Nationalism in India Class 10 Notes (History Chapter 2)

Must-Remember Key Events & Dates

• {"point":"1915: Mahatma Gandhi returns to India from South Africa."}
• {"point":"1917: Champaran Satyagraha against oppressive indigo plantation system."}
• {"point":"1918: Kheda Satyagraha for peasants demanding revenue relaxation, and Ahmedabad Mill Strike."}
• {"point":"1919: Rowlatt Act passed; Jallianwala Bagh massacre takes place on April 13th."}
• {"point":"1920-22: The Non-Cooperation Movement, launched along with the Khilafat Movement."}
• {"point":"1922: Chauri Chaura incident leads to the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement."}
• {"point":"1928: Simon Commission arrives in India; is boycotted by Indians ('Go back Simon')."}
• {"point":"1929: Lahore Congress session adopts the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' or Complete Independence."}
• {"point":"1930: Dandi March (Salt March) begins the Civil Disobedience Movement."}
• {"point":"1931: Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed; Second Round Table Conference held in London."}
• {"point":"1932: Poona Pact signed between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi."}
• {"point":"1942: Quit India Movement launched with the slogan 'Do or Die'."}

Key Terms for Nationalism in India

Satyagraha

A novel method of mass agitation based on the power of truth and the need to search for truth. It advocated non-violent struggle against the oppressor without ill-will.

Rowlatt Act

An act passed in 1919 that gave the British government immense power to repress political activities and allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.

Boycott

The refusal to use or buy foreign goods, attend government schools, courts, and councils as a form of non-violent protest.

Khilafat Movement

A movement led by Indian Muslims (like the Ali brothers) to defend the temporal powers of the Khalifa (Caliph) of the Ottoman Empire, who was considered the spiritual head of the Islamic world.

Picket

A form of demonstration or protest where people block the entrance to a shop, factory, or office, preventing others from entering.

Begar

A system of forced labour where villagers were compelled to work for government officials or landlords without any payment.

Purna Swaraj

Literally 'Complete Independence'. This was adopted as the goal of the Indian National Congress in its Lahore session of December 1929.

Swaraj

Literally 'self-rule'. Its meaning was interpreted differently by various social groups, from freedom from British rule to specific economic and social reliefs.

The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)

The Non-Cooperation Movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi, was the first major nationwide mass movement against British rule. Its foundation was laid by widespread anger against the repressive Rowlatt Act (1919) and the brutal Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Gandhi saw an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims by taking up the Khilafat issue, a cause to protest the harsh treaty imposed on the Ottoman Turkey's emperor, the spiritual head of the Islamic world. In his book Hind Swaraj (1909), Gandhi declared that British rule survived only due to Indian cooperation. If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule would collapse within a year.

The movement unfolded in stages. It began with the surrender of government-awarded titles and a boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools, and foreign goods. In towns, the movement was dramatic. Students left government schools, lawyers gave up their legal practices, and foreign cloth was burnt in huge bonfires. In the countryside, peasants in Awadh, led by Baba Ramchandra, protested against landlords demanding high rents and begar. In the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh, a militant guerrilla movement started under Alluri Sitaram Raju. However, the movement took a violent turn at the Chauri Chaura incident in Gorakhpur in February 1922, where protestors clashed with police, resulting in the death of 22 policemen. Believing the movement was turning violent, Gandhiji called it off.

Non-Cooperation vs. Civil Disobedience Movement

Exam Tip: Scoring High on Long Answers

For 5-mark questions on movements like Non-Cooperation or Civil Disobedience, structure your answer well. Start with the causes, describe the methods used (boycott, picket, breaking laws), mention the participation of different social groups (peasants, workers, women, business classes) and their specific grievances, and conclude with the outcome or reason for withdrawal. Confusing the timelines and key features of the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement is a common mistake. Create a timeline chart to remember the sequence of events. Always mention key terms like Satyagraha, Purna Swaraj, and Swaraj with their correct context.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Why was the Rowlatt Act (1919) called the 'black act'? It was called the 'black act' because it gave the government autocratic powers to repress political activities and allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for up to two years, which was a clear violation of individual rights.
• What was the significance of the Dandi March? The Dandi March, or Salt March, marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. By breaking the unjust salt law, Gandhiji directly challenged British authority and monopoly, successfully mobilizing millions of Indians in a non-violent struggle.
• Why did different social groups join the Civil Disobedience Movement? Different groups had different interpretations of 'Swaraj'. Rich peasants wanted a reduction in revenue demands, poor peasants wanted unpaid rent to be remitted, and business classes wanted protection against imports. They all saw the movement as a way to fight for their specific interests.
• How did a sense of collective belonging emerge among Indians? It emerged through united struggles, and culturally through the use of symbols like the image of Bharat Mata, the song 'Vande Mataram', a national flag (the tricolour), and the reinterpretation of Indian history to instill a sense of pride in the nation's past.

FAQs on Nationalism in India

Frequently Asked Questions