38 Home Rule Movement

D. Subramanyam Reddy

1.   Introduction :

With the annulment of the partition of Bengal in 1911, there was no organized anti-British movement till the launching of the Home Rule Movement. The latter was carried on vigorously by Annie Besant and Balagangadhar Tilak during 1915-1917. Its main aim was not complete Swaraj but Home Rule or internal self–government. It was not carried on under the auspices of the Indian National Congress, but under the aegis of the Home Rule Leagues established by Annie Besant and Tilak.

When it became necessary for Britain to depend on her colonies to face the First World War which broke out in August 1914, she made vague promises to the Indians. Believing the British promises, the Indians rallied round the British in the hour of crisis. As the reforms of 1909 under the Government of India Act had already incorporated the concept of a representative government the Indians were expecting the responsible government. In fac t, the British government in principle accepted in 1914 the goal of the responsible government for India. It was at this stage that the Home Rule idea was introduced by Annie Besant. It was at her request in the annual session of the Indian National Congress held in 1915 that the extremists in the Congress like Tilak were allowed to rejoin the Congress. Of course, she could not succeed in getting the support of the Congress and the Muslim League to set up the Home Rule Leagues. However, she persuaded the Congress to commit itself to a programme of educative propaganda and to a revival of the local level Congress Committees. But, she warned that if they fail to start this activity by September 1916, she would be free to set up her own league. When there were no signs of any Congress activity she announced the formation of her Home Rule League in September 1916, with herself as President, George Arundale, her Theosophical follower as the organizing Secretary C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer as one of the General Secretaries and B.P. Wadia as the Treasurer with headquarters at Adyar in Madras, now called Chennai. Balagangadhar Tilak also started his Home Rule League on 23 April 1916. But, both the leagues avoided any friction by demarcating their area of activity. Tilak’s League was to work in Maharashtra, Karnataka, the Central Provinces and Berar. Besant’s League was given charge of the rest of India. Besant carried on the movement from her headquarters at Adyar in Madras and played a vital role in the movement. It was more popular in Madras Presidency than anywhere else in India. The League had 132 branches in the Presidency in 1917. By December 1917 its membership had grown to 27,000 from 7,000 in March 1917. Even non-theosophists like Jawaharlal Nehru of Allahabad, Sankarlala, Banker in Bombay, B. Chakravarthi, and Jitendarlal Benerjee in Calcutta, and Ramaswamy Iyer in Madras supported Besant’s League.

It was the theosophical society under Annie Besant which had played an important role in preparing the ground for the Home Rule Movement as also in the national movement. It was on 17 November 1875 at Newyork in U.S.A. an international organization namely the Theosophical Society was founded by Madam Blavatsky, a Russian lady and Col. H.S. Olcott, an American and their friends. However, in 1879, its international headquarters was shifted to Bombay and then to Adyar in Madras in 1886.

In order to popularize its aims and objectives the Theosophical Society started establishing its offices and “lodges” from 1880 onwards. The lodges were the local centers to revive Hinduism, to spread theosophy and to awaken the people towards its social and religious ideals and preached Dharma, Yoga, and worship. The society became increasingly popular in Madras Presidency more particularly in the Telugu regions of Madras Presidency. A number of lodges were established in Andhra districts. The first of its kind was opened on May 8, 1882 at Nellore. Then, a large number of branches sprang up at different places. Though Annie Besant joined the society in England in 1889, her leadership in the society in India helped its rapid development.

In fact, Besant worked for the regeneration of India in religious, social and educational fields since her arrival in India in 1893 as member of Theosophical Society and also President of the Society from 1907. She had a fairly large following in the south. Her society worked for the promotion of education. It had established the Besant Theosophical College and Rishi Valley School at Madanapalli in the present Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Since then Madanapalli became the storm centre for the Thosophical movement. Thus, the society contributed for the educational development, social awakening, religious revival, for the rise of renaissance and nationalist movement. Though there was no official connection between the Theosophical Society and the Home Rule Movement, the society and its lodges extended their support and played a significant role in the home Rule Movement.

Besant’s Home Rule League had, in fact, been established to carry out the following objectives:

• To secure Home Rule for India by a law-abiding and constitutional activity i.e., by agitation and propaganda, and by individual and collective study,
• To maintain the connection with Great Britain by becoming a free nation within the British Empire under the Imperial Crown of His Majesty, the Emperor George V and his successors,
• To support and strengthen the Indian National Congress which had labored for thirty years to lay the foundations of Indian self-government and
• To carry on a continuous educative propaganda on the necessity of Home Rule for India. In fact, the Home Rule means the government of the people and by the people.

To achieve self-government or political freedom for India, she launched two news papers titled ‘New India’ and ‘Common Weal’, organized public meetings and conferences, founded All India Home Rule League and followed tactics like wide newspaper and periodical publicity, mass meetings, whistle-stop-speaking tours, posters, pamphlets, petitions, distribution of large quantities of literature, and local organizations. The pamphlets used as a means of propaganda among the students included:

• India, a Nation,
• India and the Empire,
• Self-Government for India,
• The Political Outlook,
• Separation of judicial and Executive Function,
• the Future of Young India,
• East and West in India,
• the Indian Council,
• Under the Congress Flag, and
• Home Rule.

The league had good response from the people. The press also extended cooperation to the League’s agitation. Its branches were established in all important towns. Prominent men like Anantasayanam Ayyangar, Gutti Kesava Pillai, Raja Ramarayaningar, Gadicherla Harisarvothama Rao etc., joined the league and campaigned for self-government. Many district associations also came into existence during this period and popularized the Home Rule movement. In fact, Beasant pleaded, in her speeches, for the starting of the district, taluk, firka, and village committees. She felt that the district committees were the eyes, ears and hands of the provincial committees. She desired district committees to send their opinions on political issues to the All India Congress Committee for necessary action. She criticized reduction of funds for elementary education and discouragement of higher education in the government institutions on the ground that higher education promoted discontent. In her closing address at the Chittoor District Association held at Chittoor on 18 March 1916 she said: “no self-respecting honourable man can remain content to live in his own country as an alien, shut out from the higher reaches of its public life, liberty and prosperity at the will of officials not by the judgment of the law”.

In addition to District Conferences, public meetings were also conducted to popularize the demand for Home Rule in the districts as it alone could solve the problems of the people. Campaign to propagate the movement was undertaken even in the mufussials and Home Rule Week was organized in various centers.

Annie Besant also organized a band of Home Rule volunteers called “the order of the sons of India” and the Indian Boy Scout Movement. She had also started the National Educational Scheme. All these served as auxiliaries to the Home Rule Movement. The Madanapalli town in Chittoor district of present Andhra Pradesh became the nerve centre of her educational activity in southern India. Through this organization, Annie Besant and her followers acquired a hold on the younger generation.

The Press also played a vital role in the movement. The “New India” of Annie Besant argued that home rule would benefit both India as well as the Britain. “Common Weal”, Krishna Patrika, Andhra Patrika, Sasilekha, Andhra Chandrika etc., opposed the movement. An article in the “Bharathi” of Bellary now in Karnataka was all praise for the work of Annie Besant for the cause of self-government and finally said that her liberal propaganda was finding unanimous support everywhere and gaining the object for which she was working.

But, the increasing popularity of the Home Rule Movement soon attracted the government’s wrath. As Annie Besant was writing articles in her “New India” and “Common Weal”, publishing books and pamphlets advocating self-rule for India and denouncing the Government’s policies, action was taken against her under the Press Act. On May 26, 1916 she was asked to deposit a security of Rs. 2,000-00 within 14 days which was done by Besant. In spite of this kind of punishment, the agitation continued to gain strength. Two of the notable books she wrote were: “How India Wrought for Freedom” and “India: A Nation”. She had also issued 10,000 copies of leaflets on self-rule. Her speeches were also distributed. Therefore, her security deposit of Rs. 2,000-00 was forfeited and she was ordered to deposit a fresh security of Rs. 10,000-00. Naturally, there was criticism of Government’s policy of curtailing freedom of expression. The students gradually became the backbone of several of the League’s protest movements. Perturbed by this, the Government passed orders prohibiting students from getting involved in political agitations. This was resented by everyone. Meetings were held everywhere to condemn the law. Contributions were also collected for the payment of the security amount to be paid by Besant.

As noted earlier, the Government suspended the students who defied their orders and got involved in the Home Rule Movement. The suspended students were also intimidated that their readmission would not be permitted unless their parents guaranteed their good conduct. This happened particularly in Madras Presidency. As a counterblast to this order, Annie Besant labored successfully to start a National University. The Theosophical College at Madanapalli was the venue of the National University wherein national classes were introduced. In 1917, a memorandum addressed to “Great Britain” and containing the wrongs done to India and her determination to win Swaraj was signed by Besant, Kesava Pillai and also by Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy of Chittoor who was then an M.L.C. and sent to England. Similarly, the petition known as the “Monster Petition” addressed to the Secretary of the State and sent to England on 10 November 1917 was signed among others by C. R. Parthasarathi Ayyangar of Chittoor.

When the Home Rule Movement was at its peak, Besant’s entry into Bombay Presidency and later in the United Provinces against the Defense of India Rules intensified the movement. Therefore, on June 16, 1917 Annie Besant and her two theosophist associates B. P. Wadia (Assistant Editor of “New India”) and George Arundale were arrested on 16 June 1917 and confined in a house at Ooty for 93 days. This led to countrywide protests.

As there was tremendous pressure from the Indian Public on the British Government and the Secretary of State for India, Annie Besant and her Lieutenants were released on September 17, 1917. On her release, she was given tumultuous welcome in Madras, Calcutta, Allahabad and Bombay. In connection with their release processions and celebration meetings were conducted at several places. Three months after her release from prison she was elected President of the Indian National Congress that met at Calcutta in December 1917. After her release from internment she concentrated on organizing the labour campaigns. In spite of all these, agitation for Home Rule faded away. Meanwhile, Montagu, the new Secretary of State for India, made the announcement on August 20, 1917 that the establishment of responsible government was the goal of the British policy in India and assured that steps would be taken in this direction as early as possible.

To Besant, self-government or home rule was the need of the hour and she was convinced that India was ripe for it. Of course, the supporters of a non-Brahmin political association named Indian Liberal Federation (founded in Madras in November 1916) which later came to be called the Justice Party pointed out that large sections of the people were not yet prepared to undertake political responsibility and even sought official support for the movement. Annie Besant severely criticized such leaders of the non-Brahmin organization. Of course, there were non-Brahmin leaders like P. Kesava Pillai who took part actively in the Home Rule Movement. Despite opposition from some non-Brahmins the movement recived support from a great majority of people.

Madanapalli College and Home Rule Movement:

The Theosophical College was established by Annie Besant at Madanapalli. It was formally opened on 19 July 1915 by the then Governor of Madras, Lord Pentland. C.S. Triolkekar who had formerly worked in the Central Hindu College, Benaras became its first principal. This college became the centre of great political activity during the Home Rule Movement. As a punishment for the resistance movement carried out by Annie Besant and the students of this College, it was disaffiliated by the University of Madras. Undaunted by such an act of the Government, Annie Besant named the College “Wood National College”. It was formally opened on 16 July 1917 as “the first constituent of the new National University College, Madanapalli”. The Theosophical College which was converted into a National University was then organized by the Society for the Promotion of National Education (SPNE). Its constituent colleges included the National Women’s College, Benaras, and the National College Hyderabad. (in Sindh in the present Pakistan), Wood National College, Madanapalli, and the College of Agriculture and Commerce, Madras. The Chancellor of this University was no less than the eminent poet Rabindranath Tagore and Pro-Chancellor G. Subramanya Iyer and Vice- Chancellor Justice Sadasiva Iyer. ‘National’ classes for national education (education on national lines under national control for the purpose of realizing national destiny) were organized at this National University College. The staff included educationists of international repute like Messer’s C.S. Trilokekar, M.V. Moore, Dr. J.H. Cousins, P.G. Pearce, Dr. Gurumurthy (a student of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan), M.V. Venkateswaran (who later was in charge of the Indian branch of the League of Nations), Professor B. Rajagopalan and B.R. Kumar. Inspired by the writings in “New India”, the students of the Madanapalli College used to write on their black boards “ we don’t ask for Home Rule, we demand it”.

Rabindranath Tagore’s visit to Madanapalli in 1919:

It is to be noted that Rabindranath Tagore paid a visit to the Tehosophical College, Madanapalli in 1919 and stayed there for about five days i.e., from 25 February to 2 March 1919. He stayed in a small cottage behind Olcott Bungalow and the cottage now called “Tagore Cottage”. During his stay here, he translated his famous Bengali song “Janaganamana”, now India’s National Anthem into English as “The Morning Song of India”. The original copy of the translation in Tagore’s own handwriting was presented to Dr. D. Gurumurthy as a memento of his visit. Later, it was purchased by an American Art Collector for a fabulous amount. However, a Photostat copy made by Dr. J.H. Cousins, the then Principal of the college is preserved in the college library. It was during Tagore’s stay in Madanapalli that the musical notes were composed for the National Anthem, Janaganamana by Mrs. Margaret Cousins, the wife of the Principal of the college. Though the song in Bengali was written by Tagore as early as 1911, it was sung in various forms in different regions and thus lacked uniformity. Mrs. Cousins, with the aid of some college girls, sang in the “Art Room” of the College in the presence of Tagore. Tagore was very much impressed at the music composed for Janaganamana. The proper way of singing it, soon spread throughout the country and it has come to stay what it is at present. On the eve of his departure, Tagore seemed to have showed all admiration to the college and called it as the Santiniketan of the south.

The tremendous achievement of the Home Rule movement and its legacy was that it consolidated the forces of nationalism in the country and created a generation of ardent nationalists who formed the backbone of the national movement in the coming years. it played harmonizing role in bringing together the divergent trends — the moderates and the extremists within the Congress, and the Congress and the Muslim League —- rallying all sections of society behind the slogan of Home Rule or self-government. For the first time, from the organizational point of view, the movement established links between the urban centers with the all-India movement, which were to prove invaluable in later years.

With regard to the social base of the movement, despite massive propaganda it remained confined to urban educated middle class and professional classes such as lawyers, educated classes, retired government servants, merchants etc. In some places, ryots in the villages showed keen interest in the movement. Although still not a mass movement, it broadened the political activity. The methods employed to popularize and carry the message to ever larger number of people, were mainly involved in propagating through the news papers and periodical publicity, public meetings, pamphlets etc. But, the movement did not draw much attention of the women, though it was headed by no less an ordinary woman. However, by popularizing the idea of Home Rule or self-government, and making it a common thing, it generated a widespread pro-nationalist atmosphere in the country.

Summary :

Thus, Besant and Tilak introduced a new dimension into the Indian political activity. The passing of the Rowlatt Act and the Massacre of Jallianwala Bagh in 1919 gave a new turn to the movement and culminated in the Non-Cooperation Movement under Gandhi’s leadership during 1922-1924.

Web links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Home_Rule_movement
• http://www.mapsofindia.com/on-this-day/1-august-1916-annie-besant-starts-the-home-ruleleague
• http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/history/home-rule-league-movement-in-india/23245/
• https://www.iaspaper.net/all-india-home-rule-league-movement-1915-1916-history/
• http://www.historydiscussion.net/history-of-india/how-dr-annie-besant-was-responsible-for-thehome-rule-movement-in-india/2583
• http://www.winentrance.com/general_knowledge/history/home-rule-movement-india.html
• http://mrunal.org/2016/06/freedom-struggle-home-rule-movement.html