● 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.