Nationalism in India

(Solutions)

Write in Brief:

1. Explain:
a. Why the growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement.
Answer: The growth of nationalism in colonies is linked to anti-colonial movement because:

• People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism.
• The sense of being oppressed under colonialism provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together.
• But each class and group felt the effects of colonialism differently. Their experiences were varied and their notions of freedom were not always the same. The Congress under Mahatma Gandhi tried to forge these groups together within one movement.

b. How the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India.
Answer: War created a new political and economic situation.

• It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes: custom duties were increased and income tax introduced.
• Forced recruitment in villages caused widespread anger.
• Crops failed; this resulted in an acute shortage of food.
• 12 to 13 million people died due to famines and epidemics.

c. Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act.
Answer: Rowlatt Act was introduced in 1919. This act was hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council, although it was completely opposed by Indian members. It had given the Government enormous powers to repress political activities. It allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
d. Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer: In February 1922, Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement. He felt the movement was turning violent in many places, and satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they would be ready for mass struggles.
2. What is meant by the idea of satyagraha?
Answer: The idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth. It suggested that if the cause was true, then the physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor. Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through nonviolence. This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor. People – including the oppressors – had to be persuaded to see the truth, instead of being forced to accept truth through the use of violence. By this struggle, the truth was bound to triumph ultimately. Mahatma Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians.
3. Write a newspaper report on
a) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Answer: On 13 April 1919, the infamous Jallianwalla Bagh incident took place. On that day a large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwalla Bagh. Some came to protest against the government’s new repressive measures. Others had come to attend the annual Baisakhi fair. Being from outside the city, many villagers were unaware of the martial law that had been imposed. Dyer entered the area, blocked the exit points, and opened fire on the crowd, killing hundreds. His objective, as he declared later, was to ‘produce a moral effect’, in the minds of Satyagrahis. A feeling of terror and awe.
b) The Simon Commission
Answer: When the Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan ‘Go back, Simon’. All parties, including the Congress and the Muslim League, participated in the demonstrations. In an effort to win them over, the viceroy, Lord Irwin, announced in October 1929, a vague offer of ‘dominion status’ for India in an unspecified future, and a Round Table Conference to discuss a future constitution. This did not satisfy the Congress leaders.
4. Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter 1.
Answer:
Germania:

Germania, by Philip Veit, in 1848.

• Symbol of Germany
• The image was painted by Philip Veit in 1848.
• Carrying a sword in one hand and flag in another hand
• Germania is wearing a crown of oak leaves, as the German oak stands for heroism.

Bharat Mata:

• Symbol of India
• Painted by Abanindranath Tagore in 1905
• Bharat is standing with a Trishul, standing beside a lion and elephant, symbols of power and authority.

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: The different social groups that joined the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921 were the urban middle class comprising lawyers, students, teachers and headmasters, 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.

2. Discuss the Salt March to make clear why it was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism.
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation as it was consumed by rich and poor alike. He declared that the tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production was the most oppressive face of British rule. Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands. The most stirring of all was the demand to abolish the salt tax. Irwin was unwilling to negotiate, so Gandhiji started Salt march with 78 volunteers. He reached Dandi, violated law and made salt. This March developed the feeling of nationalism, people in different parts of the country broke the salt law and manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories. Thus, Salt March was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism.
3. Imagine you are a woman participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Explain what the experience meant to your life.
Answer: I participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement which was called by Gandhiji. I participated in protest marches, manufactured salt, and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops and went to jail. I really see these services to the nation as a sacred duty of women. From the very start, I was sure that British had to leave our country and I saw this as a proud moment as I took part in this activity
4. Why did political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates?
Answer: Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who organised the Dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930, clashed with Mahatma Gandhi at the second Round Table Conference by demanding separate electorates for Dalits. When the British government conceded Ambedkar’s demand, Gandhiji began a fast unto death. He believed that separate electorates for Dalits would slow down the process of their integration into society. Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhiji’s position, and the result was the Poona Pact of September 1932. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was willing to give up the demand for separate electorates if Muslims were assured reserved seats in the Central Assembly and representation in proportion to population in the Muslim-dominated provinces (Bengal and Punjab). Negotiations over the question of representation continued, but all hope of resolving the issue at the All Parties Conference in 1928 disappeared when M.R. Jayakar of the Hindu Mahasabha strongly opposed efforts at compromise.