Surendranath Banerjee founded the Indian Association in 1876 to oppose the unjust policies of the British. The aim of this association was to educate the people and to arouse political consciousness and unity among the Indians.
Surendranath Banerjee (1848–1925)
- Surendranath Banerjee was a nationalist leader, journalist and dedicated educationist.
- After he qualified for the Civil Service Examination, he worked as a magistrate in Assam but was dismissed because he opposed the policy of racial discrimination followed by the British.
- In 1921, he was appointed as minister of self-government and health by the Governor of Bengal.
Contributions of Surendranath Banerjee
- He founded the Indian Association in 1876 to oppose the unjust policies of the British. The aim of this association was to educate the people and to arouse the political consciousness and unity among the Indians.
- He convened the Indian National Conference in 1883 at Kolkata to create an all India political organization. This organization later merged with the Indian National Congress in 1886.
- He edited a newspaper, Bengalee, which was an important medium for mobilizing public opinion.
- He started agitations against the Licence Act, Arms Act and Vernacular Press Act. Surendranath Banerjee is popularly known as the Father of Indian Nationalism.
Beliefs of Surendranath Banerjee as Early Nationalists
- He had faith in the British sense of justice and fair play.
- He believed that the British would grant ‘Home Rule’ to Indians.
- He believed that the British rule had positively influenced Indian society by banning sati, female infanticide and by raising the minimum marriageable age of girls and boys.
- He believed in agitating through constitutional and peaceful methods like writing petitions.
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Programmes and Achievements of the Early Nationalists
The Indian National Congress from its inception in 1885 to 1905 was dominated by the early nationalists. These early nationalists were eminent personalities. They were lawyers, barristers, teachers, and officials. Because many of them were educated in England, they believed in the British sense of justice and fair play. Read more