Nationalism in India – Class 10 History (Full Chapter Vocabulary)

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards summarising key terms, events, organisations and personalities from the Class 10 History chapter “Nationalism in India.”

Nationalism

An ideology that binds people through shared identity, symbols and political goals; in India it grew through the anti-colonial struggle.

Anti-colonial Movement

Indian struggle against British rule that nurtured nationalist consciousness among diverse social groups.

First World War (1914-18)

Global conflict that altered India’s economy, intensified taxes, recruitment and hardships, catalysing nationalist feeling.

Defence Expenditure

Huge wartime spending by the colonial state, financed by loans, higher customs duties and new income tax.

Forced Recruitment

Compulsory enlistment of Indian villagers into the British army during WWI, sparking rural anger.

Influenza Epidemic (1918-19)

Deadly flu outbreak killing 12–13 million Indians, worsening wartime hardships.

Mahatma Gandhi

Leader who popularised Satyagraha and steered mass nationalist movements from 1915 onward.

Satyagraha

Gandhi’s method of non-violent resistance based on truth (Satya) and firmness (Agraha).

Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

Gandhi-led movement against oppressive indigo plantation system in Bihar.

Kheda Satyagraha (1917)

Campaign in Gujarat demanding tax remission after crop failure and plague.

Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)

Gandhi-mediated labour dispute of cotton workers seeking better wages.

Rowlatt Act (1919)

‘Black law’ allowing detention without trial; provoked nationwide protest.

Rowlatt Satyagraha

Non-violent hartal on 6 April 1919 against the Rowlatt Act.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April 1919)

British troops under General Dyer fired on an unarmed Amritsar gathering, killing hundreds.

Martial Law

Military rule imposed in Punjab after Jallianwala Bagh to suppress unrest.

Khilafat Movement

Pan-Islamic protest (1919-24) to protect the Ottoman Caliph; merged with Indian nationalism.

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)

Gandhi-led mass boycott of British titles, institutions and goods aiming for swaraj.

Hind Swaraj (1909)

Gandhi’s booklet advocating non-cooperation to end colonial rule.

Nagpur Session (1920)

Congress meeting that adopted the Non-Cooperation programme.

Chauri Chaura Incident (Feb 1922)

Violent clash in Gorakhpur prompting Gandhi to suspend Non-Cooperation.

Middle-Class Participation

Students, teachers, lawyers and traders who boycotted colonial institutions and goods.

Khadi

Hand-spun cloth promoted as a symbol of self-reliance and resistance to foreign textiles.

Talukdar

Large landlord in Awadh against whom peasants rebelled during Non-Cooperation.

Baba Ramchandra

Fiji-returnee sanyasi who led Awadh peasant movements.

Oudh Kisan Sabha (1920)

Peasant organisation founded by Nehru & Ramchandra to channel rural grievances.

Begar

Forced, unpaid labour demanded by landlords or the state.

Alluri Sitaram Raju

Tribal leader of the militant Gudem rebellion (1922-24) in Andhra Pradesh.

Gudem Rebellion

Guerrilla uprising by tribals against forest laws and forced labour.

Inland Emigration Act (1859)

Law restricting Assam plantation workers from leaving estates without permission.

Swaraj in Plantations

Workers’ dream of returning home and owning land, spurring desertions in 1921-22.

Swaraj Party (1923)

Council-entry group inside Congress founded by C.R. Das & Motilal Nehru.

Economic Depression (1929)

Global slump causing price fall and agrarian distress in India.

Simon Commission (1927-30)

All-British committee reviewing Indian constitution; met with ‘Go Back Simon’ protests.

Lahore Congress (Dec 1929)

Session under Nehru that declared Purna Swaraj and fixed 26 Jan 1930 as Independence Day.

Purna Swaraj

Goal of complete independence from British rule.

Salt Tax

Universal government levy on salt; its abolition was Gandhi’s key demand in 1930.

Salt March / Dandi March (Mar-Apr 1930)

240-mile trek from Sabarmati to Dandi; Gandhi broke the salt law, launching Civil Disobedience.

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34)

Nationwide campaign to violate colonial laws—salt, revenue, forest, etc.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 Mar 1931)

Agreement ending first phase of Civil Disobedience; Gandhi joined Round Table Conference.

Second Round Table Conference (1931)

London talks on India’s constitution; failed, leading to renewed repression.

Rich Peasants

Prosperous farmers (Patidars, Jats) who joined CDM to demand revenue reduction.

Poor Peasants

Small tenants seeking rent remission; Congress avoided their ‘no-rent’ campaigns.

Indian Industrial & Commercial Congress (1920)

Body formed by business elites to lobby for economic protection.

FICCI (1927)

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry; supported nationalist cause.

Purshottamdas Thakurdas

Leading industrialist backing Civil Disobedience.

G.D. Birla

Prominent businessman financing the Congress and CDM.

Railway & Dock Strikes (1930-32)

Worker agitations showing limited but notable labour support for nationalism.

Women’s Participation

Thousands joined marches, picketed shops, made salt; symbolised by Gandhi caps.

Dalits / Depressed Classes

Self-identified ‘oppressed’ groups seeking political safeguards and social equality.

Depressed Classes Association (1930)

Organisation led by Dr B.R. Ambedkar to secure dalit rights.

Separate Electorate

System where a community votes only for its own candidates; demanded by dalits, Muslims.

Poona Pact (Sept 1932)

Agreement between Gandhi & Ambedkar replacing dalit separate electorates with reserved seats.

Untouchability

Social practice Gandhi vowed to abolish, calling dalits harijan.

Communal Riots (1920s-30s)

Hindu-Muslim clashes weakening united nationalism.

Hindu Mahasabha

Right-wing Hindu organisation; its rise alienated many Muslims.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Muslim League leader negotiating communal representation.

Sense of Collective Belonging

Emotional unity fostered by symbols, folklore, history and shared struggle.

Bharat Mata

Mother-India personification by Bankim, visualised by Abanindranath Tagore.

Vande Mataram

Hymn to the motherland from Bankim’s ‘Anandamath’; nationalist anthem.

Abanindranath Tagore

Painter who created iconic 1905 image of Bharat Mata.

Folk Revival

Collection of regional songs, tales by Tagore, Natesa Sastri to evoke national pride.

Swadeshi Tricolour (1906)

Red-green-yellow flag with eight lotuses and crescent used in Bengal boycott.

Swaraj Flag (1921)

Gandhi’s red-white-green flag with spinning wheel symbolising self-help.

Reinterpretation of History

Nationalist writing that highlighted ancient India’s achievements to counter British stereotypes.

Quit India Movement (1942)

Final mass uprising demanding immediate British withdrawal, launched with ‘Do or Die’ call.

‘Do or Die’ Speech

Gandhi’s 8 Aug 1942 exhortation inspiring nationwide civil resistance.

Jayprakash Narayan

Socialist leader active in Quit India underground movement.

Aruna Asaf Ali

Woman leader who hoisted the Congress flag in Bombay during Quit India.

Ram Manohar Lohia

Congress socialist who organised clandestine activities in 1942 rising.

Matangini Hazra

Elderly woman martyr from Bengal shot while leading Quit India procession.

Kanaklata Barua

Young Assamese activist killed during Quit India flag march.

World War II

1939-45 conflict aggravating Indian discontent and precipitating Quit India.

Cripps Mission (1942)

British proposal of post-war dominion status; its failure sparked Quit India.