Associations (a) Madras Native Association One of first attempts to organise and vent the grievances against the British came through formation of Madras Native Association (MNA) on February . An association of landed and business classes of the Madras Presidency, they expressed their grievances against the Company’s administration in the revenue, education and judicial spheres. Gajula Lakshminarasu, who inspired the foundation of MNA, was a prominent businessman in Madras city. Gajula Lakshminarasu (b) Racial Discrimination The English followed a policy of racial discrimination.
The systematic exclusion of the Indians from higher official positions came to be looked upon as an anti-Indian policy measure and the resultant discontent of the Indian upper classes led the Indians to revolt against the British rule. When civil service examinations were introduced the age limit was fixed at twenty one. When Indians were making it, with a view to debarring the Indians from entering the civil services, the age limit was reduced to nineteen. Similarly, despite requests from Indian educated middle class to hold the civil service examinations simultaneously in India, the Imperial government refused to concede the request.
(c) Repressive as well as Exploitative Measures against Indians Repressive regulations like Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code ( ), punishing attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government, and Vernacular Press Act ( ), censoring the press, evoked protest. Abolition of custom duty on cotton manufactures imported from England and levy of excise duty on cotton fabrics manufactured in India created nationwide discontent. During the viceroyalty of Ripon the Indian judges were empowered through the Ilbert Bill to try Europeans. But in the face of resistance from the Europeans the bill was amended to suit the European interests.
(d) Role of Press The introduction of printing press in India was an event of great significance. It helped people to spread, modern ideas of self-government, democracy, civil rights and industrialisation. The press became the critic of politics. It addressed the people on several issues affecting the country.
Raja Rammohan Roy’s Sambad Kaumudi ( ) in Bengali and Mirat-Ul-Akbar ( ) in Persian played a progressive role in educating the