MEERUT COLLEGE AND THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE 37 authoritarianism in the universities. Sir Phirozeshah Mehta, SN Banerjea and GK Gokhalc exposed the imperialistic motives behind the so-called university reform. Indians clearly saw that the real aim of the reform was to prevent the universities and colleges from 'becoming ^nurseries of nationalism'9.* Even Gurzoa^s sympathetic biographer, Ronaldshay, and the Sadler Commission on education recognised the imperialistic motives behind the Universities Act. But Gurzon's crowning folly was the partition of Bengal which transformed a mild national sentiment into a resentful, radical movment. Swadeshi, boycott and national education had now become the creed of the national movement. Foreign goods including sugar were boycotted by the people.1® Sita Ram,a Meerut College student who was later president of the College Managing Committee, pleaded for swadeshism ^in spirit and in action/'11 When G K Gokhale visited Meerut the Swadeshi movement was at its height.12 His visit was of great significance.18 The students of ^Meerut College presented him an address of welcome. He spoke on the political situation and the present needs of Indians.14 Link with the Congress The message of the Congress had already come to Meerut. As early as 1886 five delegates had attended the Calcutta session of the Congress. One of them, Sitalkanta Chatterjee, spoke on such resolutions as e Verdict of Jury' and Toverty of India'.16 The aforementioned visits of all India leaders further popularised the gospel of the Congress. The reports of the various sessions of the Indian National Congress indicate that the District Congress Committee began sending delegates in 1909. Prior to 1909 the delegates were sent either by the Meerut Association or through public meetings. The number of delegates attending the Congress sessions rose from five in 1886 to more than 200 in 1918, many of whom were students of the College.16 The outbreak of the Great War in 1914 and the Pan-Islamist propaganda furthered the cause of nationalism and democracy on the one hand and brought about a Hindu-Muslim entente on the other. B G Tilak's release in 1914, after six years^ incarceration, and his subsequent propaganda circuit in favour of Home Rule had created a new consciousness. James Meston wrote to the Viceroy on 7 February, 1917: The cult of the nationalists had gone to very great lengths. You see disconcerting photographs in quiet village homes and in every student's cubicle.17 A grand reception was accorded to Tilak in Meerut.14 He addressed a number of meetings and was lustily cheered by the students. The anger of both the Home Rulers and Pan-Islamists was demonstrated at the sessions of the Congress and Muslim League held concurrently at Delhi in 1918. Britain must be made to redeem her war-time promises in the spirit of^now or never" James Meston correctly read the Indian mood: