Nationalism in India Class 10 NCERT - Chapter 2 Notes, Explanations, and Solutions

The First World War, Satyagraha, and Localized Movements

The First World War (1914–1918) created a new economic and political situation in India. To finance its heavy war expenditures, the British colonial government increased taxes, introduced income tax, and raised customs duties. Forced recruitment in rural areas for the British army caused widespread resentment. Coupled with crop failures in many parts of India and the devastating influenza epidemic, millions suffered severely. In this moment of intense crisis, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in January 1915, introducing his unique method of mass agitation based on truth and non-violence, known as Satyagraha. Mahatma Gandhi believed that if the cause was true and the struggle was against injustice, physical force was not necessary to defeat the oppressor. An empire could be won through non-violent persuasion. To test this, Gandhiji successfully organized three localized Satyagrahas: in Champaran, Bihar (1917) against oppressive indigo plantations; in Kheda, Gujarat (1917) demand tax relief for crop-failed peasants; and in Ahmedabad, Gujarat (1918) supporting cotton mill workers.

Chronological Breakdown of the Non-Cooperation Movement

1. Opposing the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh (1919) — The Rowlatt Act authorized the British government to imprison political activists without trial for up to two years. Gandhiji launched a nationwide hartal on April 6, 1919. On April 13, 1919, General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, causing hundreds of deaths and triggering widespread outrage.
2. Uniting Hindus and Muslims through Khilafat — To launch a truly nationwide movement, Gandhiji realized the need to bring Hindus and Muslims together. He supported the Ali brothers (Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali) in the Khilafat Movement, which defended the temporal powers of the Ottoman Caliph. At the Calcutta Congress session (September 1920), he convinced other leaders to start Non-Cooperation in support of Khilafat and Swaraj.
3. The Spread of Non-Cooperation (1921–1922) — Formally adopted at the Nagpur Congress session in December 1920, the movement began in January 1921. It spread from urban areas—where students, lawyers, and teachers boycotted government institutions—to rural areas, where peasants under Baba Ramchandra rebelled against oppressive talukdars, and tribal peasants in Andhra Pradesh resorted to guerrilla warfare.
4. The Withdrawal of the Movement (February 1922) — In February 1922, a peaceful demonstration at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur turned violent when a mob set fire to a police station, killing 22 policemen. Realizing that the movement was turning violent and satyagrahis needed proper training in non-violent methods, Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Differences Between Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements

High-Scoring Exam Strategies & Map Work Tips

To secure full marks in cbse class 10 history chapter 2 nationalism in india, focus closely on the map-based questions and chronological structuring of answers.

1. Map Identification (2 Marks Guaranteed): Always practice locating key congress sessions (Calcutta Sept 1920, Nagpur Dec 1920, Madras 1927) and crucial centers of the Indian National Movement: Champaran (indigo Satyagraha), Kheda (peasant Satyagraha), Ahmedabad (cotton mill worker Satyagraha), Amritsar (Jallianwala Bagh), Chauri Chaura (withdrawal of Non-Cooperation), and Dandi (Salt March).

1. Long Answer Structuring: When explaining the participation of different social groups in the Civil Disobedience Movement, divide your answer into distinct subheadings: Rich Peasants (Patidars and Jats), Poor Peasants, Business Classes (FICCI), Industrial Working Class, and Women. This structured presentation makes it easy for evaluators to award high marks.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why did Mahatma Gandhi launch the Civil Disobedience Movement with the Salt March? Explain. A: Step 1: Identify why salt was selected as a symbol. Salt was a basic food item consumed by both the rich and the poor, making it an effective symbol of everyday struggle. Step 2: Note the injustice of the Salt Laws. The British government held a monopoly on salt manufacturing and levied a heavy tax on its consumption, which Gandhiji viewed as highly oppressive. Step 3: Detail the political strategy. On 31 January 1930, Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin listing 11 demands. The ultimatum stated that if the demands were not met, a civil disobedience movement would start. Step 4: Explain the start of the march. Upon Irwin's refusal, Gandhiji began his historic march of 240 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi. On 6 April 1930, he broke the law by boiling seawater to make salt. Final answer: Gandhiji launched the Civil Disobedience Movement with the Salt March because salt was a powerful, universal symbol that united all classes against British economic exploitation.
• Q: How did the First World War help in the growth of the National Movement in India? A: Step 1: Analyze the economic difficulties created by the war. The British administration raised war loans, custom duties, and introduced income tax to cover heavy defense expenditures, causing inflation and high prices. Step 2: Describe the impact of forced recruitment. The British army forcibly recruited young men from rural areas, which caused widespread anger across Indian villages. Step 3: Address the crop failure crisis. Food shortages occurred due to crop failure in 1918-19 and 1920-21, exacerbated by a deadly influenza epidemic that claimed millions of lives. Step 4: Relate this to nationalist sentiment. These hardships united diverse groups against foreign colonial rule, creating a fertile ground for Mahatma Gandhi's mass movements. Final answer: The First World War unified Indians through shared economic hardship, forced military recruitment, and famine, creating nationwide discontent that Gandhiji channeled into mass struggles.
• Q: What was the idea of Satyagraha as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi? A: Step 1: Define the core philosophy of Satyagraha. Satyagraha literally translates to 'insistence on truth' or 'soul force'. Step 2: Explain the underlying principles. Gandhiji argued that if the struggle was against injustice and for a true cause, physical force was unnecessary to defeat an oppressor. Step 3: Describe how an oppressor could be defeated. Instead of using violence, a satyagrahi appeals to the oppressor's conscience to see the truth, winning them over through peaceful persuasion and enduring suffering. Step 4: Mention the role of non-violence. Gandhiji believed that non-violence ('Ahimsa') was the supreme dharma that could unite all Indians and lead to genuine emancipation. Final answer: Satyagraha is a non-violent method of mass agitation based on truth, emphasizing that moral force and appealing to the oppressor's conscience are more effective than physical violence.
• Q: Discuss how the sense of collective belonging was nurtured in India during the nationalist struggle. A: Step 1: Identify the cultural processes. Nationalism grows when people discover a shared collective identity through history, fiction, folklore, songs, and popular prints. Step 2: Explain the role of icons and symbols. The identity of India came to be visually represented by the image of Bharat Mata, first painted by Abanindranath Tagore, evoking devotion to a mother figure. Step 3: Analyze the role of folklore and reinterpretation of history. Nationalists recorded traditional folk tales and songs to restore cultural pride. Historians wrote about ancient Indian achievements in science, math, and art, arguing that British rule had ruined India's golden heritage. Step 4: Discuss nationalist flags. Flags (like the tricolor flag designed during Swadeshi and Gandhiji's Swaraj flag with a spinning wheel) became powerful symbols of defiance and solidarity. Final answer: The sense of collective belonging was forged through shared struggles and systematically nurtured through nationalist symbols, the image of Bharat Mata, revived folklore, and the reinterpretation of history.

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