ICSE Class 10 History 2026: The Growth of Nationalism & Foundation of INC | Notes, Important Questions & Study Guide
Introduction
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the vast syllabus of ICSE Class 10 History? You aren’t alone. Every year, thousands of students struggle to memorize the dates of the Indian National Congress sessions or the specific contributions of Raja Rammohan Roy.
This chapter, “The Growth of Nationalism,” is the cornerstone of the Indian Independence Movement section. It isn’t just a lesson; it’s the story of how a diverse subcontinent found its voice. Understanding this chapter is crucial because it accounts for a significant chunk of marks in your 2026 Board Exams. This guide is designed to simplify complex colonial policies, break down socio-religious reforms, and provide you with a “cheat sheet” for the foundation of the INC. Let’s turn your history dread into a scoring advantage!
What You Will Learn
The Economic and Political factors that sparked Indian Nationalism.
How Repressive Colonial Policies backfired on the British.
The life-changing contributions of Social Reformers (Raja Rammohan Roy, Jyotiba Phule, etc.).
The pivotal role of the Indian Press.
The “Who, When, and Why” of the Indian National Congress (INC).
Immediate Objectives and the significance of the first two INC sessions.
1. Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism
Nationalism is a feeling of oneness and common consciousness that emerges when people living in a common territory share historical, political, and cultural bonds. In India, this didn’t happen overnight. It was a reaction to British rule.
A. Economic Exploitation
The British viewed India as a “milking cow.” Their economic policies were designed to benefit England at the cost of India.
Peasants: High land revenue demands led to debt traps and famines.
Artisans: The influx of cheap machine-made goods from Britain destroyed the Indian handicraft industry.
Drain of Wealth: Dadabhai Naoroji’s theory explained how Indian resources were being transferred to England without any return.
B. Repressive Colonial Policies
Lord Lytton’s administration (1876-1880) acted as a catalyst for Indian discontent.
The Vernacular Press Act (1878): Restricted the freedom of Indian language newspapers.
The Arms Act (1878): Made it a criminal offense for Indians to carry arms without a license, while exempting Europeans.
The Ilbert Bill Controversy: When Lord Ripon tried to allow Indian judges to try Europeans, the “White Mutiny” forced a withdrawal. This proved to Indians that they would never get justice under British rule.
C. Socio-Religious Reform Movements
These movements cleared the “intellectual fog” and gave Indians self-respect.
Raja Rammohan Roy (Brahmo Samaj)
Abolition of Sati: His persistent efforts led to the 1829 ban on Sati.
Monotheism: He preached the worship of one God and attacked idol worship and meaningless rituals.
Jyotiba Phule (Satya Shodhak Samaj)
Caste Reform: He worked tirelessly for the upliftment of the ‘un-touchables’ and lower castes.
Education: He opened the first school for girls in Pune (1848) and championed women’s rights.
Swami Dayananda Saraswati (Arya Samaj)
“Go Back to the Vedas”: He believed the Vedas contained all knowledge and rejected later distortions like the caste system by birth.
Swadeshi: He was the first to use the word “Swaraj” and encouraged the use of Indian goods.
Swami Vivekananda (Ramakrishna Mission)
Universal Brotherhood: He emphasized that all religions lead to the same goal.
Self-Reliance: He called upon the youth to be strong (“Iron nerves and muscles of steel”) to serve the nation.
D. Role of the Press
The Press was the “Nationalist Mirror.”
Spread of Ideas: Newspapers like The Amrita Bazar Patrika, The Bengalee, and The Kesari criticized British policies.
Political Education: It helped people in distant parts of India understand that they shared a common enemy.
2. Foundation of the Indian National Congress (INC)
The Origin
Year of Formation: 1885
Founder: Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume), a retired British official.
Safety Valve Theory: Some historians believe Hume started the INC to provide a “safety valve” for Indian discontent to prevent another revolt like 1857.
Immediate Objectives of the INC
To promote friendly relations between nationalist political workers from different parts of the country.
To develop and consolidate feelings of National Unity irrespective of caste, religion, or province.
To formulate popular demands and present them before the Government.
To train and organize public opinion in the country.
3. Important Sessions Table (First Two)
| Session | Year | Venue | President | Significance |
| First | 1885 | Bombay (Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College) | W.C. Bonnerjee | Attended by 72 delegates; defined INC goals. |
| Second | 1886 | Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | Marked the merger of Provincial Nationalists into a National body. |
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event | Importance for Board Exams |
| 1828 | Brahmo Samaj Founded | First organized reform movement. |
| 1873 | Satya Shodhak Samaj | Focus on caste equality. |
| 1878 | Vernacular Press Act | Major repressive policy (HOTS topic). |
| 1883 | Ilbert Bill Controversy | Convinced Indians of the need for an All-India body. |
| 1885 | Foundation of INC | Birth of the Indian National Movement. |
Important Terms & Definitions
Nationalism: A sense of political identity and loyalty to one’s nation.
Vernacular: Local languages (as opposed to English).
Swaraj: Self-rule; first popularized by Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
Drain of Wealth: The systematic transfer of India’s wealth to Britain.
Comparison Table: Reformers’ Focus
| Reformer | Primary Focus | Key Institution |
| Raja Rammohan Roy | Rationalism & Women’s Rights | Brahmo Samaj |
| Jyotiba Phule | Anti-Caste & Girl’s Education | Satya Shodhak Samaj |
| Swami Dayananda | Vedic Purity & Swadeshi | Arya Samaj |
| Swami Vivekananda | Spiritual Strength & Social Service | Ramakrishna Mission |
🎯 Most Important Board Questions (2026 Predictions)
Section A: MCQs & Short Notes
1. Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?
(a) A.O. Hume
(b) W.C. Bonnerjee ⭐
(c) Dadabhai Naoroji
(d) Surendranath Banerjee
2. Which Act was known as the ‘Gagging Act’?
(a) Arms Act
(b) Ilbert Bill
(c) Vernacular Press Act ⭐
Section B: Descriptive Questions (3-4 Marks)
Q: Explain any two economic factors that led to the growth of nationalism.
Answer Tip: Mention the “Drain of Wealth” theory and the “decline of cottage industries.”
Q: State two contributions of Jyotiba Phule.
Answer: 1. Founded Satya Shodhak Samaj to seek justice for lower castes. 2. Pioneered women’s education by opening a girls’ school in Pune.
Section C: Structured Questions (10 Marks)
Q: With reference to the Foundation of the INC, answer the following:
Who founded it and in which year? (2)
State any two immediate objectives. (4)
Explain the significance of the first two sessions. (4)
Highly Searched Google Queries (Solved)
“Why is Raja Rammohan Roy called the Father of Modern India?”
Because he was the first to recognize that India needed to blend its traditional values with Western scientific and rational thought to progress.
“What was the Ilbert Bill controversy?”
It was a proposal to allow Indian judges to try Europeans in criminal cases. The fierce opposition by Europeans (who didn’t want to be judged by “brown” men) showed Indians the deep-rooted racial discrimination of the British.
🚫 Common Board Exam Mistakes
Confusing the Founder and President: Students often write A.O. Hume as the first President. Hume was the Founder; W.C. Bonnerjee was the first President.
Vague Objectives: Don’t just write “to get freedom.” The INC did not demand freedom in 1885; they demanded reforms and unity.
Mixing Reformers: Be careful not to attribute the “Go Back to the Vedas” slogan to Vivekananda; it belongs to Dayananda Saraswati.
💡 Board Exam Writing Tips
Use Bullet Points: Examiners love scannable answers.
Highlight Key Years: Underline 1885, 1878, and 1829.
Contextualize: If you mention a reform movement, briefly mention how it helped “Nationalism” (e.g., “It removed social evils that divided Indian society”).
Presentation: Leave a line between points. Draw a small table for the INC sessions to stand out.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is the “Safety Valve” theory true? It is a historical perspective. While Hume wanted to prevent a revolt, the Indians who joined him wanted a platform for national expression.
Do I need to memorize all reformers? For the ICSE syllabus, you should know the specific contributions of at least two as mentioned in the scope.
What is the role of the Ilbert Bill in Nationalism? It acted as a “negative catalyst,” uniting Indians against racial arrogance.
Who gave the ‘Drain Theory’? Dadabhai Naoroji.
Where was the first INC session supposed to be held? Pune (it was shifted to Bombay due to a cholera outbreak).
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Conclusion:
History is not about the past; it’s about how we became who we are today. Master these factors of nationalism, and you aren’t just preparing for a 2-hour exam—you are understanding the soul of India. Go through the tables twice, solve the MCQs, and you are ready to ace your boards!
