CBSE - Nationalism in India

Colonisation affected people's freedom, and nationalist sentiments surged during the process of struggle against imperial domination. The sense of oppression and exploitation became a common bond for people from different walks of life, and this resulted in the growth of nationalist ideals. Thus, growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to anti-colonial movements.

During the First World War, the British army conducted forced recruitment from rural areas in India. To finance the defence expenditure, high custom duties and income taxes were imposed. Also, during 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India, thereby resulting in acute food shortages. All this caused extensive anger and opposition against the British colonial rule, and the national movement of India headed towards a stronger, more definitive direction.

The Rowlatt Act was passed hurriedly through the Imperial Legislative Council despite opposition from Indian members. It gave the government autocratic powers to repress political activities besides allowing it to detain political prisoners without a trial, for two years. The Indian were outraged by this act as it was clearly undemocratic and oppressive, and hurt national sentiments and dignity.

Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement due to various incidents of violence perpetrated by the masses, especially the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922 where the people clashed with the police, setting a police-station on fire. Gandhiji felt that the people were not yet ready for a mass struggle, and that satyagrahis needed to be properly trained for non-violent demonstrations.

The different social groups that joined the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921 were the urban middle class comprising lawyers, teachers and headmasters, students, peasants, tribals and workers. Peasants, tribals and workers joined the movement from the countryside. They did so with hopes of self-emancipation. Peasants rebelled against talukdars and landlords who demanded high rents and also forced them to do begar or free labour. Tribal peasants revolted against the enclosure of large forest tracts by the British government, which left them devoid of a livelihood as well as traditional rights. Plantation workers, on the other hand, desired freedom to move about and retain links with the villages they came from. All three believed that Gandhi Raj would come with the Non-Cooperation Movement, and this would mark an end to their sorrows. Hence, they joined the anti-colonial struggle.

The idea of satyagraha implies a unique method of mass agitation that emphasises the power of truth, and the need to search for truth. It upholds the belief that if the cause is true and the fight is against injustice, then there is no need for physical force or coercion against the oppressor. Satyagraha is synonymous with non-violent agitation, where an appeal is made to the oppressor's conscience to search for justice. Gandhiji believed that this dharma of non-violence could be the cause of national unity and harmony.

The Salt March was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism because it was done in revolt against a commodity—salt, used by the rich and the poor alike. The tax on salt, and the government monopoly over its production was a severely oppressive administrative move. The Salt March was effective also because Gandhiji met a large number of commoners during the march and he taught them the true meaning of swaraj and non-violence. By peacefully defying a law and making salt against government orders, Gandhiji set forth an example to the whole nation of how the oppressor could be confronted in a non-violent manner. This also led to the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.

On 13th April 1919, a large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh – some to protest against the British government’s repressive measures, others to attend the annual Baishakhi Fair. These people were unaware of the imposition of Marshal Law in the city. General Dyer, the Commander, blocked the exit points from the Bagh and opened fire upon the innocent citizens. Dyer’s intention was to produce a ‘moral effect’ and terrorize satyagrahis. Hundreds of innocent people including women and children were killed and wounded due to this indiscriminate firing by the British soldiers, which ultimately led to nation-wide outrage. Jallianwala Bagh incident was the most brutal incident in the History of India.

The Simon Commission was constituted by the Tory Government in Britain, under Sir John Simon. The objective of the Commission was to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest some constitutional changes. But nationalists in India opposed the Commission because it had not a single Indian member. Therefore, when the Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan “Go Back Simon”. All parties, including Congress and the Muslim league, participated in the demonstrations.

→ The image of Germania was the symbol of German nation whereas; the image of Bharat Mata was the symbol of Indian nation.
→ Both images inspired nationalists who worked very hard to unify their respective countries and to attain a liberal nation.
→ The image of Bharat Mata is different from that of Germania in the sense that former reflects the religious basis of its making.
→ The image of Bharat Mata painted by Abanindranath Tagore is bestowed with learning, food, clothing and some ascetic quality also. Another painting of Bharat Mata in which we find Mata holding Trishul and standing beside a lion and an elephant – symbols of power and authority. This image appears to be more akin to the image of Germania where she holds a sword and a shield.

The different social groups that joined the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921 were the urban middle class comprising lawyers, teachers and headmasters, students, peasants, tribals and workers.
→ The middle class joined the movement because the boycott of foreign goods would make the sale of their textiles and handlooms go up.
→ The peasants took part in the movement because they hoped they would be saved from the oppressive landlords, high taxes taken by the colonial government.
→ Plantation workers took part in the agitation hoping they would get the right to move freely in and outside the plantations and get land in their own villages.

The Salt March was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism because it was done in revolt against a commodity- salt, used by the rich and the poor alike. The tax on salt, and the government monopoly over its production was a severely oppressive administrative move. The Salt March was effective also because Gandhiji met a large number of commoners during the march and he taught them the true meaning of swaraj and non-violence. By peacefully defying a law and making salt against government orders, Gandhiji set forth an example to the whole nation of how the oppressor could be confronted in a non-violent manner. This also led to the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.

Political leaders differed sharply over the question of separate electorates because of differences in opinion. While those supporting the cause of minorities and the dalits believed that only political empowerment would resolve their social backwardness, others like Gandhiji thought that separate electorates would further slow down the process of their integration into society. Also, it was feared that the system of separate electorates would gradually divide the country into numerous fragments because every community or class would then ask for separate representations.

Q.1 Which of the following in true with reference of Satyagraha?
(A) It emphasized the muscle power (B) It emphasized the Power of truth
(C) Gandhiji successfully fought the racist regime of South Africa with the novel method.
a) Only A is true b) Only B is true c) Both A and B are true d) Both B and C are true

Q.2 At which place congress session of September 1920 held.
a) Nagpur b) Calcutta C) Lahore d) Madras

Q.3 Who was the leader of the Peasant Movements of Awadh?
a) Alluri sitaram Raju b) Baba Ramchandra c) Mahatma Gandhi d) None of the above

Q.4 Under which act the Plantations workers of Assam were not permitted to leave the tea garden?
a) The Rowlatt Act b) Cripps Mission c) The Inland Migration act d) The Inland Emigration act

Q.5 Name the leaders who founded Swaraj Party?
a) CR Das and Motilal Nehru b) CR Das and Jawaharlal Nehru
c) CR Das and Gandhiji d) CR Das and Dr B.R Ambedkar

Q.6 At which of the following place did Gandhiji make salt out of sea water
(a) Ahmedabad (b) Wardha (c) Sabarmati (d) Dandi

Q.7 Who wrote 'Hind Swaraj?
a) Subhas Chandra Bose b) Jawaharlal Lal Nehru c) Mahatma Gandhi d) Sardar Patel

Q.8 Which incident forced Gandhiji to halt the Non – cooperation movement?
A) Jallianwala Bagh massacre b) The Rowlett act c) Chauri Chaura d) Arrest of Alluri Sitaram Rammaya 

Q.9 Who among the following led the civil disobedience movement in Peshawar ?
a) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad b) Mohamad Ali c) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan d) None of the above

Q.10 Who first created the image of Bharatmata?
(a) Abanindranath Tagore (b) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
(C) Rabindra nath Tagore d) None of the above 

Answer Key of Multiple Choice Questions
1. ( d ) 2. ( b ) 3. ( b )  4. ( d ) 5. ( a ) 6. ( d ) 7. ( c ) 8. ( c) 9. ( c ) 10. ( b ) 

Foreign goods were boycotted, Liquor shops picketed and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfire many traders refused to import foreign cloth the import of foreign cloth reached to half.

(1) Khadi was more expensive than the mill produced cloth and the poor could not afford it.
(2) British institutions were boycotted but the process of establishing Indian institutions was slow so the students and teachers started joining the British institution again.

1) World wide economic depression
2) Simon commission was constituted in 1929 and no Indian member was appointed.
3) Lord Irwin announced that Dominion State would be granted to India.
4) At the Lahore congress session resolution for purna swaraj was passed.

1) Right to move freely in and out of their enclosures. 
2) Retaining link with their villages
3) They were not allowed to leave the tea garden without permission which they wanted.

1) Participated is the salt Satyagraha in large number.
2) They participated in protest marches and also manufactured salt.
3) Many women went to jails
4) In rural areas the women considered service to the nation a sacred duty.

All credits of glorious past were attributed to the Aryans and their contributions therefore it became difficult to bring all communities on a single platform.

It helps create an image with which people can identify the nation.
2) With the growth of nationalism identify of India came to be associated with the image of Bharat Mata.

The Poona pact of sept. 1932 gave the depressed classes reserved seat in provincial and central legislative councils but they were to be voted in by the general electorate.

The important differences were over the question of representation in the future assemblies that were to be elected Muhammad Ali Jinnah of the Muslim league was willing to give up that demand for separate electorates if Muslim were given reserved seats in the central assembly and representation in proportion to population in the Muslim dominated provinces.

In 1917 he traveled in champaran ran, Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against oppressive plantation system.
2) In 1919 he organized Satyagraha to support peasants of Kheda in Gujarat. 
3) In 1918 he went to Ahmedabad to organize this movement amongst cotton mill workers.
4) In 1919 he launched Satyagraha against Rowlatt act.

1) Economic exploitation
2) Administrative and economic unification of the country.
 3) Western education'
4) Development of Press.