Growth of Nationalism

ICSE Class 10 · History & Civics · Chapter 8

What this chapter covers

Nationalism in nineteenth-century India
Economic exploitation
Repressive colonial policies of Lord Lytton
Socio-religious reform movements
Role of the Press
Foundation of the Indian National Congress

Key points

Nationalism grew in the late nineteenth century as Indians of all regions came to share the same grievances under British rule.
Economic exploitation, through the drain of wealth, the ruin of handicrafts, heavy land revenue and famines, hurt every class and united Indians against British rule.
Dadabhai Naoroji's drain theory showed that British rule was the main cause of India's poverty.
Lord Lytton's Delhi Durbar (1877), Vernacular Press Act (1878), Indian Arms Act (1878) and the lowering of the ICS age limit to 19 angered educated Indians.
The Ilbert Bill controversy (1883–84) exposed British racial pride and showed the power of organised agitation.
Raja Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj (1828) and campaigned against sati, which was abolished in 1829.
Jyotiba Phule opened a girls' school in Pune (1848) and founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) against caste oppression.
Swami Dayananda Saraswathi founded the Arya Samaj (1875) with the slogan "Go back to the Vedas" and attacked idol worship, caste and child marriage.
Swami Vivekananda spoke at Chicago (1893), founded the Ramakrishna Mission (1897) and gave Indians self-confidence.
The Press criticised British policies, spread nationalist ideas, linked regions and organised public opinion.
The Indian National Congress was founded by A. O. Hume in Bombay on 28 December 1885.
W. C. Bonnerjee presided over the first session (Bombay, 1885) and Dadabhai Naoroji over the second (Calcutta, 1886).
The immediate objectives of the Congress were national unity, removal of prejudices, presenting popular demands and training public opinion.

Questions answered

Define nationalism.

Nationalism is the feeling of oneness and loyalty among the people of a country, together with the desire that the nation should be free, united and governed in its own interest.

What is meant by the drain of wealth? Name the leader who explained it.

The drain of wealth was the steady transfer of India's wealth to Britain, through Home Charges, salaries, pensions and profits, for which India got no fair return. Dadabhai Naoroji explained it in Poverty and Un-British Rule in India.

State two ways in which British economic policy harmed Indian peasants.

Peasants had to pay high land revenue in cash even in bad years, which drove them into debt; and they were made to grow cash crops instead of food, which left them helpless in famines.

Why did the Vernacular Press Act anger Indians?

It allowed the government to seize Indian-language newspapers without trial or appeal, while English papers were left free, so it was both repressive and discriminatory.

How did the Indian Arms Act of 1878 discriminate between Indians and Europeans?

It required Indians to obtain a licence to keep or carry arms, but Europeans and Anglo-Indians were exempt from it.

Why was the Delhi Durbar of 1877 resented?

Huge sums were spent on proclaiming Queen Victoria Empress of India at a time when a severe famine was killing lakhs of people.

What was the Ilbert Bill, and what lesson did Indians learn from the controversy over it?

The Ilbert Bill (1883) sought to allow Indian judges to try Europeans in criminal cases. The European agitation forced the government to weaken it, which taught Indians that they would not get equality under British rule and that organised agitation could influence the government.

Give two contributions of Raja Rammohan Roy.

He founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828, and his campaign against sati helped bring about its abolition in 1829.

Past board exam questions

ICSE 2027 sample paper · 3 marks

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1. Womesh Chandra (W.C.) Bonnerjee was the first President of the Indian National Congress (1885). 2. Any two objectives: - To promote friendly relations among nationalist political workers from different parts of the country. - To develop and consolidate feelings of national unity irrespective of caste, religion or province. - To formulate popular demands and present them before the government. - To train and organise public opinion in the country.

ICSE 2027 sample paper · 3 marks

Nationalism refers to the feeling of oneness that emerges when people consider themselves as one nation. With reference to the growth of nationalism, answer the following questions: Whether it is fiction, non-fiction, or periodical, all kinds of literature contributed at large in the national consciousness of India in pre-independence times. Mention any three points to analyse the role of the press in the growth of nationalism.

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Any three: 1. The press spread the ideas of patriotism and modern liberal ideas of liberty, freedom, equality, home rule and independence. 2. It criticised and exposed unjust British policies, and spread awareness of the exploitative nature of British rule. 3. It helped Indians from different regions exchange views and work out a common programme of action. 4. It made Indians aware of happenings in the world, such as freedom movements in other countries, which inspired them.

ICSE 2026 sample paper · 1 mark

Assertion (A): The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885. Reason (R): The main aim of the Indian National Congress at its inception was to demand complete independence for India.

(A) is true and (R) is false.
(A) is false and (R) is true.
Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

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(A) is true and (R) is false.

ICSE 2026 sample paper · 1 mark

Which repressive policy of Lord Lytton is depicted in the picture given? (The picture is a cartoon of a folded newspaper with the word 'PRESS' printed across its top, drawn as a face with closed eyes and a cloth gag tied tightly over its mouth.)

Organising the Grand Delhi
The Arms Act
Reduction of the maximum age of Civil Service Examination
The Vernacular Press Act

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The Vernacular Press Act

ICSE 2026 sample paper · 1 mark

Identify the correct pair from the given options.

Surendranath Banerjee – Assertive Nationalist
Raja Ram Mohan Roy – Delhi Durbar
Dadabhai Naoroji – First President of Congress
Jyotiba Phule – Women’s Education

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Jyotiba Phule – Women’s Education

ICSE 2026 sample paper · 4 marks

Nationalism refers to the feeling of oneness that emerges when people consider themselves as one nation. With reference to the growth of nationalism, answer the following: Explain any two policies of Lord Lytton that showcased his attitude of racial superiority, eventually leading to the growth of nationalism.

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Any two, explained: 1. Vernacular Press Act (1878): it imposed restrictions on newspapers in Indian languages, while English newspapers were exempt; this discrimination angered Indians. 2. Indian Arms Act (1878): Indians needed a licence to keep arms, but Europeans and Anglo-Indians were exempt – a clear case of racial discrimination. 3. Reduction of the maximum age for the Indian Civil Service Examination from 21 to 19 years (1876), which made it very difficult for Indians to compete. 4. Grand Delhi Durbar (1877) held to proclaim Queen Victoria Empress of India while millions were dying in a famine. 5. Removal of import duties on British textiles, which ruined Indian industries.

ICSE 2025 board paper · 1 mark

Who among the following is MOST associated with this picture? Picture (photograph): a young girl bent over a notebook, writing with a pencil, with the words 'EDUCATION FOR GIRLS' printed beside her.

Jyotiba Phule
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Aurobindo Ghosh

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Jyotiba Phule

ICSE 2025 sample paper · 1 mark

The government of Country X has introduced a law similar to Ilbert Bill introduced in 1883. Who will be impacted by this Bill?

The Farmers
The Artisans
The Soldiers
The Judges

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The Judges