During World War I (1914–19), Britain sided with France, Russia, the United States, Italy, and Japan against Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the world's industrialised capitalist countries began to compete for, and struggle for, exclusive markets and colonies. During this time, Indian nationalism also matured. After 1919, the struggle against British rule grew into a mass movement, involving large numbers of peasants, tribals, students, and women, as well as factory workers on occasion. In this article, we will discuss the first world war and the various responses of Indian nationalists which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Response of Nationalists to British Participation in First World War

The nationalist response to Britain's participation in World War I was threefold:

• The Moderates supported the empire as a matter of duty;
• The Extremists, including Tilak (who was released in June 1914), supported the war efforts in the mistaken belief that Britain would repay India's loyalty with gratitude in the form of self-government; and
• The revolutionaries decided to use the opportunity to wage a war on British rule and liberate India.

Home Rule League Movement

• The Home Rule League Movement was India's less charged but more effective response to the First World War than the response of Indians living abroad, which took the form of the romantic Ghadr adventure.
• The home rule league movement, led by stalwarts such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant, grew and flourished all across the Indian independence movement between 1916 and 1918.
• This alliance was to be known as the All India Home Rule League, similar to the Irish Home Rule League.
• The goal of the home rule movement was the attainment of home rule or dominion status under the British Empire, similar to that of Canada and Australia.
• The movement was carried out through the two home rule leagues. Tilak and Besant formed separate leagues to avoid conflict.
• As Annie Besant stated, some Tilak supporters were uncomfortable with her, and similarly, some of her own supporters were uncomfortable with Tilak.
• Both leagues, however, coordinated their efforts by limiting their work to their respective areas. They helped where they could.
• The Home Rule League was popular among the moderates since it focused on political debate and education.
• The league focused also on demands for separate electorates and minority representation in legislatures, to which the Congress also agreed.
• Many sections of people within the Congress, like the members of Gokhale’s Servants of India Society,joined the movement after being dissatisfied with the inaction of Congress.
• The moderates, extremists and the Muslim League were briefly united through this movement.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Home Rule League Movement

Lucknow Session of INC (1916)

• The Lucknow Session of Indian National Congress was presided over by Ambica Charan Mazumdar.
• It was the 31st session of the INCwhich was held in Lucknow.
• This session has gained historic importance due to the remarkable decisions made during the session.
• It marks the reconciliation of the moderates and the extremists after 10 years of ideological disputes after their split in theSurat session of 1907.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak assured the moderates that the extremists would not adopt any agitational strategy or politics while protesting against the British, which led to the reconciliation.
• Also, the demise of Moderate leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Pherozeshah Mehta reduced the opposition for amalgamation of the factions of Congress (Extremists and Moderates) paving the way for Tilak and Annie Besant to dominate the Congress.
• The historic Lucknow pactbetweenCongress and the Muslim League was signed in this session.
• This occurred at a time when the Muslim League, now dominated by younger militant nationalists, was moving closer to the Congress's goals and becoming more anti-imperialist.
• The Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim League could be regarded as a watershed moment in the nationalistic struggle for freedom.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this linkLucknow Session INC(1916)

August Declaration (1917)

• On August 20, 1917, the Secretary of State for India, Edwin Samuel Montagu, made a statement in the British House of Commons known as the August Declaration of 1917.
• According to the August Declaration of 1917, control over the Indian government would be gradually transferred to the Indian people, and a responsible government would be gradually established.
• This declaration also stated unequivocally that India would remain an integral part of British India.
• He sympathised with the aspirations of the Indian people and can thus be compared to people such as Lord Pethick Lawrence and Sir Stafford Cripps.
• He brought a fresh perspective to his workplace.
• On August 20, 1917, when the Allies' fortunes were at their lowest ebb, he declared,
  • "The government policy is of increasing participation of Indians in every branch of administration and gradual development of self-governing institutions with a view to the progressive realisation of responsible government in India as an integral part of the British Empire."

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link August Declaration(1917)

Conclusion

After the war, there was a resurgence of nationalist activity in India and many other Asian and African colonies. Both Tilak and Besant recognized that the movement needed the support of a Moderate-dominated Congress as well as the full cooperation of the Extremists. Tilak and Besant decided to restart political activity on their own after Congress failed to reach a Moderate-Extremist rapprochement in 1914. With the emergence of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on the Indian political scene, the Indian struggle against imperialism took a decisive turn toward a broad-based popular struggle.