Day 2 – Q 5.The ideological moorings of the freedom movement derived its intellectual fodder from Bengal. Elucidate.

5. The ideological moorings of the freedom movement derived its intellectual fodder from Bengal. Elucidate.

स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन के वैचारिक भावों ने बंगाल से अपना बौद्धिक चारा प्राप्त किया। स्पष्ट करें।

Introduction:

An Ideology specifically means a system of ideas or ideals on which one bases his or her political or economic policy.

Moorings generally mean any belief or familiar ways of thinking which provides a kind of psychological stability.

Body:

The Indian national movement brought people from all classes and ideologies into one frame of political action.

• Bengal rose into national consciousness on the back of Swadeshi movement and also further became the hub of leftist, socialist elements predominantly the Bengal Intelligentsia ( The Bhadralok).
• The freedom struggle was also a movement of economic liberation which had its roots in the Bengal Swadeshi movement which followed the Partition of Bengal.
• The social and religious reform movements of the 19th century also contributed to the feeling of Nationalism. Swami Vivekananda, Annie Besant, Henry Derozio and many others. They revived the glory of ancient India, created faith among the people in their religion and culture and thus gave the message of love for their motherland.
• The intellectual and spiritual side of Nationalism was voiced by persons like Bankim Chandra Chatterji, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Aurobindo Ghosh. Bankim Chandra’s hymn to the Motherland, ‘Vande Matram’ became the rallying cry of patriotic nationalists. It inspired generations to supreme self-sacrifice.
• The role of Institutional struggle also had its roots in the Bengal Movement with the formation of many associations like the Anushilan Samiti, Bengal British India society, Indian Association etc.
• The leftists under MN Roy also influenced the development of Democratic, civic libertarian polity with socialist policy that the Indian state finally developed itself into.
• Farmers also became the key stake holders in the freedom struggle as the National Movement took upon itself the ideology of Radical Agrarian Reform as one of its core principles which was also influenced by the Communist struggles in Bengal.

Conclusion:

Thus the Indian freedom movement was one of the best examples of creation of Pan Nation movement where in diverse political and ideological currents co-existed and worked simultaneously towards ending colonial rule.