Explanation of History Chapter 2

1. NATIONALISM IN INDIA

2. First World War -
 World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War,
 was an international conflict
 that engulfed much of Europe, as well as Russia, the United States, the
Middle East, and other countries,
 from 1914 to 1918.
 The Central Powers—primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey—
were pitted against
 the Allies—primarily France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, Japan, and,
s
 tarting in 1917, the United States.
 The Central Powers were defeated at the end of the war.
 In terms of slaughter, bloodshed, and devastation, the war was practically
unprecedented.

3. First World War -
The First World War shattered empires, birthed a slew of
new nation-states, sparked liberation movements in
Europe's colonies, pushed the United States to become a
global power, and paved the way for Soviet communism
and Hitler's rise.

4. India's economy was impacted by the First World War
in the following ways
1. The government raised taxes on individual salaries and company
profits to cover a massive increase in defense spending.
2. Increased military spending and demand for war supplies
resulted in a dramatic increase in costs, causing considerable
suffering for the common people.
3. The war increased demand for industrial goods such as jute bags,
fabric, and rail, and reduced imports into India from other
countries.
4. During the war, Indian factories grew, and Indian business groups
began to demand more growth opportunities.
5. The war brought massive profits to business organizations.

5. THE IDEA OF SATYAGRAHA
 Returned to India in January 1915
 First Experiment in South Africa – Against Racial discrimination
 What is SATYAGRAHA= Satya + agraha (truth+ to hold firm)
 It emphasised on the power of truth and the need to search for
truth
 If the cause is true, struggle is against injustice, the physical force
is not required to fight against oppressor.
 Oppressor should be persuaded to see the truth, instead of being
forced to accept truth through the use of violence
 Non Violence

6. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
 The first civil disobedience movement by Gandhi in
the freedom struggle.
 Persuaded by Rajkumar Shukla, an indigo cultivator,
Gandhi went to Champaran in Bihar to investigate the
conditions of the farmers there.
 The farmers were suffering under heavy taxes and an
exploitative system. They were forced to grow indigo
by the British planters under the tinkathia system.

7.  Gandhi arrived in Champaran to investigate
the matter but was not permitted by the
British authorities to do so.
 was asked to leave the place but he refused.
 He was able to gather support from the
farmers and masses.

8. When he appeared in court in response to a
summons, almost 2000 locals accompanied him.
The case against him was dropped and he was
allowed to conduct the inquiry.
After peaceful protests against the planters and
landlords led by Gandhi, the government agreed
to abolish the exploitative tinkathia system.

9. The peasants also received a part of the money
extracted from them as compensation.
Champaran struggle is called the first experiment
on Satyagraha by Gandhi and later Ahmedabad
Mill Strike and Kheda Satyagraha occurred.
It was during this time that Gandhi was given the
names ‘Bapu’ and ‘Mahatma’ by the people.

10. Kheda Satyagraha (1918)
 1918 was a year of failed crops in the Kheda district of
Gujarat due to droughts.
 As per law, the farmers were entitled to remission if the
produce was less than a quarter of the normal output.
 But the government refused any remission from paying
land revenue.
 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, under Gandhi’s guidance, led the
farmers in protest against the collection of taxes in the
wake of the famine.

11.  People from all castes and ethnicities of the district
lend their support to the movement.
 The protest was peaceful and people showed
remarkable courage even in the face of adversities
like confiscation of personal property and arrest.
 Finally, the authorities gave some concessions to
the farmers.

12. Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)
 Gandhi used Satyagraha and hunger strike for the first time
during an industrial dispute between the owners and
workers of a cotton mill in Ahmedabad.
 The owners wanted to withdraw the plague bonus to the
workers while the workers were demanding a hike of 35%
in their wages.
 During the peaceful strike led by Gandhi, he underwent a
hunger strike.
 The Ahmedabad Mill strike was successful and the workers
were granted the wage hike they wanted.

13. all these movements, Gandhi was able to involve
the masses including farmers, artisans and even
the so-called lower castes. This was a change
from the previous movements when the
participation was limited to the upper and the
middle classes

14. Rowlatt Act 1919
 Officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary
Crimes Act, 1919.
 Passed in March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council.
 This act authorised the British government to arrest
anybody suspected of terrorist activities.
 It also authorised the government to detain such people
arrested for up to 2 years without trial.
 It empowered the police to search for a place without a
warrant.
 It also placed severe restrictions on the freedom of the
press.

15.  The act was passed as per recommendations of the Rowlatt
Committee chaired by a judge, Sir Sidney Rowlatt, after
whom the act is named.
 The act was widely condemned by Indian leaders and the
public. The bills came to be known as ‘black bills’.
 The act was passed despite unanimous opposition from the
Indian members of the council, all of whom resigned in
protest. These included Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Madan
Mohan Malviya and Mazhar Ul Haq.
 In response to this act, a nationwide hartal was called by
Gandhiji on 6th April. This was called the Rowlatt
Satyagraha.

16.  The movement was cancelled by Gandhiji when it was
marred by rioting in some provinces, particularly in Punjab
where the situation was grim.
 The British government’s primary intention was to repress
the growing nationalist movement in the country.
 Two popular Congress leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin
Kitchlew were arrested.
 The protest was very intense when the act came into effect
and the army was called in Punjab to tackle the situation.

17. The Act was passed by the Rowlatt
Committee, presided by Sir Sydney
Rowlatt. It authorized the arrest, for 2
years without trial, of any person
suspected of terrorism living in British
India.

18. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
 The situation in Punjab was alarming as there were riots
and protests against the Rowlatt Act.
 Punjab was put under martial law, which meant that it
became unlawful for more than 4 people to assemble at a
place.
 The Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab at that time was
Michael O’Dwyer. Lord Chelmsford was India’s Viceroy.
 On the day of the festival of Baisakhi on 13th April 1919 in
Jallianwala Bagh, a public garden in Amritsar, a crowd of
non-violent protestors had gathered. Also, among the
crowd were pilgrims who had come to celebrate Baisakhi.

19.  General Dyer came there with his troops and blocked the
only narrow entrance to the garden.
 Then, without warning, he ordered his troops to fire at the
unarmed crowd, which included children as well.
 The indiscriminate firing went on for about 10 minutes
until the 1650 rounds of ammunition were exhausted. This
resulted in the deaths of at least 1000 people and injured
more than 1500 people.
 This tragedy came as a rude shock to Indians and totally
destroyed their faith in the British system of justice.
 National leaders condemned the act and Dyer
unequivocally.

20.  In protest against the massacre and the British failure to
give due justice to the victims, Rabindranath Tagore gave
up his knighthood and Gandhiji relinquished his title
‘Kaiser-e-hind’ bestowed on him by the British for his
services during the Boer War in South Africa.
 Michael O’Dwyer, the then Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab,
who had approved the actions of Brigadier-General Dyer,
was assassinated by Udham Singh in London in 1940 as
revenge against the massacre. Udham Singh is believed to
have witnessed the massacre as a child.

21. Kilafat Movement
The causes of the Khilafat movement are as follows:
 World War I had ended in a defeat for Ottoman Turkey,
dealing a fatal blow to the centuries-old Ottoman Empire
 There were rumours and speculation that a harsh treaty
was imposed on the Ottoman caliph by the victorious allies
that would limit the powers of the leader of the Islamic
world.
 Thus to protect the powers of the Caliph a committee was
formed in 1919 that would spearhead a movement to
restore the Ottoman Caliphate.

22. Kilafat Movement
The Khilafat movement was initiated under the
leadership of the two Ali brothers, namely
Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali, Maulana Azad,
Hakim Ajmal Khan and Hasrat Mohani. The action
was started to support the Sultan of Turkey, whom
The Muslim population in India considered their
religious head

23. On October 17, 1919, throughout ‘Khilafat Day’
was observed
Muslims in India launched the Khilafat
movement to persuade the British government
to abolish the caliphate. The leaders of this
Khilafat movement accepted the non-
cooperation movement of Gandhiji and led a
joint protest against the British.

24. Khilafat Committee Bombay
March 1919
Possibility of Hindu Muslim Unity in India
Calcutta session of the Congress in September 1920:
The convinced other leaders of the need to start a
Non-Cooperation Movement in support of Khilafat as
well as for swaraj.

25. Non-Cooperation Movement
The causes of
1. Resentment at the British after the war
2. Home Rule Movement:
3. Economic hardships due to World War I
4. The Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre
5. The Khilafat Movement

26. Why Non-Cooperation Movement
Gandhiji – Book “Hind Swaraj”
British Rule in India due to cooperation of Indians
only
If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule in India
would collapse

27. How should it become Movement
It would unfold in stages
• Indians were asked to relinquish their titles and
resign from nominated seats in the local bodies as a
mark of protest.
• People were asked to resign from their government
jobs.
• People were asked to withdraw their children from
government-controlled or aided schools and colleges

28. • People were asked to boycott foreign goods and
use only Indian-made goods.
• People were asked to boycott the elections to
the legislative councils.
• People were asked not to serve in the British
army.
• It was also planned that if the above steps did
not bring results, people would refuse to pay
their taxes.

29. Some Challenges
1. Leaders within the Congress were relucent
to boycott Council Election.
2. Some Feared violence
3. Debate Support vs Opponents

30. Finally in Nagpur Session of INC accepted
The Non-cooperation Movement was launched on
5th September 1920 by the Indian National
Congress (INC) under the leadership of Mahatma
Gandhi.

31.  The INC also demanded SWARAJ or self-government.
 Only completely non-violent means would be
employed to get the demands fulfilled.
 The non-cooperation movement was a decisive step
in the independence movement because, for the first
time, the INC was ready to forego constitutional
means to achieve self-rule.
 Gandhiji had assured that Swaraj would be achieved
in a year if this movement was continued to
completion.

32. Many of the responded to the call of Swaraj,
but the term meant different thing to different
people
1. The movement in Towns
2. Rebellion in the Countryside
a) Participation of Peasants
b) Participation of Tribals
3. Swaraj in the Plantations

33. Non-Cooperation Movement (in Towns)
Middle class participation
• Students left government schools and
colleges
• Teachers and headmasters resigned
• Lawyers gave up their legal practices
• People boycotted elections

34. Non-Cooperation Movement (in Towns)
Justice party (Madras)
Party of non Brahmins
Not boycotted elections
Felt that they can gain power through participating
in council elections

35. Non-Cooperation Movement (in Towns)
Effect on economy
• Foreign goods were boycotted
• Liquor shops picketed
• Import of foreign clothes half between 1921
to 1922 (Rs 102 crore to Rs 57 crore)
• Production of Indian textile increased

36. Non-Cooperation Movement (in Towns)
Limitations
• NCM gradually slowed down in cities
• Khadi clothes were expensive than mass
produced mill clothes
• Absence of alternative Indian institutions
(Schools and Colleges)

37. Non-Cooperation Movement (in Countryside)
Participation of Peasants
• In Awadh - Baba Ramchandra (Indentured
labour, Fiji) led the peasants against
Talukdar and Landlords who demanded
high rents from peasants.

38. • Peasant movements demanded reduction
of revenue
• Abolition of beger (work without payment)
• Social boycott of oppressive landlords
• Nai- dhobi bandhs (barbers and
Washermen)
• To deprive landlords of basic services
• Oudh Kisan Sabha -Set up by Jawaharlal
Nehru and Baba Ramchandra (1929 October)

39. Drawbacks
• Peasant movement made congressmen
unhappy
• Adopted violent means
• Attack on the houses of Talukdar and
merchants
• Bazaars were looted
• The name of Mahatma Gandhi was invoked to
sanction All action and expressions

40. Non-Cooperation Movement (in Countryside)
Participation of Tribals
• In Gudem Hills, Andhra Pradesh- Millitant
Guerilla Movement spread in early 1920’s
VIOLENCEE

41. • Strict Forest Policy of colonial government
• Affected their livelihood and traditional
rights
• Forced to Begar (Construction of Roads and
all)

42. ALLURI SITARAM RAJU
 Claimed of Special Power
 Astrological predictions
 Heal people
 Survive Bullet shot
 Rebels proclaimed that he was the
incarnation of God.

43. ALLURI SITARAM RAJU
 He supported Gandhiji
 Inspired by NCM
 Persuaded people to wear Khadhi
 Gave up drinking
 But not believed in Non- Violence
 He was captured and executed in 1924

44. Non-Cooperation Movement (in Plantation
fields) Assam
They had their own notion of Swaraj
Freedom:-
Right to move freely in and out of the
confined space (Plantation fields) and
retaining a link with the village from which
they had came.

45. Inland Emigration Act of 1859
Workers were not permitted to leave the tea garden without
permission
Workers headed towards their home (Believed Gandhi Raj will
come)
But they never reach their destination
On the way back to their homes, they were caught by police
and brutally beaten up.

46. Non-Cooperation Movement
Yet the notions were different but it created
an emotion relating to an ALL INDIA
AGITATION
Swatantra Bharat

47. • After the Chauri Chaura incident, Mahatma Gandhi
withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922.
• This was met with a lot of disagreements among
leaders of the Congress Party.
• While some wanted to continue non-cooperation,
others wanted to end the legislature boycott and
contest elections. The former were called no-
changers and such leaders included Rajendra Prasad,
Sardar Vallabhai Patel, C Rajagopalachari, etc.

48. • The others who wanted to enter the legislative
council and obstruct the British government from
within were called the pro-changers. These leaders
included C R Das, Motilal Nehru, Srinivasa Iyengar,
etc.
• In 1922, in the Gaya session of the Congress, C R Das
(who was presiding over the session) moved a
proposal to enter the legislatures but it was
defeated. Das and other leaders broke away from
the Congress and formed the Swaraj Party.

49. • C R Das was the President and the Secretary was
Motilal Nehru.
• Prominent leaders of the Swaraj Party included
N C Kelkar, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and
Subhas Chandra Bose.
• The party merged with the Congress in 1935.

50. Two Factors Shaped Indian Politics during this
time:
1. World Economic Depression
2. Simon Commission

51. 1. The great depression of the 1930s was the worst
economic crisis that was triggered by the stock market
crash in 1929 and multiple other factors that ultimately
turned it into a decade-long economic catastrophe and
spread across the western world. It led to wide
unemployment, a decrease in consumer confidence,
and had an impact on the social and cultural lives of
the individuals as well. The recovery could mainly
come through by various steps, significant of which
was monetary expansion.

52. • Demand for agricultural goods fell
• Exports declined
• Peasants difficult to sell their harvest
• They forced to pay tax revenue
• India's exports and imports nearly
halved between 1928 and 1934.

53. 2. SIMON COMMISSION(1928)
The Indian Statutory Commission also known
as Simon Commission’, was a group of seven
Members of Parliament under the
chairmanship of Sir John Simon (later, 1st
Viscount Simon). The commission arrived in
British India in 1928 to study constitutional
reform in Britain’s largest and most important
possession.

54. • The Commission was composed entirely of British
members with not a single Indian member being
included in it. This was seen as an insult to Indians
who were right in saying that their destiny could
not be determined by a handful of British people.
• Indians were outraged at their exclusion from the
Commission.
• The Congress Party decided to boycott the
Commission at their session at Madras in 1927.
• The Muslim League led by M A Jinnah also
boycotted it.

55. • Lord Irwin, the Viceroy, had announced in October
1929 a vague offer of 'dominion status' for British-
occupied India in an unspecified future and a Round
Table Conference to discuss a future constitution.
• There were increasing demands of granting
dominion status to India among a certain section of
the British polity.

56. Poorna Swaraj or complete independence 1929
• Young radical leaders within the Congress had other
notion.
• The Congress session was held at Lahore in 1929
• J Nehru passed resolution demanding Poorna
Swaraj.
• Congress hence decided to observe 26th January
1930 as the total independence or Purna Swaraj
Day. (Not achieved)

57. Poorna Swaraj Day becomes Republic Day
When India’s Constitution was adopted on November
26, 1949, many people thought it was appropriate to
commemorate the document on a day related to
national pride. The best choice was the Poorna Swaraj
day, which happened on January 26. Since then, it has
been known as Republic Day in the nation.

58. • So Gandhiji had another idea to go with Civil
Disobedience Movement.
• Become more assertive, opposed the constitutional
system within the form work of British Dominion.
• Leaders such as J Nehru and C R Das influenced

59. Poorna Swaraj or complete independence 1929
• Young radical leaders within the Congress had other
notion.
• The Congress session was held at Lahore in 1929
• J Nehru passed resolution demanding Poorna
Swaraj.
• Congress hence decided to observe 26th January
1930 as the total independence or Purna Swaraj
Day. (Not achieved)

60. The eleven demands that were in the ultimatum are as follows:
a. Reduction in the rate of land revenue
b. Abolition of salt tax
c. Changes in the exchange ratio of rupees and sterling
d. The release of all political prisoners
e. Levy of customs on Foreign cloth
f. Reduction in civil administration expenses
g. Reduction in military expenditure
h. Prohibition of Intoxicants
i. Acceptance of Postal Reservation Bill
j. Abolition of CID department
k. The issue of licences of arms to citizens for self-protection.

61. Salt Satyagraha and Civil Disobedience Movement
• Britain's Salt Act of 1882 prohibited Indians from
collecting or selling salt.
• Essential Food items
• Consumed by rich and poor
• Used for Multipurpose
• Rejected the 11 demands letter of Gandhi to Irwin
was rejected (immediate cause)
WHY?

62. Salt March
• Started on 12 March 1930
• Ended on 6 April 1930
• Western Indian state of Gujarat from his ashram
(religious retreat) at Sabermati (near Ahmadabad) to
the town of Dandi (near Surat) on the Arabian Sea
coast.
WHEN?
WHERE?

63. Salt March
• 78 Volunteers
• 24O Miles
• 24 days
• Violated the Salt law by Manufacturing Salt
HOW

64. Effects and Reactions
• Crowed demonstrated in the streets of Peshawar
• Industrial workers in Sholapur attacked police
points, municipal buildings, railway stations…
• Around 100000 people including Gandhiji himself
were arrested by the government.

65. • There was widespread civil disobedience carried on
by the people. Apart from the salt tax, other
unpopular tax laws were being defied like the forest
laws, chowkidar tax, land tax, etc.
• The government tried to suppress the movement
with more laws and censorship.
• It showed the power of the non-violent Satyagraha
as a tool in fighting imperialism.
• Finally Gandhi call off the Movement and entered
into a Pact with Irwin.

66. Gandhi Irwin Pact (5 March 1931)
• Lord Irwin wanted the issue to come to an end.
• So, Gandhi was released from prison in January
1931.
• The then Congress President Sardar Vallabhai Patel
authorized Gandhi to hold talks with Lord Irwin.
• Accordingly, Gandhi met Irwin and held
negotiations.
• It was for the first time that the two were meeting
as ‘equals’.

67. • The Indian National Congress (INC) agreed to take
part in the Round Table Conference. (second)
• The INC would stop the civil disobedience movement.
• Withdrawal of all ordinances that curbed the
activities of the Congress.
• Withdrawal of all prosecutions except those involving
violent crimes.
• Release of those who were arrested for taking part in
the civil disobedience movement.
• Removal of the salt tax.

68. • The Second Round Table Conference was held in
London from 7 September 1931 to 1 December 1931
with the participation of Gandhi and the Indian
National Congress.
• The British decided to grant a communal award for
representing minorities in India by providing for
separate electorates for minority communities.
Gandhi was against this.
• The second round table conference was deemed a
failure because of the many disagreements among
the participants.

69. • When they returned to India government had
started a new cycle of repression.
• Ghaffar Khan and J Nehru were arrested
• Declared Congress had been illegal
• Prevent demonstrations, boycott and
meetings
• So Mahatma Gandhi Re launched Civil
Disobedience Movement

70. How Participants Saw the Movement
Different Social Groups
1. Countryside
Rich Farmers/Landlords)
Poor Peasants
2. Towns
Industrial Owners
Industrial Workers
3. Women

71. How Participants Saw the Movement
Countryside (Rich Farmers/Landlords)
• Price of Agricultural Goods decreased
• Unable to pay Government’s Revenue
• Resentment against government
• Fight for Swaraj was struggle against High Revenue
They disappointed because of its withdrawal so they refused
when it was relaunched
Patidars of
Gujrat
&
Jats of UP

72. Countryside (Poor Peasants)
• High Revenue in one side and also they were
cultivated in rented land.
• Unpaid Rent to be remitted because of law price of
Agricultural products
• They joined in different Radical Movements
• Congress was unwilling to support “no rent” policy

73. Towns (Industrial Owners/ Bussiness Class)
• During First World War they had made huge profit
• Later they were suppressed by Government
• So they wanted Protection against imported
products
• They formed Indian Industrial Commercial Congress
in 1920 (IICC) then formed Federation of the Indian
Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) 1927
lead by G D Birla and T Purushothamadas Takurdas

74. Towns (Industrial Workers)
• They did not Participated except Nagpur region
• Owner vs Workers clash
• Participated by adopting Gandhian idea
• There were strike by railway workers in
Chottanagpur in 1930 dock workers in 1932
• Wore Gandhi Cap, rallies, boycott etc.
• Congress View- cant treat owners and workers
together

75. Women
• Large Scale Participation
• Protest marches
• Manufactured Salt
• Picketed Liquor Shops and Boycott foreign cloths
• Many of them were jailed
• Congress given only symbolic representation for
women

76. Limitations
• Limited participation of Dalits: Dalits participation in
the civil Disobedience movement was very limited,
particularly in Maharashtra and Nagpur region where
their organization was quite strong. (“untouchables”)
• MG declared that swaraj would not come for hundred
years if untouchability was not eliminated.
• He called them as Harijan (children of God)
• Organized Satyagraha for them
• Propagate for their temple entry
• Public well, tanks, roads and schools

77. • No Participation of Muslims: Some of the Muslim
political organizations in India were also Lukewarm in
their response to the Civil Disobedience Movement.
After Non-Cooperation-Khilafat movement Muslims
felt alienated from the congress.
• Dominant role Hindu Mahasabha: The role of Hindu
Mahasabha was very dominant. Due to the fear of
conservative high class Hindus, congress ignored the
Dalits. Congress was very close to Hindu Mahasbha.
Hindus Mahasabha strongly opposed the efforts of
compromise between Congress and Muslim League.

78. • Clash between BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi:
In 1930 Dr B R Ambedkar clashed with Mahatma
Gandhi at the second-round table conference by
demanding separate electorate for Dalits.
• Participants have different aspirations: Participation
had their own aspirations. There was a contrast
between the demands of industrialist and working
class. Contrast was also there in the demand of Rich
peasants and poor peasants. United struggle was not
there.

79. • The third Round Table Conference took place
between 17 November 1932 and 24 December
1932.
• Not much was achieved in this conference also. The
recommendations of this conference were
published in a White Paper in 1933 and later
discussed in the British Parliament. The
recommendations were analysed and the
Government of India Act of 1935 was passed on its
basis.

80. THE SENSE OF COLLECTIVE
BELONGING

81. • Experience of united struggle
• Cultural Process was different for all
• History, Folklore, Fiction, songs, Symbols etc. create
a sense of belongingness.
Image of Bharat Mata
Created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhay
Wrote Vande Mataram
Abinindranath Tagore Painted an image
Revive Indian Folklore
Contribution of Rabindranath Tagore
Tricolor