Hindu Communalism

Wonderful — now we’re looking at the rise of Hindu communalism, which developed in parallel to Muslim communalism in the early 20th century. This part is very significant for understanding how communal identities began hardening on both sides, encouraged by colonial policy but also reinforced by certain leaders and organisations. Let’s understand:

🌸 Rise of Hindu Communalism

Background (1870s onward)

• A section of Hindu zamindars, moneylenders, and middle-class professionals began to:
  • Accept the colonial version of Indian history → “Muslim rule = tyranny, British rule = liberating.”
  • Direct their anger mainly against Muslims, not the British.
• After 1906 (formation of AIML) and 1909 (separate electorates for Muslims), many Hindu leaders felt the need for their own political organisation.

🏛 Punjab Hindu Sabha (1909)

• Founded by Lal Chand and U.N. Mukerji.
• Declared: “A Hindu first, an Indian later.”
• Attacked INC for trying to unite Hindus and Muslims into a single nation.
• Opposed Congress’s anti-imperialist politics.
• In 1913, passed a resolution to form an All-India Hindu Sabha.

🌍 All India Hindu Mahasabha (1915)

• Founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya as an umbrella organisation of regional Hindu Sabhas.
• Functioned as a pressure group defending orthodox Hindu interests before the British and within the INC.
• Limitations:
  • Stayed weak initially, since many Hindus were influenced by modern secular nationalism.
  • The British preferred to support Muslim communalism (AIML), not Hindu communalism, because they couldn’t please both simultaneously.
• Later history:
  • Did not join Civil Disobedience (1930) or Quit India (1942).
  • Officially boycotted Quit India, showing its half-hearted role in the freedom struggle.

🌟 Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861–1946)

Life and Role

• Known as Mahamana.
• Born in Allahabad (U.P.).
• Roles: Journalist, social reformer, lawyer, moderate INC leader.
• President of INC four times: 1909, 1918, 1930, 1932.
• Opposed separate electorates during the Lucknow Pact (1916).
• A “Responsivist” among Swarajists (those willing to enter councils if responsive governance was promised).

👉 In 1933, during his arrest, the INC session was presided over by Nellie Sengupta (3rd woman and 2nd foreign woman to preside).

Spread of Hindi

• Promoted Hindi and Sanskrit culture against dominance of English and Persian.
• Advocated Hindi as a unifying language for Hindus.

🏫 Banaras Hindu University (1916)

• Established BHU in Varanasi to provide:
  • Education blending Indian heritage and modern learning.
  • An inclusive environment, open to all backgrounds.
• Reflected his vision of national education rooted in Indian culture.

Journalism

• First editor of Hindustan (1885).
• Founded:
  1. Abhyudaya (Hindi weekly, 1907)
  2. Maryada (Hindi monthly)
  3. The Leader (English daily, 1909)

Peasant Unrest

• Took active interest in Awadh peasants’ plight.
• Supported United Provinces Kisan Sabha (1918), founded by Gauri Shankar Mishra & Indra Narayan Dwivedi.
• Encouraged peasants to resist taxes, nazarana (gifts), and begari (forced labour).

Recognition

• Awarded Bharat Ratna (posthumously, 2014).

✨ Key Insights

1. Hindu Communalism emerged later than Muslim communalism, partly as a reaction to AIML (1906) and separate electorates (1909).
2. Its early leadership (Punjab Hindu Sabha, Hindu Mahasabha) was more about defending Hindu interests than fighting British imperialism.
3. Malaviya played a dual role — a moderate nationalist in INC and founder of Hindu Mahasabha.
4. Despite its existence, Hindu Mahasabha was weaker than AIML in this period, partly because British favoured Muslim communalism for political strategy.