Nationalism in India 2022 Chapter 2

Q1.Why growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-Colonial movement?

Ans: It is a fact that nationalism in colonies was created by the imperialistic policies. Imperialist powers
exploited the colonies for economic benefits. It broke village autonomy & created an imbalance between
agriculture and handicrafts. That resulted in un-employment, de-industrialization and backwardness.
Almost every section of the society was affected by these policies and hence with the passage of time,
these policies created a consciousness among the people which led to nationalism. So, in short
exploitation in colonies led to anti-colonial movements which united the people for nationalism.

Q2.How the First World War helped in the growth of national movement in India? (BOSE)
Ans: The contribution of First World War (1914-18) in the growth of Indian national movement is highlighted
in the following points.

i) The First World War led to huge increase in defence expenditure. The result was huge national debt.
It was met by increasing taxes, raising of customs duties, war loans & introduction of income tax.
These measures created economic hardships for Indians as the prices doubled between 1914 & 1918.
ii) The failure of crops in 1918-19 & 1920-21 in many parts of India led to acute food shortages. The
further shortage of food crops was due to export of food to feed the army fighting abroad.
iii) It was accompanied by influenza epidemic which claimed 12 to 13 million lives.
iv) Between the years of 1914 and 1923 forced recruitment for the army was going on without
interruptions, from rural areas of India caused widespread reaction against British.
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This all helped in the growth of national movement in India. This is evident from the fact that the national
movement spread to new areas, incorporated new social groups & developed new modes of struggle after
the war.
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Q3. Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act? (BOSE)

Ans: The Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act-1919, because of the following reasons:

i) Despite the united opposition of the Indian members, the imperial legislative council hurriedly passed
this Act.
ii) The Act was totally against the expectations of the Indians as they expected the establishment of a
responsible Govt. after the World War - I.
iii) The Act denied ‘protection of law’ to Indians as it empowered the Govt. to arrest a person on
mere doubt & detain him for two years without trial.
iv) It strengthened the hands of Colonial Govt. to repress the political activities of Indian nationalist
and revolutionaries.
This ‘Black Act’ was strongly reacted by the Indians. Gandhiji in protest called for nation-wide hartal on
6th April, 1919.

Q4. Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw the non-cooperation movement? (BOSE)

Ans: Non –cooperation movement began in January 1920. However, Gandhiji withdrew it in Feb, 1922 because
it took a violent turn. Gandhiji firmly believed in the philosophy of Ahimsa or non-violence. He had at
the very beginning declared non-cooperation movement to be a non- violent movement. However, on 4th
Feb, 1922 at Chauri-Chaura in Gorakhpur district of U.P. people burnt alive 22 policemen by burning a
local police station. Here Gandhiji withdrew the movement realizing that it took a violent turn. He felt

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that the people were not yet ready for a mass movement. So, they need to be trained to understand
how to carry a non-violent struggle successfully.

Q5. What is meant by the idea of Satyagraha? (BOSE)

Ans: (i) The chief aspect of Gandhi’s ideology was Satyagraha. Satyagraha was a non-violent method of
mass agitation experimented & developed by Gandhiji against racist Govt. of South Africa. Confident
over its success, Gandhiji adopted it to fight against the British Govt. of India.

(ii) It includes the means like hartals, peaceful demonstrations, boycott, picketting etc.

(iii) Gandhi defined it as truth force or Soul force. It emphasized the power of truth and need to search
for truth. It suggested that if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical
force is not necessary to fight the oppressor.

(iv) In more practical terms, it meant civil-disobedience. Non-violence or ahimsa was the cardinal
principal of his message which was non -negotiable under all circumstances

(v) To win the battle through non-violence the Satyagraha could do it by appealing to the conscience of
the oppressor. The oppressor had to be persuaded to see the truth, instead of being forced to accept
truth through the use of violence.

Q6. Explain briefly term Satyagraha.

GW
Ans. The term Satyagraha is the combination of two wards “satya” which means “truth” and “agraha” which
means “insistence” or holding firmly. It is a method of agitation and protest, based on truth and Non-
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Violence. The idea of Satyagraha stressed the power of truth and need to search for truth. It suggested that
if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the
oppressor because a right disobedience itself was more impressive than use of weapons.

Q7.. Write a newspaper report on:

(a) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre

(b) The Simon Commission/Indian Statutory Commission

Ans. THE JAILLANWALA BAGH MASSACRE

Mr. Mudasir Gani

Amritsar, 14 April 1919, the news of India:

Yesterday, the innocent people of Punjab, who had gathered at Jallinawala Bagh had to face the
bullets of General Dyer. There were thousands of men, women and children. Most of the people were from
outside Amritsar and had come on account of Baisakhi. As it is stated, General O Dyer had issued a
declaration prohibiting public meetings and imposition of martial law. General O Dyer entered the area and
taking the benefit of prohibitory order, he ordered firing on innocent people. The firing went on till the
ammunition was exhausted. After the massacre the wounded were left without medical help. The number of

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casualties is still not know but estimate to be in hundreds.

(B). THE SIMMION COMMISSION-

Mr.Mudasir Gani

New Delhi, 15 January 1928

According to the Government of India act of 1919, further constitutional changes were to be considered
within the following ten years. In November 1927, the British government appointed, the Simon Commission
under Sir John Simon to look into the working of the act of 1919 and to suggest changes. The commission
consisted of English men without a single Indian representative. Also its terms of reference did not hold out
hopes of anything remotely like Swaraj.

When the Simon Commission arrived in India in February 1928, it was greeted with the slogan “Go back
Simon”. All parties including the Indian national congress and the Muslim league participated in the
demonstration.

Q8. Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter1.

Ans.

Ans: The artists in Europe tried to give a concrete shape to the abstract ideas of nationalism, liberty etc
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through personification. Same trend was followed by the Indian artists during the Indian National
movement. The comparison between Germania & Bharat Mata is highlighted in the following points.
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Germania Bharat Mata

i) Germania, the female allegory of i) The devotion of people to Bharat Mata inspired
German nation was believed to instill nationalists to unify Indians & achieve freedom.
nationalist feelings among the German
people.

ii) Germania stood as personifications ii) The images of Bharat Mata came to be seen as
of the revolutionary ideals like ‘liberty’ symbols of nationalism.
and ‘the Republic.

iii) Germania is shown as a brave & iii) Bharat Matta is shown as calm, compound, divine
courageous lady, who is protecting her & spiritual lady.
nation.

iv) In Picture, Germania is shown iv) Bharat Matta is shown to carry trishul in one hand
carrying sword in one hand and flag in besides lion/elephant on other side
another hand.

Q9. List all the different social groups which joined the non-cooperation movement of 1921.Then

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Choose any three & write about their hopes & struggles to show why they joined the movement.

Ans: Non-cooperation movement began in 1920 & was withdrawn in Feb, 1922.The different social

groups which joined the movement are enlisted as under:

i) Middle-class (students, teachers, lawyers etc) in the towns.

ii) Tribals in the hilly areas.
iii) Plantation workers.
iv) Peasants in the countryside.
In the non-cooperation movement various social groups participated, but each with its own specific
aspirations or hopes. Here we will highlight the hopes & struggles of three different social groups.

i) Peasants: The peasants directed their movements against oppressive landlords e.g. In Awadh,
peasants demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar & social boycott of oppressive
landlords. So, for peasants Swaraj meant freedom from the exploitation of landlords.
ii) Tribals: Tribals interpreted the movement in their own way. They hoped that through this movement
they could restore their traditional forest rights such as shifting cultivation, hunting & gathering
etc.
iii) Plantation Workers: For them swaraj meant freedom to move freely in & out of the confined space
of plantations which was denied to them under Inland Emigration Act of 1859.
For them non-cooperation programme included defying authorities, leave plantations & move
towards home.
GW
Q10. Discuss the Salt March to make clear why it was an effective symbol of resistance against
Colonialism.
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Ans: The civil disobedience movement was started by Gandhiji with his famous salt March on 12th March
1930 . He started the March from Sabarmati Ashram along with his 78 trusted followers. They marched
on foot about 240 miles/384km’s for about 24 days & reached Dandhi (a small village on the western
coast) on 6 April, 1930.Here, Gandhiji broke the unjust salt law by picking a handful of salt. The salt
march was an effective symbol of resistance against Colonialism. This is revealed from the following
points.

i) Gandhiji found the salt most powerful thing that could unite the nation as it was a thing consumed by
the rich & poor alike. It was one of the essential items of food.
ii) The British Govt. of India had monopoly over production of salt & salt tax hit every section of the
Indian society. So, to break salt law was seen an act which would give wider base to the anti-colonial
movement & shook the British rule.
iii) During the course of salt march, thousands of volunteers were attracted towards Gandhiji. Gandhiji
urged them to peacefully break the British laws. Thus salt march became an effective instrument of
mobilizing people against Colonialism.
(iv) It was an open challenge to British laws as it gathered nationwide support against British & led to
the spread of civil disobedience movement.

Q11. Imagine you are a women participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Explain what the experience
meant to your life.

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Ans. I would have gained the following experience from participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930
-1932)

a) I saw that women were not lagging behind than the men in the movement. They like men can also raise
their voice against the system disrupted either at individual or institutional level.

b) Participating in likewise movement inculcates a sense of tolerance, patience and dedication.

c) Along with picketing foreign clothes and liquor shops, I would have systematically remove the foreign or
alien demands that dwell in my heart in the form of anger, jealous etc. in company of so great guide,
that is father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

Q12. Why did political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates?

Ans. The cause of difference among political leaders over the question of separate electorates are as follows:

Mahatma Gandhi was greatly a far sighted leader. He knew that India is a country of diversities.
Gandhi did not want separate electorates on the basis of religion or caste as he was of the opinion that it
would have divided India. Most of the Hindu leaders were against this. B.R. Ambedkar wanted separate
electorates for Dalit’s as he was convinced that it would ensure political power to Dalits, initially Jinnah was
in favor but later agreed to be on Gandhi’s side in the hope of getting adequate representation of Muslims in
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Muslim dominated states like Punjab and Bengal.

OR
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Ans: Separate electorate system was an important part & feature of the British policy of divide & rule. The
political leaders sharply differed over the question of separate electorates because of their respective
compulsions & understandings which are described below.

i) The leaders of All India Muslim league, like M.A. Jinnah & Dr. Sir Mohammad Iqbal favoured
separate electorate as a safeguard for Muslims. They urged that in a Hindu majority country, the
interests of the Muslims would suffer without separate electorate.

ii) RSS & Hindu Mahasabha, supported separate electorate, because the situation which forced
the muslim leaders to demand for separate electorate was the result of activities of the RSS & Hindu
Mahasabha Organisations.

iii) The congress leaders like J.L. Nehru & Gandhiji opposed the system of separate electorates. They
considered it as an obstacle in the way of unity of Indians & the national movement. Gandhiji even
went on fast unto death to convince B.R. Ambedkar for joint electorate.

iv) B.R Ambedkar , the leader of the Dalits, supported separate electorate for Dalits. He considered it an
important tool for the upliftment of his people & to end the deprivation inflicted on them by the
orthodox Brahmans.

EXTRA QUESTIONS.
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Q13. What is meant by Gandhian-Irwain Pact/Dehli- Pact?

Ans. Gandhian-Irwain Pact was signed in Dehli between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin on 5th March, 1931.
According to this pact, Gandhi had to withdraw the Civil Disobedience Movement and the British Government
promised to release all political prisoners.

Q14. What was Khilafat Movement? Why was it started in India?

Ans. The Khilafat Movement also known as Indian Muslim Movement (1919-1924) was a muslin political protest
by Muslims of British India led by:

1. Shoukat Ali

2. Mohammad Ali

3. Abul kalam Azad

It was a protest against the sanctions/punishments placed on the leader/Caliph and the Ottoman Empire of
Turkey after their defeat at the World War-I by the Treaty of Sevres. Since India was controlled by Britain at
that time .That is why Khilafat movement was started in India, against the Britisher’s.

Q15. What do you meant by Non-Cooperation Movement? Or

GW
When and why was Non-Cooperation Movement started?

Ans. The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in 1920 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. It asked
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Indians to cancel their cooperation to the British Govt.This movement came as a result of INC (Indian National
Congress) withdrawing its support for British Govt following the Rowlatt Act -1919,which suspended the rights
of Indian Political prisoners.

Q16. What is meant by the Dandi or Salt March?

Ans. Gandhiji decided to launch his Civil Disobedience Movement from Dandi, a Village on the sea-coast, at a
distance of 384 kilometers in Gujarat, by violating and breaking the salt laws. So he started his famous Dandi
March with 78 associates from Sabarmati Ashram on 12th March, 1930 and reached Dandi on April 6, 1930.
Gandhiji broke the salt law at Dandi by picking a handful of salt on the sea coast. Those days it was illegal
for anyone to make or pick up salt because it was Government monopoly. Thus Gandhi defied the Government
orders.

Q17. Do you agree with Iqbal’s idea of communalism? Can you give a different definition of communalism?

Ans. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal presided over the Muslim league session in 1930. According to him, communalism
meant separate electorates for the Muslims. We have better definition of communalism. Communalism is the use
of religion for political gains. In other words, communalism means when a society is divided into religion
communities which are antagonistic to each other

Q18.Why did various classes and groups of Indians participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement?
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Ans. The following classes and social groups of Indians participated in the C.D.M because of below mentioned
reasons;

1. The rich peasant communities-like the Patidars of Gujrat and the Jats of U.P were active in the
movement. Being producers of commercial crops. They were hit hard by the trade depression and falling
prices. As their cash income disappeared, they found it impossible to pay the Governments revenue
demand, but the Government refused to reduce the revenue demand. As a result the rich peasants
became the active supporters of C.D.M.

2. The Indian merchants and industrialists had made huge profits and become powerful. They wanted to
expand their business activities, but reacted against colonial policies that restricted their business
activities. As a result Indian merchants and industrialists attacked colonial central over the Indian
economy, and supported the Civil Disobedience Movement. They give financial assistance and refused to
buy or sell imported goods.

3. The industrial working class did not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement in large numbers,
except in the Nagpur region. As the industrialists came closer to the congress, workers stayed aloof.
But in spite of that, some workers did participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement, selectively
adopting some of the ideas of Gandhian programmed, like boycott of foreign goods, as part of their
own movements against low wages and poor working conditions.
GW
Q19. What was the Simon Commission/Indian Statutory Commission? Why did the Indian people oppose it?
M

Ans. The Statutory Commission also Known as Simon Commission was a group of 7- members of parliament
under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon. The commission reached India in 1928 to study constitutional
reforms in India. Its aim was to investigate the results of the Reforms of 1919 and to suggest further reforms
in the system of administration.

The Commission was strongly opposed by India. As there was no Indian representative in the Simon
commission. The Commission was greeted with the slogans of “Go Back Simon”. All parties including INC
(Indian National Congress) and Muslim league opposed it.

Q20. What is the importance of the congress session held at Lahore in 1929 in the history of the struggle
for freedom?

Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru was the president of the congress session held at Lahore in 1929. This session of the
congress was very important because it was at this session that the congress passed a resolution demanding
complete independence of the country. The congress also decided that 26th January should be observed as the
Independence Day all over the country every year. On 26 January, 1930, Independence Day was observed all
over the country.

Q21. What is CDM (Civil Disobedience Movement)? And why was the civil disobedience movement launched?

Ans. Civil Disobedience Movement: It is the active refusal of citizens to obey certain laws, demands and

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orders of the Govt. Civil Disobedience has to be non-violent to be called “Civil”. This movement was started
from 12th March to 6th April 1930.

There were four important developments which led to civil disobedience movement in 1930.

 The turmoil and unrest created by Simon commission.

 The mass participation and success of the Bardoli satyagraha under the leadership of Vallabhai
Patal for the cause of Peasants.

 The Nehru report which was rejected by the government.

 The 1929 Poorna Swaraj resolution calling upon the people to stop payment of taxes without
doing any violence needed strong steps.

Q22. What is meant by Swadeshi and Boycott Movement? How they arose the feeling of nationalism among
the Indian People?

Ans. THE SWADESHI MOVEMENT:- During the partition of Bengal Swadeshi Movement was started as a
protest against partition. It emphasis upon, that people should use Indian goods only.It emphasis on self
reliance.
GW
THE BOYCOTT MOVEMENT:- This movement was stated along with the Swadeshi movement. It meant that
people should boycott foreign goods and not to cooperate British Govt.
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The whole country stood up against the British government. As a result the national integration was
strengthened. These movements were massive and powerful and succeeded in generating a wave of patriotism
and nationalism in India.

Q23. What were the aims of the khilafat and Non-cooperation Movement? What were the methods adopted
to achieve those aims?

Ans. The aims of the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement were to redress the wrongs done to Punjab and
Turkey and the attainment of Swaraj.

METHODS:- The methods which were adopted by both the movements were as under.

 Renunciation of titles by the Indians,

 Boycott of legislatures,

 Boycott of Educational Institutes ,

 Opening of national institutes of education,

 Boycott of law courts by lawyers,

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 Organising hartals all over the country.

Q24.. Write a short not on: (1) Lucknow Pact (2) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

Ans.

1.Lucknow Pact: - A pact between the Congress and the Muslim League was signed in 1916. Both the
congress and the Muslim League decided to fight jointly and pressurize the British Govt to get their demands
approved. Thus the pact was of great importance.

At that time, the president of Congress was Ambica Charan Mazumdar and president of Muslim league was
Mohd Ali Jinnah.

2.Jallianwala Bagh Massacre:- Jallianwala Bagh is a small park enclosed by buildings one all sides in Amritsar.
On 10th April 1919, two nationalist leaders Dr. Satyapal and Saiffudin Kitchloo were arrested. On 13 April 1919,
there was a hartal all over the country. People of Amritsar held a protest meeting in the mentioned Bagh.
General Dyre gave shooting orders without giving warning to the people. Hundreds of men and women were
killed. This sent a wave of shock and resentment throughout the country.

Objective type questions

Q1. When did the Indian national congress formed?

GW
Ans. in 1885.
Q2. Where was the first session of Indian national congress held?
Ans. Bombay.
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Q3. Who was the founder of Indian National Congress?

Ans. A.O. Hume
Q4. Who was the first president of Indian National congress
Ans. W.C. Bannerjee
Q5. In which city the Jaillanwalla Bagh incident took place?
Ans. Amritsar
Q6. When the Jallainwala Bagh incident did took place?
Ans. 13 April, 1919
Q7. Why was the Simon commission boycotted by Indians?
Ans. Because there was no Indian in the commission
Q8. Who founded the Indian National Army?
Ans. Subhas Chandra Bose,
Q9. Who organized Khilafat Movement?
Ans. Ali Brothers
Q10. When was the Muslim league founded?
Ans. In 1906
Q11. Name the Indian leader who sacrificed his life while boycotting the Simon commission?
Ans. Lala Lajpat Rai
Q12. when did the First World War begin?
Ans. 1914
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