History & Civics
Describe the contributions of Surendranath Banerjee to India's freedom struggle?
Answer
Surendranath Banerjee's contribution to India's freedom struggle is quite significant. He contributed to the Indian National Movement in the following ways-
- To fight against the wrong policies of the British, he founded the Indian Association in 1876.
- In order to create an all-India political organisation, Surendranath convened the Indian National Conference in 1883 at Kolkata. Surendranath Banerjee's Indian National Conference merged with the Indian National Congress in 1886 as both organisations had similar objectives.
- Banerjee edited a newspaper, Bengalee, which served as a powerful medium for mobilising public opinion. His book, Nation in the Making, gives an account of his political concern and his views about self-government.
- Banerjee started agitation against the Licence Act, Arms Act, Vernacular Press Act and against lowering the age from 21 to 19 years to appear in the I.C.S. Examination.
- He opposed the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 which introduced separate electorates for the Hindus and the Muslims.
- He also opposed the division of Bengal by Lord Curzon in 1905.
Related Questions
Name any three leaders of the Congress who are known as Early Nationalists.
Read the passage given below and answer the following questions.
In his book 'Poverty and un-British Rule in India,' he asserted that the British Rule and its costly administration was a heavy drain on the poor resources of India. He revealed the basic cause of India's poverty and exposed the exploitation of the Indian people through his writings. He vividly showed as to how the wealth of India was being drained to England and how the Indian economy was being ruined.
(a) Who wrote the book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'?
(b) What is the theme of the book?
(c) Explain his contribution to the national movement.
What was the attitude of the Early Nationalists towards freedom of the Press?
Who was the Early Nationalist leader who came to be known as the Grand Old Man of India?