Maharashtra Board Class 8 History Chapter 8 Civil Disobedience Movement PDF Download

Civil Disobedience Movement

After the resolution of Complete Independence was passed in the Lahore session, Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch the Civil Disobedience Movement. Before beginning this movement, Gandhiji put up various demands in front of the British Government. One of the important demand was to cancel the salt tax and monopoly of British Government for manufacture of salt. But because the demands of Gandhiji were rejected by the Government he decided to launch Satyagraha all over India by breaking the salt act.

Salt is an important ingredient in the food of common people. Hence it was unjust to impose tax on an essential commodity like salt. Therefore Gandhiji started the Salt Satyagraha. Salt Satyagraha was symbolic. The extensive objective behind it was to break the oppressive and unjust laws of the British Government through peace and Satyagraha.

Gandhiji chose Dandi, a seashore, in Gujarat to begin the Salt Satyagraha. On 12 March 1930 Gandhiji set out from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 followers for launching the Salt Satyagraha. A distance of approximately 385 km was covered on foot and Gandhiji delivered speeches in the villages on the way. Through the speeches Gandhiji appealed to the people to be fearless and join the Civil Disobedience Movement. Due to Gandhiji's speeches message of Civil Disobedience Movement spread everywhere and a favourable atmosphere was created. On 5 April 1930, Gandhiji reached Dandi. On 6 April Gandhiji broke the salt act by picking up the salt laying on the sea shore of Dandi and the Civil Disobedience Movement started all over the country.

Teacher's Note

Salt tax was unfair because salt is needed by all poor people. Today, we have fair prices for everything, just like when India became free.

Exam Trick

Remember: Dandi March = 12 March 1930. Gandhi walked 385 km to break salt law on 6 April 1930. Think: "March walk, April action."

Points to Remember

Gandhi walked from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in March 1930.
He picked salt from the sea shore on 6 April 1930.
This broke the British salt law.
Common people joined because salt tax hurt poor families.
The movement spread all over India very quickly.

The Peshawar Satyagraha

In the North West Frontier, Khan Abdul Gafar Khan was the most loyal follower of Mahatma Gandhi. He was also known as 'Frontier Gandhi'. He had founded the organisation called 'Khuda-i-Khidmatgar'. On 23 April 1930, he started satyagraha at Peshawar. The town was in the hands of the satyagrahis nearly for a week. The British Government gave orders to the Garhwal regiment to carry out open firing on the Satyagrahis, but Chandrasing Thakur, an officer of Garhwal Regiment, refused to open fire. He was court martialled and was given a severe punishment.

The British Government found itself in a difficult situation due to the satyagraha launched by Mahatma Gandhi. On 4 May 1930 Gandhiji was arrested. Suppressive measures were undertaken all over the country. There was protest all over the country due to the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi.

Teacher's Note

Chandrasing Thakur was very brave. He refused to shoot Indian people even when British officers ordered him. Today, we respect such brave soldiers.

Exam Trick

Remember: Khan Abdul Gafar Khan = Frontier Gandhi. He started satyagraha at Peshawar on 23 April 1930. Think: "Khan = Frontier, Peshawar = North West."

Points to Remember

Khan Abdul Gafar Khan led the movement in North West Frontier.
He founded the Khuda-i-Khidmatgar organisation.
Chandrasing Thakur refused to shoot peaceful protesters.
Gandhi was arrested on 4 May 1930.
The British used harsh methods to stop the movement.

Solapur Satyagraha

The mill workers were on the forefront in the Solapur satyagraha. On 6 May 1930, hartal was observed in Solapur. A huge procession was organised in Solapur. The District Collector gave orders of firing on the procession. Many volunteers along with Shankar Shivdare died in the firing. As a result, people started attacking police stations, railway station, courts, municipal buildings etc. The Government declared Martial Law and the agitation was suppressed. Those who took lead in this movement, such as Mallappa Dhanshetti, Shrikrishna Sarda, Qurban Hussain and Jagannath Shinde were hanged to death.

The salt satyagraha continued endlessly. In Maharashtra, salt satyagraha took place at Wadala, Malvan and Shiroda.

Where there were no salt-pans, the forest laws were broken. There were jungle satyagrahis at Bilashi, Sangamner, Kalavan, Chirner and Pusad in Maharashtra. The tribal people also took part in the satyagraha in large numbers.

Teacher's Note

In Solapur, workers from mills showed great courage. They protested against unfair British laws. Today, workers in India have better rights because of such brave people.

Exam Trick

Remember: Solapur = 6 May 1930. Mill workers = front line. Hartal = strike. Think: "Workers strike, police fire, people angry."

Points to Remember

Mill workers led the Solapur satyagraha.
Hartal (strike) happened on 6 May 1930.
Martial Law was declared by the British.
Four leaders were hanged to death.
The movement spread to many towns in Maharashtra.

Sacrifice of Babu Genu

In Mumbai, there was agitation against foreign goods. The vehicles transporting foreign goods were obstructed. Babu Genu Said, a mill worker, from Mumbai was in the forefront in this movement. A truck carrying foreign goods, safeguarded by the police, came in front of Babu Genu. To stop the truck he lied down on the road. Police threatened him, but he did not move from his place. Finally he was crushed under the truck. Babu Genu gained martyrdom. This sacrifice of Babu Genu gave inspiration to the national movement.

Teacher's Note

Babu Genu was very brave. He gave his life to stop foreign goods from entering India. His sacrifice inspired many other people to join the freedom movement.

Exam Trick

Remember: Babu Genu = martyrdom against foreign goods. He lay under the truck. Think: "One person, one truck, big sacrifice, big inspiration."

Points to Remember

Babu Genu was a mill worker from Mumbai.
He protested against foreign goods coming to India.
He lay down on the road to stop a truck.
Police did not stop him and the truck crushed him.
His death inspired many people to join the movement.

Features of Civil Disobedience Movement

All the movements, till now, were limited only to urban areas. But this movement became a nationwide movement. People from rural areas registered their participation.

Women also took part in large numbers. Kasturba Gandhi, Kamladevi Chattopadhyay, Avantikabai Gokhale, Lilavati Munshi, Hansaben Mehta led the satyagraha.

This movement was based on complete non violence. The British Government was trying to greatly suppress the movement, but the people protested unarmed. Due to this the Indian people became fearless.

Teacher's Note

This movement was special because everyone joined - farmers, workers, women and children. In villages and cities, all Indians stood together against British rule.

Exam Trick

Remember: Three features = Nationwide + Women + Non-violence. Think: "Whole country, all people, no guns, just courage."

Points to Remember

The movement spread from cities to villages across India.
Women like Kasturba Gandhi and Sarojini Naidu led protests.
People used only non-violence, no weapons, no fighting.
Unarmed Indians faced police lathi charges with courage.
The British could not stop the power of peaceful protest.

Dharasana Satyagraha

The satyagraha at Dharasana in Gujarat was led by Sarojini Naidu. The police lathi charged on the satyagrahis who came forward to break the Salt Act. The satyagrahis silently tolerated the blows of the lathi. When they were taken away for medical aid, another batch of satyagrahis came forward to replace them.

Teacher's Note

Sarojini Naidu was a brave woman leader. Even when police beat them with lathis, the protesters did not fight back. They showed real courage through peace.

Exam Trick

Remember: Dharasana = Sarojini Naidu = Lathi charge = Silent protest. Think: "She led, police beat, people stood, courage showed."

Points to Remember

Sarojini Naidu led the Dharasana satyagraha in Gujarat.
Police used lathis to hit the peaceful protesters.
Protesters did not fight back or use violence.
When some were hurt, others came forward to continue.
This showed the power of non-violent resistance.

Round Table Conference

In the opinion of British Prime Minister Ramsay Mac Donald, while the Civil Disobedience Movement was going on, the constitutional issues regarding India should be thought over. For this purpose he organised a conference at London. This conference is known as 'Round Table Conference'. In the period between 1930 to 1932, three round table conferences were organised.

First Round Table Conference

Ramsay MacDonald was the chairman of the Round Table Conference. Representatives of England and India participated in the Conference. These included Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Barrister Jinnah etc. In the conference there were discussions on various topics such as Responsible Government at central level, establishment of federal State in India etc. Representatives of different political parties in India and rulers of Princely states participated in the conference. However, the Indian National Congress did not participate in it. The Indian National Congress was a body that represented the country. Without its participation, the deliberations in the Round Table Conference were indeed meaningless.

Teacher's Note

The first conference failed because Congress did not join. It was like having a meeting about a school without asking the students or teachers.

Exam Trick

Remember: First Conference = No Congress = Meaningless. Think: "Congress was not there, so the meeting had no real meaning."

Points to Remember

Ramsay MacDonald chaired the conference in London.
Dr. Ambedkar and other leaders attended from India.
Congress did not participate in the first conference.
Without Congress, the meeting was not important.
Congress was the main group that represented India.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact

The British Prime Minister expressed his hope of participation of Indian National Congress in the Second Round Table Conference. In view of the appeal made by the Prime Minister, the Viceroy released Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders from prison. Thus, a conducive atmosphere was created for the Congress to discuss the issues freely. A pact was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy Irwin which is known as the 'Gandhi-Irwin Pact'. According to this pact, the British Government assured that the system of Responsible Government would be added in the proposed constitution of India. Consequently Indian National Congress withdrew the Civil Disobedience Movement and agreed to attend the Round Table Conference.

Teacher's Note

Gandhi and Viceroy Irwin signed an agreement. Gandhi stopped the protest, and the British promised to give Indians more power to rule themselves. It was like two leaders making peace.

Exam Trick

Remember: Gandhi-Irwin Pact = Gandhi released + Congress joins conference. Think: "Gandhi out of jail, Congress joins talks, protest stops."

Points to Remember

Gandhi and Viceroy Irwin signed a peace agreement.
Gandhi was released from prison.
Britain agreed to add Responsible Government in constitution.
Congress agreed to join the Round Table Conference.
The Civil Disobedience Movement was stopped.

Second Round Table Conference

In 1931, the second round table conference was organised. Mahatma Gandhi attended this conference as a representative of the Indian National Congress. Along with the Indian National Congress, representatives of various castes and communities, political parties as well as princely states were invited. The Government put forth the issue of minorities in the Round Table Conference. There were differences regarding this issue and also regarding the nature of the prospective Federal constitution. Gandhiji tried to bring unanimity in the opinion but was unsuccessful. Finally Gandhiji became disappointed and returned back to India.

Teacher's Note

In the second conference, Gandhi attended but there were many disagreements. Different groups wanted different things. Gandhi could not make everyone agree, so he went back home sad.

Exam Trick

Remember: Second Conference = Gandhi attended = Disagreements = Failed. Think: "Gandhi came, people argued, no agreement, Gandhi left sad."

Points to Remember

Mahatma Gandhi joined the second conference in 1931.
Many different groups attended with different ideas.
They disagreed about minorities and the constitution.
Gandhi tried to make peace but could not succeed.
Gandhi returned to India disappointed and sad.

Poona Pact

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar represented the Dalits in the Round Table Conference. He demanded separate electorates for the Dalits. After the Second Round Table Conference the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald declared 'Communal Awards'. According to it, Dalits were given separate electorates. Gandhiji went on fast unto death at Yerwada jail protesting against the granting of separate electorate on the basis of caste. The leaders of Indian National Congress requested Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to reconsider the demand for separate electorates. Keeping in mind the interest of the nation Dr.Ambedkar was ready to accept this request. In 1932 Mahatma Gandhi and Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar signed the famous Poona Pact. According to this pact separate electorates for the Dalits was cancelled and a provision for reserved seats was made.

Teacher's Note