Nationalism in India
Write in brief
1. Explain:
a) Why growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement.
Answer: The growth of modern nationalism in colonies like India was connected to the struggle against colonial rule. The feeling of being oppressed under colonialism created a shared bond among different groups. People discovered their unity in fighting a common enemy, and this process gave rise to nationali.
b) How the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India.
Answer: The First World War created a new economic and political situation. Defence expenditure increased, taxes were raised, and prices doubled, causing hardships for people. Forced recruitment in villages caused anger, and food shortages with an influenza epidemic killed millions. People expected relief after the war but their hardships continued, creating discontent that fuelled the national movement.
c) Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act.
Answer: The Rowlatt Act of 1919 gave the government unlimited powers to repress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. Indians felt it was unjust and undemocratic. Despite united opposition, the Act was passed, which angered the people deeply.
d) Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer: In 1922, at Chauri Chaura, a peaceful demonstration turned violent and policemen were killed. Gandhiji felt that satyagrahis were not yet ready for mass struggles and feared the movement was turning violent. Hence, he called off the Non-Cooperation Movement.
2. What is meant by the idea of satyagraha?
Answer: Satyagraha was a novel method of mass agitation introduced by Mahatma Gandhi. It emphasised the power of truth and non-violence. The idea was that a just cause could be won without physical force, by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor. Without aggression or revenge, truth and non-violence would ultimately triumph and unite people.
3. Write a newspaper report on:
a) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Answer: Amritsar, April 1919: Yesterday, a peaceful gathering of men, women and children at Jallianwala Bagh turned into a scene of horror. General Dyer ordered his troops to fire without warning on the unarmed crowd trapped inside the enclosed ground. Hundreds were killed and many more injured. The brutal act has shocked the entire nation. Reports of terror, humiliation, and repression have spread across Punjab, intensifying the anger of people against British rule.
b) The Simon Commission
Answer: India, 1928: The arrival of the Simon Commission, sent by the British government to report on constitutional reforms, has sparked nationwide protest. The Commission has no Indian member, which Indians see as an insult. Demonstrations have erupted with the slogan “Go Back Simon!” echoing in cities. Leaders of both the Congress and Muslim League have united in rejecting the Commission, demanding full independence instead of reforms.
4. Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter 1.
Answer:
- The image of Germania in Chapter 1 was used to symbolise the German nation. She was shown as heroic, proud, and ready to fight, representing strength and unity.
- The image of Bharat Mata in Chapter 2 symbolised India. She was shown in different forms – as an ascetic, calm and divine, dispensing food, clothing and learning, or with power symbols like lion, elephant, and trishul.
- While Germania represented political unity through power, Bharat Mata evoked spiritual strength, devotion, and sacrifice. Both served as symbols to unify people, but Bharat Mata’s imagery was deeply rooted in Indian culture and spirituality.
Discuss
1. List all the different social groups which joined the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921. Then choose any three and write about their hopes and struggles to show why they joined the movement.
Answer:
Social groups that joined:
- Middle-class people in towns (students, teachers, lawyers).
- Merchants and traders.
- Peasants in Awadh led by Baba Ramchandra.
- Tribal peasants in Gudem Hills led by Alluri Sitaram Raju.
- Plantation workers in Assam.
Three groups with their hopes and struggles:
- Students, teachers and lawyers in towns: They left schools, colleges, and legal practices to boycott British institutions. They hoped that refusing cooperation would weaken British rule.
- Peasants in Awadh: They fought against high rents, begar (unpaid labour), and exploitation by landlords. They wanted reduction of revenue and security of tenure.
- Tribal peasants in Gudem Hills: They resisted forest laws that restricted their traditional rights and were angered by forced begar. Inspired by Raju, they hoped for swaraj through freedom to use forests and live with dignity.
2. Discuss the Salt March to make clear why it was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism.
Answer: The Salt March began in March 1930 when Mahatma Gandhi walked 240 miles from Sabarmati to Dandi with 78 followers. At Dandi, he broke the salt law by making salt from sea water.
- Salt was a daily essential consumed by rich and poor alike.
- The tax on salt and government monopoly exposed the oppressive face of British rule.
- People across the country joined by making salt, boycotting foreign cloth, refusing taxes, and violating forest laws.
Thus, salt became a simple but powerful symbol that united Indians against colonialism and made the movement mass-based.
3. Imagine you are a woman participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Explain what the experience meant to your life.
Answer: As a woman in the Civil Disobedience Movement:
I came out of my home for the first time to join protest marches and picket liquor shops. Along with other women, I manufactured salt and faced police lathis fearlessly. Participating gave me a sense of pride that I too was serving my motherland. It made me realise that women’s duty was not only in the home but also in the nation’s freedom struggle. This experience changed my life by filling me with courage, dignity, and responsibility for India’s future.
4. Why did political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates?
Answer: Political leaders had different opinions about separate electorates:
- Dalit leaders like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates to give Dalits political power and safeguard their interests.
- Mahatma Gandhi opposed it, believing it would divide the Hindu community and slow down social integration. He instead called Dalits ‘Harijans’ and worked for temple entry and social reforms.
- Muslim leaders wanted separate electorates or reserved seats to protect their culture and identity as a minority.
Because of these conflicting views, leaders differed sharply, leading to debates such as during the Poona Pact (1932) between Gandhi and Ambedkar.
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