⭐ Sabse Important Points · एक नज़र में
- Moderates: Believed in constitutional methods, gradual reforms, and British sense of justice; key figures—Dadabhai Naoroji, G.K. Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta.
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22): Launched after Jallianwala Bagh (1919) and Khilafat issue; withdrew after Chauri Chaura (1922).
- Extremists: Advocated Swaraj, boycott, and passive resistance; key figures—Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal (Lal-Bal-Pal).
- Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34): Began with Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha); Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931); Second Round Table Conference; resumed after failure.
- Swadeshi Movement: Born from anti-Partition of Bengal agitation (1905); promoted indigenous goods, boycott of British goods, and national education.
- Quit India Movement (1942): 'Do or Die' slogan; leaders arrested; spontaneous mass upsurge; marked the end of British willingness to hold onto India.
Introduction · परिचय
Modern Indian History (c. 1857–1947) covers the consolidation of British rule, the rise of nationalism, and the mass freedom struggle. UPSC Prelims tests chronology, key personalities, organisations, sessions, and the nature of movements. Focus on cause-effect links and distinguishing similar-sounding events.
Foundation of the Indian National Congress and Early Nationalism (1885–1905)
The INC was founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume with W.C. Bonnerjee as first president. Early leaders (Moderates) relied on petitions, constitutional agitation, and economic critique of colonialism. The partition of Bengal (1905) triggered the Swadeshi Movement and the rise of Extremists, leading to the Surat Split (1907).
| Moderates | Extremists |
|---|---|
| Methods: petitions, meetings, constitutional agitation | Methods: boycott, swadeshi, passive resistance |
| Goal: gradual reforms within British Empire | Goal: Swaraj (self-rule) |
| Leaders: Naoroji, Gokhale, Mehta | Leaders: Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal |
⭐ Key Points · याद रखने वाली बातें
- Moderates: Believed in constitutional methods, gradual reforms, and British sense of justice; key figures—Dadabhai Naoroji, G.K. Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta.
- Extremists: Advocated Swaraj, boycott, and passive resistance; key figures—Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal (Lal-Bal-Pal).
- Swadeshi Movement: Born from anti-Partition of Bengal agitation (1905); promoted indigenous goods, boycott of British goods, and national education.
- Surat Split (1907): Formal division between Moderates and Extremists; reunited in 1916 Lucknow Session.
✍️ Solved Example 1 · हल किया हुआ उदाहरण
❓ Question: Which session of the INC saw the reunion of Moderates and Extremists?
✅ Solution: Lucknow Session, 1916
💡 Explanation: The Lucknow Pact (1916) between INC and Muslim League also marked the reunion of the two factions after the 1907 Surat Split.
Gandhian Mass Movements and the Road to Independence (1919–1947)
Gandhi's arrival (1915) transformed the freedom struggle into mass movements. Key campaigns: Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918), Non-Cooperation (1920–22), Civil Disobedience (1930–34), and Quit India (1942). Each had distinct triggers, methods, and outcomes; withdrawal often followed violence.
- Jallianwala Bagh (1919)
- Non-Cooperation (1920–22)
- Chauri Chaura (1922) → Withdrawal
- Dandi March (1930)
- Civil Disobedience (1930–34)
- Quit India (1942)
⭐ Key Points · याद रखने वाली बातें
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22): Launched after Jallianwala Bagh (1919) and Khilafat issue; withdrew after Chauri Chaura (1922).
- Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34): Began with Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha); Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931); Second Round Table Conference; resumed after failure.
- Quit India Movement (1942): 'Do or Die' slogan; leaders arrested; spontaneous mass upsurge; marked the end of British willingness to hold onto India.
- Revolutionary Nationalism: Parallel stream—HSRA (1928), Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev executed (1931); Kakori Conspiracy (1925).
✍️ Solved Example 1 · हल किया हुआ उदाहरण
❓ Question: Arrange in chronological order: Dandi March, Chauri Chaura, Jallianwala Bagh, Quit India.
✅ Solution: Jallianwala Bagh (1919) → Chauri Chaura (1922) → Dandi March (1930) → Quit India (1942)
💡 Explanation: Jallianwala Bagh preceded Non-Cooperation; Chauri Chaura caused its withdrawal; Dandi launched Civil Disobedience; Quit India was the final mass movement.
Practice Questions · खुद हल करके देखो
पहले खुद try karo, phir “Answer dekho” dabakar check karo. 👇
Q1The Lucknow Session of the INC (1916) is significant because:
👀 Answer dekho
✅ Answer: It saw the reunion of Moderates and Extremists and the Lucknow Pact with the Muslim League.
💡 Explanation: The 1916 session ended the Surat Split and forged a temporary Hindu-Muslim unity pact, though it did not launch a mass movement.
Q2Which movement was withdrawn after the Chauri Chaura incident?
👀 Answer dekho
✅ Answer: Non-Cooperation Movement
💡 Explanation: Gandhi withdrew the 1920–22 movement after violence at Chauri Chaura, arguing that mass satyagraha required non-violence.
Q3The Dandi March (1930) was launched to:
👀 Answer dekho
✅ Answer: Break the salt law and launch the Civil Disobedience Movement.
💡 Explanation: Salt was chosen as a symbol of British monopoly; the march from Sabarmati to Dandi marked the start of Civil Disobedience.
⚠️ Common Mistakes · ये गलतियाँ बिल्कुल मत करना
- Confusing the year of INC foundation (1885) with the first session president (W.C. Bonnerjee) or founder (A.O. Hume)—keep all three distinct.
- Mixing up withdrawal reasons: Non-Cooperation withdrew after Chauri Chaura (1922), not after Jallianwala Bagh (1919).
- Assuming all Gandhian movements were successful—many were withdrawn or suspended; focus on triggers and outcomes separately.
⚡ Quick Revision · Exam से पहले 2 मिनट में दोहराओ
- INC Foundation: 1885, A.O. Hume, first president W.C. Bonnerjee; early focus on constitutional agitation.
- Surat Split: 1907 division of Moderates and Extremists; reunited at Lucknow 1916.
- Gandhian Movements: Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), Non-Cooperation (1920–22), Civil Disobedience (1930–34), Quit India (1942).