The Home Rule League Movement emerged as a more effective and less emotionally charged response from India to the First World War compared to the actions of Indians residing abroad, who embarked on the adventurous Ghadr movement. Between 1916 and 1918, the Home Rule League Movement, led by prominent figures like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant, gained significant momentum within the Indian independence movement. 

This coalition, known as the All India Home Rule League, resembled the Irish Home Rule League in its objectives. The primary aim of the Home Rule Movement was to secure home rule or dominion status within the framework of the British Empire, similar to the status of Canada and Australia. The movement operated through two distinct home rule leagues.

Home Rule League Movement - Background

• The Government of India Act of 1909 failed to meet the expectations of the Indian population.
• The national movement faced a setback when the Congress Party split in 1907 and the influential leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak was imprisoned from 1908 to 1914.
• However, the release of Tilak and the arrival of Annie Besant marked a resurgence of the national movement.
• Annie Besant, an Irish socialist, author, and speaker, who had been advocating for Irish and Indian independence, arrived in India in 1893.
• There was a division among Indian authorities regarding whether to support Britain in the war.
• Tilak recognized the need for a revitalization of the nationalist movement in India upon his return from exile in Mandalay.
• He also acknowledged the growing significance of the Congress Party in India's political landscape and aimed to rejoin the party.
• Under the influence of Annie Besant, the extremists were allowed to rejoin the Congress Party during the December 1915 Congress session.
• Besant understood the importance of Congress's acceptance and the active involvement of the radicals in the national struggle.
• However, Besant and Tilak were unsuccessful in convincing Congress to endorse their plan of establishing home rule leagues.
• Besant managed to persuade Congress to focus on educational propaganda and the formation of local groups. It was also agreed that if these demands were not met by September 1916, Besant would be free to establish her own home rule league.
• Consequently, in September 1916, she formed her own Home Rule League.
• On the other hand, Tilak was not bound by any such condition and had established his league in April 1916.

Factors Leading to the Formation of Home Rule League

Several factors contributed to the formation of the Home Rule League:

• Dissatisfaction with the Government of India Act (1909): The Act did not fulfill the expectations of Indian leaders, leading to a sense of discontent among the nationalist movement.
• Congress Party schism and absence of key leaders: The split within the Congress Party in 1907 and the imprisonment of influential leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak dampened the nationalist response and slowed down the movement.
• The emergence of Annie Besant: Annie Besant, an Irish advocate for Irish and Indian independence, arrived in India in 1893. Her presence and support for home rule movements brought renewed energy to the nationalist cause.
• Return of Tilak: Tilak's release from exile in Mandalay allowed him to rejoin the political scene in India. His return added momentum to the nationalist movement.
• Calls for resolving the Congress Party split: The need to address the division within the Congress Party became a pressing concern, leading to discussions on reunification and strengthening the party's role in the nationalist struggle.
• Impact of the Ghadar Mutiny: The Ghadar Mutiny, an uprising by Indian revolutionaries against British rule, and its subsequent suppression by the government created a strong sense of resentment and dissatisfaction among Indians, further fueling the nationalist sentiments.
• These converging factors during the backdrop of World War I laid the foundation for the formation of the Home Rule League and marked a new phase in the Indian nationalist movement.

Home Rule League Movement - Objectives

• Attainment of self-government in India: The primary goal of the movement was to achieve self-government or home rule for India, similar to the status of dominions like Canada and Australia within the British Empire.
• Promotion of political education and discussion: The movement aimed to encourage political education and foster discussions among Indians about the need for self-government. This was done to create awareness and mobilize support for the cause.
• Opposition to government suppression: The Home Rule League sought to instil confidence among Indians to voice their concerns and stand against the government's repressive measures. It aimed to challenge the suppression of Indian voices and advocate for greater freedoms.
• Demand for increased political representation: The movement called for a larger political representation for Indians within the British government. This demand aimed to ensure that the interests and aspirations of the Indian population were adequately represented in the decision-making process.
• Revival of political activity within the Congress Party framework: The Home Rule League sought to revive and energize political engagement in India while adhering to the principles and framework of the Indian National Congress. It aimed to mobilize support within the existing political structures to achieve its objectives.
• Overall, the Home Rule League Movement aimed to establish self-government in India, promote political awareness and discussion, empower Indian voices against suppression, demand greater representation, and revitalize political activity within the Congress Party.

Home Rule League Movement - Significance

• Appeal to moderates: The focus of the Home Rule League on political debate and education attracted the support of moderate leaders. They saw the league as a platform for meaningful engagement and discussion on political issues.
• Demand for separate electorates and minority representation: The league advocated for the inclusion of demands such as separate electorates and minority representation in legislatures. These demands found resonance within the Congress as well, leading to a convergence of views.
• Dissatisfaction with the Congress: Many members of Gokhale's Servants of India Society and other sections within the Congress were dissatisfied with the perceived inaction of the party. They found an alternative platform in the Home Rule League and joined the movement.
• Brief unity among different groups: The Home Rule League briefly united moderates, extremists, and the Muslim League. This temporary alliance reflected a shared goal of self-governance and helped consolidate efforts towards that objective.
• Spread of political consciousness: The movement played a crucial role in spreading political consciousness to various regions in the country. It facilitated the involvement of leaders from different parts of India, such as Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Chittaranjan Das, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Tej Bahadur Sapru, and Lala Lajpat Rai.
• Continuous activities: Unlike the Congress Party, whose activities were limited to an annual session, the Home Rule League functioned throughout the year. This sustained engagement allowed for more continuous and active participation in political affairs.
• Montagu Declaration of 1917: The movement's efforts resulted in the Montagu Declaration of 1917, which declared a commitment to greater Indian representation in the government and the development of self-governing institutions. This declaration marked a significant step towards realizing responsible government in India.
• Changed perception of the movement: Following the Montagu Declaration, the claims and activities of the Home Rule League were no longer considered seditious. The league administration adopted a more conciliatory approach, shifting the perception of their objectives.

Overall, the Home Rule League Movement mobilized a diverse range of leaders, spread political awareness, led significant developments in Indian governance, and brought together different factions for a common cause of self-governance.

The Decline of Home Rule League Movement

The Home Rule League Movement experienced a decline and eventual dissolution by 1919. Several factors contributed to this decline:

• Ineffective organization: The movement lacked effective organizational structures, which hindered its ability to sustain momentum and carry out its objectives.
• Communal riots: The period of 1917-1918 witnessed communal riots, which created divisions and conflicts within the movement, diverting attention from the broader goals of home rule.
• Pacification of moderates: The moderates who had joined the Congress Party after Annie Besant's arrest were appeased through promises of reforms and Besant's eventual release, leading to a loss of support for the Home Rule League.
• Montagu's August 1917 statement: The Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, outlined in Montagu's statement, proposed limited self-government as a long-term goal under British rule. This announcement created divisions among nationalists, undermining the unity of the Home Rule League.
• Extremist talk of passive resistance: The Extremist faction's advocacy for passive resistance as a strategy further distanced the moderates from the Home Rule League, as they preferred a more cautious and constitutional approach.
• Besant's conflicted stance: Annie Besant herself had conflicting views on the reforms and the use of passive resistance. Her wavering position and uncertainty contributed to a lack of clear leadership within the movement.
• Tilak's absence: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent leader of the Home Rule League, was forced to travel abroad in 1918 due to a libel case. His absence left a void in leadership and weakened the movement's impact.
• The emergence of Gandhi's mass movement: Mahatma Gandhi's new approach to the struggle for freedom, which emphasized nonviolent civil disobedience and mass mobilization, gained popularity and overshadowed the Home Rule League. The growing mass movement led by Gandhi gradually marginalized the home rule movement until it faded away.

In 1920, Gandhi accepted the presidency of the All India Home Rule League and renamed it the Swarajya Sabha. However, within a year, the league merged with the Indian National Congress, marking the end of the Home Rule League Movement.

Conclusion

• In conclusion, the Home Rule League Movement led by Tilak and Besant played a significant role in India's struggle for self-rule during the early 20th century. Despite their ideological differences, both leaders recognized the need for a united front that included the Moderates and Extremists within the Congress. When Congress failed to reconcile these factions in 1914, Tilak and Besant decided to revive political activity independently.
• The Home Rule League gained considerable membership and support, reaching its peak in 1917 with around 40,000 members. However, the movement faced various challenges, including ineffective organization, communal riots, and divisions within the nationalist ranks. The pacification of the Moderates through talk of reforms and the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms further fragmented the movement.
• Moreover, the emergence of Mahatma Gandhi and his mass movement for independence gradually overshadowed the Home Rule League. In 1920, Gandhi took over the presidency of the All India Home Rule League, but within a year, the league merged into the Indian National Congress, signalling the end of the Home Rule League Movement.
• Despite its eventual decline and absorption into Congress, the Home Rule League Movement played a crucial role in raising political consciousness, fostering regional branches, and pushing for self-rule within the British Empire. It laid the groundwork for future nationalist movements and leaders who would ultimately lead India to independence.