The emergence of nationalism in India pre-1920

• Curzon's attempt at 'divide and rule' 
• Carried out without the consultation of any Indians; outraged the existing nationalists 
• Split Bengal into two halves; where before it was Hindu dominated, after one half was dominated by Muslims, this outraged Hindu nationalists and the Muslims realised that they needed to start protecting their interests
• Led to forms of protest such as swadesh and public articles which raised awareness of the nationalist movement

Began an irreversible process of diluting power to the Indians

• Educated Indians had realised that India was being exploited by the British:
• The British exported raw materials to be used to make industrial goods which they then sold back to India 
• India provided the biggest market for British goods 
• Tarriffs were not placed on British goods making them cheaper to buy than Indian ones, ex. cotton, forcing the Indians who were poor to invest in British economy - hence swadesh 

• "posts worth more than £500  a year were reserved for Europeans" 
• Entrance exams for the ICS were held in England; prevented many Indians from entering the service 
• Viceroy Curzon, had a superior attitude and dismissed Indians as 'unequal to the task' of running their homeland
• Fustration among the elite of not being able to influence the governing of the country 
• The Indian Council which served the Sec. of State was made up of British men 

• Indians serving on the front lines with the British realised that they were no morally or culturally superior than themselves
• British ran up huge debt to India and the repayment called to benefits Indians 

• A peaceful protest at a religious festival in Amritsar was open fired upon by General Dyer and his troops killing and injurig 100s 
• The is one of the worst examples of open repression and brutality in the British regime; would have discouraged many loyal supporters of the Raj 

• Gandhi returned to India for South Africa in 1915 after touring India and becoming a part of Congress Gandhi began organisng satyagrahas 
• His early satyagrahas raised awareness of the nationalist movement 
• Became leader of Congress in 1920 and began transforming it into a political body 
• As a leader he was identifiable with the masses unlike many nationalists before 

• 1916; led by Tilak and Annie Besant 
• Aimed to stimulate public opinion 
• Organised public pressure to be put on the British 
• Generated agitation among the masses