on all-India
1875 in Bengal for basis where all Indians could come together. At
awakening political the same time, the British too felt a need for an
consciousness and imparting Indian organisation which could let them know
political education. Another about the Indian demands and especially, it
organisation, named Indian should work as a let out for their sentiments.
Association was formed by
Surendranath Banerjee in Surendranath In 1884, a retired English officer, A.O. Hume
1876. Banerjee formed an association called the Indian National
Contemporary Social Science-8
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