Question

Answer the questions given under the caption.

Early Nationalist Movement in Tamil Nadu

1. What were the objectives of the Madras Native Association?
2. What led to the emergence of the nationalist press in Tamil Nadu?
3. What were the demands of Madras Mahajana Sabha?
4. Who were the early nationalist leaders in Tamil Nadu?

Answer 1

1. The objective of the Madras Native Association was to promote the interests of its members and reduction of taxes. It also protested against the government’s support of missionary activities.
2. The entire press opposed the appointment of the first South Indian judge of the Madras High Court in 1878. This led to a need for a nationalist press to express the Indian perspective. The Hindu was started in 1878 and soon became a vehicle for nationalist propaganda.
3. The demands of Madras Mahajana Sabha were to conduct civil services examinations simultaneously in England and India, the abolition of the India Council in London, reduction of taxes, and reduction of civil and military expenditure.
4. Some early nationalists in Tamil Nadu were: V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, P.S. Sivasamy Iyer, V. Krishnasamy Iyer, T.R. Venkatrama Sastri, G.A. Natesan, T.M. Madhava Rao, and S. Subramania Iyer.