CDS History · Modern India
Early Nationalism
The regional associations that came before the Congress, the methods and newspapers of the Moderates, and the Swadeshi movement, the Ghadar Party and the events of 1916.
Why this matters
Twelve CDS questions, all from 2020 onwards. The three on the early associations are all HARD, and two of them turn on dates, so the order 1870, 1876, 1884, 1885 is worth learning by heart. The newspaper questions ask which founder does not match, so learn each paper with its person.
Concept 1 of 3: Associations before the Congress
Before there was an all-India Congress, educated Indians formed associations in Poona, Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. When the Congress met in 1885, it drew these bodies together rather than competing with them.
Definition
The associations in order:
- Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1870): with M.G. Ranade among its leaders, a bridge between government and people.
- Indian Association (1876): Surendranath Banerjea, Calcutta. It called the Indian National Conference at Calcutta.
- Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884).
- Bombay Presidency Association (1885): Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji and K.T. Telang.
- Indian National Congress (December 1885): organised by A.O. Hume; first session at Bombay, president W.C. Bonnerjee. It was not a rival to the associations and not a body of the poor: it was a forum for the educated classes.
| Association | Year | Leaders |
|---|---|---|
| Poona Sarvajanik Sabha | 1870 | M.G. Ranade and othersQ |
| Indian Association | 1876 | Surendranath Banerjea, Calcutta |
| Madras Mahajan Sabha | 1884 | G. Subramania Iyer, P. Ananda Charlu, M. Viraraghavachari |
| Bombay Presidency Association | 1885 | Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, K.T. TelangQ |
| Indian National Congress | 1885 | A.O. Hume; first president W.C. Bonnerjee |
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2025 · CDS (II) 2025 — General Knowledge · Q54Hard
Example 1 · Modern India · Early Nationalism
Chronologically arrange the formation of the following political associations, beginning from the earliest :
1. Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
2. Indian Association
3. Madras Mahajan Sabha
4. Bombay Presidency Association
Select the answer using the code given below :
The Congress did not compete with them
A statement that Hume set up an all-India body as a rival to these associations, for the poor and marginalised, is false. The Congress gathered the same educated leaders together.
Concept 2 of 3: The Moderates and the nationalist press
The early Congress leaders believed in British fair play. They asked for reforms by petition and speech, step by step, and built public opinion through newspapers. They never asked the British to leave.
Definition
The Moderates:
- Methods: constitutional agitation, petitions and speeches, slow and orderly progress, and building public opinion. Not the overthrow of British rule.
- Demands: repeal of the Arms Act, higher posts for Indians in the army and services, extension of the Permanent Settlement. Not universal adult franchise, which came much later.
Papers and their people:
- Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English): Bal Gangadhar Tilak, 1881.
- Bengalee: Surendranath Banerjea. Voice of India: Dadabhai Naoroji. Bombay Chronicle: Pherozeshah Mehta.
- Navjivan: Gandhi. Kudi Arasu (Tamil weekly): Periyar. Kisan Bulletin: Indulal Yagnik. Bhawani Mandir (revolutionary pamphlet): Aurobindo Ghosh.
| Paper | Kind | Founder or editor |
|---|---|---|
| Kesari | Marathi weekly | Bal Gangadhar TilakQ |
| Mahratta | English weekly | Bal Gangadhar Tilak |
| Bengalee | English newspaper | Surendranath Banerjea |
| Voice of India | English journal | Dadabhai NaorojiQ |
| Bombay Chronicle | English daily | Pherozeshah Mehta |
| Navjivan | Gujarati weekly | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Kudi Arasu | Tamil weekly | PeriyarQ CDS 2025 (II) matched it with the Kisan Bulletin, the Bombay Chronicle and Bhawani Mandir. |
| Kisan Bulletin | Peasant bulletin | Indulal Yagnik |
| Bhawani Mandir | Revolutionary pamphlet | Aurobindo Ghosh |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2021 · CDS (II) 2021 — General Knowledge · Q60Moderate
Example 2 · Modern India · Early Nationalism
Which one of the following is not a political method of the moderates in the National Movement ?
Voice of India was Naoroji's
Voice of India was started by Dadabhai Naoroji. Pairing it with Gokhale is the wrong match; Gokhale wrote for the Sudharak.
Concept 3 of 3: Swadeshi, the Ghadar Party and 1916
The partition of Bengal turned petitions into boycott. Abroad, Indian emigrants in America planned a revolt. And in 1916 the Congress and the Muslim League came together while two Home Rule Leagues spread the demand for self-rule.
Definition
The events:
- Partition of Bengal (1905, Lord Curzon) led to the anti-partition agitation, from which the Swadeshi Movement grew: use Indian goods, boycott foreign ones.
- Aurobindo Ghosh and the Extremists wanted it spread to all India and turned into a full political mass struggle.
- Ghadar Party (1913): founded by Indian emigrants on the American west coast, president Sohan Singh Bhakna, headquarters at San Francisco. It took its name from its weekly Ghadar (revolt), printed in several Indian languages.
- 1916: the Home Rule Leagues of Tilak and Annie Besant; the Lucknow session of the Congress; and the Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim League.
| Event | Year | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Partition of Bengal | 1905 | Lord Curzon |
| Swadeshi Movement | From 1905 | Grew from the anti-partition agitation; boycott of foreign goodsQ |
| Ghadar Party | 1913 | San Francisco; president Sohan Singh BhaknaQ |
| Home Rule Leagues | 1916 | Tilak (April) and Annie Besant (September) |
| Lucknow session and Lucknow Pact | 1916 | Congress and Muslim League agreeQ |
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2025 · CDS (II) 2025 — General Knowledge · Q53Moderate
Example 3 · Modern India · Early Nationalism
Which of the following statements about the Ghadar Movement is/are correct ?
1. The Ghadar Movement began in 1913 in San Francisco.
2. The movement was founded by Sohan Singh Bhakna.
3. The Ghadar Movement took its name from the weekly Ghadar brought out in several Indian languages.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Three events, one year
The Lucknow session, the Lucknow Pact and the Home Rule Leagues all belong to 1916. An option dropping any one of them is wrong.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (3)
Associations before the Congress5 rows
| Association | Year | Leaders |
|---|---|---|
| Poona Sarvajanik Sabha | 1870 | M.G. Ranade and othersQ |
| Indian Association | 1876 | Surendranath Banerjea, Calcutta |
| Madras Mahajan Sabha | 1884 | G. Subramania Iyer, P. Ananda Charlu, M. Viraraghavachari |
| Bombay Presidency Association | 1885 | Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, K.T. TelangQ |
| Indian National Congress | 1885 | A.O. Hume; first president W.C. Bonnerjee |
The Moderates and the nationalist press9 rows
| Paper | Kind | Founder or editor |
|---|---|---|
| Kesari | Marathi weekly | Bal Gangadhar TilakQ |
| Mahratta | English weekly | Bal Gangadhar Tilak |
| Bengalee | English newspaper | Surendranath Banerjea |
| Voice of India | English journal | Dadabhai NaorojiQ |
| Bombay Chronicle | English daily | Pherozeshah Mehta |
| Navjivan | Gujarati weekly | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Kudi Arasu | Tamil weekly | PeriyarQ CDS 2025 (II) matched it with the Kisan Bulletin, the Bombay Chronicle and Bhawani Mandir. |
| Kisan Bulletin | Peasant bulletin | Indulal Yagnik |
| Bhawani Mandir | Revolutionary pamphlet | Aurobindo Ghosh |
Swadeshi, the Ghadar Party and 19165 rows
| Event | Year | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Partition of Bengal | 1905 | Lord Curzon |
| Swadeshi Movement | From 1905 | Grew from the anti-partition agitation; boycott of foreign goodsQ |
| Ghadar Party | 1913 | San Francisco; president Sohan Singh BhaknaQ |
| Home Rule Leagues | 1916 | Tilak (April) and Annie Besant (September) |
| Lucknow session and Lucknow Pact | 1916 | Congress and Muslim League agreeQ |
Watch out for (3)
- The Congress did not compete with them→ Associations before the Congress
- Voice of India was Naoroji's→ The Moderates and the nationalist press
- Three events, one year→ Swadeshi, the Ghadar Party and 1916
Test yourself on Modern India
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.