DPS-MODERN INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA - QATAR HISTORY/CIVICS NOTES

Leader:
- Baba Ramchandra, a sanyasi and former indentured labourer in Fiji.
Opposition:
- Movement targeted talukdars and landlords imposing high rents and various cesses on peasants.
Peasant Conditions:
- Peasants were often forced to undertake 'begar' (unpaid labor) on landlord farms.
- Lack of security led to evictions, meaning tenants had no rights over leased land.
Demands of the Movement:
- Reduction of land revenue.
- Abolition of 'begar'.
- Social boycott of oppressive landlords.
Organized Responses:
- Panchayats organized nai-dhobi bandhs to restrict landlords from services of barbers and washermen.
Outreach by Leaders:
- In June 1920, Jawaharlal Nehru visited villages to discuss grievances with villagers.
- Oudh Kisan Sabha established in October, led by Nehru, Ramchandra, and others.
Development of the Movement:
- The movement evolved in ways that concerned Congress leaders, leading to violence in 1921.
- This included attacks on talukdars' houses, looting of bazaars, and seizure of grain hoards.

Militant Movements:
- In the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh, a guerrilla movement arose, diverging from Congress-approved strategies.
Restrictions on Livelihood:
- Colonial government closed vast forest lands, hindering access to resources for grazing cattle and gathering firewood and fruits, causing anger among hill people.
Denial of Rights:
- Traditional rights were perceived to be stripped away, inciting revolt.
Leadership of the Revolt:
- Alluri Sitaram Raju emerged as a leader, boasting special powers like astrological predictions and immunity from bullet wounds.
Nationalist Ideology:
- Raju admired Mahatma Gandhi, stating the Non-Cooperation Movement inspired him, advocating for khadi and abstaining from alcohol.
Rebellion Activities:
- Gudem rebels engaged in attacks on police stations and targeted British officials, employing guerrilla tactics toward swaraj (self-rule).

Involvement:
- Women engaged widely; during the Salt March, many participated actively in protests and salt-making activities.
Activism Against Foreign Goods:
- Women picketed at foreign cloth and liquor shops and faced arrest.
National Duty Perspective:
- Gandhi's ideology led women to see their service to the nation as a sacred duty, highlighting their vital role despite initial Congress reluctance to grant them authority in leadership roles.

Cultural Recording Initiatives:
- Nationalists collected folk tales from bards, touring villages to gather songs and legends in the late 19th century.
Cultural Restoration:
- They believed these tales reflected authentic cultural heritage damaged by colonial rule.
Establishing Identity:
- Preserving folklore was seen as crucial for rediscovering national identity and restoring pride in the past.
Key Figures:
- Rabindranath Tagore led an initiative in Bengal to collect folk stories and songs.
- Natesa Sastri in Madras published a comprehensive collection of Tamil folk tales known as The Folklore of Southern India.

Flag of the Swadeshi Movement:
- A tricolor flag was designed in Bengal, featuring red, green, and yellow, with eight lotuses for the provinces and a crescent moon uniting Hindus and Muslims.
Swaraj Flag Design:
- By 1921, Gandhi introduced a new Swaraj flag in red, green, and white with a spinning wheel symbolizing self-reliance.
Symbolic Acts:
- The act of carrying and waving the flag during marches became a powerful emblem of resistance and defiance against British rule.
Role of Nationalist Leaders:
- Leaders increasingly recognized the importance of symbols in fostering unity and a sense of nationalism among the Indian populace.

Government Response:
- The colonial government began arresting Congress leaders, escalating into violent confrontations.
Significant Events:
- Following the arrest of Abdul Ghaffar Khan in April 1930, mass protests erupted in Peshawar, leading to numerous deaths.
- A subsequent uprising occurred in Sholapur following Gandhi’s arrest, where industrial workers attacked symbols of British authority.
Brutal Repression:
- The government resorted to violent repression, including beatings of peaceful protesters and mass arrests exceeding 100,000.
Strategic Retreat:
- Amidst escalating violence, Gandhi decided to suspend the movement and later entered into a pact with Irwin on March 5, 1931, to negotiate a truce.