Home Rule League 1916-1918 (1 apr 1916 anni – 31 dic 1918 anni)

Descrizione:

Between the years 1916 and 1918, the Indian independence movement witnessed the growth and spread of the home rule movement spearheaded by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant. The aim of the home rule movement was the attainment of home rule or a dominion status for India under the British Empire along the lines of countries like Canada and Australia. This movement was carried out through the two home rule leagues.

The Government of India Act 1909 was dissatisfactory to the aspirations of Indians.
The Congress Party’s split in 1907 and fiery leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s imprisonment from 1908 to 1914 meant that there was a lull in the national movement.

The leaders in India were divided on whether to support Britain in the war or not. Annie Besant, however, declared, “England’s need is India’s opportunity”.

Besant and Tilak were not able to convince Congress to support their decision to set up home rule leagues.

Each of them set up their own home rule leagues

Tilak's(Apr)- Belgaum- HQ: Delhi- worked inMaharashtra (except Bombay), Karnataka, Berar and the Central Provinces.

Besant’s(Sep)- Madras- worked in the rest of the country.
Tilak was more successful.


Objectives
To achieve self-government in India.
To promote political education and discussion to set up agitation for self-government.
To build confidence among Indians to speak against the government’s suppression.
To demand a larger political representation for Indians from the British government.
To revive political activity in India while maintaining the principles of the Congress Party.


Annie Besant was arrested in June 1917.
This move by the British created a nation-wide protest and now even moderate leaders joined the league. Besant was released in September 1917.

Significance:

The Home Rule League functioned throughout the year as opposed to the Congress Party whose activities were confined to once a year.

This movement led to the Montague Declaration of 1917 in which it was declared that there would be more Indians in the government leading to the development of self-governing institutions ultimately realising responsible governments in India.

This Declaration (also known as August Declaration) implied that the demand for home rule would no longer be considered seditious. This was the biggest significance of the movement.

Decline:
Not a mass movement.
No support from Muslims, Anglo-Indians and non-Brahmins from Southern India as they thought home rule would mean a rule of the upper caste Hindu majority.
They did not take the movement further after August Declaration.

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