History: Nationalism in India Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key events, leaders, and legislative acts of the Indian Nationalist movement from 1915 to 1942.

Anti-colonial movement

The process where people began to unite in their struggle against colonialism, creating a sense of nationalism due to shared resentment and oppression under colonial rulers.

Forced recruitment

A process by which the colonial state forced people from rural areas to join the army, causing widespread anger during the First World War period.

Satyagraha

A method of mass agitation based on the twin principles of truth and non-violence, emphasizing that physical force is not necessary to fight an oppressor if the cause is true.

Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

A movement in Bihar where Gandhiji inspired peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system.

Kheda Satyagraha (1917)

An organized movement in Gujarat to support peasants who could not pay revenue due to crop failure and a plague epidemic.

Ahmedabad Satyagraha (1918)

A movement organized for cotton mill workers that ended with a $35\,$ wage hike.

Rowlatt Act (1919)

Legislation passed through the Imperial Legislative Council that allowed the government to detain political prisoners without trial for two years.

Martial Law

A state of military control imposed in Amritsar in 1919, with General Dyer taking command following provocations and attacks on government buildings.

Jallianwala Bagh Incident

An event on 13th April, 1919, where General Dyer ordered troops to fire on a peaceful crowd in an enclosed ground, killing hundreds to create a 'feeling of terror'.

Khalifa

The spiritual head of the Islamic world (the Ottoman Emperor) whose temporal powers the Khilafat movement sought to defend.

Khilafat Committee

A group formed in Bombay in March, 1919, by Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali to organize mass action in defense of the Khalifa.

Hind Swaraj (1909)

A book written by Mahatma Gandhi declaring that British rule was established and survived in India only due to the cooperation of Indians.

Non-Cooperation Movement

A movement launched in January 1921 involving the surrender of titles and the boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, schools, and foreign goods.

Begar

Labour that villagers were forced to contribute at landlord's farms without any payment.

Baba Ramchandra

A leader of the peasant movement in Awadh who led the struggle against high rents and the system of begar.

Oudh Kisan Sabha

A representative body set up in 1920 headed by Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra, and others to address peasant grievances.

Alluri Sita Ram Raju

The leader of the militant guerrilla movement in the Gudem hills of Andhra Pradesh who was believed by his followers to be an incarnation of God.

Inland Emigration Act of 1859

A law that prohibited plantation workers in Assam from leaving tea gardens without permission, which they were rarely granted.

Chauri Chaura

A place in Uttar Pradesh where, in February 1922, a violent clash led to the burning of a police station and the death of 22 policemen, causing Gandhiji to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Swaraj Party

A political party formed by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru within the Congress to argue for a return to council politics and reform from within.

Simon Commission

A statutory commission under Sir John Simon sent in 1928 to look into India's constitutional system; it was opposed because it contained no Indian members.

Dominion Status

A vague offer made by Viceroy Lord Irwin in October 1929 for India's future status, which was rejected by radical leaders like Nehru and Bose.

Poorna Swaraj

A demand for 'complete independence' adopted at the Lahore Congress session in December 1929 under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Civil Disobedience Movement

A movement launched in 1930 that calling on people to not only refuse cooperation with the British but also to break colonial laws.

Salt March (Dandi March)

A march from March 12 to April 6, 1930, where Gandhiji and 78 members walked from Sabarmati to Dandi to manufacture salt and break the salt law.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)

An agreement where the Congress agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the Second Round Table Conference in exchange for the release of political prisoners.

FICCI

The Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, formed in 1927 by prominent industrialists to protect business interests against colonial control.

Harijan

A term meaning 'children of God', used by Mahatma Gandhi to refer to 'untouchables' while campaigning for the elimination of untouchability.

Poona Pact (1932)

An agreement between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Gandhiji that gave depressed classes reserved seats in provincial and legislative councils within the general electorate.

Bharat Mata

The visual identity of India associated with an image first created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay to foster a sense of nationalism.

Swaraj Flag (1921)

A tricolour flag (red, green, white) designed by Gandhiji featuring a spinning wheel in the center to represent self-help.

Quit India Movement

A phase of the national struggle launched in August 1942, featuring Gandhiji's famous 'Do or Die' speech, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the British.