Author: Johnson Gordon
Place: New York
Publisher: Syndics of The Cambridge University Press
Year: 1973
Pages: 207
ISBN: 521202590
Source: Donated by Sir Ratan Tata Trust
Subject: Bombay/ Mumbai
Sub-Subject: History
Keyword: Indian National Congress, Nationalism, Freedom Movement, Political Organization
Classification: 320
Shelf: C6R6
Accession No: B122
Contents: Contents : List of Plates; Acknowledgements; abbreviations; Introduction; 1. The Indian national Congress; 2. The Politics of Western India in the Later Nineteenth Century; 3. Tilak, Gokhale and the Indian National Congress, 1895 to 1906; 4. Tilak, Gokhale and the Indian National congress, 1907 to 1915; A perspective; Note on Sources; Index
Abstract: This study examines the Indian National Congress (INC), the first political body to engage with the British government at a national level in India. The INC became the central political force in India’s freedom struggle, with its history deeply intertwined with the country’s nationalist movement. The book highlights the split within the Congress in the early twentieth century, between the ‘Moderates’ and ‘Extremists.’ Dr. Johnson argues that this division was influenced by regional and local political rivalries, with provincial interests shaping national perspectives. The study emphasizes the significant role of western India, particularly Bombay, in the organization and political dynamics of the Congress, noting how local politics influenced national issues. Dr. Johnson uses unpublished letters and diaries of key political figures to explore this theme, making this work the first to underscore the importance of regional and local politics in understanding the history of the Congress. The book sheds light on the intricate connections between provincial, local, and all-India politics, offering a new perspective on South Asian nationalism and the formation of the Indian Congress.