CBSE Class 10 Social Science Nationalism in India Worksheet

Question : The Congress Session at Nagpur was held in :
(a) September, 1920
(b) April, 1919
(c) November, 1920
(d) December, 1920 
Answer : A

Question : The Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement began in :
(a) April, 1919
(b) January, 1921
(c) November, 1920
(d) March, 1931 
Answer : A

Question : Why did Congress ignore the dalits for long?
(a) Due to fear from Britishers
(b) Due to their liberal outlook
(c) For the fear of offending the Sanatanis
(d) For the fear of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar 
Answer : C

Question : Identify the significant reason why the 'Simon Commission`was boycotted by the Indians:
(a) There was no Indian member in this Commission.
(b) It demanded separate electorate for Hindus and Muslims.
(c) There was no British member who was ruling India at that time.
(d) It favoured the Muslims over the Hindus. 
Answer : A

Question : Who among the following wrote ‘Vande Mataram’ ?
(a) Rabindra Nath Tagore
(b) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
(c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(d) Dwarkanath Tagore 

Answer : B

Question : Which famous industrialist criticised colonial control over Indian economy and supported the Civil Disobedience Movement?
(a) Badruddin Taiyyabji
(b) Kawasji Maneckshaw
(c) Purshottamdas Thakurdas
(d) Gulabchand Walchand
Answer : C

Question : What did the Rowlatt Act, 1919 presume?
(a) Detention of political prisoners without trial
(b) Forced recruitment in the army
(c) Forced manual labour
(d) Equal pay for equal work 
Answer : A

Question : In which country did Gandhiji develop his method of Satyagraha?
(a) England
(b) India
(c) South Africa
(d) Israel 
Answer : C

Question : Study the picture and answer the question that follows:

Identify the man who is sitting fifth from right?*
(a) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Subhas Chandra Bose
(d) Mahatma Gandhi 
Answer : B

Question : Match the following items given in column A with those given in column B.

Choose the correct answer from the option given below:
(a) I-4, II-3, III-2, IV-1
(b) I-3, 11-4, III-1, IV-2
(c) I-4, II-1, III-3, IV-2
(d) I-4, II-2, III-1, IV-3 
Answer : A

Question : In which year among the following, mass processions on the streets became a common feature during India's National Movement?
(a) 6 April, 1917
(b) 6 April, 1919
(c) 5 June, 1919
(d) 12 Aug, 1920 
Answer : B

Question : Identify the fact that is true about 'Sanatanies':
(a) The term is used for saints
(b) The term is used for dalits
(c) The term is used for conservative high caste Hindus.
(d) The term is used for liberal muslims. 
Answer : C

Question : Which one of the following cities is associated with the formation of Khilafat Committee in the year 1919?
(a) Bombay
(b) Lucknow
(c) Calcutta
(d) Amritsar
Answer : A

Students must free download and practice these worksheets to gain more marks in exams. CBSE Class 10 History Worksheet - Indian Nationalism Following image is of a very famous event of India's National Movement that took place in July, 1922. Identify the event among the following options.

Options:
(a) Boycott of foreign clothes
(b) Chauri Chaura incident,1922
(c) Salt March
(d) Satyaghara protest march 
Answer : A

Question. Match the following :

Answer : 1. (C), 2. (E), 3. (D), 4. (B), 5. (A)

 

Question.

From the above image, which march was started by Gandhiji to start Civil Disobedience Movement?

(A) Sabarmati March
(B) Salt March

(C) Dandi March
(D) Ahmedabad March

Answer : C

Question.

Identify the Memorial built for those who were killed in this incident.
(A) Chauri Chaura
(B) Satyagraha
(C) Jallianwala Bagh
(D) Salt March
Answer : C

Assertion and Reasoning Based Questions

Mark the option which is most suitable:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

Question : Assertion: When Simon Commission arrived in India, it was greeted with the slogan 'Go back Simon'.
Reason: This happened as Mahatma Gandhi was on Dandi March during that time.
Answer : (c) A is true but R is false.

Question : Assertion: The Non-Cooperation Movement gradually slowed down for a variety of reasons in the cities.
Reason: As the boycott movement spread, and people began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones, production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up.
Answer : (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Question : Assertion (A): The non-cooperation movement was adopted in Madras Congress session in 1919.
Reason (R): Chauri Chaura was the place where noncooperation movement was called off.
Answer : (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Question : Assertion: In 1917, Gandhiji organised a satyagraha to support the peasants of the Kheda district of Gujarat.
Reason: The peasants were affected by crop failure and plague epidemic. They could not pay the revenue and were demanding that revenue collection be relaxed.
Answer : (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Question : Assertion: In Awadh, the peasants were led by Alluri Sitaram Raju.
Reason: The movement here was against talukdars and landlords.
Answer : (d) A is false but R is true.

True / False 

Question. In the year 1921, Jawaharlal Nehru had designed the Swaraj Flag. (True/False)
Answer : False

Question. In India, devotion to the figure of Bharat Mata came to be seen as evidence of one’s nationalism. (True/False)
Answer : True

Question. The Poona Pact was negotiated between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. (True/False)
Answer : True

Question. The industrial working class did not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement in large numbers. (True/False)
Answer : True

Question. The Civil Disobedience Movement started with the breaking of the Salt Law. (True/False)
Answer : True

Question. Identify the historical movement with the help of following features:
l launched against the Rowlatt Act.
l During the movement, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place.
l Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.
Answer : The Rowlatt Satyagraha.

One Word Answer Type Questions 

Question : Who gave the call for ‘Purna Swaraj’ ?
Answer : Jawaharlal Nehru. 

Question : At which session of Indian Congress the resolution of Purna Swaraj was adopted ?
Answer : Lahore. 

Question : What is meant by 'begar' ?
Answer : Forced labour without payment. 

Question : Who was the leader of Militant Guerrilla Movement in the Gudem hills ?
Answer : Alluri Sitaram Raju. 

Question : Who financed the defence expenditure of World War I ?
Answer : War loans and raising taxes. 

Question : Who was the writer of 'the Folklore of Southern India' ?
Answer : Natesa Sastri. 

Question : Who designed the Swaraj flag ?
Answer : Mahatma Gandhi ji. 

Question : When did Jallianwala Bagh incident take place ?
Answer : 13th April, 1919. 

Question : Under which agreement the Indian 'Depressed Classes' got reserved seats in the Provincial and Central Legislative Councils in 1932 ?
Answer : Poona Pact. 

Question : Who among the muslim leaders was willing to give up the demand for separate electorates ?
Answer : Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question : Why did Indians oppose the ‘Simon Commission‘?
Answer : Indians opposed the "Simon Commission'' because this commission was set up to give an account of how the Indian Constitution was working without having any Indian representation.

Question : Why Mahatma Gandhi ji wanted to join Khilafat issue ?
Answer : In order to spawn communal harmony, Mahatma Gandhi ji aimed to join Khilafat issue.

Question : Match the following items given in column A with those in column B.

Answer : (a) 4, (b) 3, (c) 2, (d) 1

Question : Why did Gandhiji decide to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922?
Answer : Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 because in same year, at Chauri-Chaura (Gorakhpur), a peaceful mob turned violent and clashed with police resulting in death of several policemen.

Question : Why was Simon Commission rejected in India ?
Answer : The Simon Commission was rejected in India because it did not have a single Indian member.

Question : When was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed?
Answer : The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin on March 5, 1931.

Question : Which is the most important factor for the growth of nationalism in India?
Answer : Exploitation of the British Raj is the most significant factor for the growth of nationalism in India.

Question : Complete the following table with correct information with regard to Nationalism in India:

Answer : (A) Mahatma Gandhi, (B) Non-Violence

Question : Why were Dalits ignored by the Congress for the long time?
Answer : The Congress shunned the interests of Dalits for the fear of offending the Sanatanis, the Conservative High Caste Hindus.

Question : Unfold the stages of Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer : (i) Started with the surrender of titles that government awarded.
(ii) Boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools and foreign goods.

Question : What was Inland Emigration Act ?
Answer : Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, the plantation workers were not allowed to leave the tea plantation without permission.

Question : Who was Baba Ramchandra ?
Answer : Baba Ramchandra, a Sanyasi, was the leader of the peasant's revolt in Awadh.

Question : Who was the leader of the peasants in the Gudem Hills of Andhra? 
Answer : Alluri Sitaram Raju was the leader of the peasants in the Gudem Hills of Andhra.

Question : Who was known as 'Lion of Punjab'?
Answer : Lala Lajpat Rai was known as Lion of Punjab.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question : Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act ?
Answer : Rowlatt Act was initiated in 1919. The Imperial Legislative Council passed the act despite the opposition from Indian members. Under this act, the police could arrest anybody without trial for two years. Under the aegis of Mahatma Gandhi ji, Congress condemned the act as Black Act. The provisions of the act outraged Indians. Meetings were conducted and processions adopted. It was the first time when the Indian jointly opposed the British men.

Question : Mention three reasons for which the rich peasant communities took active participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Answer : Three reasons for which the affluent peasant communities took part in the Civil Disobedience Movement are enumerated as follows:
(i) Being producers of cash crops, they were dismayed by the global economic depression and subsequent falling prices of 1930s.
(ii) As their cash income abated, they found it difficult to meet the revenue demand of government.
(iii) There was a popular resentment among the rich peasants and they enthusiastically bolstered the movement.

Question : How did the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India?
Answer : The First World War spawned a new economic and political situation that led to the augmentation of defense expenditure. The rise in expenditure was financed by war loans and by increasing taxes. Nevertheless, price hike during the war period (1914-18) led to extreme hardship for the common mass. Villagers were summoned to supply soldiers and the forced recruitment in army created widespread anger. Incidents such as implementation of Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Martial Law in Punjab, disintegration of the Ottoman Empire exacerbated the problems, culminating in the initiation of the National Movement.

Question : Who launched the Khilafat Movement? Why was the movement launched?
Answer : The Khilafat Movement was initiated by Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali. Gandhiji treated this as an opportunity to bring Muslims under a unified umbrella. At the Calcutta Session of the Congress in September 1920, Mahatma Gandhi pleaded other leaders to start a Non-Cooperation Movement in support of Khilafat Movement. The Khilafat Movement (1919-24) was a pan-Islamic, political protest movement initiated by Muslims in British India. It influenced the British government and shielded the Ottoman Empire post the First World War. The First World War ended with the discomfiture of Ottoman Turkey. There was a fear that the power of the spiritual head of the Islamic world (Khalifa) would be subdued. A Khilafat Committee was established in Bombay in 1919. The Khilafat leaders imposed pressure on the British Government to treat Turkey
in better ways.

Question : Explain some economic effects of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer : In the economic sphere, the effects of Non-Cooperation Movement were colossus. People aimed to boycott foreign goods and wear indigenous clothes. As people started to discard imported clothes, the import of foreign clothes halved between 1921 and 1922. The values of imported goods dropped from 102 crore to 57 crore. During that time, people started to discard imported clothes and wear only indigenous clothes.

Question : Describe any three major problems faced by the peasants of Awadh in the days of Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer : During the Non-Cooperation Movement, the peasants of Awadh suffered tremendous problems. These problems are enumerated as follows:
(i) Talukdars and landlords demanded excessive high rents and an array of other taxes from the peasants.
(ii) Peasants were involved in begar (labour without payment). They worked at the farms of landlords.
(iii) As tenants, the peasants barely had any security of tenure. Therefore, the peasant movement in Awadh demanded lowering of revenue load, elimination of begar and social boycott of dominating landlords.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question : Find out about other participants in the National Movement who were captured and put to death by the British. Can you think of a similar example from the national movement in Indo-China ?
Answer : As far as the national movement of India is concerned, there were many freedom fighters that were put to death or otherwise killed by the British. These leaders were Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Chandrasekhar Azad, Lala Lajpat Rai and Khudiram Bose. At the same time, a similar example can be obtained from the nationalist movement of Vietnam. He was Hyunh Phu So, the pioneer of Hoa Hao movement of Vietnam. This movement was fought against the French rule. They declared him dead and confined him in a mental asylum. Later on, he was exiled to Laos.

Question : How did figures or images help in developing the values of nationalism?
Answer : The ways in which figures or portraits helped in moulding the values of nationalism are enumerated as follows :
(i) Figures or images helped to create an image with which people could identify the nation.
(ii) It was in the twentieth century, with the growth of nationalism, that the identity of India came to be visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata.
(iii) The image of Bharat Mata was first created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
(iv) In 1870s, he wrote Vande Mataram as a hymn to the motherland. Later, it was included in his novel Anandamath and widely sung during the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal.
(v) Emboldened by the Swadeshi Movement, Abanindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata.
(vi) In this painting, Bharat Mata is portrayed as an ascetic figure; she is calm, composed, divine and spiritual.
(vii) In subsequent years, the image of Bharat Mata acquired many different forms as it circulated in popular prints and was painted by different artists. Devotion to this mother figure came to be seen as a testimony of one's nationalism.

Question : Differentiate between First Round Table Conference and Second Round Table Conference.
Answer : 

Question : ‘’The Congress was reluctant to include the demands of industrial workers in its program of struggle.’’ Analyse the reasons.
Answer : The Congress aimed to involve the demands of the masses and not any specific groups in their agenda. Nevertheless, the industrialists provided financial assistance to the Congress. Therefore, if the demand of the workers were included then the industrialists would be offended. The Congress did not want to agitate the industrialists and spawn anti-imperialist feelings.

Question : Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter 1.
Answer : Bharat Mata is depicted as an ascetic figure. She looks demure, composed, divine and spiritual. She is portrayed as disseminating learning, clothing and food. On the other hand, mala puts an emphasis on her ascetic quality. At the other end of the spectrum, Germania, the female incarnate of Germany is projected as a heroic figure. She did not stand for any particular woman in real life. She underscored the abstract idea of the nation as a concrete form. She is the embodiment of the strength of the German empire.

Question : Write a newspaper report on:
(i) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
(ii) The Simon Commission.
Answer : (i) Jallianwala Bagh is located in Amritsar (Punjab). The Jallianwala Bagh massacre stood as the mark of indignation against the Rowlatt Act. At Jallianwala Bagh, villagers assembled to attend the annual Vaisakhi fair. This garden is enclosed on three sides and has only one entrance. In order to alarm the people, General Dyer arrived in the park with troops. Dyer ordered to fire at the crowd and gave no prior warning to them. In the firing, many people were annihilated and many faced crucial injuries.
(ii) Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928. The commission was welcomed with black flags and heated slogans like 'Simon Go Back'. Both Congress and Muslim League vehemently protested against it. The Indian citizens boycotted the Simon Commission as it comprised no Indian member in it. The commission gave no hope of 'Swaraj' for the Indians.

Question : The year is 1921. You are a student in a governmentcontrolled school. Design a poster urging school students to answer Gandhiji’s call to join the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer :

Question : “The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement.” Support the statement with examples.
Answer : The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement. The main differing points between these two movements are enumerated as follows:
(i) The Non-Cooperation Movement was introduced in 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi. However, the Civil Disobedience Movement was inaugurated in 1930.
(ii) The Non-Cooperation Movement began with the involvement of middle class people. At the other end of the spectrum, the Civil Disobedience Movement was bolstered by reputed industrialists like G.D. Birla, Purshottamdas Thakurdas.
(iii) Due to the launch of the Khilafat Movement, Muslim community took part in Non-Cooperation on a wider scale. However, the growing nearness of the Congress Party and Hindu Mahasabha obstructed the Muslims to participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Question : Explain the measures taken by Gandhiji to eliminate the problem of untouchability.
Answer : The measures adopted by Gandhiji to eradicate the problem of untouchability are enumerated as follows:
(i) Gandhiji claimed that Swaraj would not come for hundred years if untouchability was not eradicated.
(ii) Gandhiji himself washed toilets to represent the dignity of the work of a sweeper.
(iii) Gandhiji convinced the upper caste to change their heart and disavow 'sin of untouchability'.
(iv) He organised Satyagraha to protect their entrance into temples and access to public wells, tanks, roads and public schools.
(v) He concluded Poona Pact in September 1932 with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar that led to the reservation of some seats for them in provincial and central legislative councils.

Question : List all the different social groups which joined the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920. Then choose any three and write about their hopes and struggles to show why they joined the movement.
Answer : Different social groups that joined the Non-Cooperation Movement were: (i) Plantation workers, (ii) Peasants and tribal people, (iii) Business class people.
(i) Plantation Workers: The Plantation workers got involved in the movement with the hope that they would get rid of the confined space in which they had been incarcerated. They wondered that Gandhi-Raj would give them respite.
(ii) Peasants and Tribal people: At various places, peasants and tribal people got involved in the movement. The movement was directed against the talukdars and landlords. To their opinion, Swaraj meant that they would not be forced to pay land dues, i.e., land revenue.
(iii) Business Class people: At many places, business class people (merchants and traders) declined to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade. The import of foreign cloth dropped between 1921 and 1922. Its value depreciate from `102 crore to ` 57 crore. 

Question : ‘’The plantation workers in Assam had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj’’. Support the statement with arguments.
Answer : The plantation workers comprehended Gandhian idea of Swaraj in their own way such as:
(i) As far as the plantation workers in Assam are concerned, 'freedom' indicates the right to roam about freely in and out of the confined space in which they were incarcerated. It aimed to retain a nexus with the village from which they had hailed.
(ii) Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, plantation employees were not consented to leave the tea gardens. In fact, they were barely given such permissions. As the news of Non-Cooperation Movement reached the shores, thousands of workers transgressed the rules of the authorities, left the plantations and paved their way towards home.
(iii) They construed the term 'Swaraj' in their own ways, anticipating it to be a time when all sufferings and troubles would wither away.

Creating Based Questions

Question : Use the information provided along with the terms given in the box to form a coherent passage to show why Non-Cooperation Movement gradually slowed down in the cities. Also include informations that are not mentioned below to complete it.

" Mill cloth, British institutions, teachers, schools "

Khadi cloth was often more expensive.....poor people could not afford......posed a problem.....alternative Indian Institutions had to set up.....courts.

Answer : The Non-Cooperation Movement in the cities gradually slowed down in the cities for a variety of reasons. Khadi cloth was often more expensive than mass-produced mill cloth and poor people could not afford to buy it. Similarly, the British institutions posed a problem. For the movement to be successful, alternative Indian institutions had to be set up so that they could be used in place of the British ones. They were slow to come up. So teachers and students began trickling, back to the government schools and lawyers joined back work in government courts.

Question : Use the information provided along with the terms given in the box to form a coherent passage to show the economic and political situation in India during First World War. Also include information that is not mentioned below to complete it.

" Defence expenditure, income tax, supply soldiers, famines "

War led to huge increase in....financed by increasing taxes.... .extreme hardship for the common people..... prices doubled between 1913 & 1918..... forced recruitment in rural areas.... crops failed in 1918-19, there was widespread anger......outbreak of epidemic.

Answer : War led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes, customs duties were increased and income tax introduced. Through the war years, the prices increased, doubling between 1913 and 1918, leading to extreme hardship for the common people. Villages were called upon to supply soldiers, and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger. Then in 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India, resulting in acute shortages of food. This was accompanied by an influenza epidemic. According to the census of 1921, 12 to 13 million people perished as a result of famines and epidemic.

Source/Case Based Questions

Question : Read the source given below and answer the question that follows.

Source: The Movement in the Towns
The movement started with middle-class participation in the cities. Thousands of students left government-controlled schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned and lawyers gave up their legal practices. The council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras, where the Justice Party, the party of the non-Brahmans, felt that entering the council was one way of gaining some power-something that usually only Brahmans had access to.
The effects of non-cooperation on the economic front were more dramatic. Foreign goods were boycotted. The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, its value dropping from 102 crore. In many places, merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade. As the boycott movement spread, and people began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones, production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up.

(i) Explain the role of ‘Justice Party in boycotting of Council elections’.
Answer : The Justice Party members were non-Brahmans and so far had not been able to win elections, as the Brahman candidates always won. They thought it was a golden opportunity for them to enter the councils. So, they decided not to boycott council elections.

(ii) How was the effect of ‘non-cooperation on the economic front dramatic’?
Answer : The effects of Non-Cooperation on the economic front were more dramatic because the movement was started with middle class participation in the cities. Thousands of students left government schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned and lawyers gave up their legal practice.

(iii) Explain the effect of ‘Boycott Movement on foreign textile trade’.
Answer : The effects of 'Boycott Movement' on foreign textile trade were that the foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonefires.

Question : Read the text given below and answer the questions that follow :

In February 1922, Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement. He felt the movement was turning violent in many places and satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they would be ready for mass struggles. Within the Congress, some leaders were by now tired of mass struggles and wanted to participate in elections to the provincial councils that had been set up by the Government of India Act of 1919. They felt that it was important to oppose British policies within the councils, argue for reform and also demonstrate that these councils were not truly democratic. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to council politics. But younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose pressed for more radical mass agitation and for full independence.
On 31 January 1930, he sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands. Some of these were of general interest; others were specific demands of different classes, from industrialists to peasants. The idea was to make the demands wide-ranging, so that all classes within Indian society could identify with them and everyone could be brought together in a united campaign. The most stirring of all was the demand to abolish the salt tax. Salt was something consumed by the rich and the poor alike, and it was one of the most essential items of food. The tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production, Mahatma Gandhi declare, revealed the most oppressive face of British rule.

Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:

(i) Which of the following options was the reason for suspension of the Non cooperation Movement ?
(a) Chauri-Chaura incident
(b) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
(c) Kakori conspiracy case
(d) All of the above
Answer : A

(ii) This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement :
(a) Simon Commission
(b) Lahore Congress
(c) Kheda Satyagraha
(d) Dandi March
Answer : D

(iii) In which of the following years the Swaraj Party was formed ?
(a) 1929
(b) 1923
(c) 1931
(d) 1932
Answer : B

(iv) _____ and the government monopoly over its production, Mahatma Gandhi declare, revealed the most oppressive face of British rule.
(a) Tax on cotton
(b) Tax on salt
(c) Tax on crop
(d) Tax on property
Answer : B

Points to remember for Contemporary India Chapter 2 Nationalism in India

In India, the growth of modern nationalism is connected to the anti-colonial movement. People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism. The Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi tried to unite each class and group together within one movement.

The First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement
The First World War (1914) created a new economic and political situation worldwide. India faced various problem during the war period. For example
• Defence expenditure increased.
• Custom duties were raised and income tax was introduced.
• Prices of food grains were increased and doubled between 1913 and 1918.
• Villagers were recruited forcefully in army.
After the war in 1918-19 and 1920-21, Indian industries faced heavy loses, people suffered fromacute shortage of food, influenza epidemic, etc. In such a critical situation, a new leader Mahatma Gandhi came to India from South Africa in January, 1915.

The Idea of Satyagraha
Gandhiji’s method of movement and protest based on truth and non-violence was known as Satyagraha. The idea of Satyagraha emphasised on the power of truth. As per Gandhiji without being aggressive a Satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence.
In 1917, Gandhiji travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against oppressive plantation system. In the same year Gandhiji also organised a Satyagraha to support the peasants in Kheda district of Gujarat who were suffering from shortage of food due to crop failure and a plague epidemic.
In 1918, Gandhiji went to Ahmedabad to organise a Satyagraha movement amongst cotton mill workers.

The Rowlatt Act
The Rowlatt Act was passed through the Imperial
Legislative Council in 1919 but Indian members opposed the Act. According to this act, the political prisoners could be detained in prison for two years without any trial. Gandhiji decided to oppose this Act with Satyagraha.
On 6th April, 1919 Gandhiji launched a nation wide Satyagraha with a hartal. Rallieswere organised in various cities, workers went on strike in railway workshop and shops were closed down. Several local leaders were arrested.
Gandhiji was barred (restricted) from entering Delhi.
On 10th April, 1919 the police in Amritsar opened fired on peaceful procession. Martial Law1 was imposed in Amritsar and the command of the area was given to General Dyer.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
On 13th April, 1919, a large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab. Some people gathered there to protest against government’s
repressive measures, while some came to attend the annual Baisakhi fair. Many of them unaware of the martial law that was imposed.
General Dyer blocked the exit points of the ground and gave order to open fire on the crowd. Hundreds of people were killed in this incident. As the news spread, strikes, clashes
with the police and attacks on government buildings started.
The government responded with force to end the movement by humiliating people. Satyagrahis were forced to rub their noses on the ground, crawl on the streets and do
salaam (salute) to all sahibs. Rabindranath Tagore returned his title, Knighthood during this incident. Mahatma Gandhi called off the Satyagraha Movement when he saw spread of violence.

Khilafat Movement
The First World War had ended with the defeat of Ottoman Empire. After the First World War, rumours were spread that a peace treaty was going to be imposed on Khalifa
(spiritual head of the Islamic world) of Ottoman Empire.
Gandhiji believed that by this Khilafat issue he could unite the Hindus and Muslims and launch a wide movement in India.
A Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay under the leadership of Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan and Hasrat Mohani. Muslim leaders, Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
began discussing with Gandhiji about a united mass action on the Khilafat issue. Gandhiji saw this as an opportunity of uniting Hindus and Muslims.
The Congress passed the resolution in its Calcutta Session in September 1920 to start a Non-Cooperation movement in support of Khilafat as well as for Swaraj.

Need of Non-Cooperation Movement
Gandhiji in his famous book Hind Swaraj (1909) declared that British rule was established in India with the cooperation of Indians. If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule in India would collapse with in a year and Swaraj would come.
Mahatma Gandhi proposed the following strategy for the implementation of the Non-Cooperation as a Movement
• The movement would begin with a surrender of titles, honours and honorary posts by people.
• The movement would boycott2 Civil Services, Army, Police, British Courts and Legislative Assemblies, School and Colleges and British goods.
• The British goods would be replaced by domestic goods or Swadeshi to promote the native cottage industries.
• In case of government suppression, Civil Disobedience Movement would be launched.
The Non-Cooperation Movement was adopted by the Congress during the Nagpur Conference in December 1920 and it began under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.

Differing Strands within the Movement
In January 1921, the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement started. Various social groups participated in the movement with their own specific aspirations.

The Movements in the Towns
Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement started in the cities with middle-class participation in which
• Students and teachers left government-controlled school and lawyers left courts.
• Foreign goods were boycotted. The merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade. As a result, the production of Indian textile mills and handlooms increased.
• Liquor shops were picketed.
• Council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras.
However, this movement gradually slowed down for many reasons like expensive Khadi clothes were not suitable for poor people and no alternative institutions were set-up. Finally the teachers and students had to resume their studies and jobs in government schools and lawyers joined back in government courts.

Rebellion in the Countryside
From cities, the Non-Cooperation Movement spread to the countryside.

Peasant Movement in Awadh
In Awadh, the Peasant Movement developed under the leadership of Baba Ramchandra (a Sanyasi who had earlier been to in Fiji as an indentured labourer4). This Peasant Movement demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar5 and social boycott of oppressive landlords. In many places, nai-dhobi bandhs were organised by panchayats to deny services to all landlords.
In October, 1920 the Oudh Kisan Sabha was set-up. It was headed by Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra and a few others.
Within a month, over 300 branches of this sabha had been set up in the villages around the region. As the peasant movement spread, the houses of talukdars (Indian land-holders) and merchants were attacked, bazaars were looted and grain hoards were taken over.

Tribal Movement in Andhra Pradesh
Tribal peasants interpreted the message ofMahatma Gandhi and the idea of Swaraj. In the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh, a militant Guerrilla Movement spread in the early 1920 under the leadership of Alluri Sitaram Raju. Raju convinced people to wear ‘Khadi’ and give up drinking according to Gandhian ideas.
The Gudem rebels6 attacked police stations, attempted to kill British officials and carried on Guerrilla warfare7 for achieving Swaraj. Raju was captured and executed in 1924 and gradually he became a folk hero.

Swaraj in the Plantations
According to Indian Emigration Act of 1859, plantation workers were not permitted to leave the tea gardens without permission.
When the news of Non-Cooperation Movement spread to the plantantion, they left their job and headed towards their home.
The plantation workers believed that in Gandhi Raj, everyone would be given land in their own village.However they were caught by the police and brutally beaten up.

Towards Civil Disobedience
In February 1922, Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non- Cooperation Movement as he felt that movement was turning violent in many places and Satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they would be ready for mass struggles.
Chauri Chaura incident was the main reason behind withdrawing the Non-cooperation Movement. The Chauri Chaura incident occurred at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district of United Province on 4th February, 1922.

Different Views within Congress
Some leaders within Congress were tired of mass struggle and wanted to participate in the election to the provincial councils set up by the Government of India Act of 1919.
They felt that it was important to oppose British policies within the councils.
CR Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to council politics whereas some younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose argued for more strong mass agitation and for full independence. In this situation of internal debate and discussions, Two factors shaped Indian politics towards the late 1920 which were
(i) The first was the effect of the worldwide economic depression.
(ii) The second was agricultural prices which began to fall from 1926 and collapsed after 1930.

Formation of Simon Commission
Simon Commission was constituted under John Simon.
The main objective of Simon Commission was to review the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes in the system.
Indian leaders opposed the commission as there were no Indians in it. When the commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan Simon Go Back. All parties including the Congress and the Muslim League participated in the demonstrations.

Demand of Purna Swaraj
In October 1929, the Viceroy, Lord Irwin announced an uncertain offer of dominion status8 for India and a Round Table Conference to discuss a future Constitution.
In December 1929, under the Presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalised the demand of Purna Swaraj or full independence for India. It was declared that 26th January, 1930 would be celebrated as the Independence Day.

The Salt March and the Civil
Disobedience Movement
Mahatma Gandhi believed that salt was a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. On 31st January, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin which claimed eleven
demands. One of these eleven demands was to abolish salt tax.
The tax on salt and the government’s monopoly over its production revealed the most cruel side of British rule. Irwin was not ready to talk upon the demands. Thus, Gandhiji took
the decision to launch the movement.

The Civil Disobedience Movement
On 12th March, 1930, along with 78 followers, Gandhiji started Salt March from Sabarmati Ashram for Dandi, the coastal town of Gujarat.
On 6th April, he reached Dandi and broke the Salt Law by boiling seawater and manufacturing salt. This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. As the
movement spread,
• foreign clothes were boycotted.
• peasants refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes.
• village officials resigned.
• forest people violated forest laws in many places.
However, British government arrested all the leaders including Gandhiji.

Calling Off the Civil Disobedience Movement
During Civil Disobedience Movement, peaceful Satyagrahis were attacked, women and children were beaten and about 1,00,000 people were arrested.
When Abdul Gaffar Khan was arrested on April 1930, several violent incidents took place in Peshawar. In this situation, Mahatma Gandhi call off the movement and signed a pact with Lord Irwin on 5th March, 1931. This was called Gandhi-Irwin Pact.

Relaunching of Civil Disobedience Movement
In December 1931, Gandhiji went to London for the Second Round Table Conference but he returned disappointed as the British government refused to release the prisoners.
When Gandhiji came back in India, he found that Congress had been declared illegal and Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru were imprisoned.
As a result, Mahatma Gandhi relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement. This movement was continued for a year and lost its momentum by the year 1934. Meaning of Swaraj was different for different social groups.
• In the countryside, rich peasant communities like the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh were supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement. They organised their communities to participate in boycott programmes. For them, the fight for Swaraj was a struggle against high revenues.
• The poor peasantry found it difficult to pay their rent to the landlords as the depression continued. They joined a variety of radical movements often led by Socialists and Communists in the hope that they would not have to pay the rent any further.
• Association like Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress and Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries under the leadership of GD Birla, Purushottam Thakur Das, etc supported the Civil DisobedienceMovement in the hope that business restriction would be lifted.
The Indian merchants and industrialists formed the Indian Industrial and Commerce Congress in 1920 and the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927.
• The industrial working classes did not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement in large numbers, except in the Nagpur region.
• A large number of women participated in this movement. In urban areas, women came from high-caste families. In rural areas, women came from rich peasant households. Women were inspired by Gandhiji’s call and they began to see service to the nation as their sacred duty.

The Limits of Civil Disobedience
Dalits or untouchables and Muslims did not actively participated in this movement. For long time, the Congress had ignored the Dalits because of the fear of Sanatanis, the conservative high caste Hindus.
Gandhiji called Dalits Harijan or the Children of God. He believed that Swaraj would not come for hundred years if untouchability was not eliminated. He organised Satyagraha for them, to secure their entry into temples and access to public wells, tanks, roads and schools.
Gandhiji himself cleaned the toilets to dignify the work of bhangi (the sweepers). Gandhiji urged the upper class to change their mindset regarding the untouchables.

Stand of Dalit Leaders
Dalit leaders wanted a different political solution to the problems of their community. Dr BR Ambedkar demanded reserved seats in educational institutions and a separate electorate that would choose Dalit members for Legislative Councils. Ambedkar organised the Dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930. His views differed with Mahatma Gandhi at the Second Round Table Conference as Dr Ambedkar demanded separate electorate for Dalits.
When the British Government admitted Ambedkar’s demand, Gandhiji strongly opposed it and began a fast unto death.
Gandhiji believed that separate electorate for Dalits would slow down the process of their integration into the main society.
Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhiji’s position and as a result, Poona Pact of September 1932 was signed. This pact gave the depressed classes reserved seats in Provincial and Central Legislative Council but the voting was to be done by the general electorate.

Hindu-Muslim Clash
Some of the Muslim political organisations in India rarely participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement. After the decline of the Non-Cooperation and Khilafat Movement, a large section of Muslims felt separated from the Congress.
From the mid 1920, the Congress came to be more associated with openly Hindu religious nationalist groups like the Hindu Mahasabha. As a result, Hindu-Muslim communal clashes and riots occurred in various cities.
In 1930, Sir Muhammad Iqbal, the President of Muslim League demanded the importance of separate electorates for Mulims. He thought that it would safeguard their minority political interest.
He justified the Muslim demand for the creation of a Muslim India within India.

Difference between Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League
The Congress and Muslim League made efforts to talk again for unity. In 1927, it appeared that such a unity could be possible.
The only difference in the opinion of Congress and Muslim League was based on the representation in the future assemblies that were to be elected.
The leader of the Muslim League, Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted reserved seats for Muslims in Central Assembly.
He was willing to give up the demand for separate electorate for two conditions
(i) Muslims were assured reserved seats in the Central Assembly.
(ii) Representation would be in proportion to the population in Muslim dominated provinces (Bengal and Punjab).
In 1928, at the All Parties Conference, MR Jayakar of the Hindu Mahasabha strongly opposed the demands of Jinnah. Many Muslim leaders and intellectuals feared that the culture and identity of minorities could be submerged under the domination of Hindu majority.

The Sense of Collective Belonging
Nationalist movements spread when people belonging to different regions and communities began to develop a sense of collective belongingness. It developed through the experience of united struggles. History, fiction, folklore, songs, popular prints and symbols, all played a part in the making of nationalism. It was seen in India during its freedom movement in the following ways
• The identity of a nation is most often symbolised in a figure or image. This image of Bharat Mata was first created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1870, when he wrote Vande Mataram for our motherland.
Later, this song was included in his novel Anandamath and widely sung by the freedom fighters. The image of Bharat Mata was first painted by Abanindranath Tagore.
• Indian folk songs and folk tales sung by bard (wandering poets) played an important role for making the idea of nationalism.
• In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore and in Madras, Natesa Sastri collected massive collection of folk tales and songs, which led the movement for folk revival.
• During the Swadeshi Movement, a tricolour (red, green and yellow) flag was designed in Bengal. It had eight lotuses representing eight provinces and a crescent moon representing Hindus and Muslims.
• By 1921, Gandhiji had designed the Swaraj Flag. It was a tricolour having a spinning wheel in the centre representing the Gandhian ideal of self help.

Nationalism through Indian Ancient History
Another means of creating feeling of nationalism was explaining the meaning of history again. The nationalist writers urged the readers to take pride in India’s great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule.
But unification of people involved some problems. When the past that was being glorified was Hindu and the images celebrated were taken from Hindu iconography, the people of other communities felt left out.

Conclusion
A growing anger against the Colonial Government brought together various groups and classes of Indians into a common struggle for freedom in the first half of the 20th century. However different expectations of diverse groups pose a constant threat to unity. The Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi tried to channel people’s sufferings into organised and united movement for independence.

VERY SHORT QUESTIONS

Question. When did Mahatma Gandhi return to India ?
Answer. 1915.

Question. Name any two methods used by Gandhiji to FIght against the Britishers.
Answer. (i) Satyagraha (ii) Non-Violence.

Question. Name any four places where Satyagraha was launched by Gandhiji.
Answer. (i) Champaran – Bihar
(ii) Kheda – Gujarat
(iii) Ahmedabad – Gujarat
(iv) South Africa

Question. Name the Act which gave enormous powers to the government to repress political activities.
Answer. Rowlatt Act.

Question. Name the General who was responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh incident.
Answer. General Dyer.

Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi call off Rowlatt Satyagraha ?
Answer. Gandhiji called off Rowlatt Satyagraha due to spread of violence.

Question. What was Rowlatt Act ?
Answer. It was the black act which gave power to the government and the police to repress political activities,and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.

Question. How did Mahatma Gandhi react against the Rowlatt Act ?
Answer.Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch a non – violent Civil Disobedience Movement against the unjust law.

Question. Mention the limitation of Rowlatt Satyagraha.
Answer. (i) It was limited mostly in cities and towns.
(ii) People started using violent methods so Gandhiji had to call off the Satyagraha.

Question. Why was the Khilafat Committee formed ?
Answer. The Khilafat Committee was formed to defend the khalifa’s temporal powers.

Question. Who was the writer of the book ‘Hind Swaraj ?
Answer. Mahatma Gandhi.

Question. When was the Non-cooperation Khilafat Movement launched?
Answer. January 1921.

Question. Who was Baba Ramchandra ?
Answer. He was a Sanyasi who led Non-cooperation movement in Awadh.

Question. What were the major demands of the peasants who participated in the Non cooperation Khilafat movement ? Mention any two ?
Answer. (i) Reduction of revenue. (ii) Abolition of begar.

Question. Why the tribal peasants participated in the Non-cooperation Khilafat movement ?
Answer. The colonial government had closed large forests areas, preventing people from entering the forests to graze their cattle or to collect wood and fruits.

Question. What was the Inland Emigration Act of 1859?
Answer. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, plantation workers were not permitted to leave the tea gardens without permission.

Question. When was Non-Cooperation Movement withdrawn by Gandhiji ? Give reason.
Answer. The Non Cooperation movement was withdrawn in 1922 because of a violent incident in Chauri Chaura.

Question. Who were the founders of the Swaraj Party?
Answer. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru.

Question. Who was Alluri Sitaram Raju ?
Answer. He was a nationalist of Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh who lead the Non Cooperation of 1921.

Question. What was the course of Dandi March ?
Answer. The march was over 240 miles, from Gandhiji’s ashram in Sabarmati to the Gujarati coastal town of Dandi.

Question. Who was Abdul Ghaffar khan ?
Answer. He was a devoted disciple of Mahatma Gandhi who lead the Civil Disobedience movement in Peshawar.

Question. Name the functioning constitutional system of the Commission which was formed to in India. Who was the President of the Commission.
Answer. Simon Commission. Sir John Simon was the President.

Question. What is the importance of the Lahore Congress session of 1929 ?
Answer. It was the session in which the demand of ‘Puma Swaraj’ or full independence for India was made.

Question. When and under whose leadership was Civil Disobedience movement launched ?
Answer. The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched in 1930 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.

Question. What was the main motive of the Salt March?
Answer. To break the Salt law.

Question. Which incident marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement ?
Answer. On 6th April, Mahatma Gandhi ceremonially violated the Salt Act, manufacturing salt by boiling sea water. This incident marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Question. What was Gandhi-Irwin Pact ?
Answer. The pact which was signed between Gandhiji and Lord Irwin on 5th March 1931. Under this pact Gandhiji consented to participate in a Round Table Conference in London whereas government agreed to release all the political prisoners.

Question. When was Gandhi Irwin Pact signed ?
Answer. 5th March 1931.

Question. Why the rich peasants became enthusiastic supporters of the Civil Disobedience movement?
Answer. For them the fight for Swaraj was a struggle against high revenues.

Question. The Congress was unwilling to support ‘no rent’ campaigns during Civil Disobedience movement. Give reason.
Answer. Because it did not want to raise issue that might upset the rich peasants and landlords.

Question. Who announced a vague offer of ‘Dominion Status’ for India in 1929 ?
Answer. Viceroy Irwin.

Question. Name any two organisations which were formed by the business class to organise their business interests.
Answer. (i) Indian Industrial Commercial and Congress. (ii) Federation of the Indian Chamber of commerce and
Industries.

Question. Name any two industrialists who actively participated in the Civil Disobedience movement.
Answer. (i) Purshottamdas Thakurdas

Question. (i) Why the Congress ignored the dalit’s or oppressed for a long time ?
(ii) Name the national leader who declared that swaraj would not come for a hundred years if untouchability was not eliminated.
Answer. (i) The Congress had ignored the dalits for fear of offending the sanatanis the conservative high caste Hindus. (ii) Mahatma Gandhi.

Question. Who organised the dalits into the Depressed Classes Association ?
Answer. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Question. Why Dr. B.R. Ambedkar clashed with Mahatma Gandhi at the Second Round Table Conference ?
Answer. B.R. Ambedkar clashed over the issue of separate electorates for dalits.

Question. Name the Pact which gave the Depressed Classes reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils.
Answer. Poona Pact signed in 1932.

Question. Who was the author of the novel Anandamath ?
Answer. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

Question. Who published a massive four volume collection of Tamil Folk tales, The Folklore of Southern India ?
Answer. Natesa Sastri.