What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world, which motivated the anti-colonial struggles in India? (200 words, 10M)
The 18th and 19th century developments in Europe, USA, Africa and other Asian countries had a cumulative impact on the colonial struggles in India.
The major upheavals like French and American revolution sent a right signal across the world. Individual liberties, universal brotherhood, establishment of modern democratic states were some of the milestone achievements of these uprisings.
It also strengthened belief in the power of the middle class. There emerged a new awareness among the people living in the colonies about their political and economic rights.
The advent of printing press and other mode of communication provided a great help in this regard. The successful movement of Mazzini and Garibaldi in the unification of Italy and Germany inspired nationalist in India. Apart from that, the writings of Rousseau, J S Mill, Karl Marx and Fredrick Angles gave a boost to the anti-colonial struggles in the world.
The establishment of socialist state in Russia based on the ideals of equal distribution of resources among all the classes proved very attractive to the Indian visionaries like Jawaharlal Nehru and others. It echoed their own grievances against the British state.
The rise of Japan entrusted a renewed confidence in the freedom fighters of India. The defeat of Russia by Japan in 1905 and Italian army in 1896, destroyed the myth that an European nations can not be defeated by the Asian nation.
It motivated Indians to rise against Britain much more vigorously than before. The revolutionary movements in Ireland, Egypt, Turkey and China gave a boost to the colonial struggles in India. They made Indians realise the significance of combined effort of the people.
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Though the British had adopted a system of rote-learning for Indians to obtain obedient clerks (babus), Indians soon developed a critical view of British administration in India and challenged their notions of " White Man's Burden, Civilizing mission, Benevolent despotism ".
The nationalists and the educated intelligentsia looked elsewhere for inspiration and found the preponderance of struggles all throughout the world.
The 18th and 19th century developments in Europe, USA, Africa and other Asian countries had a cumulative impact on the colonial struggles in India.
The major upheavals like French and American revolution sent a right signal across the world. Individual liberties, universal brotherhood, establishment of modern democratic states were some of the milestone achievements of these uprisings.
It also strengthened belief in the power of the middle class. There emerged a new awareness among the people living in the colonies about their political and economic rights.
The advent of printing press and other mode of communication provided a great help in this regard. The successful movement of Mazzini and Garibaldi in the unification of Italy and Germany inspired nationalist in India. Apart from that, the writings of Rousseau, J S Mill, Karl Marx and Fredrick Angles gave a boost to the anti-colonial struggles in the world.
The establishment of socialist state in Russia based on the ideals of equal distribution of resources among all the classes proved very attractive to the Indian visionaries like Jawaharlal Nehru and others. It echoed their own grievances against the British state.
The rise of Japan entrusted a renewed confidence in the freedom fighters of India. The defeat of Russia by Japan in 1905 and Italian army in 1896, destroyed the myth that an European nations can not be defeated by the Asian nation.
It motivated Indians to rise against Britain much more vigorously than before. The revolutionary movements in Ireland, Egypt, Turkey and China gave a boost to the colonial struggles in India. They made Indians realise the significance of combined effort of the people.
===========================================================================================================================================================================
Though the British had adopted a system of rote-learning for Indians to obtain obedient clerks (babus), Indians soon developed a critical view of British administration in India and challenged their notions of " White Man's Burden, Civilizing mission, Benevolent despotism ".
The nationalists and the educated intelligentsia looked elsewhere for inspiration and found the preponderance of struggles all throughout the world.
- American Revolution
- French Revolution
- Dethroning of King James by the British
- Adoption of Magna Carta
- Evolution of the Parliamentary form of Democracy in Britain
- No taxes without Representation
- Liberal Political ideologies of J. S Mill, Locke, Jeremy Bentham, Rousseau enlightened the Indians of the misrule of the British.
Some events in the 20th century provided lot of inspiration and motivation to the freedom struggle.
- Defeat of Italian army in 1896 by Ethopia destroyed the myth of European Supremacy and the undefeatablity of West.
- Defeat of Russia by Japan in 1905 enthused the confidence on Indians that an tiny Asian nation could defeat the mighty Czars.
- Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 inspired the revolutionaries that it was possible to overthrow the government. It also brought to focus the power of the masses.
- First World War 1914 brought out the ugly face of the Europeans with each party hurling acquisitions against one another regarding them. The war for colonies brought out the ugly selfish intentions of the Western Nations.