The book reflects the study of the nationalist movement in India by veteran freedom fighter and our foremost leader Lala Lajpat Rai. It covers India from 1757 to 1857 A.D. and then from the mutiny of 1857 to 1905 A.D. It was revised further by the author to the happenings up to the year 1915. It gives a detailed account of the socio-economic condition and the spread of awakening for freedom among the masses. It decimates the arguments of British colonialism of having a welfare state in India. It is an important tool for the study of Indian independence.
A great read for the current generation by one of the tallest freedom fighters of India.

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Contents

Foreword — Pgs. 9

Introduction — Pgs. 23

1. The General Viewpoint of the Indian Nationalist — Pgs. 69

First Invasion of India — Pgs. 70

Chandra Gupta and Asoka — Pgs. 70

India Practically Independent up to the Twelfth Century — Pgs. 71

Muslim Rule — Pgs. 71

Muslim Rule in India not Foreign — Pgs. 73

Iindia under the British — Pgs. 75

Political Disqualification of the Indians — Pgs. 76

All Europeans, Eurasians including Armenians and Jews can carry Arms Free of License; Not so the — Indians — Pgs. 77

Loyalty of Ruling Chiefs  — Pgs. 84

Middle Class Desires Political Freedom — Pgs. 85

2. India from 1757 to 1857 A.D. — Pgs. 89

Conflict of French and English in India — Pgs. 89

How British Rule in India was Established — Pgs. 90

Methods of Consolidation of British India — Pgs. 90

British Public Ignorant of Facts — Pgs. 91

Conquest of India Diplomatic, not Military — Pgs. 93

The Great Indian Mutiny of 1857 — Pgs. 93

How the Mutiny was Put Down — Pgs. 94

3. India from 1857 to 1905 — Pgs. 100

Part I—From 1857 to 1885 — Pgs. 100

The Bengalee Babu — Pgs. 100

Forces Resisting Denationalisation — Pgs. 104

Political Disappointments — Pgs. 104

Lord Ripon — Pgs. 106

Lord Dufferin — Pgs. 109

Part II—The Birth of the Indian National Congress — Pgs. 109

Indian National Congress – An English Product — Pgs. 109

Hume, A Lover of Liberty — Pgs. 110

Congress to Save British Empire from Danger — Pgs. 112

The Congress Lacked Essentials of a National Movement — Pgs. 120

Hume’s Political Movement — Pgs. 122

Congress Overawed — Pgs. 123

Congress Agitation in England — Pgs. 124

Causes of Failure of the Congress — Pgs. 125

Part III—The Birth of the New Nationalist Movement — Pgs. 127

Swadeshi and Swaraj — Pgs. 127

Men who have Inspired the Movement — Pgs. 130

The failures of the Congress evolved the Nationalist — Movement — Pgs. 131

Lord Curzon and Indian Education — Pgs. 133

Lord Curzon’s Secret Educational Conference — Pgs. 134

Indians and Lord Curzon at Cross Purposes — Pgs. 134

The Congress Deputation to England in 1905 — Pgs. 135

The Congress of 1905 — Pgs. 136

Object of the Passive Resistance Movement — Pgs. 137

4. The First Years of the Nationalist Movement — Pgs. 141

Partition of Bengal — Pgs. 141

Boycott of British Goods — Pgs. 141

The Second Move of the Bengalees: The National University — Pgs. 143

Arabinda Ghosh — Pgs. 145

The Nationalist Press — Pgs. 147

Military Measures against Boycotters — Pgs. 148

Lord Minto — Pgs. 149

Indian Press Gagged — Pgs. 150

Deportation of Lajpat Rai — Pgs. 151

Disaffection Driven Underground — Pgs. 152

Lord Hardinge Bombed — Pgs. 153

5. Types of Nationalists — Pgs. 155

The Extremists — Pgs. 155

A Few Nihilists — Pgs. 156

Religions Extremists — Pgs. 157

The Mother Worshippers — Pgs. 157

Vedantists — Pgs. 158

Advocates of Organised Rebellion — Pgs. 160

Har Dayal — Pgs. 161

Hardayalism — Pgs. 163

Political Freedom the First Condition of Life — Pgs. 164

Arabinda Ghosh—Vedantist and Swarajist — Pgs. 167

Ganesh Vinayak Savarkar — Pgs. 171

The Terrorists — Pgs. 171

Advocates of Constructive Nationalisation — Pgs. 172

Independence, But Not at Once — Pgs. 172

Preparing the Nation for Freedom — Pgs. 173

Preparatory Work from Below — Pgs. 174

Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission — Pgs. 174

The Moderates — Pgs. 175

Gokhale — Pgs. 175

Congress Leaders — Pgs. 177

Passive Resisters — Pgs. 177

6. Indian Nationalism and the World-Forces — Pgs. 179

Inspiration through European Nationalism — Pgs. 179

History of Modern Europe tabooed in Universities — Pgs. 179

Italian-Turko War — Pgs. 180

Interpretation of India to Western World — Pgs. 180

Tagorism — Pgs. 181

7. The Religious and the Communal Elements in Indian Nationalism — Pgs. 182

Mohammedan Revulsion of Feeling against the —  British — Pgs. 182

Disaffection among the Sikhs — Pgs. 184

8. The Future — Pgs. 185

Change in Indian Life and Depth of Nationalism — Pgs. 185

Nationalism Fertilised by Blood of Martyrs — Pgs. 187

Wave of Indian Nationalism is on — Pgs. 187

Propitiation and Petty Concessions Futile — Pgs. 188

Internal Division No Valid Plea — Pgs. 189

Illiteracy, the Fault of the British and No Bar to Self-government — Pgs. 190

Internal Troubles — Pgs. 190

Unfitness of Orientals for Representative Institutions — Pgs. 191

Nationalism has Come to Stay — Pgs. 191

Curzons, MacDonnels, Sydenhams, responsible for Bombs and Revolvers — Pgs. 192

Appendices-I: Extracts Prom Sir Henry Cotton’s ‘New India’ — Pgs. 193

Feudatory Chiefs Powerless — Pgs. 193

APPENDICES-II: Some Opinions about British India — Pgs. 194

Industrial Ruin of India — Pgs. 194

India a Mere Possession — Pgs. 194

Masses Starved — Pgs. 194

William Digby — Pgs. 195

70,000,000 Continually Hungry People in British India — Pgs. 195

Total Area Under Cultivation — Pgs. 195

Famines of Money, Not Food. Lord G. Hamilton — Pgs. 196

Causes of Famines — Pgs. 196

Drain — Pgs. 196

Enormous Foreign Tribute — Pgs. 196

Government Assessment Too High — Pgs. 196

The Ryot — Pgs. 197

Indian Plunder — Pgs. 197

Narrow and Shortsighted Imperial Policy. Sir Archibald R. Colquehoun — Pgs. 198

Taxation — Pgs. 198

APPENDICES-III — Pgs. 199

Facts and Figures — Pgs. 199

Plague, Deaths from — Pgs. 199

Indian Finance — Pgs. 199

Land Tax — Pgs. 199

Income Tax — Pgs. 200

Customs — Pgs. 200

Personnel of the Government — Pgs. 201

Services — Pgs. 202

APPENDICES-IV — Pgs. 204

The Flogging of Political Prisoners — Pgs. 204

A Short Bibliography of Books in English — Pgs. 205

Books by Englishmen — Pgs. 205

Books by Indians — Pgs. 206

Works by the Same Author (In English) — Pgs. 207

The Arya Samaj — Pgs. 207

Lala Lajpat Rai , (28 January 1865 – 17 November 1928) was a Punjabi author and politician who is chiefly remembered as a leader in the Indian Independence movement. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari. He was part of the Lal Bal Pal trio He was also associated with activities of Punjab National Bank and Lakshmi Insurance Company in their early stages. He sustained serious injuries by the police when leading a non-violent protest against the Simon Commission and died less than three weeks later. His death anniversary (17 November) is one of several days celebrated as Martyrs' Day in India.