Ch 2: Nationalism in India Notes I Class 10 History

Ch 2: Nationalism in India  — History Class 10

The “Big Picture” : If the last chapter was about how Europe became a map of nations, this chapter is the “Heart and Soul” of our own story. It’s about how millions of people, from different languages and religions, stood up against the world’s most powerful empire to say: “This land is ours.”

I. The Impact of the First World War (1914–1918)

The Logic: You might wonder, “The war happened in Europe, so why did it matter for India?” The answer is simple: India was a British colony. When Britain went to war, India paid the price in blood and money. This created the perfect “anger” for a national movement.

• Economic Impact:

  • War Expenditure: The British government increased taxes, custom duties, and introduced Income Tax for the first time to fund the war.

  • Price Rise: Between 1913 and 1918, prices of essential goods doubled, making life miserable for the common people.

• The “Forced” Sacrifice:

  • Forced Recruitment: Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers. The British used “forced recruitment” in rural areas, which caused widespread anger.

• Natural Disasters:

  • Crop Failure: In 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India, leading to acute food shortages.

  • Influenza Epidemic: According to the 1921 census, 12 to 13 million people died as a result of famines and the epidemic.

II. The Idea of Satyagraha (1915)

The Logic: In the middle of this chaos, a “New Hero” arrived. Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915 from South Africa, where he had successfully fought racist regimes using a new method of mass agitation.

• What is Satyagraha? * It is NOT passive resistance. It is the power of truth and the need to search for truth.

  • The Core Principle: If the cause was true and the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.

  • Non-violence: A Satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor.

• Gandhi’s Belief: He believed that this “Dharma” of non-violence could unite all Indians.

III. The Early “Lab Tests” of Satyagraha (1917–1918)

The Logic: Before starting a massive national movement, Gandhi traveled across India to test his method in local conflicts. Think of these as his “successful pilot projects.”

1. Champaran, Bihar (1917)

• The Issue: The oppressive plantation system. Peasants were forced to grow indigo.

• The Result: Gandhi inspired the peasants to struggle against the system. This was his first win in India.

2. Kheda, Gujarat (1917)

• The Issue: Crop failure and a plague epidemic meant peasants couldn’t pay their revenue.

• The Demand: Relaxation in revenue collection.

• The Result: The government was forced to give in to the demands.

3. Ahmedabad, Gujarat (1918)

• The Issue: Dispute between cotton mill workers and owners over wages/bonus.

• The Result: Gandhi organized a satyagraha and successfully got the workers a wage hike.

IV. The Rowlatt Act (1919)

The Logic: Encouraged by his local successes, Gandhi decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act.

• What was the Act? It gave the British government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.

• The Protest: Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience. Rallies were organized, workers went on strike in railway workshops, and shops closed down.

• The British Reaction: Fearing that communications (telegraph/railways) would be disrupted, the British clamped down. Local leaders in Amritsar were arrested, and Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.

V. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919)

The Logic: This is the darkest day in the history of the Indian National Movement. It turned the moderate Indians into hardcore revolutionaries.

• The Setting: April 13 was the day of Baisakhi. A large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh. Some came to protest the arrest of leaders, others to attend the fair.

• The “Trap”: Being from outside the city, many villagers were unaware that Martial Law (military rule) had been imposed.

• General Dyer’s Action: He entered the area, blocked the only exit points, and opened fire on the crowd, killing hundreds.

• His Goal: As he declared later, his object was to “produce a moral effect”—to strike terror into the hearts of satyagrahis.

Silly Mistake “Radar”

• The Year Trap: Gandhi returned in 1915. Don’t write 1916.

• The Locations: Don’t confuse Kheda (Peasants/Revenue) with Ahmedabad (Mill Workers/Wages). Both are in Gujarat, but the reasons are different!

• The Rowlatt “Time”: Remember, the Rowlatt Act allowed 2 years of jail without trial. This “2” is a favorite MCQ number for examiners.

The Keyword “Vault”

• Forced Recruitment: A process by which the colonial state forced people to join the army.

• Boycott: The refusal to deal with or associate with people, or participate in activities, or buy and use things; usually a form of protest.

• Martial Law: Military government involving the suspension of ordinary law.

The Answer Architect: 5-Mark Practice

Q: “How did the First World War help in the growth of the National Movement in India?”

• Intro: The First World War created a new economic and political situation in India.

• Point 1 (Taxes): Increase in defense expenditure led to the introduction of income tax and a hike in custom duties.

• Point 2 (Prices): Doubling of prices between 1913-18 caused extreme hardship for the poor.

• Point 3 (Recruitment): Forced recruitment in villages led to widespread resentment against the British.

• Point 4 (Shortages): Failure of crops and the influenza epidemic killed millions, and the government did nothing to help.

• Conclusion: People hoped their hardships would end after the war, but that did not happen, leading to the rise of new leaders and a new mode of struggle (Satyagraha).

VI. The Khilafat Issue: Uniting Hindus and Muslims

The Logic: Gandhi knew that no broad-based movement could succeed in India without bringing Hindus and Muslims together. The Khilafat issue provided that opportunity.

• The Background: The First World War ended with the defeat of Ottoman Turkey. Rumors spread that a harsh peace treaty was going to be imposed on the Khalifa (the spiritual head of the Islamic world and the Ottoman Emperor).

• The Movement: To defend the Khalifa’s temporal powers, a Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919 by two young brothers—Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali.

• The Union: Gandhi saw this as an “umbrella” under which both communities could fight a common enemy. At the Calcutta session of the Congress (September 1920), he convinced other leaders to start a non-cooperation movement in support of Khilafat as well as for Swaraj.

VII. Why “Non-Cooperation”?

The Logic: In his famous book “Hind Swaraj” (1909), Gandhi declared that British rule was established in India only with the cooperation of Indians, and it survived only because of this cooperation. If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule would collapse within a year, and Swaraj would come.

The Stages of the Movement:

1. Surrender of Titles: Giving back honors awarded by the government.

2. Boycott: Refusal to attend civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, and schools.

3. Foreign Goods: Boycotting foreign cloth and promoting Indian handlooms.

4. Full Civil Disobedience: If the government used repression, a full-scale campaign would be launched.

VIII. Differing Strands within the Movement

The Logic: The movement was not the same for everyone. Every group interpreted “Swaraj” based on their own specific problems.

1. The Movement in the Towns

• Participation: Thousands of students left government-controlled schools; headmasters and teachers resigned; lawyers gave up their practice.

• The Council Boycott: The council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras, where the Justice Party (non-Brahmins) felt that entering the council was one way of gaining some power.

• Economic Impact: * Foreign cloth was burnt in huge bonfires.

  • The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922 (falling from Rs 102 crore to Rs 57 crore).

• Why it Slowed Down: * Khadi was often more expensive than mass-produced mill cloth, and poor people couldn’t afford it.

  • There were no alternative Indian institutions (schools/colleges) for students and teachers to join, so they slowly trickled back.

2. Rebellion in the Countryside (Peasants)

• Awadh: Led by Baba Ramchandra (a sanyasi who had been to Fiji as an indentured laborer).

• The Enemy: Talukdars and landlords who demanded high rents and “begar” (labor without payment).

• Demands: Reduction of revenue, abolition of begar, and social boycott of oppressive landlords.

• Violence: By 1921, the houses of talukdars and merchants were attacked, bazaars were looted, and grain hoards were taken over. Gandhi’s name was used to justify everything.

3. Tribal Revolts (The Case of Andhra Pradesh)

• The Issue: In the Gudem Hills, the British had closed large forest areas, preventing people from entering to graze cattle or collect fuelwood. This affected their livelihoods and hurt their traditional rights.

• The Leader: Alluri Sitaram Raju. He claimed he had special powers (could make astrological predictions and survive bullet shots).

• His Philosophy: He talked of the greatness of Mahatma Gandhi and Khadi, but he argued that India could be liberated only by the use of force, not non-violence. He led a guerrilla war until he was executed in 1924.

4. Swaraj in the Plantations (Assam)

• The Issue: For plantation workers, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of the confined spaces they were forced to live in. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, they were rarely permitted to leave the tea gardens.

• The Escape: When they heard of Non-Cooperation, thousands of workers defied the authorities, left the plantations, and headed home.

• The Tragedy: They never reached home; they were caught by the police at railway/steamer stations and brutally beaten up.

IX. The End: Chauri Chaura (February 1922)

The Logic: Gandhi was a strict follower of non-violence. He believed that if a movement became violent, it lost its moral authority.

• The Incident: At Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur), a peaceful demonstration in a bazaar turned into a violent clash with the police. The angry crowd set fire to a police station, killing 22 policemen.

• The Result: Hearing of the violence, Mahatma Gandhi immediately called off the Non-Cooperation Movement. He felt the satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they were ready for a mass struggle.

Silly Mistake “Radar”

• The Council Exception: Always remember Madras (Justice Party) did NOT boycott elections. This is a very common MCQ!

• The Book: “Hind Swaraj” was written in 1909, not during the movement.

• The Slogan: Swaraj in plantations was about the Inland Emigration Act of 1859. Don’t forget the year!

The Keyword “Vault”

• Begar: Labour that the villager was forced to contribute without any payment.

• Swaraj: Self-rule.

• Boycott: The refusal to deal with or associate with people or buy things.

• Picketing: A form of protest by which people block the entrance to a shop, factory, or office.

The Answer Architect: 5-Mark Practice

Q: “How did the Non-Cooperation Movement spread to the countryside? Explain.”

• Intro: While the movement started in towns, it soon spread to the peasants and tribals.

• Point 1 (Awadh): Led by Baba Ramchandra against the high rents and begar demanded by Talukdars.

• Point 2 (Demands): Peasants demanded reduction of revenue and social boycott of oppressive landlords.

• Point 3 (Tribals): In Gudem Hills (AP), Alluri Sitaram Raju led a militant guerrilla movement against forest laws.

• Point 4 (Plantations): Workers in Assam defied the Inland Emigration Act to leave tea gardens for “Gandhi Raj.”

• Conclusion: However, these groups interpreted “Swaraj” in their own way, often resorting to violence, which was different from Gandhi’s vision.

  X. The Internal Debate (1922–1929)

  The Logic: Within the Congress, two schools of thought emerged after Chauri Chaura.

  1. The Swaraj Party: Leaders like C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru wanted to return to council politics. They argued that they could oppose British policies more effectively by being inside the Legislative Councils.

  2. The Radicals: Younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose pressed for more radical mass agitation and for Purna Swaraj (Full Independence).

  Two Factors that Shaped the late 1920s:

  • The Worldwide Economic Depression: Agricultural prices began to fall from 1926 and collapsed after 1930. Peasants found it impossible to pay their revenue, and the countryside was in turmoil.

  • The Simon Commission (1928): The British government sent a statutory commission under Sir John Simon to look into the constitutional system in India.

    • The Catch: The commission had not a single Indian member. It was all-British.

    • The Protest: When it arrived in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan “Go Back Simon.” Even the Muslim League and the Congress joined hands in the protest.

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  XI. The Demand for Purna Swaraj (December 1929)

  The Logic: To calm the protests, the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, offered a vague “Dominion Status” for India in the future. This didn’t satisfy the Congress.

  • The Lahore Session: Under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalized the demand for ‘Purna Swaraj’ or full independence for India.

  • Independence Day: It was declared that January 26, 1930, would be celebrated as Independence Day, where people would take a pledge to struggle for complete independence. (This is why we celebrate Republic Day on Jan 26 today!).

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  XII. The Salt March: A Stroke of Genius

  The Logic: Gandhi needed a powerful symbol that could unite the rich and the poor. He chose Salt. Why? Because salt was something every Indian used, and the British government had a monopoly on its production and a tax on its sale.

  • The Ultimatum: Gandhi sent a letter to Lord Irwin stating 11 demands. The most stirring was the abolition of the salt tax. Irwin was unwilling to negotiate.

  • The Dandi March: * Gandhi started his famous march with 78 trusted volunteers.

    • The march was over 240 miles, from Gandhi’s ashram in Sabarmati to the Gujarati coastal town of Dandi.

    • They walked for 24 days (10 miles a day). Thousands came to hear him wherever he stopped.

    • April 6, 1930: He reached Dandi and ceremonially violated the law by manufacturing salt by boiling seawater.

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  XIII. The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)

  The Logic: How was this different from Non-Cooperation? In 1921, people were asked not to cooperate. In 1930, they were asked to break colonial laws.

  • The Spread:

    • Thousands broke salt laws across the country.

    • Foreign cloth was boycotted, and liquor shops were picketed.

    • Peasants refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes.

    • Village officials resigned, and forest people violated “Forest Laws” by entering reserved forests.

  • Government Repression: * The British began arresting leaders. When Abdul Ghaffar Khan (the “Frontier Gandhi”) was arrested in April 1930, angry crowds faced armored cars and police firing.

    • A month later, when Gandhi himself was arrested, industrial workers in Sholapur attacked police posts and government buildings.

    • Peaceful satyagrahis were attacked, women and children were beaten, and about 100,000 people were arrested.

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  XIV. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 1931)

  The Logic: Seeing the violence, Gandhi once again called off the movement. He entered into a pact with Lord Irwin.

  • The Deal: Gandhi agreed to participate in a Round Table Conference in London, and the government agreed to release the political prisoners.

  • The Failure: Gandhi went to London in December 1931, but the negotiations broke down. He returned disappointed.

  • The Relaunch: Back in India, he found that the British were still being repressive—Ghaffar Khan and Nehru were in jail, and the Congress had been declared illegal. Gandhi relaunched the movement, but by 1934, it had lost its momentum.

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  Silly Mistake “Radar”

  • CDM vs NCM: This is a 5-mark favorite. Remember: NCM = No cooperation. CDM = Breaking laws + No cooperation.

  • The Salt Date: He reached Dandi on April 6. Don’t mix it up with the start date (March 12).

  • The Leader: Abdul Ghaffar Khan is known as the Frontier Gandhi. This is a common 1-mark “Who am I?” question.

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  The Keyword “Vault”

  • Statutory Commission: A commission formed by law to investigate or control a specific area.

  • Dominion Status: A status where a country is self-governing but still owes allegiance to the British Crown.

  • Purna Swaraj: Complete Independence.

  • Salt Tax: A tax imposed by the British on the production and sale of salt.

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  The Answer Architect: 5-Mark Practice

  Q: “Describe the main features of the Civil Disobedience Movement.”

  • Intro: The movement started with the Dandi March on April 6, 1930, marking the violation of the Salt Law.

  • Point 1 (Objective): Unlike NCM, the goal was to break colonial laws, not just refuse cooperation.

  • Point 2 (Participation): Wide participation from students, women, and rich peasant communities. Thousands broke salt laws and picketed liquor shops.

  • Point 3 (Boycott): Foreign cloth was boycotted, and peasants refused to pay revenue or taxes.

  • Point 4 (Repression): The British responded with brutal force, arresting Gandhi, Nehru, and 100,000 others.

  • Conclusion: Though called off after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, it remains a landmark for its massive scale and use of Salt as a unifying symbol.