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Important Questions of Nationalism in India Class 10
Assertion-Reason Questions DIRECTION: Mark the option which is most suitable:
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(c) If assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) If both assertion and reason are false.
1. Assertion. In 1917, Gandhiji organised a satyagraha to support the peasants of the Kheda district of Gujarat. Reason. The peasants were affected by crop failure and plague epidemic. They could not pay the revenue and were demanding that revenue collection be relaxed.
Answer : (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion. The peasants wanted that their revenue collection be relaxed because they were at a complete loss and organized a Satyagraha to provide them with a platform to raise their voice.
2. Assertion. The council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras. Reason. In many places, merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade.
Answer : (b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion. The council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras, where Justice Party, the party of the non-Brahmins, felt that entering the council was one way of gaining some power, something that usually only Brahmins had access to. Therefore, both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
3. Assertion. The Non-Cooperation Movement gradually slowed down for a variety of reasons in the cities. Reason. As the boycott movement spread, and people began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones, production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up.
Answer : (b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion. Khadi cloth was often more expensive than massproduced mill cloth and poor people could not afford to buy it. Non-cooperation Movement was gradually turning violent, some leaders were by now, very tired of mass struggle, that is how it lost momentum. Therefore, both assertion and reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
4. Assertion. In Awadh, the peasants were led by Alluri Sitaram Raju. Reason. The movement here was against Oudh Kisan Sabha.
Answer : (d) Both assertion and reason are false. In Awadh, the peasants were led by Baba Ramchandra, a sanyasi who had earlier been to Fiji as indentured labourer. The movement here was against talukdars and landlords who demanded from peasants exorbitantly high rents and a variety of other cesses. Thus, both the assertion and the reason are wrong.
5. Assertion. When Simon Commission arrived in India, it was greeted with the slogan ‘Go back Simon’. Reason. This happened as Mahatma Gandhi was on Dandi March during that time.
Answer : (c) Assertion is true but reason is false. The Simon Commission was greeted with the slogan ‘Go back Simon’ because it did not have a single Indian member. They were all British but had come to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. Gandhiji went on Dandi March on 11 March 1930. The reason thus does not explain the assertion.
6. Assertion. Gandhiji entered into Gandhi-Irwin Pact on 5 March 1931. Reason. Ghaffar Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru were both put in jail, the Congress was declared illegal, and a series of measures had been imposed to prevent meetings, demonstrations and boycotts.
Answer : (b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion. With the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Gandhiji consented to participate in the Round Table Conference in London. However, the negotiations broke down and Gandhiji returned to India disappointed. New repressive measures by the government declared the Congress illegal and put Ghaffar Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru into jail. Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
7. Assertion. Rich peasants became enthusiastic supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement, organising their communities and at times forcing reluctant members to participate in the boycott programmes. Reason. However, they were deeply happy when the movement was called off in 1931 with revenue rates being lowered.
Answer : (c) Assertion is true but reason is false. The peasants were deeply disappointed when the Civil Disobedience Movement was called off in 1931 without revenue rates being revised. They wanted the revenue rates revised and were thus actively participating in the movement but were deeply hurt when they could not achieve the same. Therefore, The assertion is true but reason is false.
8. Assertion. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote ‘Vande Mataram’ as a hymn to the motherland and it was later included in his novel Anandamath and widely sung during the Swadeshi movement. Reason. Rabindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata, which is portrayed as an ascetic figure, who is calm, composed, divine and spiritual.
Answer : (d) Both assertion and reason are false. It was in the twentieth century, with the growth of nationalism, that the identity of India came to be visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata. The image of Bharat Mata acquired many different forms, as it circulated in popular prints, and was painted by different artists. Devotion to this mother figure came to be seen as evidence of one’s nationalism, but this does not explain why he wrote ‘Vande Mataram’. Thus both of them are true, but reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
9. Assertion. During the eighteenth century France witnessed the emergence of a middle class. Reason. The emergence of the middle class happened on account of royal patronage. Answer : (c) Assertion is true but reason is false. The eighteenth century witnessed the emergence of social groups, termed the middle class, who earned their wealth through an expanding overseas trade and from manufacture of goods such as woollen and silk textile that were either exported or bought by the richer members of society. In addition to merchants and manufacturers, the educated in the third estate included professions such as lawyers or administrative officials.
10. Assertion. Another important feature of civil disobedience movement was the large-scale participation of peasants. Reason. A large number of woman were encouraged by Gandhiji’s Salt March because of which they could come out of their homes to listen to him they then began to participate in protest march and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shop. Some even went to jail.
Answer : (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion. Important feature of civil disobedience movement was the large-scale participation of peasants. Large number of women were encouraged by Gandhiji’s Salt March because of which they could come out of their homes to listen to him they then began to participate in protest march and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Thus both assertion and reason are correct and reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi organise, Satyagraha in the Kheda district of Gujarat in
1917? Give the main reason.
Ans. Peasants affected from crop failure and plague epidemic wanted relaxation in revenue collection. Mahatma Gandhi organised a Satyagraha with these peasants against revenue collectors for the same in 1917.
Question. State the slogan with which Simon Commission was greeted in 1928 in India
Ans. Simon Commission was greeted with the slogan ‘Simon Go back’ in 1928 in India.
Question. When did Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occur?
Ans. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurred on April 13th, 1919.
Question. What happened to the workers in plantations of Assam?
Ans. Plantation workers in Assam were not allowed to leave the plantations without permissions under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859.
Question. Why did Indians oppose the ‘Simon Commission’?
Ans. The ‘Simon Commission’ was opposed by Indians because the Commission which was to meant review the functioning of Indian administration had no Indian members.
Question. Who wrote the song ‘Vande Matram’?
Ans. ‘Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’ wrote the song ‘Vande Matram’.
Question. Who was the author of ‘Hind Swaraj’?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi was the author of ‘Hind Sawaraj’.
Question. Name the author of the novel ‘Anandmath’.
Ans. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay is the author of ‘Anandmath’.
Question. Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who organised the dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930, clashed with Mahatma Gandhi at the second Round Table Conference by demanding separate electorates for dalits.
When the British government conceded Ambedkar’s demand, Gandhiji began a fast unto death. He believed that separate electorates for dalits would slow down the process of their integration into society.
Read the source given above and name thepact of compromise signed later between Gandhiji and Dr B.R Amdbedkar on the position of Dalits in India in future.
Ans. Poona Pact
Short Answer Type Questions
Question. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follows:
Source: The Movement in the Towns The movement started with the participation of the middleclass participation in the cities.
Thousands of students left governmentcontrolled schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned, and lawyers gave up their legal practices. The council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras, where the Justice Party, the party of the non-Brahmans, felt that entering the council was one way of gaining some power something that usually only Brahmas had access to.
The effects of Non-cooperation movement on the economic front were more dramatic.
Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed, and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires. The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, its value dropping from Rs. 102 crore to Rs. 57 crore.
In many places merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade. As the boycott movement spread, and people began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones, production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up.
(A) Explain the role of the Justice Party in boycotting council elections.
(B) How were the effects of ‘Non-cooperation movement on the economic front’ dramatic?
(C) Explain the effect of the ‘boycott’ movement on ‘foreign textile trade’.
Ans. (A) The Justice Party wanted to contest elections to the council to gain power which was only available to Brahmans till then.
(B) Merchants burnt foreign clothes in huge bonfires, refusing to buy foreign goods completely and even picketed liquor shops. Import of foreign goods reduced to half due to their dramatic reaction.
(C) The boycott movement affected foreign trade negatively. Imports of clothes were reduced to half in initial value. Businessmen refused to finance foreign trade or wear foreign goods. People began discarding imported clothes and started wearing only Indian made fabrics, from mills and handlooms.
Question. Describe the role of poor peasants in the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement’.
Ans. The poor peasants had their own problems so the following points explain what role they played in the movement:
(1) They were not just interested in lowering of the revenue, but also demanded remission of rent which they had failed to pay during the depression years.
(2) In some parts of the country, they launched a ‘no rent’ campaign which was not supported by the Congress because this might had upset the rich peasants and landlords.
(3) These poor peasants joined a variety of radical movements, often led by Socialists and Communists. So the relationship between the poor peasants and the Congress remained uncertain.
Question. Evaluate the contribution of folklore, songs, popular prints, etc., in shaping the nationalism during freedom struggle.
Ans. History and fiction, folklore and songs, popular prints and symbols, all played a part in the making of nationalism in India in the following ways:
(1) Various folk tales, songs and symbols like the national flag and tricolor flag gave a sense of identity to the people.
(2) National songs like Vande Matram instilled a sense of belonging, uniting people from different languages. The identity of India came to be associated with Bharat Mata who was depicted as composed, divine and spiritual.
(3) Folk tales, songs and hymns were used by our national leaders to give a sense of pride in our own culture.
(4) Likewise Khadi, charka used by Mahatma Gandhi became symbols of agitation and resistance. (5) In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore himself began collecting ballads, nursery rhymes and myths.
Question. Explain any two provisions of the Rawlatt Act and its impact.
Ans. Provisions of Rowlatt Act were:
(1) It gave government the power to repress any political activity or demonstration.
(2) It also allowed for detention of political prisoners without any trial for two years.
(3) Under this, the British government could arrest anyone and search any place without a warrant.
(1) Rallies were organised in various cities in India.
(2) Workers in the railway work shop went on strike.
(3) Shops were shut down in protest in various parts of the country.
(4) British police fired upon a peaceful procession, provoking widespread attacks on banks, post offces and railway stations.
Question. How did the Salt March become the base to begin the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement’? Explain.
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi found salt to be a powerful symbol that could unite the nation because salt was an essential commodity and was consumed in equal quantity by both the rich and poor. The British charged tax on salt also and both the economic groups were against it because it was an essential commodity. Gandhi found the salt law to be oppressive and so, sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands and one of them was to abolish the salt tax. However British government didn’t accept it and then Gandhiji started his famous Salt March also known as Dandi March and abolished the salt law by manufacturing salt by boiling sea water at Dandi on 6th April. Thus, the Civil Disobedience Movement started.
Question. Who designed the Swaraj flag in 1921? Explain the main features of this flag.
Ans. The Swaraj flag was designed by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921. Features of the Swaraj flag:
(1) It was a tricolour flag of red, green and white colours.
(2) This flag had a spinning wheel at its centre, representing the Gandhian ideal of self-help.
(3) Carrying this flag and holding it aloft, during marches became a symbol of defiance.
Question. “The Civil Disobedience Movement was diffe-rent from the Non-cooperation movement.” Support the statement with examples.
Ans. The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-cooperation movement in the following ways:
(1) The Non-cooperation movement was launched in 1921 by Mahatma Gandhi but the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched in 1930.
(2) The Non-cooperation movement started with middle class participation, whereas the Civil Disobedience Movement was first supported by industrialists like GD Birla, Purshottamdas Thakur, etc.
(3) Due to Khalifa issues, the Muslim community participated in noncooperation movement on large scale but the growing proximity of the Congress party and Hindu Mahasabha prevented the Muslims from participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
(4) The Non-cooperation movement was withdrawn by Gandhi due to a violent incident at Chauri Chaura, whereas the Civil Disobedience Movement was withdrawn in 1931, when Gandhi signed the Gandhi-Irwin pact.
(5) In non-cooperation movement, women did not participate much but large scale participation of women is one of the most significant features of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Question. Evaluate the Satyagraha Movement of Mahatma Gandhi against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919.
Ans. The Satyagraha Movement of Mahatma Gandhi against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919 was as follows:
(1) Mahatma Gandhi in 1919, decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919).
(2) Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws,which would start with a hartal (strike) on 6 April.
(3) Rallies were organised in various cities and workers went on strike in railway.
Workshops, and shops closed down.
(4) Local leaders like Abdul Ghaffar Khan were put into jail and the British government started brutal repression.
Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi relaunch the Civil Disobedience Movement after the Second Round Table Conference? Explain any three reasons.
Ans. The Civil Disobedience Movement was relaunched in 1932 by Mahatma Gandhiji after the negotiations in the Second Round Table Conference broke down. On returning to India Gandhi found that a new cycle of repression was being followed by the British: the Congress was declared illegal, Abdul Ghaffar khan and Jawaharlal Nehru were sent to jail and various provisions were imposed to prevent meetings, demonstrations and boycotts. After seeing such a brutal repression by the British, Gandhi re-launched the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Question. Describe the incidence of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Ans. Jallianwalla Bagh incident.
(1) On 13 April, Jallianwalla Bagh incident took place.
(2) On that day a crowd of villagers who had come to Amritsar to attend a fair gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwalla Bagh.
(3) Being from outside the city, they were unaware of the martial law that had been imposed.
(4) Dyer entered the area, blocked the exit points, and opened fire on the crowd,killing hundreds.
(To be assessed as whole.)
Question. Describe the implication of the First World War on the economic and political situation of India.
Ans. The First World War created a new political and economic situation in India –
(1) It led to huge increase in defense expenditure. To balance this, income tax and custom duty were levied on Indian citizens.
(2) Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers and forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread resentment.
(3) Prices of essential commodities doubled between 1913 and 1918, leading to extreme hardship for the common people.
(4) In 1918-19 and 1920-21 crops failed in many parts of India, resulting in acute food shortage. Epidemic spread and affected a large number of people.
Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919? Explain any three reasons.
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act because:
(1) The Rowlatt Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members.
(2) It gave the government enormous power to repress political activities.
(3) It allowed for detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
(4) Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws
Question. Simon Commission was greeted with the slogan ‘Simon Go Back’ at arrival in India. Support this reaction of the Indians with arguments.
Ans. Simon Commission was greeted with the slogan ‘Go back Simon’ at arrival in India. This reaction of India is justified because: The new Tory government in Britain constituted a Statutory Commission under Sir John Simon. It was set up in response to the nationalist movement. The commission was formed to look in to the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. The problem was that the commission did not have a single Indian member. When the Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan Simon go back. All parties, including the Congress and the Muslim League, participated in the demonstrations.
Question. Evaluate the role of business classes in the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement’.
OR
Explain the reasons for the business class to participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ans. (Diagram)
Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi launch the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain any three reasons.
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement for the following reasons:
(1) Lord Irwin ignored the eleven demands of Gandhi, including the abolition of the salt tax. Various methods of trying to bring political empowerment in the country from within the councils failed too.
(2) After the demand for Purna Swaraj formalised, 26 January 1930 was celebrated as Independence Day. However, such celebrations for freedom could not attract much attention and participation. Gandhiji understood that in order to mobilise the masses and increase their participation, he needed to focus on what bothered them the most about the colonial government.
(3) The idea of Civil Disobedience was mainly focused on problems and issues that people faced in their everyday life. He identified problems which the rich as well as the poor alike faced and highlighted these issues under a united campaign against the British.
(4) The movement was to succeed the noncooperation movement and take the cause of Swaraj further. Thus, Gandhiji involved new programmes which were stronger and stricter than before.
Question. Describe the role of Alluri Sitaram Raju in Andhra Pradesh during 1920s.
Ans. Role of Alluri Sitaram Raju in the Gudem hills of Andhra Pradesh
(1) Alluri Sitaram Raju claimed that he had a variety of special powers like making astrological predictions, healing people and surviving bullet shots
(2) The rebels proclaimed him as an incarnation of God.
(3) Raju was inspired by Gandhijis Non- Cooperation Movement
(4) Persuaded people to wear khadi and give up drinking.
(5) But at the same time he asserted that India could be liberated only by the use of force, not non-violence.
(6) Used guerrilla warfare for achieving swaraj. To be assessed as whole.
Question. Who organised Dalits into the Depressed Classes Association? Why did he clash with Gandhi? What was the result of it?
Ans. B. R. Ambedkar organised the Dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930. He clashed with Gandhi ji at the Second Round Table Conference by demanding separate electorates for Dalits. Finally, Ambedkar accepted Gandhi ji’s view and the result was the Poona Pact of September 1932. This pact gave the Depressed Classes (now SCs) reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils but they were to be voted in by the general electorate.
Question. Describe the main features of ‘Poona Pact’.
Ans. The main features of ‘Poona Pact’ were:
(1) The Poona Pact (of September 1932) gave Depressed Classes (later to be known as Scheduled caste) reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils.
(2) They were to be voted in by the general electorate.
(3) The act came into force due to Gandhiji’s fast unto death.
(4) Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhiji’s stand.
(5) Any other relevant point. (Any three points to be described)
Question. “Gandhiji’s idea of Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth.” In the light of this statement, assess the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi towards Satyagraha.
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution towards Satya-graha can be described as follows:
(1) Gandhi was initially successful in launching Satyagraha movements amongst the peasants of Champaran in Bihar in 1916.
(2) In 1917, he organised Satyagraha to support the peasants of the Kheda district of Gujarat and in 1918, amongst the cotton mill workers of Ahmedabad.
(3) Satyagraha, as a medium of protest, was carried forward by Gandhi in launching a nationwide struggle against the Rowlatt Act. There were protests, followed by the Non-cooperation movement as well as the Civil Disobedience Movement.
(4) Gandhi called Satyagraha an intense active resistance which could only be pursued by the strong, he gave Satyagraha its true meaning and attached it as an important programme with the Indian National Movement.
Question. Explain any three problems faced by the peasants of Awadh.
Ans. Major problems faced by the peasants of Awadh were:
(1) The landlords and talukdars of Awadh demanded exorbitantly high land rent and a number of other cesses from the peasants.
(2) The peasants were compelled to do begar, that is, they had to work at the landlord’s farm without payment.
(3) As tenants, the peasants had no security of tenure and were often evicted from their land, they could not acquire any right over the leased land.
Question. How did ‘Salt March’ become an effective tool of resistance against colonialism ? Explain.
Ans. ‘Salt March’ became an effective tool of resistance against colonialism because: Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands. The most stirring of all was the demand to abolish the salt tax. Salt was the most essential item of food and was consumed by rich and poor alike. Irwin was unwilling to negotiate, so Gandhiji started Salt march with 78th volunteers. (On 6 April ) he reached Dandi, violated law and made salt. This march developed the feeling of nationalism, people in different parts of the country broke the salt law and manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories. (To be assessed as a whole)
Question. What did Gandhi ji do for the upliftment of the Dalits in India? Give three points.
Ans. Steps taken by Gandhi ji for the upliftment of the Dalits in India are as follows:
(1) Gandhi ji called ‘untouchables’ Harijan, means the Children of God, and declared that swaraj would not come for a hundred years if untouchability was not eliminated from the society. (2) He secured them entry into temples, access to public wells, tanks, roads and schools.
(3) He cleaned toilets to dignify the work of the bhangi-the sweeper and persuaded upper class people to change their heart to give up ‘the sin of untouchability’.
Question. How did the Tribal Peasants interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of ‘Swaraj’ ? Explain.
Ans. The Tribal Peasants interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of ‘Swaraj’ as follows:
(1) Tribal Peasants didn’t conform with Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas of non-violence. They were inclined towards an ‘attack and injure’ policy to achieve Swaraj.
(2) In the Gudem hills of Andhra Pradesh, a militant guerilla movement was started by peasants along the same lines in the 1920s, against the colonial government’s decision of closing large forest areas, preventing people from entering the forests to graze their cattle, or to collect fuelwood and fruits.
(3) Peasant leader Alluri Sitaram Raju, persuaded people to wear khadi and give up drinking , but asserted that India could be liberated only by the use of force, not non-violence.
(4) Deprived of their traditional rights and livelihood, enraged Gudem rebels attacked policestations, attempted to kill British offcials a nd c arried o r g uerrilla w arfare for achieving Swaraj, thus completely straying from Gandhi’s mantra of nonviolence and satyagraha.
Question. Read the sources given below and answer the questions that follow.
Source A: The Rowlatt Act Emboldened with this success, Gandhiji in 1919 decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919). This Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members. Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal on 6 April. Rallies were organised in various cities, workers went on strike in railway workshops, and shops closed down. Alarmed by the popular upsurge, and scared that lines of communication such as the railway and telegraph would be disrupted, the British administration decided to clamp down on nationalists.
Source B: Why Non-cooperation? In Hind Swaraj, Mahatama Gandhi declared that British rule was established in India with the cooperation of Indians, and had survived only because of this cooperation. If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule in India would collapse within a year, and swaraj would come. How could noncooperation become a movement? Gandhiji proposed that the movement should unfold in stages.
Source C: The salt march and the civil disobedience movement On 31 January 1930, Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands. Some of these were of general interest; others were specific demands of different classes, from industrialists to peasants. The idea was to make the demands wideranging, so that all classes within Indian society could identify with them and everyone could be brought together in a united campaign. The most stirring of all was the demand to abolish the salt tax.
Source A: The Rowlatt Act
(A) Which famous incident followed protests after the hartal on April 6th?
Source B: Why Non-cooperation?
(B) List two methods that Gandhiji proposed to adopt to launch the non-cooperation movement
Source C: The salt march and the civil disobedience movement
(C) Why was Salt chosen as a symbol of national unity?
Ans. (A) After the hartal against Rowlatt Act on 6th April, the infamous Jallianwala Bagh tragedy took place on 13th April where General Dyer open fired on a large crowd assembled for annual Baisakhi fair to spread terror among Satyagrahis. Hundreds of people died in this incident.
(B) Gandhiji proposed that to convert noncooperation into a movement, people should first surrender the titles, awards, rewards or any favours awarded to them by the government and boycott all services under government control such as educational, legal, political, military etc. This meant leaving schools, courts, colleges and offces.
(C) Gandhiji chose salt to represent national unity because it was the only item used by all-rich or poor, Hindus or Muslims etc. and could be used successfully to unite them against their common enemy-the British.
Question. Why did the Non-cooperation movement gradually slow down in the cities? Explain.
Ans. (1) The Non-cooperation movement gradually slowed down in the cities due to a lack of Indian alternatives to the boycotted foreign goods.
(2) People could not boycott cheap machinemade foreign cloth for long because khadi was expensive to afford.
(3) Also, people couldn’t boycott British administered schools, colleges and courts completely because there were no alternative Indian institutions for them to study or work.
(4) They had to run back to these institutions to earn and sustain. They were getting frustrated and impatient due to continuous struggle.
Question. “Mahatma Gandhi used salt as a powerful symbol to unite the nation.” Justify the statement.
OR
ÅWhy did Mahatma Gandhi find salt to be a powerful symbol that could unite the nation? Explain.
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi found salt to be a powerful symbol that could unite the nation because,as it is an essential commodity, it was consumed in equal quantity by both rich and poor. British charged salt tax which was highly disliked by all sections of society equally. Gandhi used this common woe to lay seeds of unity and nationality amongst all sections otherwise divided by caste and class.
He broke the salt law to launch the civil disobedience movement and aimed for more political participation from Indians to achieve Poorna Swaraj.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919)? How was it opposed? Explain.
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919) because:
(1) The Rowlatt Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members.
(2) It gave the government enormous power to repress political activities.
(3) It allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
(1) Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust law.
(2) Rallies were organised in various cities.
(3) Workers went on strikes in railway workshops.
(4) Shops were shut down.
Question. Why was the Salt March considered an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism? Explain.
Ans. The following reasons led the Salt March to be regarded as an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism: Mahatma Gandhi found salt to be a powerful symbol that could unite the nation because it was an essential commodity and was consumed in equal quantity by both the rich and the poor. The British charged tax on salt and because it was an essential commodity, both the rich and the poor were against it. Gandhi found the salt law to be oppressive and so, he sent a letter to the then Viceroy Lord Irwin stating 11 demands, one of which was to abolish salt tax. The idea was to make the demands wide ranging, so that all classes within the Indian society could identify with them and be brought together in a united campaign. But the British government didn’t accept. Then Gandhi started his famous Salt March also known as Dandi March and abolished the salt law by manufacturing salt by boiling sea water at Dandi.
Question. How did the First World War create economic problems in India? Explain with examples.
OR ÅHow did the First World War create a new economic and political situation in India?
Ans. The First World War created the following economic problems in India:
(1) New taxes like income tax and customs duties were raised to finance increasing war expenditure.
(2) Prices of goods almost doubled in those few years and became a huge burden for the poor.
(3) There was crop failure in many parts of India which led to a shortage of food.
(4) Producers had to face huge competition from the British market.
(5) People started using foreign machinemade clothes instead of Indian material.
Question. “History and fiction, folklore and songs, popular prints and symbols, all played a part in the making of nationalism in India.” Support the statement.
Ans. Various symbols played their role in evoking the sentiments of nationalism in India in the following ways:
(1) Various folk tales, stories of legends and mythological heroes, popular art forms and symbols like national flag, provide a sense of belonging and collective identity to the people.
(2) National song Vande Mataram evoked a sense of belonging, uniting people speaking different languages and living in different regions. The identity of India came to be associated with Bharat Mata was depicted as composed, divine and spiritual.
(3) Folk tales, songs and hymns were used by our national leaders to instill a new sense of pride among Indians in their own culture tradition and historical past.
(4) Khadi and charkha used by Mahatma Gandhi became symbols of resistance.
(5) Folk tales, songs and literature used by nationalists gave a true picture of India’s culture which was rich, unadulterated and uncorrupted.
Question. Explain how Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.
Ans. Launching of the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930:
(1) Against the background of Simon Commission and Lord Irwin’s vague offer of dominion status for India, Gandhiji decided to launch Civil Disobedience Movement.
(2) Negligence of eleven demands of Gandhi ji by Lord Irwin also created situation.
(3) Salt March or Dandi March organized against the British monopoly of Salt Law.
(4) Participation of women in the movement in large numbers.
(5) Business men and workers also participated in large number.
(6) Foreign clothes were boycotted.
(7) Peasants refused to pay revenue and taxes.
(8) Forest laws were violated.
(9) Any other relevant point.
Question. “Not all social groups were moved by the abstract concept of ‘Swaraj”. Support the statement in the light of the Civil Disobedience Movement of the 1930s. OR Å‘All social groups were not moved by the abstract concept of swaraj’. Highlight the limitations of the civil Disobedience Movement to support this statement.
Ans. Not all social groups were moved by the abstract concept of Swaraj because:
(1) The ignorant attitude of the Congress alienated Dalits from the wider nationalist movement. Although, Mahatma Gandhi made efforts to give them access to various public places, they considered this movement as a means to end their own suppression. They fought for political empowerment and separate electorates.
(2) Such demands and difference of opinions therefore saw limited dalit participation during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
(3) The decline of the Non-cooperation Khilafat Movement gave rise to the feeling of alienation among a large section of Muslims from the Congress. Hindu religious nationalist groups like the Hindu Mahasabha further widened the gap and created feelings of suspicion and distrust among the members of both the communities.
(4) Each community organised religious processions with militant fervour, provoking violent clashes and riots in various cities. The Congress was viewed as a Hindu political party. Further divide between the two communities almost cut off Muslim participation in the movement.
(5) Therefore, when the Civil Disobedience Movement started, there was a feeling of alienation between communities who did not identify with the idea of Wwaraj. They were apprehensive of their position in the society and feared domination Hindu majority
Question. What was the plantation workers, understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj? Explain.
OR Å“Plantation workers had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas and the notion of Swaraj.” Support the statement.
Ans. The plantation workers’ understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and Swaraj has been detailed below:
(1) For plantation workers in Assam, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of the confined space in which they were enclosed and it meant retaining a link with the village from which they had come.
(2) Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, plantation workers were not permitted to leave the tea gardens without permission. In fact, they were rarely given such permission.
(3) When they heard of the Non-cooperation movement, thousands of workers defied the authorities, left the plantations, and headed home.
(4) They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and everyone would be given land in their own villages. They never reached home, as they were stranded on the way by a railway and steamer strike, and were caught by the police and brutally beaten up.
(5) They interpreted the term Swaraj in their own ways, imagining it to be a time when all sufferings and troubles would be over. Thus, the plantation workers too had their own understanding of Gandhi’s notion of Swaraj.
Question. Explain any five effects of the Noncooperation movement.
Ans. Effects of the Non-cooperation movement are:
(1) Students left government schools and colleges, head-masters, teachers resigned from their jobs and lawyers stopped practicing.
(2) Liquor shops were picketed, foreign cloth was burnt in huge bonfires and foreign goods were boycotted.
(3) The import of foreign clothes halved between 1921 and 1922, leading its value to drop from 102 Crore to 57 Crore rupees.
(4) Traders and merchants refused to trade in foreign goods and finance foreign trade.
(5) People boycotted foreign clothes and started using Khadi clothes.
(6) Council elections were boycotted in every province, except in Madras.
Question. Explain the importance of the Salt March of Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol to unite the nation.
Ans. The importance of the Salt March is as follows:
(1) Mahatma Gandhi broke the salt law with the march from Sabarmati to Dandi.
(2) Thousands others in different parts of the country broke the salt law, manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories.
(3) As the movement spread, foreign cloth was boycotted, and liquor shops were picketed.
(4) Peasants refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes.
(5) In many places, people who lived in the forests violated forest laws – by going into reserved forests to collect wood and graze cattle.
(6) In the countryside, rich peasants and poor peasants were active in the movement.
(7) The business class workers of Nagpur and women also joined the Movement.
Question. Explain how the Non-Cooperation Movement emerged in the towns.
Ans. Non Cooperation Movement in Towns:
i. The movement stared with middle class participation.
ii. Students left schools and colleges.
iii. Teachers and headmasters resigned.
iv. Lawyers gave up their legal practices.
v. The council elections were boycotted.
vi. Foreign goods were boycotted.
vii. Any other relevant point.
Any five points to be explained.
OR
The Non-cooperation movement emerged and spread in the cities in the following ways:
(1) The movement started with middle class participation in the cities.
(2) Thousands of students left government controlled schools and colleges.
(3) Headmasters and teachers resigned and lawyers gave up their legal practices.
(4) The council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras, where Justice Party took part in elections.
(5) Traders and merchants refused to trade in foreign goods and finance foreign trade.
(6) People boycotted foreign clothes and started using Khadi clothes.
Question. Explain the limitations of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ans. The limitations of the Civil Disobedience Movement can be described as:
(1) Not all participants were moved by the concept of Swaraj to the same extent. Congress had ignored the Dalits. This was so because they were afraid of offending the Sanatanis. [upper caste conservative hindus]. Thus they received half hearted support from various social groups.
(2) From the mid-1920s, Congress came to be more visibly associated with the openly Hindu religious nationalist groups like the Hindu Mahasabha, which developed mistrust in other religious groups regarding its intentions and programmes.
(3) After the decline of the Non-cooperation Khilafat movement, a large section of the Muslims felt alienated from the Congress.
(4) As relations between the Hindu’s and Muslims worsened, each community organised religious processions with militant fervour. This provoked Hindu- Muslim communal clashes and riots in various cities.
(5) Civil disobedience divided the Indian society on basis of caste, social norms and economy in many ways.
Question. The middle classes played an important role in the Non-Cooperation Movement in the cities. Explain. Why do you think that the movement slowed down in the cities?
Ans. Middle classes played an important role in the Non-cooperation movement in the cities
(1) Thousands of students left the government- controlled schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned, and lawyers gave up their legal practices.
(2) The council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras.
(3) Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed, and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires. The movement in the cities gradually slowed down for a variety of reasons:
(1) Khadi cloth was more expensive than mass-produced mill cloth and poor people could not afford it and therefore could not boycott mill cloth for very long.
(2) Similarly boycotting British institutions also posed a problem as there were no alternative national institutions to fulfil the educational needs.
(3) As a result students and teachers began trickling back to government schools and lawyers joined back work in government courts.
(4) Any other relevant point.
Question. The Civil Disobedience Movement saw the participation of different social classes and groups. Give reasons for the participation of the following:
(a) rich peasants,
(b) poor peasants,
(c) business classes,
(d) industrial working classes,
(e) women.
Ans. The reasons for the participation of various social classes and groups in Civil Disobedience Movement are as follows:
(1) Rich peasants: rich peasant communities like patidars of Gujrat & the jats of Uttar Pradesh joined the movement because, being producers of commercial crops they were hard hit by the trade depression and falling prices. Due to the refusal of the government to reduce the revenue demand made them fight against high revenues.
(2) Poor peasants: joined the movement because they found it difficult to pay rent. They wanted the unpaid rent to the landlord to be remitted.
(3) Business class: they reacted against colonial policies that restricted activities because they were keen on expanding their business and for this they wanted protection against imports of foreign goods. They thought that Swaraj would cancel colonial restrictions and trade would flourish without restrictions.
(4) Industrial working class: they did not participate in large numbers except in the Nagpur region. Some workers did participate in, selectively adopting some of the Gandhian programme, like boycott of foreign goods, as a part of their own movements against low wages and poor working conditions.
(5) Women: there were large scale participation of women in the movement. They participated in protest marches, manufactured salt, and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many went to jail.
Question. Explain the spread of the Non-Cooperation Movement in the plantations of Assam.
Ans. NCM in the Plantations of Assam:
(1) The plantation workers in Assam had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and notions of Swaraj.
(2) For plantation workers in Assam, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of the confined space in which they were enclosed.
(3) For them swaraj meant retaining a link with the village from which they had come
(4) Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859 plantation workers were not allowed to leave the tea gardens without permission.
(5) When workers heard of NCM thousands of workers defied the authorities, left the plantations and headed home.
(6) They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and everyone would be given land in their own villages.
(7) But they never reached their home due to railway and steamer strike, they were caught by the police and beaten up brutally.
Question. Explain the attitude of the Indian merchants and the industrialists towards the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement’.
Ans. The attitude of the Indian merchants and the industrialists towards the Civil Disobedience Movement was:
(1) During the 1 World War Indian merchants and industrialists had made huge profits and became powerful.
(2) They wanted protection against imports of foreign goods and a Rupee Sterling foreign exchange ratio that would discourage import.
(3) To organize business interest they formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress (in 1920) and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries – FICCI ( in 1927).
(4) They gave financial assistance and refused to buy or sell imported goods.
(5) Most businessmen came to see ‘Swaraj’ as a time when colonial restrictions on business would no longer exist and trade and industry would flourish without constraints.
(6) After the failure of the Round table conference business groups were no longer uniformly enthusiastic.
(7) They were apprehensive of the spread of militant activities and worried about prolonged disruption of business.
Question. Explain the limitations of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ans. The limitations of the Civil Disobedience Movement can be described as:
(1) Not all participants were moved by the concept of Swaraj to the same extent. Congress had ignored the Dalits. This was so because they were afraid of offending the Sanatanis. [upper caste conservative hindus]. Thus they received half hearted support from various social groups.
(2) From the mid-1920s, Congress came to be more visibly associated with the openly Hindu religious nationalist groups like the Hindu Mahasabha, which developed mistrust in other religious groups regarding its intentions and programmes.
(3) After the decline of the Non-cooperation Khilafat movement, a large section of the Muslims felt alienated from the Congress.
(4) As relations between the Hindu’s and Muslims worsened, each community organised religious processions with militant fervour. This provoked Hindu- Muslim communal clashes and riots in various cities.
(5) Civil disobedience divided the Indian society on basis of caste, social norms and economy in many ways.
Question. Read the extract and answer the questions thatfollow: This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. How was this movement different from the Non- Cooperation Movement?
People were now asked not only to refuse cooperation as they had done in 1921-22, but also to break colonial laws. Thousands in different parts of country broke salt law, manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories. As the movement spread, foreign cloth was boycotted and liquor shops were picketed. Peasants refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes, village officials resigned, and in many places forest people violated forest laws, going to collect wood and graze cattle.
(A) When did the civil Disobedience movement start?
(B) Who launched Civil Disobedience Movement and how?
(C) Was the civil disobedience movement different from non-cooperation movement?
Ans. (A) Civil disobedience movement was launched in April 1930. 1
(B) Civil disobedience movement was launched by Gandhiji by breaking Salt law after he carried out Dandi March in March with 78 of his followers. He drove the point of breaking laws in this movement home by breaking the salt law.
(C) In Non-cooperation movement, People were to refuse cooperation with British while in the civil disobedience movement people were encouraged to break colonial laws. While Non-Cooperation movement was not as large in its appeal, Civil Disobedience movement was carried out on a larger scale. Laws were actually being broken, schools, colleges and elections boycotted.
Question. Why did Gandhi decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act 1919? How was it organised? Explain.
Ans. The nationwide Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act the Rowlatt Act of 1919 passed by the colonisers gave immense power to the government. Despite opposition from Indian members, this act allowed the government to repress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. Mahatma Gandhi wanted to launch a nationwide satyagraha against such unjust laws in order to bring the masses together in their fight against colonial rule. It was organised in the following manner:
(1) The non-violent campaign began with a hartal on 6 April. Rallies were organised in various cities, workers went on a strike in railway workshops and most of the shops in markets were shut down.
(2) The British Administration clamped on the Satyagrahis and nationalists out of the fear of disruption of the lines of communication (railways and telegraph). Many local leaders were picked up from Amritsar and Mahatma Gandhi was also barred from entering Delhi.
(3) The non-violent movement proved to be successful to a great extent. People, as they stood united in their struggle for independence, were able to shake the foundations of the British Raj as there were widespread attacks on banks, post o. ffices, and railway stations.
Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi launch the ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’? How did this movement unite the country? Explain.
Ans. Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhiji:
(1) Gandhiji decided to launch satyagraha against Rowlatt Act which allows detention of Indians without trial.
(2) Gandhiji was against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
(3) Gandhiji wanted broad based movement for bringing Hindu Muslim closer through the Khilafat Andolan.
(4) In INC Sessions-Calcutta and Nagpur he convinced leaders to start Non Cooperation Movement.
(5) Any other relevant point. How did this movement unite the country:
(1) People joined non co-operation movement.
(2) People surrendered titles and awards.
(3) People boycotted civil services, courts , schools .
(4) People boycotted foreign goods.
(5) Thousands of students left schools and colleges.
(6) Teachers resigned.
(7) Peasants, tribal peasants and plantation workers also joined the satyagraha.
Question. How did peasants and tribals participate in the Non-cooperation movement in different parts of India? Explain.
Ans. (1) Peasants and tribals from different parts of India had their own way of participating in the Non-cooperation movement. Every group of people had a different notion of the word ‘Swaraj’. Thus, the meaning of swaraj and freedom was different for both peasants and tribal people.
(2) Peasants joined the Non-cooperation movement because the ‘talukdars’ and landlords were demanding high land revenues from them. Peasants had to do ‘begar’ and work at landlords’ farms without any payment.
(3) So, peasants attacked the houses of tulkadars and looted bazaars. Some local leaders told that Mahatma Gandhi had declared that no taxes were to be paid and land was to be distributed among the poor.
(4) Tribals joined the movement because the British denied them the right to collect wood, fuel and fiber from the forests. Most of them were also denied the permission to graze their cattle.
(5) The tribals attacked police stations, attempted to kill British officials and carried out guerrilla warfare for achieving Swaraj.
Picture Based Questions
1. (i) When was this picture taken?
Answer : 6 April, 1919
(ii) What was the event?
Answer : Gandhiji’s nation wide Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act started with a hartal on 6th April, 1919.
(iii) Which common feature of the Indian National movement does it depict?
Answer : Mass processions on the streets became a common feature during the leadership of Gandhiji in the Indian National Movement.
2. (i) What is depicted in this picture?
Answer : General Dyer’s crawling orders being administered by British soldiers.
(ii) When was the picture taken?
Answer : In April, 1919, Amritsar, Punjab
(iii) Which of the following event is related with the given image?
(a) Non-Cooperation Movement
(b) Jallianwala Bagh Movement
(c) Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) Swadeshi Movement
Answer : (b) Jallianwala Bagh Movement
(iv) What is the significance of this picture?
Answer : This picture signifies General Dyer’s objective to ‘produce a moral effect’, to create a feeling of terror and awe in the minds of the Satyagrahis. The aim was to humiliate and terrorise people.
3. (i) What is depicted in this picture?
Answer : The boycott of foreign cloth by Indian nationalists.
(ii) When was this picture taken? What is its significance?
Answer : In July, 1922. Foreign cloth was seen as the symbol of western economic and cultural domination. As part of the Non-cooperation Movement, people began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones.
4. (i) Which famous incident is shown in this picture?
Answer : The incident depicted is a peaceful demonstration in a bazaar in U.P. (India), which turned into a violent clash with the British police.
(ii) Where and when did it take place?
Answer : Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur (U.P.), 1922.
(iii) What was the incident?
Answer : 22 English policemen were burnt to death by violent Indian nationalists at a police station in Chauri Chaura (U.P.).
(iv) What was the outcome of the incident?
Answer : Mahatma Gandhi called a halt to the Non- Cooperation Movement, as his methodology of fighting the British was purely through nonviolence.
5. (i) Which significant incident is depicted in this picture?
Answer : The Dandi March (to the coast of Gujarat).
(ii) Who is leading the crowd and why?
Answer : Mahatma Gandhi is leading the Salt March with 78 of his trusted volunteers.
(iii) When did the incident occur?
Answer : It occurred on 11th March, 1930.
(iv) What is the significance of this picture?
Answer : The picture signifies the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement, Gandhiji’s refusal to pay tax on a commodity like ‘Salt’ and to stop the British Government’s monopoly over its production.
6. (i) Identify the figure in this portrait?
Answer : Bharat Mata
(ii) How is Bharat Mata portrayed in the above picture?
(a) Ascetic
(b) Divine
(c) Spiritual
(d) All of the above
Answer : (a) Ascetic
(iii) Who painted it and when?
Answer : Abanindranath Tagore—1905
(iv) What is the significance of this picture?
Answer : The mother figure here is shown as dispensing food, clothing and learning. The beads (mala) in one hand shows her ascetic quality.
(v) Which famous painter used this style earlier?
Answer : Raja Ravi Verma.
