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NATIONAlISM IN INdIA
ClASS 10 HISTORY

The First World War and its impact on economic and political situation

• The war and its aftermath created favourable situation for mass struggle and played an important role in shaping
India’s freedom struggle.

• Increase in defence expenditure due to the war led to the increase in taxes, Board Questions:
custom duties 1. How had the ‘First World War’ created
• Introduction of income tax economic problems in India? Explain with
examples. (2016, 19)
• Prices increased doubling between 1913 and 1918
• Extreme hardships, poverty and forced recruitments in the army raised anti- 2. What was the impact of the first World
War on India.? (2011, 2015)
British feelings
• During 1918–19 and 1920–21, food shortages due to the failure of crops and 3. How did the WW1 create a new economic
situation? Explain with three examples.
famines and Influenza epidemics (2003)
• Around 12 to 1 million people died as a result of epidemics and famines
After the war, the British Government Proved a failure to address the above issues and people were ready to be led by
a leader like Gandhiji who returned to India in 1915.

Satyagraha
Meaning - Emphasis on the power of truth via non-violent methods
• It is a pure soul-force
• No need to use physical force if the struggle is for a right cause and against Board Questions:
injustice Explain any four points about Gandhiji’s
• It does not advocate inflicting pain in the adversary Satyagrah. (2008, 11)
• No ill-will, vengeance to and destruction of the adversary
• Truth is a matter of persuasion and should not be forced upon adversary or any other
• Truth is bound to ultimately triumph
• According to Gandhiji, the dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians

Use and application of Satyagraha by Gandhiji - After coming to India, Gandhiji (2 Oct 1989 - 30 Jan 1948)
successfully three major movements before launching three big movements.
1. Champaran Satyagraha 1916. Gandhiji visited Champaran to lead the movement by peasants against the
oppressive indigo plantations. In 1918 Champaran Agricultural Act tried to
solve the problem Board Questions:
1. How did Gandhi apply the idea of
Satyagraha in our country? (2013)
2. Kheda Satyagraha – The crop failure and Bubonic plague caused hardships to
2. Name the two main ‘Satyagraha
peasants. They were demanding a revenue remission. Gandhiji lead the Movements ‘organised by Mahatma Gandhiji
movement there successfully in favour of peasants in 1916 and
1917. (2008, 11)
3. Ahmedabad Mill Workers – Gandhiji led the textile worker movement against
mill owners. There was a
demand for 50% pay hike. Ultimately the mill owners decided to raise pay by 30 %.
PRE
 Rowlatt Act (1919)
Board Questions:
• Prepared by a committee under Sir Sidley Rowlatt 1. Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to launch
• Despite opposition by Indian members it was hurriedly passed through a nationwide 'Satyagraha' against the
proposed ‘Rowlatt Act? Explain with three
Imperial Legislative Council
reasons. (2010, 14, 15)
• It gave govt. enormous coercive power to contain increasing revolutionary 2. What was Rowlatt Act? How was it opposed
activities by the people in India? Explain with
• Arrests and detention of political prisoners without trial for two years examples. (2010, 11, 13)

• Restrictions on press and movement of persons suspected of anti-government

activities
• No Appeal, No Daleel, No Vakil were other attributes given by people

The reaction of the people

• The undemocratic and authoritarian Law was denounced people from all walks of life.
• Gandhiji called for ‘Rowlatt Satyagraha’ a non-violent civil Disobedience to the law.
• It was a first nationwide movement under Gandhiji
• On 6 April a mighty Hartal was proposed against proposed Rowlatt Act
• Rallies were organised in various cities
• Workers went on strike in railway workshops
• Shops closed down

Repressive measures by govt.

• Local leaders picked from Amritsar
• Gandhiji was arrested on 7 April
• On 10 April police fired upon peaceful procession Provoking people to attack banks, post offices, and railway stations
• Martial Law was imposed and General Dyer took command of the situation

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13th April 1919)

Board Questions:
The people were protesting against the repressive measures adopted by govt. Describe the incident and impact of
In the meanwhile, the Jallianwala Bagh incident took place. Jallianwala Bagh massacre. (2014, 15)
• This incident is a shameful chapter of brutal massacre and repression in
the history of the British Rule.
• It was an enclosed area with only one point of entry and exit
• A large crowd had gathered there for Baisakhi celebrations
• Some had come to show their protests against govt's repressive measures
• Many villagers were not aware of propitiatory orders under martial law
• Gen Dyer entered the area, blocked the exit and ordered for firing without any warning
• It was an intentional massacre killing hundreds and wounding thousands
• Gen Dyer shamelessly declared his object as to 'produce a moral force' in the form of awe and terror in the
minds of Satyagrahis.

PRE
 The reaction of people to Jallianwala Bagh massacre
• Crowds took to streets
• Incidents of strikes, clashes and attacks on govt. buildings
• The govt resorted to brutal repression inflicting pain and atrocities on people
• Satyagrahis were humiliated – they were forced to rub nose on the ground, crawl on the streets, do salaam to all
Sahibs
• Flogging of villagers
• The bombing of villages (around Gujranwala in Punjab)
• Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood title
• Seeing the violence spread Gandhiji called off the movement

Khilafat Movement

Causes of Khilafat movement:

• Ottoman Turkey was defeated in the First World War Board Questions:
1. Why did Mahatma Gandhi support Khilafat
• It was a rumour that a harsh treaty was going to dismember Turkey movement? (2011, 2012, 14)
• The Islamic spiritual head ‘Khalifa' the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire was to be 2. Who launched the Khilafat movement? Why
was the movement launched? (2011, 12)
removed
• All this agitated Muslims in India also
• They defended the temporal powers of Khalifa and wanted to keep
it intact
Formation of Khilafat Committee –
• It was formed in Bombay in March 1919
• Ali Brothers (Shaukat Ali, Muhammad Ali), Maulana Azad, Ajmal Khan and Hasrat Mohini were its founding
members

Gandhiji’s support to Khilafat issue:

• Gandhiji felt the need to launch a more broad-based movement in India with Hindus and Muslims together
• Khilafat appeared to be a golden opportunity to cement Hindu-Muslim unity and to bring Muslims under the
umbrella of a unified national Movement

• Gandhiji also became a president of the Khilafat Committee.

• Ali Brothers talked to Gandhiji on the possibility of any unified mass action
• At Calcutta Congress session (1920), Gandhiji convinced other leaders on the issue of the Non-cooperation
Movement in favour of Khilafat and Swaraj.

Non-Cooperation Movement

Causes or reasons Board Questions

• Rowlatt Act What were the reasons or why did Gandhiji
• Jallianwala Bagh Incident launch Non-cooperation movement? (2008,
12)
• Khilafat Issue

PRE
 • Gandhiji’s Conviction- ' If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule in India would collapse
within a year, and swaraj would come ' (Book- Hind Swaraj)
Board Questions
“British rule in India would have
• Gandhiji supported the Khilafat issue to bring Muslims and Hindus together collapsed if Indians had not
under one umbrella. cooperated”. How did this statement
help in starting mass movement in India
• Through the Summer of 1920, Mahatma Gandhi and Shaukat Ali toured against the British rule? (2005)

extensively to garner support for a unified mass movement

• At Congress Nagpur session (Dec 1920) a Non-cooperation programme was adopted.

• The Non-cooperation-Khilafat Movement began in January 1920.

Stages of the Non-cooperation Movement Board Questions:

As per the programme of action, Movement was to unfold in stages as 1. Discuss the various stages of None-
given below Cooperation of Non-cooperation Movement. (2016)

1. First stage- Surrender of titles and awards 2. Mention three main proposals, with reference to the

2. Second stage- Boycott of civil services, army, police, courts and Non-cooperation-movement. (2008)
legislative Councils, school, and foreign goods were burnt in huge
bonfires.
3. Third Stage – If govt resorted to repressive measures the
Movement was to turn into full civil disobedience campaign.
The economic impact of the Movement
• Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed.
• The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922. Value of import
Board Questions
dropped from ₹102 crores to ₹57 Describe briefly any three economic
effects of the Non-cooperation
• Merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade Movement. (2008, 09, 11, 12)

Production of India textile mills and handlooms went up

Reasons behind slowing down of Movement

• It was difficult for the poor people to afford Khadi because it was more
Board Questions
Give three reasons behind slowing down of
expensive than Mill produced cloth Non-cooperation Movement (2011, 12, 15)

• In the absence of sufficient alternative Indian Institutions, students and

teachers began to resume at their old working places

• The same applied to the lawyers who resumed their work in the govt courts.

Reasons behind calling off the movement

Board Questions
• The movement was turning violent
• The immediate cause was the Chauri Chaura incident in Gorakhpur 1. Why did Gandhiji decide to withdraw the
Non-cooperation Movement in February 1922?
(The police post was put in the fire and 22 policemen died) Explain any three reasons. (2016)
• Also, Satyagrahis were not properly trained for non-violence mass
struggle

PRE
The spread of the Movement & participation of different social groups in the non-cooperation
movement
The movement in the Towns (Middle-class participation) Board Questions:
1. How did different social groups conceive the
▪ The middle-class participation led the movement idea of Non-cooperation movement? Explain
with examples. (2014)
▪ Students left govt schools
2. How did the Non-cooperation movement
▪ Teachers resigned spread in cities across the country? Explain
its effects on the economic front. (2015)
▪ Lawyers left their legal practices
▪ The council elections were boycotted except by Justice Party in Madras. (The party comprised Non-
Brahmans)

▪ But the movement slowed down with time 👉 See earlier topics to know the slowdown of movement

The peasants of Awadh Movement

A sanyasi Baba Ramchandra led the movement. He was a Fiji returned. He had gone there as indentured labour but
returned to India.
Problems of peasants-

• Talukdars and landlords demand high rent

Board Questions:
• Begar had to be done 👉 (Begar- work without payment) 1. Describe any three major problems
faced by the peasants of Awash in the
• No security of tenancy tenure
days of Non-cooperation movement.
• They had no rights over leased-land and were regularly evicted (2015 ,16)

2. How did the peasants of Awadh use

Demands of the peasants different methods to achieve their
• Reduction in revenue goal? Explain with examples. (2014)

• Abolition of begar
• Boycott of oppressive landlords (Nai-Dhobi band organised by panchayats to support peasants

Oudh Kisan Sabhas

• Such Oudh Kisan Sabhas were organised by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1920. The aim was to integrate farmers with the Non-
cooperation Movement.
• Over 300 came to be set up within a month.
• But, the peasants indulged in violent and disruptive activities- looting bazaar, attacking merchants, taking over hoarded
grains. They used the name of Mahatma Gandhi to justify Their stands.
Tribal peasants revolt
• In early 1920, a tribal revolt spread in the Gudem Hills in Andhra Pradesh. Board Questions:
1. Who was Alluri Sitaram Raju?
• The revolt was against the forest policy of the British Their traditional rights and Explain the role played by tribal peasants
livelihood were affected. iin the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh
during the non-cooperation movement.
• Alluri Sitaram Raju was their leader. He was inspired by Gandhiji but thought (2012)
Violence necessary to liberate India. 2. Analyse any four features of Gudem
rebellion of Andhra Pradesh. (2011)
• His followers followed him and attacked Police stations, British officials
through gorillas -warfare.
 Alluri Sitaram Raju-
Tribal considered him an incarnation of God
He claimed to have special powers to heal, make astrological predictions,
and even face bullets. He was inspired by Gandhiji
He urged his followers to wear Khadi and give up drinking
But he differed from Gandhiji and approved over violent methods to liberate India
He was captured and executed in 1924 but after death, he became the talk of every home and became a folklore

Plantation workers of Assam

Under the Inland Emigration Act 1859, the workers were not allowed to leave tea garden without permission.
Rarely such permissions were ever given.

The idea of Swaraj for plantation workers meant- right to freedom Board Questions:

of movement out of their confined premises. It also meant that 1. What was the notion of swaraj for the plantation
workers in Assam? (2008)
they could go home. They believed Gandhi Raj would give them
2. Explain the response of the plantation workers to the Non-
land in their villages. Cooperation Movement? What did freedom mean to them?
(2016)
• Following their notion of swaraj they defied the authorities,
3. “The plantation workers in Assam had their own
came out of gardens and left for home understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of
Swaraj”. Support the statement with arguments. (2016)
• But they could not reach home
• They got stranded because of strikes of Railways and steamers
• All were caught and brutally beaten up.

Different incidents and developments leading to the Civil disobedience movement:

▪ After the withdrawal of the Non-cooperation movement, there was a void-gap.

▪ Some Congressmen wanted to return to Provincial Councils.
▪ Swaraj party within Congress was formed to contest elections.
▪ The worldwide economic depression affected the agricultural sector.
▪ Simon Commission infuriated the Indian Masses.
▪ Lahore Session in 1929, raised the demand for 'Poorna Swaraj'. Salt March laid the foundation of the Civil
Disobedience Movement.

Swaraj Party –It was formed by the Congress leaders Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das Desbandhu. It was formed to contest
Council Elections set up Govt Act India Act 1919. Many Congressmen were tired of Mass struggle as was Non-
cooperation movement.

Worldwide economic depression –

• A tough time for world market and trade as prices fell and currencies devalued Board Questions:
• In India, agricultural prices fell from 1926 and collapsed after 1930 Explain effects 'worldwide economic
• Peasants faced low demand for their harvest depression on India towards late
• The earnings of peasants declined 1920s. (2013)
• They found failing to pay revenue
• The countryside and its people were in turmoil
• No need to tell the apathy of the British govt in this situation
 Simon Commission (1928)

• It was a statutory Commission led by Sir John

Board questions:
• Its aim was to review the constitutional governance and suggest 1. What were the objectives of the Simon
reforms Commission? Why was it opposed in India?
(2012)
• It comprised 7 MPs all-white men 2. Simon Commission was greeted with the
• No member in the commission infuriated the people slogan ‘Go back Simon’ at arrival in India.
Support this reaction of Indian with
• Black flags were shown and greeted with slogans 'Go Back Simon’s. arguments. (2016)
• At Madras Session, 1926, Congress decided to boycott the Commission “at every stage and in every form”
• Muslim League under M.L. Jinnah also opposed the Commission
• Congress also rejected the Offer of Round Table Conference by Governor Lord Irwin

Lahore Session – (Dec 1929)

The Congress had opposed the Simon Commission. The vague offer of Board Questions:
'dominion status' and a 'Round Table Conference' did not satisfy
1. Explain the reasons for the Lahore Session of the
Congress. At this time the radical youth like Nehru and Subhash Bose
Congress in 1929 to be called the historic session.
came to the front to adopt some aggressive approach. (2014)
2. Mention the main contents of the session Indian
• The historic Lahore Session was held on 19 December 1929. National Congress, in December 1929 held under the
leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. (2014)
• J.L.Nehru was the president at the Lahore Session
• A landmark 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) proposal was passed at the session
• On 31 Dec 1929, the newly adopted Tri-colour flag was unfurled
• 26 Jan 1930 was proposed to be celebrated as 'Independence Day'
• People were to take a pledge to struggle for Independence
• It was a big step toward Disobedience Movement.

Salt Satyagraha and beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement

The India Salt Act of 1882 established a government monopoly on the collection and manufacture of salt. Indians
had to pay salt tax also.

Letter to Viceroy Lord Irwin- Before embarking on Salt March Mahatma Gandhi had sent a letter to Mr Irwin on 31 January
1930 stating 11 demands touching interests of different classes ranging from peasants to industrialists.

The demand for the abolition of salt tax was the most stirring one. The letter was an ultimatum- A civil disobedience movement
would start if demands not fulfilled by 11 March 1930.
 Salt as a powerful symbol of uniting people Board Questions:

1. Why did Gandhiji perceive ‘salt' as a powerful

Abolition of the salt tax was the most stirring demand of the 11 symbol that unite the nation? (2011, 16)
demands made in the letter written by Gandhiji to the Viceroy Lord Irwin 2. How did Salt March become an effective tool
on 31 January 1930. of resistance against British colonial power?
(2015)
1. Salt, as an essential food item, is a key commodity 3. Describe briefly the 'Salt March’s undertaken
by Mahatma Gandhi. (2009)
2. Consumed by the rich and poor alike
3. The monopoly over the production of salt also revealed the most oppressive face of the British.
Gandhiji realised that a simple key commodity like salt was a strong symbol and tool that could rally and united
people for a mass movement.

Salt March (12 March-6 April 1930)

11 March 1930 was the date set as a deadline to accept the 11 demands but the govt did not entertain the letter
and the 11 demands. Gandhiji had to take care of the salt March to defy the Salt Law and launch the Civil
disobedience movement.

Gandhiji said to his supporters- “On bended knees, I asked (from British govt) for bread and I have
received stone instead”.

• On 12 March Gandhiji started his historic salt March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi (a coastal town in
Gujarat)

• 78 trusted followed him

Board Questions
• They walked 24 days covering 10 miles a day 1. Which incident marked the beginning of the
Civil Disobedience Movement? How was the
• Gandhiji urged his visitors on the way to defy The British govt peacefully Civil Disobedience Movement different from
Non-Cooperation movement?
• On 6 April Mahatma Gandhi reached Dandi (a coastal town in Gujarat) (2008, 11, 16)
2. Explain in brief the ‘Dandi March’. (2016)
• At around 6.30 am (6 April 1930) he ceremonially violated the law by taking a 3. How did the salt march become an effective
tool of resistance against colonialism? Explain.
lump of natural salt (2015)
• British law now stood defied and Civil disobedience movement began.

Board Questions
Civil Disobedience Movement 1. Explain any three features of the Civil
Movement. (2009)
Govt had turned down 11 demands raised by Gandhiji. Now, Gandhiji was left with
2. Describe the significance of the Civil
no alternative other than disobedience Movement in the freedom
struggle of India. (2015)
launching the Civil Disobedience movement.
The breaking of Salt Law at Dandi on 6 April 1930 marked the beginning of the Civil 3. “Civil disobedience Movement was
different from the Non-Cooperation
Disobedience Movement. People showed a great response to. call by Gandhiji. Movement”. Support the statement
with examples. (2011)
The reaction of people to the movement
• Thousands of people in different parts of the country broke the salt law. As a Board Questions
1. How did people and the colonial
token of defiance many government react to the civil disobedience
movement? Explain. (2012)
• manufactured salts and even demonstrated in front of govt factories.
• Foreign cloth was boycotted, and liquor shops picketed
• Peasants refused to pay revenue and Chaukidari tax
• Village officials resigned
• The tribal forest people defied forest laws by entering into reserved forests to graze cattle and collect wood.
• Later on, when the govt resorted to force, People indulged in violent clashes.

The reaction of the Govt

Board Questions
The colonial government was worried by the development of the movement. It 1. How did the colonial government repress
the civil disobedience movement? Explain.
again used force to crush the movement with a heavy hand. There were mass
(2016)
arrests. than leaders, around 100,000 civil people were arrested
• Govt started arresting Congress leaders one by one infuriating people.
•
• A Gandhian activist from Peshawar, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan was arrested in April 1930. Angry crowds staged
demonstrations in streets of Peshawar. They faced armoured cars and police firing. Many were killed.
• On 5th May 1930, Gandhiji and other top leaders of Congress were imprisoned
• industrial workers in Sholapur attacked police posts, municipal buildings, law courts and railway stations.
• Any structure symbolising British rule became the target of the people
• Govt followed the policy of brutal repression – Peaceful Satyagrahis were attacked, women and children were
beaten.
• Around 100,000 people were arrested.
• The ruthlessly inhuman character of the British rule was now exposed to the world and India got the sympathy
of the world

Calling off the Civil Disobedience Movement

Board Questions:

• The big leaders including Gandhiji himself were arrested 1. Explain the circumstances under which Gandhi ji
decided to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement
• The movement had turned violent in 1931. (2012)
2. Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to call off the Civil
• The Industrial workers at Sholapur had started attacking police Disobedience Movement? Explain. (2016)
posts, municipal buildings and other British structures
• The government resorted to severe repression. Mass arrests, torture, firing, lathi charges and police excesses
became common incidents
 Such situations were nowhere near a non-violence movement. Gandhiji ultimately had to call off the movement
and entered into Gandhi-Irwin Pact on 5 March 1931.

Gandhi -Irwin Pact (5 March 1931)

This pact was a compromise between govt and Gandhiji with Some give and take from both sides.

Concessions made by Govt:

• The government agreed to remove all repressive ordinances

• To restore the confiscated property
• to set free all prisoners except those who were guilty of having committed any violence.
• The government also allowed the manufacture of salt by the people and for peaceful picketing before the
liquor shops and foreign goods shops
Concessions made by Congress:

• Congress agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement

• to attend the Second Round Table Conference.
We can conclude that with this pact, the government indirectly accepted the Congress as the representative
organisation of the Indians.
Relaunch of the Civil Disobedience Movement (in 1932)
Board Questions
In Nov 1931 Conservative govt came to power Britain. Lord Wellington replaced Lord Irwin. He
1. Why did Mahatma Gandhi relaunch the
was against the Lord-Irwin pact.
civil disobedience movement? Explain. (2016)

• Gandhi returned from Second Round Table Conference empty-handed.

• He saw that Govt had unleashed a new cycle of terror
• Leaders like Nehru and Gaffar Khan were still in jail
• Congress was outlawed and declared illegal
• Meetings, demonstration and boycott were not allowed
• Gandhiji himself was arrested
With great apprehension, Mahatma Gandhi relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1932. It continued for over a
year and by 1934 the movement lost its momentum

Different participants of the Civil Disobedience Movement

Board Questions
1. How (why)did different social groups
Reasons of Participation of the Rich Peasants participate in the Civil Disobedience
• The Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar Pradesh were the active rich peasant movement? Explain with examples
(2016).
communities
• For them, the fight for swaraj meant to struggle against high revenues 2. How did the civil disobedience
movement come into force in various
• The commercial crop growing peasantry was hard hit by trade depression and parts of the country? (2016)
falling prices of their produce.
• Decreasing cash income made it difficult to pay revenue to govt 3. Mention three reasons by which the
rich peasants communities took active
• The government refused to reduce revenues. It angered the peasants and they participation in the civil disobedience
came in support of the civil disobedience movement. movement. (2009)
• They tried to organise their communities by increasing membership and carry on boycott programmes

Reasons of the poor Peasants joining the movement

• They carried 'no rent' campaign. Their demand was the remittance of rent by landlords
• Mostly the poor Peasants rented land to cultivate and paid rent in return
• They were also hit by the economic depression and falling prices
• Decreasing income made it difficult to pay land rent
• Therefore, they wanted unpaid rent to the landlord to be remitted
• Their grievances found solace in radical socialist views and they joined variety movements led by socialists and
communists.

The reluctance of Congress to support 'no rent' ' campaign –

Congress did not want to upset rich Peasants and landlords because the demands of the poor Peasants were just
against landlords or rich Peasants who rented them land.
Due to this hesitant approach, the relationship between Congress and the poor Peasants was uncertain.
The difference between the demands of the rich and poor peasants- The rich peasants wanted a reduction in
revenues while the poor peasants wanted remittance of unpaid rent.
Participation of the Business class
• They wanted to oppose restrictive business British policies and get protection Board Questions
1. Analyse the role of merchants and
from foreign imports. industrialists in the Civil Disobedience
Movement. (2010, 14, 15)
• They formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in 1920.
2. Explain the attitude of the Indian
• FICCI (Federation of the Indian Chamber of commerce and Industries) was
merchants and the industrialists towards
formed in 1927. the ‘Civil disobedience Movement’.
(2015)
• Prominent industrialists like Purshhotam Das Thakurdas and G.D.Birla
3. Evaluate the role of Business class
supported the Movement.
in civil disobedience movement.
• They gave financial assistance to the Movement and refused to deal in (2016)
imported goods.
• After the failure of the Round Table Conference they lost their enthusiasm.
• The militant activities and the growing influence of socialism among young Congressmen made them
apprehensive

Participation of Industrial working class

The workers mostly stayed all of from the Civil Disobedience Movement. The main reason behind it was the
closeness of Industrialists with Congress.

Yet, in Nagpur, some workers did show their solidarity with the movement

Workers in the Nagpur region

• Workers participated in protest activities to show resentment against low wages and poor working conditions
• They adopted some of Gandhian ideas and programmes
• In 1930, Thousands of workers in Chhotanagpur mines wore Gandhian caps, participated in protest rallies, and
boycott campaigns.
• There were strikes by railway workers in 1930 and dockworkers in 1932.
 Reasons of Reluctance of Congress to support the demands of workers

• Supporting workers would disassociate industrialists from Congress and the movement
• It would divide the anti-imperial forces

Participation of women:

• Participation of women in the movement was an important feature of the

Board Questions;
movement 1. Explain the role of women in
the civil disobedience
• Gandhiji's call inspired them to consider their duty to serve the nation
movement. (2011, 15)
• Women activists came from high-caste families in urban and rich peasants’ 2. What were Mahatma
Gandhi’s views on women’s
families in rural areas
participation in the national
• During the Salt March, Thousands of women came to listen to Gandhiji movement? (2016)
• Hey participated in marches, manufactured salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops
• Many went to jail also

Congress adopted an orthodox attitude toward women- Gandhiji thought it a duty of women to look after home
and hearth. Initially, Congress did not give them any position of authority in the organisation. Their presence was of
only symbolic importance.

Some examples- Sarojini Naidu, Vijay Laxmi Pandit, Kamla Nehru.

Limitations of the Civil Disobedience Movement

Dalits (depressed classes) and some sections had limited participation in the movement.

1. Limited participation of Dalits:

For long Congress ignored Dalits (depressed classes) because it did not want to offend the high caste conservative
Hindus. But Mahatma Gandhiji did a lot for them.

Efforts of Gandhiji for Harijan rights Board Questions:

1. Mention any three efforts made by
• He called them Harijan- the children of God Gandhiji to get Harijan their rights.
(2009)
• He organised satyagraha to secure Dalit entry into temples, access to public
2. “Dalit participation was limited in
wells, tanks, roads and schools Civil Disobedience Movement”.
Explain. (2013)
• Persuaded upper castes to change their heart to give up 'the sin of Dalits’.

Demands of the Dalits ( needed political solutions)

• Dalits organised themselves for better bargaining
• Wanted political empowerment to solve the social disabilities of Dalits
• Reservation of seats in educational institutions
• Dalit participation was limited in the areas where they were better organised like in the Maharashtra and
Nagpur region Separate electorate for Dalits
Dr B.R. Ambedkar for Dalits
- He fought for the cause of Dalits

- To organise Dalits he formed: Depressed Classes Association in 1930

- He demanded the demand for separate electorate for Dalits

- He signed the Poona Pact

2. Separate electorate and Poona Pact (September 1932)

Board Questions:
In August 1932, the British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald announced the 1. When and why was Poona Pact signed?
(2011)
“Communal Award” by providing separate electorate to Muslims, Sikhs,
2. Describe the main features of ‘Poona
Europeans and the other depressed class Pact’. (2015)
3. Why did political leaders differ sharply
over the question of Separate Electorate
• Ambedkar favoured separate electorate arrangements
for Muslims and Dalits? (2014)
• Gandhiji opposed separate electorate as it would slow down the process of
Dalit integration into mainstream society
• He went on fast unto death which created a mass appeal
• Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhiji's position to sign Poona Pact in September 1932

Main provisions of Poona Pact

1. Reservation of seats for Depressed Classes in provincial and central legislative councils
2. Seats were to be reserved on the basis of population of Dalits
3. A general electorate comprising all castes would vote for any Dalit candidate

3. Limited participation and lukewarm response of Muslims

Board Questions:
When the Civil Disobedience Movement started there was an atmosphere of “Some of the Muslim political
suspicion and distrust between communities of Hindus and Muslims. All this organisation in India were lukewarm in
started after the decline if the Khilafat Movement and decline of Non- their response to the civil disobedience
cooperation movement. movement”. Examine the statement.
(2013)
• A large section of Muslims felt alienated from the Congress.
• From 1920s Congress had clearly shown its association with Hindu Mahasabha
• Religious processions with militant fervours were organised leading to communal clashes
• In 1927 the Congress and Muslim League tried to negotiate on the question of future representation in
assemblies
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah was ready to give up the demand of separate electorate for Muslims to reach any
mutual settlement with Congress.
• In 1928 In All Parties Conference M.R. Jaykar of Hindu Mahasabha opposed the Congress-Muslim League
negotiations on a compromise
• Mostly the main concern of the Muslim leaders and intellectuals was on the question of the status of Muslims
as a minority in India. They feared domination by Hindus over Muslim culture and identity.
The Sense of Collective Belonging

Nationalism spreads when people begin to consider themselves as part of the same nation. A sense of collective
belonging binds and unites the people together.
Board Questions:
1. The sense of collective belonging was the result of 1. How had a variety of cultural processes
developed a sense of collective
✓ Experience of united struggle belongingness in India during the 19th
century? Explain with examples. (2016,
✓ Variety of Cultural processes 2019)
2. “Nationalism spreads when people
✓ History & fiction, folklore and folk songs
began to believe that they are all part of
✓ Popular prints and symbols the nation”. Support the statement.
(2015)
2. The Identity of the Nation Symbolised in a Figure or Image
▪ In the 20th century, the image of Bharat Mata came to visualised as the identity of India.

▪ The Image of Bharat Mata was first crated by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

▪ He wrote the hymn ‘Vande Mataram’ (Novel-Anandmath). It was sung during the Swadeshi Movement to
inspire patriotism and nationalism among people.

▪ Abanindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata.

▪ Bharat Mata was portrayed and painted differently by different artists.

▪ Devotion to this mother figure ‘Bharat Mata’ became evidence of one’s nationalism.

3. Revival of Indian folklore

▪ Folklores give a true picture of traditional culture.

▪ Nationalists toured villages to record folk songs sung by bards and gather folk songs and legends.

▪ In Bengal Ravindranath Tagore himself collected ballads, nursery rhymes and myths to revive folklore.

▪ In Madras, Natesa Sastri published four-volume of collection of Tamil folklores, The folklore of South India.

▪ Folklore was needed to be preserved to discover one’s identity and restore a sense of pride in one’s past.

4. Role of icons and symbols

▪ Flags became a symbol of nationalism in the Indian freedom struggle.
Board Questions:
▪ A tricolour flag was designed during the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal. It Describe the composition of the tricolour
flag designed during the swadeshi
had 8 lotuses representing 8 British provinces and a crescent moon
movement in Bengal. (2015, 16)
representing Hindus and Muslims.

▪ Gandhiji designed Swaraj Flag in 1921. it was a tricolour flag (red, green, Board Questions:
Who had designed the ‘Swaraj Flag’ in
white) with a spinning wheel in the centre. The ‘charkha’ represented the 1921? Explain the main features of the
‘Swaraj Flag’. (2014, 16)
Gandhian ideal of self-help.

▪ Carrying the flag high in the hand during marches became a symbol of defiance.
5. Reinterpretation of history
▪ The British saw Indians as backwards, primitive and incapable of governing themselves.

▪ Indian writers responded by writing about the past of India to discover India’s great achievements.

▪ They wrote about the glorious past of India when art, and architecture, science and mathematics, religion and
culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade had flourished.

▪ The colonisation was led to the decline of this glorious time.

▪ This reinterpretation of nationalist histories urged the readers to take pride in great achievements of past and
struggle to take India out of miseries created by the British.

6. Problems due to reinterpretation of History

▪ The past glory of India was Hindu and therefore

▪ Images celebrated were drawn from Hindu iconography.

▪ All this alienated other communities and they felt left out.