Summary

● Home Rule League Movement

Manifestation of a trend of aggressive politics in national movement; was pioneered by Tilak and Annie Besant on lines of a similar movement in Ireland.

* Factors Favouring the Movement

1. Need being felt for popular pressure to attain concessions.

2. Disillusionment with Morley-Minto Reforms.

3. Wartime miseries—public ready to protest.

4. Tilak, Besant ready to assume leadership.

* Aim of the Movement To convey to the common man the concept of Home Rule as self-government.

* Tilak’s League—Started in April 1916 and operated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Central Provinces and Berar; had six branches.

* Besant’s League—Started in September 1916 and operated in rest of India; had 200 branches.

Later, the leagues were joined by others including Moderate Congressmen.

* Methods used Organising discussions, reading rooms, propaganda through public meetings, newspapers, pamphlets, posters, etc.

* Positive Gains Emphasis shifted to the masses permanently; organisational link established between town and country; prepared a generation of ardent nationalists, influenced Moderate-Extremist reunion at Lucknow (1916)

● Lucknow Session of INC—1916

Extremists were readmitted to Congress

Muslim League and Congress put up joint demands under Lucknow Pact.

Congress accepted the League’s position on separate electorates.

● Importance of Montagu’s Statement Attainment of self- government for Indians became a government policy.

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