Causes for the Rise of Nationalism
There were many factors which led to the raise of nationalism among Indians. The first one is British Imperialism. British introduced Uniform administration and Uniform Laws in India. This led to Political Unity among Indians. Brith introduced western education in India. So, the Indians knew about the westren Political Systems and concepts. British followed racial discrimination. They treated Indians as secondary citizens. This made the people of India to be unite. The historical Freanch Revolution. American Revolution, Germany and Italy movements increased the national spirit amoung Indians. The writings of Europeom sanskrit scholars and the Publications of Asiatic Society of Bengal made the Indian people to remember the Indias past glory and its culture. This incited national spirit among them.
The Introduction of English language in India Unified the people of India. As there are many languages in India, English worked as mediatory language among different languages of India. Indian press played a koy role in inculcating nationalist spirit among Indians. The important news papers were Indian Mirror of Devendranath Tagore, Kesari and Maratha of Bala Gangadhara Tilak. Amrita Bazar patrika etc. These papers revealed the British activities how they plundered India. The activities of Indian Renaissance leaders such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Jyotiba Phule etc also created a sense of Nationalism among people. The famous Navel 'Anand Math' written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee inculcated rationalistic feelings among the people of India. The song of vendemataram is in this novel. The famous book of Dadabhai Naoroji 'the poverty and the Un-British rule in India' and 'Economic History of India written by R.C. Dutt revealed how the British plundered Indian wealth to England. This awarness created nationalistic feelings among Indians. Anti Indian Policies such as racial discrimination, Vernacular Press Act, 1878, opposition of Ilbert Bill by Europeans, Imperial Durbar in Delhi in 1877 at the time of terrible famine, Arms Act etc., helped in the rise of nationalism in India.
The organisations such as Indian Association established by Devendranath Tagore, Landholders Society founded by Dwarakanath Tagore, Bombay presidency Association founded by Feroz Shah Mehta, K.T.Telang, Badruddin Tyabji, Indian society founded by Ananda Mohan Bose, Poona Sarvajanik Sabha founded by S.M.Chiplunkar, G.V.Joshi, M.G.Ranade etc., and Indian National Congress(INA) founded by A.O.Hume, played key role in rising nationalism in India. Indian National congress was founded by Allen Octavian Hume. It had national character as it had members from different parts of the country. It was established in Bombay in Gokuldas Tejpal sanskrit college on December 28, 1885. The first meeting was presided by Womesh Chandra Benerjee. It was attended by 72 delegates from all parts of the country.