Chapter 2 Nationalism in India

Textbook Questions

Explain:

(a) Why growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement.

Answer : 

(i)Nationalism is the feeling of togetherness of people in a nation. In a nation all the people experience same political , social and cultural situation.. 

 (ii) British colonisation affected people’s freedom. For people the sense of oppression and exploitation became a common bond.So, all section of the people decided to throw out the British rule and anti- colonial movement started. 

Hence we can conclude growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement. 

(b) How the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India.

Answer:

The First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India because of the following reasons:-

i) Due to war there was high defence expenditures this led to high custom duties, increase in taxes caused widespread anger among the common people. 

ii) There was forceful recruitment of British Army in villages. 

iii) Price rise during the war years (1914-1919)  created extrem hardship for the common people. 

(c) Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act.

Answer:

Indian were outraged by the Rowlatt Act because this act empowered the government to arrest  anybody and imprison  without trial for two years. 

This also enabled the government to suspend the right to ‘Habeas Corpus'( a writ requiring a person to be brought before a court). 

It was the first time when the Indians Unitedly opposed the Britishers. 

(d) Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Answer:

Peace and Non-violence  were two Noble weapons taken by Mahatma Gandhi to conduct the Non-Cooperation Movement. 

In  February 1922 at Chauri Chaura, in Uttar Pradesh where the violent people burnt a police station and 22-23 policemen burnt and died. 

Gandhiji disappointed with this and decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation movement. He felt satyagrahis needed to be properly trained. 

Question 2. What is meant by the idea of satyagraha?

Answer:

i)By the idea of Satyagrah we understand , it is a method of protest based on truth and non-violence. Or we can say Satyagrah is a method of peaceful agitation . 

ii) It was introduced by Mahatma Gandhi and first applied in 1916 in Champaran district of Bihar to help the peasant against plantation owners. 

iii) Then it expanded it wings to Kheda district of Gujarat in support of peasant in 1917.

iv) Ahmedabad cotton Mill workers also organised satyagrah in 1918.

3. Write a newspaper report on

(a) The Jalianwala Bagh Massacre

(b) The Simon Commission

Answer:

The Jalianwala Bagh massacre

Jalianwala Bagh is a place in Amritsar (Punjab). On 13th April 1919 , people from many surrounding villages gathered there to celebrate Baisakhi fair. 

Apart from the people few protesters also there to discuss about the Rowlatt Act, a peaceful assembly was going on. Suddenly General Dyre with his troops entered the garden and closed all the entrance doors. Without giving any warning to the people, general Dyre ordered his soldiers to fire at people. In the firing, many innocent people including women and children died and many became wounded. 

This day of 13th April 1919 was a Black day in the History of India. The main intention of general Dyre behind this incident was to terrorises the satyagrahis. 

(b) The Simon Commission

The British government declared the formation of a commission to look into the working of the Government of India in 1919. As per the chairman of the commission it came to known as Simon Commission. 

It was a Matter of great regret that the Commission which was formed to prepare the ground for establishing a responsible government in India was an all white Commission. Not a single Indian was considered fir to become the member of the commission. 

The commission arrived at Bombay on 7 February 1928, as no Indian was there so Indian leaders greeted with the slogan of ” Simon go Back”. Both Congress and Muslim league unitedly protested against it.

 Question 4: Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter 1.

Answer:

Bharat Mata:

i.  Bharat Mata represents the Indian Nation. 

ii. It is painted by Abanindranath Tagore in 1905.

iii. In the image of Bharat Mata we find Mata Holding Trishul and standing beside a lion and an elephant – symbols of power and authority. 

iv. The image of Bharat Mata is proud of all Indians. 

Germania

i. Germania represents for German nation. 

ii. Philipp Veit painted the image of Germania in  1834 to 1836 for the first time. 

iii. Germania as a female figure is standing against a background of the tricolour fabric of the national flag. She is wearing a crown of oak leaves, as the German oak stands for heroism.

Question 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: 

The social groups which joined the Non-cooperation Movement of 1921 were- the Middle class people in the town consists of Teachers, Students, Lawyers, Shopkeepers, Farmers, Peasant and Tribal people, Plantation workers etc. 

Amongst them we will discuss  in details about the hopes and struggles of  Business class people, Peasants and Tribal people and Plantation workers. 

Business class people:

In many places the Traders refused to trade in foreign goods. The important of foreign clothes reduced between 1922 and 1922.

Peasants and tribal people:

 In various places peasants and tribal people launched this movement against the landlords and Talukdars. For them Swaraj meant that they would not be required to pay land dues i.e land revenue the land they were cultivating would be distributed among them. 

Plantation workers:

Plantation workers participated in the movement with the hope that they would be free to move out of the restricted place in which they had been enclosed. 

Question 2. Discuss the Salt March to make clear why it was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism.

Answer:

The salt March was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism because:

i. It was done in revolt against a commodity- salt used by all categories of people whether rich or poor. 

ii. The tax on salt and the monopoly over it’s manufacturing was sign of oppression of British rule. 

iii. The salt March was effective also because Gandhiji met a large number of  commoners during the march and taught them the true meaning of Swaraj and non-violence. 

iv. On 6th April, 1930  Gandhi along with his followers violated salt law by producing salt from sea water. It was a direct challenge to British rule in India. 

v. It was a clear indication that people will not co-operate with unjustified colonial laws. 

Question 3. Imagine you are a woman participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Explain what the experience meant to your life.

Answer:

Being a woman I am very much happy to participate in Civil disobedience movement. In this process I got the opportunity to meet with Gandhi. I heard Gandhiji’s speaking and inspired by him I also offered satyagraha, picketed liquor shops and shops selling foreign clothes. 

   I felt empowered by these activities and I am also very proud of my other women Co-workers. The experience has made me realise that women also have an important role to play in realising our freedom. 

Question 4. Why did political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates?

Answer:

The political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates because

i.The political leaders belonged to different classes and communities of the Indian society which were having difference in opinions. 

ii. Gandhi had an opinion that having a separate electorates would slow down the freedom movement and also adversely affect the unity of the country. 

iii. The Muslim leaders thought that their interest could only be protected in a Muslim state, and in a Hindu majority state they would be at the mercy of the Hindus. 

iv. Dr. BR Ambedkar, the leader of the depressed classes, was in favour of separate electorates for his community.