Home Rule Movement in India [1916]

Table of Contents

Introduction: Home Rule Movement

The Home Rule Movement in India was a movement whose primary goal was to attain self-governance for India within the British Empire.

The movement advocated the concept of “Home Rule” or self-rule for India, similar to the self-governing dominions like Canada and Australia within the British Empire.

The Home Rule Movement in India

Two Home Rule Leagues emerged in India simultaneously in the country on the lines of the Irish Home Rule movement.

Both these leagues started a nationwide movement demanding independence for India or Swaraj at the end of the World War.
Leaders:
- Annie Besant: The Home Rule League founded by Annie Besant was based in Adyar in Madras (now Chennai) in September 1916.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak: The Home Rule League founded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak on April 1916 at the Bombay provincial congress at Belgaum, Karnataka. had its headquarters in Bombay.
- Tilak’s league worked in areas like Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, Central provinces and Berar, Annie Besant’s league worked in the rest of India.
Formation of Home Rule Leagues:
- The movement led to the formation of Home Rule Leagues across India.
- These leagues aimed to educate people about the need for self-rule and mobilize public opinion in favor of the movement.
Activities:
- Leaders organized public meetings and delivered lectures to propagate the idea of Home Rule.
- Various newspapers and journals were launched to spread information about the movement and its objectives. Tilak used Maratha and Kesari as platforms to spread his message and published pamphlets in Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
- Fundraising Campaigns were organized to support the movement’s activities, including organizing protests and spreading awareness.
Impact:
- The movement played a crucial role in awakening nationalism among the Indian masses.
- It expanded the political consciousness of Indians and fostered a sense of unity and solidarity against British rule.
Suppression and Legacy:
- The British authorities viewed the Home Rule Movement as a threat to their authority and suppressed it through various means, including arrests and censorship.
- Despite its eventual suppression, the Home Rule Movement left a lasting legacy by inspiring future generations of Indian nationalists and contributing to the broader freedom struggle.

Important Events occurred during the Home Rule Movement

Formation of the Home Rule Leagues:
- Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak founded the All India Home Rule League and the All India Home Rule Conference respectively.
- Regional Home Rule Leagues were established across India, with prominent leaders like Bipin Chandra Pal and Joseph Baptista leading the movement in different regions.
Spread of the Movement:
- The Home Rule Movement gained momentum rapidly. The branches of League was established in various cities and towns across India.
- Public meetings, lectures, and processions were organized to propagate the ideals of Home Rule.
Role of Annie Besant:
- Annie Besant traveled extensively across India to promote the Home Rule Movement and mobilize support. She addressed gatherings, and spread the message of self-rule, particularly among the masses in rural areas.
- She worked together with the Congress and the Muslim League during the Home Rule Movement because she believed it was essential to gain mass support for the cause.
- Several newspapers and journals were launched to propagate the objectives of the Home Rule Movement. Notable publications included “Commonweal” in English and “New India” in Vernacular languages, which played a significant role in disseminating information and rallying public opinion.
The British authorities viewed the Home Rule Movement as a threat to their rule. Several leaders, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, were arrested on charges of sedition and conspiracy.
Split in the Indian National Congress:
- The Home Rule Movement led to a split within the Indian National Congress (INC).
- The Extremists, led by Tilak and Pal, supported the movement, while the Moderates, led by leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, adopted a more cautious approach.
Impact of World War I:
- The outbreak of World War I in 1914 provided an opportunity for Indian nationalists to intensify their demands for Home Rule.
- Indian support for the war effort, coupled with the British government’s failure to fulfill its promises of political reforms, fueled discontent and strengthened the Home Rule Movement.
It was during this movement that Tilak declared “Swaraj is my birthright, I must have it“.
In 1920, the All India Home Rule League merged with Congress.

Home Rule Movement UPSC PSC MCQs

Q1. Home Rule Movement was symbol of starting a new phase of freedom movement in India because [BPSC (Pre) 1996]

(a) it put a perfect project for the self government before the nation
(b) leadership of the movement came in the hands of Gandhiji.
(c) Hindus and Muslims started to struggle Jointly.
(d) it established co-ordination between extremists and moderates.

Ans: (a)

Q2. Who launched the first Home Rule League Movement? [UPPSC (Pre) 1993, 1991]

(a) Annie Besant
(b) Sarojini Naidu
(c) Surendranath Banerjee
(d) Tilak

Ans: (a)

Q3. Who amongst the following continuously emphasised on giving self-rule to India in 1904, 1905 and 1906? [IAS (Pre) 2018]

(a) Surendranath Banerjee
(b) Pherozeshah Mehta
(c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(d) Dadabhai Naoroji

Ans: (c)

Q4. Tilak formed his Home Rule League in 1916 at [WBCS 2018]

(a) Satara
(b) Pune
(c) Belgaum
(d) Berar

Ans: (c)

Q5. In 1920, which of the following changed its name to “Swarajya Sabha”? [IAS (Pre) 2018]

(a) All India Home Rule League
(b) Hindu Mahasabha
(c) South Indian Liberal Federation
(d) The Servants of India Society

Ans: (a)

Q6. Consider the following statements.

I. Prior to the establishment of Home Rule League by Annie Besant, it was Lokmanya Tilak who had set up a Home Rule League at Poona.
II. The Congress in its Bombay Session in 1915, passed a resolution demanding Home Rule for India. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? [CDS 2005]