Volume X: British Paramountcy and Indian Renaissance (Part II) in the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan series covers the period from 1858 to 1905 CE. This volume bridges the gap between the end of the Great Revolt and the rise of militant nationalism triggered by the Partition of Bengal.
It is characterized by the formalization of the British Raj and a profound internal transformation of Indian society through organized reform and the birth of political consciousness.
Following the 1858 Act, the East India Company was abolished, and India came under the direct rule of the British Parliament.
The Viceroyalty: The volume examines the administrative shifts under Viceroys like Canning, Mayo, and Lytton. It highlights the "Policy of Association," where the British tried to include some Indians in the Legislative Councils (1861 Act) to avoid another 1857-style uprising.
The Frontier Policy: This period saw the "Great Game" between Britain and Russia, leading to the Second Afghan War and the annexation of Upper Burma (1885).
Lord Curzon’s Era: The volume concludes with a critical look at Curzon’s high-handed efficiency, which peaked with the Partition of Bengal (1905), an event that set the stage for the modern independence movement.
If Part I was about early pioneers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Part II covers the massive, organized movements that reached the grassroots level.
Arya Samaj: Founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. The volume analyzes his slogan "Back to the Vedas," his opposition to idol worship, and the establishment of the DAV (Dayananda Anglo-Vedic) schools.
Ramakrishna Mission: The spiritual impact of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the global intellectual influence of Swami Vivekananda, particularly his speech at the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions.
Theosophical Society: The role of Annie Besant in bridging Western occultism with Indian spiritual heritage.
The Aligarh Movement: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s efforts to modernize Muslim education and society through the founding of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (now AMU).
This is the most significant political development of the era. The volume tracks how local associations merged into a national platform.
Pre-Congress Associations: Groups like the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha and the Indian Association of Calcutta.
Founding of the Indian National Congress (1885): The volume provides a detailed account of its first session in Bombay, the role of A.O. Hume, and the early leadership of Dadabhai Naoroji and W.C. Bonnerjee.
The "Moderate" Phase: The strategies of the early Congress—"Petition, Prayer, and Protest"—and their efforts to expose the economic drain of India (Naoroji’s "Drain Theory").
A sobering portion of Volume X is dedicated to the recurring tragedies of the late 19th century.
The Great Famines: Detailed reports on the famines of 1876, 1896, and 1899, and the perceived inadequacy of the British Famine Codes.
De-industrialization: How British trade policies led to the collapse of the Indian textile industry, turning India into a mere exporter of raw materials and an importer of finished British goods.
The Renaissance was fueled by a explosion in vernacular printing.
The Vernacular Press Act (1878): Lytton’s attempt to muzzle Indian newspapers, which only served to make the press more defiant.
Literary Giants: The contributions of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (whose Anandamath gave India the hymn Vande Mataram) and the early works of Rabindranath Tagore.
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