FREEDOM STRUGGLE - VANDE MATARAM MOVEMENT - 1905 - 1909

VANDE MATARAM MOVEMENT - (1905 - 1909) :-

Lord Curzon announeed officially the Partition of Bengal on July 4, 1905. On Oct 16, 1905, Partition came into effect the official version for Partition was "administrative convenience". However, the real reason was to divide Indian society into Hindus & Muslims and futher to divide Congress by accentuating differences between Moderates and Extremists.

Bipin Chandra Pal started the movement with Kali Puja and festival and became the 1st Indian leader to tour India befor Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Nabakrishna Chakravarty composed patriotic songs. The slogans of the movement were 'Swadeshi and Swaraj' Under Swadeshi, Rabindranath Tagore founded Shanti - Niketan and Satish Mukherjee founded Dawn Society to impart native education. Tagore gave a call for Rakhi Bandhan as token of Hindu - Muslim unity and wrote articles under the title "Atma Shakti"

While the movement was going on, differences started between Moderates and Extremists for the 1st time in the calcutta Session in 1906 on the question of whether to make the movement national or restrict it only to Bengal and on the issue of President of the Session. The extremists wanted Tilak to be President. However. Dadabhai Naoroji became President as compromise candidate (Presided over max. no. of times - 3). The Calcutta Session was a victory for extremism for :

1. The extremist ideas "Swadeshi" and "Swaraj" were accepted by the Congress for the first time.
2. Congress condemend the decision of Partition.
3. Tilak became Chairman of Reception Committee.

In 1906, the All India Muslim league was founded by Salimulah, the Nawab of Dacca and Aga Khan.

In 1907, the Surat session was held. Congress was divided for the first time (First split) on the issue of election of President. The extremist candidate Tilak was defeated by the moderate candidate Rasbehari Ghosh. The moderates expelled the extremists form the Congress. The extremists founded Liberal Party and called themselves Neo - Natjonalists. Tilak was trialled on chages of disturbing public, order and sentenced for 6 years imprisonment, departed to Mandalay Jail in Rangoon. Bipin Chandrapal withdrew form active politics. Lala Lajpat Rai was also sentenced and extremism suffered a setback.

The Vande Mataram Movement ended with Morley - Minto Reforms in 1909.

Differences between Moderates and Extremists -

- Moderates demanded self governance; extremists demanded Swaraj.
- Moderates believed in co-operation; extremists confrontation.
- Moderates followed constitutional means of agitation; extremists followed popular means of agitation and passive resistance (Non - cooperation)

In 1911, Governor General Lord Hardinge llannulled the partition of Bengal.

In 1911, Imperial Capital City was shifted form Calcutta to Delhi. Muslim League was not consulted when these 2 things materialised. In 1914, World War 1 started. Turkey predominantly Islamic,supported Germany against England.

In 1915. Gandhi returned form South Africa on the invitation of his guru, Gokhale ; Tilak returned form Mandalay Jail and Madam Anne Besant announced her entry into Indian politics.