Indian Liberal Party
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Party of India was a political organization espousing liberal
, pro-British
points of view in the politics of India
under the British Raj
.
. These stances rotated around the idea that Indians must petition and conduct a dialogue with the British to obtain more self-government and political freedoms. They also espoused the British system of education and cultural influences on Indian life.
which had been formed to create a mature political dialogue with the British government, liberal Indians left the Congress with the rise of Indian nationalism
, and leaders like Bipin Chandra Pal
, Lala Lajpat Rai
and Bal Gangadhar Tilak
.
The Liberal party was formed about 1910, and British intellectuals and British officials were often participating members of its committees. Its most prominent leaders were Tej Bahadur Sapru, V. S. Srinivasa Sastri and M. R. Jayakar
.
and the Non-Cooperation Movement
(1919-1922), the Salt Satyagraha
(1930-31), and the Quit India Movement
(1942-1945).
Liberals also participated in the legislative councils and assemblies at the town, provincial and central levels. Up till the Government of India Act 1935
, most Indians and the Congress Party rejected the councils and hardly voted. They were seen as rubber stamps of the viceroy, and stacked with un-elected British officials, pro-British princes and members of religious minorities represented beyond reasonable proportions. Up till 1935's legislation, only a few seats were up for popular election.
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
, pro-British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
points of view in the politics of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
under the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
.
Liberal point of view
The Liberals at various points backed British rule in India, and virtually never supported India's exit from the British EmpireBritish Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. These stances rotated around the idea that Indians must petition and conduct a dialogue with the British to obtain more self-government and political freedoms. They also espoused the British system of education and cultural influences on Indian life.
History and organization
Although initially members of the Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
which had been formed to create a mature political dialogue with the British government, liberal Indians left the Congress with the rise of Indian nationalism
Indian nationalism
Indian nationalism refers to the many underlying forces that molded the Indian independence movement, and strongly continue to influence the politics of India, as well as being the heart of many contrasting ideologies that have caused ethnic and religious conflict in Indian society...
, and leaders like Bipin Chandra Pal
Bipin Chandra Pal
Bipin Chandra Pal was an Indian nationalist. He was among the triumvirate of Lal Bal Pal.-Early life and background:...
, Lala Lajpat Rai
Lala Lajpat Rai
Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian author, freedom fighter and politician who is chiefly remembered as a leader in the Indian fight for freedom from the British Raj. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari or Sher-e-Punjab meaning the samem and was part of the Lal Bal Pal trio...
and Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak –, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities derogatorily called the great leader "Father of the Indian unrest"...
.
The Liberal party was formed about 1910, and British intellectuals and British officials were often participating members of its committees. Its most prominent leaders were Tej Bahadur Sapru, V. S. Srinivasa Sastri and M. R. Jayakar
M. R. Jayakar
Dr Mukund Ramrao Jayakar was former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Poona.Mr. Jayakar had studied LL.B. in Bombay in 1902 and become barrister in 1905 at London. In 1905 he was enrolled as advocate of the Bombay High Court...
.
Politics
The Liberal Party opposed Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and the Non-Cooperation Movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
(1919-1922), the Salt Satyagraha
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
(1930-31), and the Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
(1942-1945).
Liberals also participated in the legislative councils and assemblies at the town, provincial and central levels. Up till the Government of India Act 1935
Government of India Act 1935
The Government of India Act 1935 was originally passed in August 1935 , and is said to have been the longest Act of Parliament ever enacted by that time. Because of its length, the Act was retroactively split by the Government of India Act 1935 into two separate Acts:# The Government of India...
, most Indians and the Congress Party rejected the councils and hardly voted. They were seen as rubber stamps of the viceroy, and stacked with un-elected British officials, pro-British princes and members of religious minorities represented beyond reasonable proportions. Up till 1935's legislation, only a few seats were up for popular election.
Assessment
The Liberal party was never popular with common Indians, and distrusted intensely by Indian nationalists. With the British decision to grant independence to India, the party disappeared from existence.See also
- Liberalism in IndiaLiberalism in India-1757–1947: The effect of British liberal ideas:The strengthening of British influence in Bengal with the battle of Plassey in 1757 coincided with significant developments of thought in England and in the USA...
- Indian Independence MovementIndian independence movementThe term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
, Indian National CongressIndian National CongressThe Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, Indian NationalismIndian nationalismIndian nationalism refers to the many underlying forces that molded the Indian independence movement, and strongly continue to influence the politics of India, as well as being the heart of many contrasting ideologies that have caused ethnic and religious conflict in Indian society... - Leaders of the Independence Movement