It was out of the new economic policy introduced by the British in India that the new social groups, the urban and rural middle classes, were born.

Of these the most important was the urban middle class intelligentsia. It was these people who first realized the true nature of the British rule.

Again, it was these people who realized the need for introducing reforms in the prevalent socio-religious set up. The middle class also played a very important role in the awakening of national consciousness and sense of unity amongst the Indian people.

It was the educated middle class which intensely studied the history of freedom movements in different parts of the world.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Having studied these the middle class became imbued with a spirit of nationalism and a deep sense of patriotism.

The educated middle class also came to realize that the progress of the Indians would not be possible without freedom from the foreign rule.