British Response to the Growing Nationalist Movement: A Review

Introduction:

The British response to the growing nationalist movement in India was a combination of reformist policies and methods of repression. The British government aimed to pacify the nationalist movement and maintain their colonial control over India.

Reformist Policies:

The British government introduced various reformist policies to address the grievances of the Indian people and pacify the nationalist movement. These included:

• Indian Councils Act (1861): Established the Indian Council, which allowed for Indian representation in the government.
• Government of India Act (1915): Created a more representative government in India, with Indian members in the Central Legislative Assembly.
• Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1917): Introduced further reforms, including the creation of an Indian Council and the expansion of Indian representation in the government.

Methods of Repression:

The British government also employed various methods of repression to crush the nationalist movement. These included:

• Arrests and Imprisonment: Thousands of nationalist leaders were arrested and imprisoned, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Lathi Charge: British police used batons to disperse crowds and quell protests.
• Indefinite Detention: Nationalist leaders were held in indefinite detention without trial.
• Censorship: The British government imposed strict censorship on the press, restricting freedom of speech.

Recent Examples:

• Operation Blue Star (1984): The Indian Army’s military operation in Amritsar’s Golden Temple complex, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Sikhs and damaged the temple.
• Tehelka Scandal (2001): A sting operation by Tehelka magazine exposed widespread corruption among Indian politicians and bureaucrats.
• 2013 Anti-Terrorism Act: The Indian government introduced an anti-terrorism act, which allowed for indefinite detention and torture of suspects.