History

Q.1. Assess the connection between Nationalism an anti- colonial movement in India. Ans.1. The growth of modern nationalism is intimately connected to the anti-colonial movement in India. [i] People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism. [ii] The sense of being oppressed provided unity between different groups. [iii] Each class and group had their own ideas of freedom and different experience of colonialism. [iv] Mahatma Gandhi brought these groups together in a united struggle against colonialism. Q.2. What was the impact of First World War on India? Ans.2. The impact of First World War was - [i] The war created a new political and economic situation. It led to huge increase in defense expenditure and increasing taxes. [ii] Custom Duties were raised and income tax introduced.

[iii] Between 1913 &1918, prices increased leading to extreme hardships of the people. [iv] Villages had to supply soldiers for the war. This forced recruitment caused widespread anger. [v] There was acute shortage of food as crops failed in 1918-19 and 1920-21. [vi] Influenza epidemic and famine led to the death of 12-13 million people. Q.3. Explain the term “Satyagraha”. Ans.3. [i] Satyagraha was a new method of mass agitation started by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa against the racist regime. [ii] It emphasized on the power of truth and the need to search for truth. [iii] If the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor. Q.4. What were the three Satyagraha Movements that Gandhiji organized in India before 1919? Ans.4. The three movements were: [i] In 1916, he travelled to Champaran in Bihar where he organized a peasant satyagraha against the oppressive plantation system.

[ii] In 1917, he organized the Kheda Satyagraha where peasants were affected by crop failure and plague epidemic. [iii] In 1918, he organized the Ahmedabad Satyagraha amongst the cotton workers. Q.5. What was the Rowlatt Act? How did the Indians react to it? Or Explain the events that led to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Ans.5. [i] The Rowlatt Act gave enormous powers to the government to repress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. [ii] In response to the Rowlatt Act, Gandhiji started the Rowlatt Satyagraha with a hartal on 6 th April. [iii] Rallies were organized in various cities, workers went on strike in railway workshops and shops closed down. [iv] British administrators clamped down on nationalists. Local leaders were picked up from Amritsar and Mahatma Gandhi was not allowed to enter Delhi. [v] On 10 th April, the police in Amritsar fired on a peaceful procession. [vi] This provoked attacks on banks, post offices and railway stations by Indians. [vii] Martial Law was imposed but on 13 th April large crowds gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest against the measures of the government.

[viii] General Dyer blocked the exit points and opened fire on the crowd, killing hundreds. Q.6. Why did Gandhiji take up Khilafat Issue? Ans.6. [i] Rowlatt Satyagraha was a widespread movement but limited to cities. Gandhi wanted to launch a more broad based movement in India. [ii] But no such movement could be possible without bringing the Hindus and the Muslims together. So he decided to take up the Khilafat issue. [iii] Ottoman Turkey was defeated in the First World war and a harsh peace treaty was to be imposed on the Ottoman emperor who was the spiritual head of the Islamic world [the khalifa]. [iv] To defend the Khalifa, the younger generation of Muslims like Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali began discussing the issue with Mahatma Gandhi. They wanted a united mass action.

[v] Gandhi saw this as an opportunity to bring Muslims under a unified national movement. [vi] In the Calcutta session of Congress in September 1920, decision was taken to start a non-cooperation movement in support of Khilafat and for Swaraj.

Q.7. Why did Gandhi name his movement non-cooperation? How did it become a movement? Ans.7. [i] In his book ‘Hind Swaraj’ Gandhiji declared that British rule was established in India with the cooperation of Indians. [ii] If Indians refused to cooperate, the British rule will automatically collapse and Swaraj would come. So the movement was called non-cooperation movement. [iii] Gandhiji proposed that the movement should be unfolded in stages. it would begin with surrender of titles that government awarded, boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, school, and foreign goods. [iv] In case the Government used repression, a full civil disobedience campaign would be launched. Q.8. How did the Congress react to the proposal of non- cooperation? Ans.8. [i] The Congress leaders were reluctant to boycott the council elections scheduled for November 1920. [ii] They feared that the movement might lead to mass violence. [iii] Between September and December there was intense tussle within the Congress between supporters and opponents of the movement.

[iv] At the Congress Session in Nagpur 1920, a compromise was made and non-cooperation programme was adopted. Q.9. How did the students and the middle class participate in the non-cooperation movement? Ans.9. [i] Thousands of students left government controlled schools and colleges. [ii] Headmasters and teachers resigned; lawyers gave up their jobs. [iii] Council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras. [iv] Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires. Q.10. Why did the movement slow down in the cities? Ans.10. [i] Khadi cloth was more expensive than mill cloth. So poor people could not afford to buy it. [ii] Boycott of British institution was a problem. For the movement to be successful, alternative Indian institutions had to be set up so that they could replace British ones. [iii] Students & teachers began to go back to government schools & lawyers joined back to work. Q.11.Discuss the origins of the peasant movement in Awadh. How did it get connected to the non-cooperation movement?

Ans.11. [i] The peasant movement in Awadh was led by Baba Ramchandra. [ii] The movement was against talukdars, landlords. [iii] The peasant had to pay high rents, forced to do begar [forced labour] in landlords farms. There was no security of tenure. [iv] So the peasant started the movement which demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar and social boycott of oppressive landlords by organizing nai-dhobi bandhs. [v] In June 1920, Jawaharlal Nehru came to Awadh to understand peasant grievances. [vi] It led to the formation of Oudh Kisaan Sabha by Jawaharlal Nehru and Baba Ramchandra. [vii] 300 branches were set up in the villages and towns. When non-participation movement started in 1921, the congress integrated the Awadh peasant struggle into a wider struggle. Q.12. Why was the congress unhappy with the peasant movement? Ans.12. [i]The peasant movement developed forms that the congress leadership was unhappy with. [ii] As the movement spread in 1921, it became violent. [iii] Houses of talukdars and merchants were attacked, bazaars were looted. etc.

[iv] By invoking the name of Mahatma Gandhi, many local leaders told peasants not to pay taxes and that land was to be redistributed among the poor. Q.13. Why did the tribals of Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh protest against the British? Ans.13. [i] The colonial government had closed large forest areas, preventing people from entering the forest to graze their cattle or to collect fuel wood. [ii] This angered the hill people as their livelihood was affected. Their traditional rights were denied. [iii] the Government forced them to do begar for road building. [iv] Their leader was Alluri Sitaram Raju who was a follower of Gandhi. Q.14. Who was Alluri Sitaram Raju? How was his concept of Swaraj different from Mahatma Gandhi? Ans.14. [i] Alluri Sitaram Raju was a tribal leader who led the militant guerrilla movement in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh in the 1920s. [ii] He claimed to have variety of powers and was considered as an incarnation of God by the tribals. [iii] He was a follower of Gandhiji and was greatly inspired by the non-cooperation movement.

[iv] He persuaded people to wear Khadi and stop drinking. But unlike Gandhiji, he believed in the use of force and not non- violence to achieve Swaraj. [v] The Gudem rebels, under his leadership attacked police stations, attempted to kill British officials and carried on guerrilla warfare for achieving Swaraj. Q.15. What was the Inland Emigration Act? Ans.15. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, the plantation workers were not permitted to leave the tea gardens without permission. Q.16. How was Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Swaraj interpreted by different sections of the society during the non-cooperation movement? Ans.16. Various social groups participated in the non- cooperation movement, each with its own specific aspirations. All of them responded to Gandhi’s call for Swaraj but the term meant different things to different people. [i] The students and the middle class were disillusioned when Swaraj was not achieved within a year. Khadi could not replace British mill-made cloth as it was expensive. Indian institutions were also slow to come up. So they began to return to government schools and courts. [ii] To the peasants, Swaraj meant reduction of revenue, abolition of beggar and end of landlordism.

[iii] To the tribals Swaraj meant free entry into the forest, restoration of their traditional rights, abolition of begar. They did not believe in Gandhijis philosophy of non-violence and had their own methods of resistance. [iv] For the plantation workers in Assam, freedom meant right to move freely in and out of the confined space in which they were enclosed, and it meant retaining the link with the village from which they come. [v] When the plantation workers heard of the non- cooperation movement, thousands of them defied the Inland Emigration Act and headed home. They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and everyone would get land in their villages. [vi]They believed that Swaraj would bring an end to all their troubles. [vii] But then, when they chanted Gandhijis name or demanded Swatantra Bharat, they were emotionally relating to an all India agitation. [viii] by linking their movement with Gandhi and the Congress, they were identifying with a movement which was beyond the limits of their immediate locality. Q.17. Why did Gandhi withdraw the non-cooperation movement? Ans.17. [i] Gandhiji felt that the movement was turning violent, Satyagrahis needed to be trained before they were ready for a mass struggle.

[ii] Some congress leaders were tired of mass struggles and wanted to participate in provincial council elections. [iii] They felt it was important for Indians to oppose British policies within the councils. Q.18. Explain the two factors that shaped Indian politics in the late 1920s. Ans.18. [i] The effect of the world economic depression. Agricultural prices collapsed after 1930. The demand for agricultural goods fell and exports declined. Peasants found it difficult to sell their harvest & pay revenue. [ii] In 1927, the Tory government in Britain appointed the Simon Commission to look into the constitutional system in India. The Commission did not have any Indian members. This led to protests leading to series of events culminating into the Civil Disobedience Movement. Q.19. Why was the Simon Commission appointed? How did the Indian parties react to it? Ans.19. [i] The Simon Commission headed by Sir John Simon, was a statutory Commission set up in 1927 by the Tory government of Britain. [ii] It was to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes.

[iii] The commission did not have a single Indian member. So the Commission was greeted in India with the slogan ‘Go Back Simon’. [iv] All parties, congress and the Muslim League participated in the demonstrations. [v] In order to oppose the parties, Viceroy Lord Irwin offered ‘Dominion Status’ for India and Round Table Conference to discuss future constitution. [vi] Congress leaders were not satisfied. Radical Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose became more assertive. [vii] In December 1930, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalized the demand of ‘Purna Swaraj’ or full independence. This will later become the aim of the civil disobedience movement. Q.20. What were the demands made by Gandhi to Viceroy Irwin? Why did he choose salt as the symbol of civil disobedience movement? Ans.20. On 31 st January 1930, Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands . Some of these were of general interest and others were specific demands of different classes, from industrialists to peasants. The demands were wide- ranging, so that all classes within Indian society could identify with them. The most stirring of all demands was the salt tax.

Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. Salt was something consumed by the rich and the poor alike, and it was one of the most essential items of food. The tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production, revealed the most oppressive face of British rule. Q.21. What was the Dandi March? Ans.21. [i] Mahatma Gandhi started his famous Dandi March with 78 of his volunteers. [ii] The march was over 240 miles, from Gandhijis ashram in Sabarmati to the Gujarati coastal town of Dandi. [iii] The volunteers worked for 24 days, about 10 miles a day. [iv] On 6 th April, he reached Dandi and by violating the law manufactured salt by boiling sea water. This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Q.22.What were circumstances that led to the Civil Disobedience Movement? Five points to be written in brief. Refer to questions 19,20,21,22. Ans.22. [i]The effect of the World economic depression. Agricultural prices collapsed after 1930. The demands for agricultural goods fell and exports declined. Peasants found it difficult to sell their harvest & pay revenue.

[ii] The Simon Commission, Headed by Sir John Simon, was a statutory Commission set up in 1927 by the Tory government of Britain. It was to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. The Commission did not have a single Indian member. So the Commission was greeted in India with the slogan ‘Go Back Simon’. [iii] In December 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalized the demand of ‘Purna Swaraj’ or full independence. [iv] On 31 st Jan.1930, Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands. Some of these were of general interest and others were specific demands of different classes ,from industrialists to peasants. Irwin was unwilling to negotiate. [v] Mahatma Gandhi found salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. The tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production, revealed the most oppressive face of British rule. So Gandhi started the Dandi March beginning of Civil Disobedience Movement. Q.23. What were the different forms of protest in the Civil Disobedience Movement? Ans.23. [i] The Civil Disobedience started with the Dandi March.

[ii] People were asked not only to refuse cooperation but also to break colonial laws. [iii] Thousands in different parts of the country broke the salt laws, manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories. [iv] Foreign cloth was boycotted, liquor shops picketed. [v] Peasants refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes, village officials resigned and many tribals violated forest laws. Q.24.How did the colonial government react to the Civil Disobedience Movement? Ans.24. [i] The Colonial Government began arresting the congress leaders. This led to violent clashes. [ii] When Abdul Ghaffar Khan was arrested, angry crowd demonstrated in the Peshawar amidst police firing. [iii] Industrial workers in Sholapur attacked police posts, municipal buildings, law courts. Etc. when Gandhiji was arrested. [iv]Government responded with a policy of brute repression. Peaceful Satyagrahis were attacked, women and children were beaten and about 100,000 arrested. Q.25.Mention the different social groups that participated in the civil Disobedience Movement. What did Swaraj mean to them?

Ans.25.Different Social groups were: [i] Rich peasant communities like the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh- The rich peasants saw Swaraj to be a struggle against high revenues. They wanted the revenue rates be revised. [ii]The poorer peasants-The poorer peasants wanted lowering of revenue demand, abolition of landlordism and wanted that the unpaid rent to the landlord be remitted. [iii] Business class- the business class wanted protection against import of foreign goods, and a rupee -sterling foreign exchange ratio that would discourage imports. They saw Swaraj to be a time when Colonial restrictions on business would no longer exist and trade and industry would flourish. [iv] Industrial Working Class- The industrial working class wanted higher wages and better working conditions. [v]Women- Women saw Swaraj as a service to the nation and sacred duty. Q.26.How did Gandhi view the issue of Untouchability? Ans.26. [i] Mahatma Gandhi believed that Swaraj would not come to India unless untouchability is eliminated. [ii] He called the ‘Untouchables’ Harijans and organized Satyagraha to secure them entry into temples, access to public wells, tanks, and schools.

[iii] He himself cleaned the toilets to dignify the work of the bhangi. [iv] He persuaded upper castes to change their attitude towards untouchables. [v] He refused to grant separate electorate to the untouchables as he believed that this would slow down their integration in the society. Q.27. Why didn’t the Dalits join the Civil Disobedience Movement? Ans.27. [i]Dalit participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement was limited because of the conflict between Gandhi and Ambedkar on the issue of untouchability. [ii] While Gandhi wanted a change of attitude of the upper casted, Ambedkar wanted political empowerment to resolve their problems. [iii] Ambedkar wanted reserved seats in educational institutions and a separate electorate that would choose Dalit members for legislative councils. [iv] Gandhi believed that separate electorate for Dalits would slow down the process of their integration into society. [v] Though the issue was resolved by the Poona Pact of September 1932, the Dalit movement continued to be apprehensive of the Congress led nationalist movement.

Q.28. What was the Poona Pact? Ans.28.The Poona Pact was signed between Dr. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi in September 1932. It gave the depressed classes reserved seats in the Provincial and Central Legislative Councils but they were to be voted in by the general electorate. Q.29.Why did the Muslim political organisation show lukewarm response to the Civil Disobedience Movement? Ans.29.

[i]After the decline of the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement, a large section of the Muslims felt alienated from Congress. [ii] From mid-1920, the Congress came to be more visibly associated with Hindu Mahasabha. [iii] Hindi-Muslim communal clashes and riots worsened the relationship between the two groups. [iv] The major point of differences between the two was over the question of representation in the future assemblies that were to be elected. [v] Muslims wanted reserved seats in the Central assembly and representation in the future assemblies that were to be elected. [vi] Negotiations on the question of representation failed.

[vii] Muslims felt that since they are a minority, their culture and identity will be submerged under domination of Hindu Majority. [viii] Due to this deep feeling of suspicion and distrust between the communities, Muslims did not appear respond to Civil Disobedience Movement. Q.30. How did the feeling of Bharat Mata contribute to the growth of Nationalism? Ans.30. [i] The identity of the nation was visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata. [ii] The image was first created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in his hymn ‘Vande Mataram’ which was widely sung during the Swadeshi Movement. [iii] Moved by the Swadeshi Movement Abanindranath Tagore painted the image pf Bharat Mata. [iv] Bharat Mata is portrayed as an ascetic figure -calm, composed, divine and spiritual. [v]Devotion to this mother figure came to be seen as evidence of ones nationalism. Q.31. How did the revival of folklore help to develop ideas of nationalism? Ans.31. [i] In the 19 th century, nationalism began recording folk tales and toured villages to collect folk songs & legends.

[ii] Folklore helped to discover one’s national identity and restore a sense of pride in one’s past. [iii] In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore led the movement for folk revival. [iv] Natessa Sastri in Madras, published a 4-volume collection of Tamil folklore, ‘The Folklore of Southern India’. Q.32. How did the icons and symbols help in developing feelings of nationalism? Ans.32. [i] During Swadeshi Movement in Bengal a tricolor flag [red, green, yellow] was designed. [i] It had eight lotuses, representing the eight provinces of British India, and a crescent moon, representing Hindus and Muslims. [iii] Gandhiji designed the Swaraj flag in 1921. It was a tricolor [red, green and white] and a spinning wheel at the centre, representing his ideal of self-help. [iv] Carrying the flag aloft became a symbol of defiance. Q.33.How did reinterpretation of history create a feeling of nationalism? Ans.33. [i] Indians began feeling that to instil a sense pf pride in the nation: Indian history had to be studied. [ii] Indians began looking into the past to discover India’s great achievements.

[iii] They wrote about art, architecture, science mathematics, religion and culture of ancient India. [iv] Nationalists historians urged the leaders to take pride in India’s great achievements in the past and struggle to free India from colonial rule. Q.34.How did the nation become a reality in the minds of the Indian people? Explain. Ans.34. [i] The identity of the Nation symbolized in the image of Bharat Mata who has been portrayed as an ascetic figure- calm, composed, divine and spiritual. [ii] Revival and presentation of folk traditions help to discover the identify of a nation and restore a sense of pride. [iii] Icons and symbols as the tricolor flag of the Swadeshi movement and Swaraj flag of Mahatma Gandhi helped to unify the people of the nation and inspire a feeling of nationalism. [iv] Reinterpretation of history help to discover the nation’s past achievements in the field of art, architecture, science, culture etc and this helped to instil feeling of pride. Q.35.What was the impact of Non-Cooperation Movement on India’s economy? Ans.35.[i]The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, its value dropped from Rs.102 crore to Rs.57 crores.

[ii] In many places merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade. [iii]As the boycott movement spread, and people began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones, produced of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up.