NATIONALISM

It involves a strong Modern nationalism in Europe In India, as in many other colonies,

identification of a group of was associated with the the growth of nationalism is
individuals with a political formation of nation-states. connected to the anti-colonial
entity defined in national movement under the leadership of
terms, i.e., a nation. Mahatma Gandhi.

THE FIRST WORLD WAR, KHILAFAT AND NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT

The war played Increase in defence During 1918–19 and 1920–21, food Extreme hardships,
an important expenditure due to the war shortages due to the failure of crops and poverty and forced
role in shaping led to the increase in taxes, famines and epidemics, that took a heavy recruitments in the
India’s freedom custom duties, prices and the toll of life, created resentment among the army made people
struggle. introduction of income tax. people of India against the foreign rule. hostile to the British.

SATYAGRAHA

Satyagraha means January, 1915: Champaran (Bihar) Kheda Satyagraha, Ahmedabad Mill
appeal for truth. Mahatma Satyagraha, 1916: 1917: Gandhiji led the Strike, 1918:
Mahatma Gandhi Gandhi First Gandhian movement in Kheda Gandhiji organised
introduced this returned to mass-movement district of Gujarat, a Satyagraha
concept during his India from in India against the demanding relaxation against the cotton
stay in South Africa. South Africa. oppressive of the revenue tax mill owners
It is based on the plantation system. owing to the poverty demanding an
ideals of truth and experienced by the increase in the
non-violence. farmers because of the workers’ wages
outbreak of the plague. and bonus.

THE ROWLATT ACT (1919)

Passed by the The Act gave the 6 th April, 1919: Shops were closed Government Jallianwala
British government Gandhi started down, rallies were brutally Bagh
Government. enormous powers the non-violent organised and rail repressed the Massacre,
for repressing civil workshop workers nationalists. 13th April,
political activities disobedience went on strike. Martial law 1919.
and allowed movement for Widespread was imposed
detention of political opposing the attacks on banks, and General
prisoners without Rowlatt Act post offices and Dyer took
any trial for two with a railway stations command.
years nation-wide after police
hartal. attacked the
peaceful
procession.

A number of people had assembled at Jallianwala General Dyer surrounded the park and opened
Bagh in Amritsar for attending the annual Baisakhi fair. fire on the crowd, killing hundreds of people.

AFTERMATH OF JALLIANWALA BAGH

The British used brutal repression, Crowds took to the streets in many north This violence
seeking to humiliate and terrorise Indian towns. Strikes, clashes with the police forced Gandhi to
people. People were flogged and and attacks on government buildings were stop the
villages were bombed. extensively witnessed. movement.

NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT BEGAN IN JANUARY 1921

Causes Methods Disagreements Events

Khilafat issue: Surrendering Few Congress March, 1919 (Bombay): Khilafat Committee was formed with
After the First of members leaders such as Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali.
World War, government were not in
the British titles, boycott support of the September, 1920: Gandhi, in the Calcutta session of the Congress,
sought to of civil idea of convinced other leaders of the need to start a non-cooperation
overthrow the services, boycotting movement in support of Khilafat as well as for Swaraj.
Khalifa, the army, police, the council
spiritual head courts and elections as
of the Islamic legislative they wanted December, 1920 (Nagpur): Non-cooperation programme adopted by
world and the councils, to bring about the Congress.
Turkish schools and changes in
Emperor. This foreign goods; the system by The Movement in the Towns: The students left government schools
was deeply and a full civil being in and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned, lawyers gave up
resented by disobedience power. C.R. their legal practices and the council elections were boycotted in
Muslims all campaign Das and most provinces except Madras. Foreign goods were boycotted,
over the was launched. Motilal Nehru liquor shops picketed and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires.
world, formed the
including the Swaraj Party
Indians. within the 1921 and 1922: The import of foreign cloth dropped. Merchants and
Congress to traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade.
argue for a Production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up.
Rowlatt Act: return to
The council Rebellion in the Countryside: The peasants had to do begar and
dissatisfaction politics. work without pay in the farms of oppressive landlords. The peasant
from the movement demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar and
Rowlatt Act and social boycott of oppressive landlords. In Awadh, the peasants were
the failure of the Some leaders led by Baba Ramchandra. The houses of talukdars and merchants
Rowlatt Act. feared the were attacked, bazaars were looted and grain hoards were taken
movement to over in many places. Local leaders told the peasants that Gandhiji
turn violent. had declared that no taxes were to be paid and land was to be
Jallianwala redistributed among the poor.
Bagh: The
atrocious October, 1920: The Oudh Kisan Sabha was set up headed by
killing of Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra and a few others.
hundreds of
innocent
people by the Revolt by Tribals: The government had closed large forest areas,
British at preventing people from entering the forest to graze their cattle or to
Jallianwala collect fuel wood and fruits. Alluri Sitaram Raju led the guerrilla
Bagh had warfare in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh. The rebels attacked
made the police stations, attempted to kill British officials and carried on
Indian guerrilla warfare for achieving swaraj.
masses
resentful Swaraj in the Plantations: Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859,
towards the the plantation workers were not allowed to leave the tea gardens
British rule. without permission. Thousands of workers defied the authorities,
left the plantations and headed home. They believed that Gandhi raj
was coming and everyone would be given land in their own villages.

February, 1922: Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the

Non-Cooperation Movement because of its violent face in many
places and satyagrahis needed to be properly trained.

SIMON COMMISSION

Constituted by Sir John Simon Sought to look into Arrived in India in 1928. October 1929: The
the Tory was the the demands of the Congress and the Muslim Commission recommended
government of Chairman. nationalists and League along with the other a ‘dominion status’ for India
Britain under Commission did suggest changes in parties received the in coming future and a
pressure of mass not have any the constitutional commission with black Round Table Conference for
movements in Indian member. structure of India. flags and slogans ‘Go back discussing a future
India. All British. Simon’. constitution for India.

EFFECTS OF SIMON COMMISSION

December, 1929: Under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore 1930: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
session of Congress formalized the demand of “Purna Swaraj”. 26th established the Depressed
January, 1930 was celebrated as the Independence Day. Classes Association.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
MOVEMENT

Medium: 31st January, The Salt Spread Government’ Gandhi-Irwin

Gandhiji 1930: Gandhi government March s response Pact and end
chose salt as sent a letter was asked to of the
the medium to Viceroy accept the movement.
for protesting Irwin. demands by
against the Stating 11 11th March. Marked the Soon, the April, 1930:
British rule. demands beginning of movement Abdul This pact
especially the Civil spread to the Ghaffar Khan was a
abolition of Disobedience entire nation. was arrested consent to
salt tax. Movement. the Round
Table
Peasants refused May, 1930: Conference
Started from to pay revenue Gandhiji was and the
Gandhi’s and chaukidari arrested government
ashram in taxes. agreed to
Sabarmati to release the
the Gujarati Women and political
coastal town violated forest children were prisoners
of dandi. laws by beaten by the
going into government
reserved forests and peaceful December,
6th April, for collecting satyagrahis 1931:
1930: violated wood. were Gandhiji went
the law by attacked. to London for
manufacturing the Second
salt from sea Colonial laws were Round Table
water. violated, salt was About conference.
manufactured in 100,000
numerous places. people were
arrested.