Roadmap for Answer Writing

1. Introduction

• Contextualize the Indian Councils Acts: Briefly explain what the Indian Councils Acts of 1892 and 1909 were and their purpose.
  • Fact to include: The Indian Councils Act of 1892 aimed to slightly expand the legislative councils’ composition and allowed limited discussions on issues like the budget and questions to the executive. The Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) increased the size of the legislative councils and introduced the concept of indirect elections.
• Set the stage for the question: Mention that these Acts were introduced as a response to growing demands for self-governance but failed to meet Indian aspirations, leading to political discontent and the rise of revolutionary movements.

2. Body Paragraph 1: Indian Councils Act of 1892

• Details of the Act: Explain the provisions of the 1892 Act.
  • Fact to include: The 1892 Act increased the number of non-official members in both Central and provincial legislative councils, but retained the official majority. It also allowed some indirect elections, but the members were still nominated and not directly elected by the Indian people.
  • Source of Fact: The Indian Councils Act of 1892 was passed by the British Parliament to slightly increase Indian participation, but it did not offer true representation. This Act aimed to create a façade of reform while maintaining British control.
• Impact on Revolutionary Movements:
  • Fact to include: The Act’s limited reforms disappointed many Indians, as they felt the reforms did not meet the growing demand for full political representation. As a result, moderate leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji and Gopal Krishna Gokhale pushed for further reforms, while others, like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, began advocating for more radical approaches.
  • Source of Fact: Political leaders such as Tilak criticized the moderate strategies of petitions and prayers for failing to bring about significant change.

3. Body Paragraph 2: Indian Councils Act of 1909

• Details of the Act: Explain the provisions of the 1909 Act (Morley-Minto Reforms).
  • Fact to include: The 1909 Act significantly expanded the legislative councils’ size, including 60 members in the Central Legislative Council and greater representation at the provincial level. It introduced the concept of indirect elections and created a separate electorate for Muslims, which was a divisive measure.
  • Source of Fact: The Act created separate electorates for Muslims, a provision that led to communal divisions and was seen as a “divide-and-rule” policy by the British.
• Impact on Revolutionary Movements:
  • Fact to include: The Act failed to address the central issue of Indian self-governance. The retention of British control and the separate electorate system heightened discontent, especially among young nationalists and revolutionaries who felt that the reforms were a mere token gesture.
  • Source of Fact: Many revolutionaries, such as Subhas Chandra Bose and Lala Lajpat Rai, became disillusioned with the political process and moved towards more radical means of achieving independence.

4. Body Paragraph 3: Contribution to Revolutionary Movements

• Political Frustration: Explain how the limited nature of the reforms and the continued British dominance in the legislative process led to frustration among Indians.
  • Fact to include: The Acts failed to provide full self-governance, leading to a growing sense of frustration among the Indian population, particularly the youth.
  • Source of Fact: Leaders like Tilak advocated for a more aggressive approach to achieving self-rule, contributing to the rise of revolutionary movements such as the Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar in Bengal.
• Disillusionment with Congress: Mention how the moderate approach of the Indian National Congress, which focused on petitions and constitutional methods, began to lose credibility among many nationalists.
  • Fact to include: Many leaders, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, criticized the Congress’s approach and called for more direct action.
  • Source of Fact: Tilak’s famous slogan “Swaraj is my birthright, and I will have it” reflected the growing disillusionment with the British reforms and the moderate approach of Congress.
• Communal Tensions: Discuss how the 1909 Act’s provision of a separate electorate for Muslims fostered communal tensions and led to greater political polarization, which helped galvanize revolutionary movements that sought a united struggle for independence.
  • Fact to include: The introduction of separate electorates by the Morley-Minto Reforms promoted a “divide-and-rule” policy that was seen as detrimental to national unity.
  • Source of Fact: The separate electorate system deepened distrust between Hindus and Muslims, contributing to sectarianism in Indian politics.

5. Conclusion

• Summarize the key points: Restate how both the Indian Councils Acts of 1892 and 1909, while offering some political concessions, failed to meet the demands of self-governance, contributing to growing frustration among Indians.
  • Fact to include: The Acts, while offering some reforms, did not provide for full self-rule, leaving the majority of political power in British hands.
• Link to Revolutionary Movements: Conclude by stating that the inadequacy of the reforms, the slow pace of political change, and the deepening disillusionment with British rule directly contributed to the rise of revolutionary movements.
  • Source of Fact: Revolutionary groups, such as the Hindustan Republican Association and the Ghadar Party, emerged in response to the inadequacies of the constitutional framework.

Relevant Facts (with Sources)

1. Indian Councils Act of 1892:
   • Increased non-official members in legislative councils, but retained the official majority.
   • Limited scope for election (nominated members), with no direct Indian participation.
2. Indian Councils Act of 1909:
   • Created indirect elections, with separate electorates for Muslims.
   • Expanded council size but retained British control.
3. Impact on Revolutionary Movements:
   • Dissatisfaction with reforms led to the rise of leaders like Tilak advocating for more direct methods of resistance.
   • The failure of constitutional methods drove many nationalists to join revolutionary groups like the Anushilan Samiti.