Question

Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s?

Answer 1

• In the 1870s and 1880s, the dissatisfaction with British rule started intensifying.
• Indians were not allowed to possess arms, and this was done by passing a law known as the Arms Act, which came into force in 1878.
• In 1878, another law was passed which was known as the Vernacular Press Act.
• The Vernacular Press Act was passed to silence the people who were criticizing the Government.
• If the newspapers published anything that was found “objectionable” as per the understanding of the British officials, then as per the Vernacular Press Act, the Government had the power to confiscate the printing press and other assets of the newspaper.
• There was a huge controversy over the introduction of the Ilbert Bill in 1883.
• As per the Ilbert Bill, provided provisions for the trial of European and British persons by Indians and sought to provide equality between Indian and British judges in the country.
• But Indians were enraged when the Government was forced to withdraw the Ilbert bill due to strong opposition from the Whites.
• This opposition was the highlight of racial attitudes exhibited by the British against the Indians.
• Educated Indians had felt a need to have an all-India organisation since 1880, and this desire increased due to the racial attitudes of the British towards the Ilbert Bill.
• India belonged to all Indians irrespective of gender, language, creed, caste, color, or class.
• Indians started understanding that India will never belong to Indians until the British were exercising control over the lives of Indians and the resources of India.
• This was the thought process behind the political associations that came into being in the 1870s and 1880s.