The Case for India

"The Case for India" by Annie Besant is a written political speech from the late 1800s where Besant speaks passionately about India governing itself, what makes India a nation, changing politics, and what British rule did to Indian society. Besant starts off by expressing how thankful she is to be chosen as President of the Congress at a time when the government was clamping down. She connects India's past attempts to rule itself with the world's fight against controlling governments during World War I. She points out how British rule forced India to spend a lot of money on the military and recognizes the sacrifices of Indian soldiers in the war. Besant argues that Home Rule is essential because every nation has the right to be free, and she emphasizes that India's needs are being ignored because it doesn't have a say in its own affairs; this sets the stage for a forceful demand for India to take back its respect and independence.