NATIONALISM IN

INDIA

Most Important Questions

Previous Year Board
Questions

* These are the most probable questions

some of them are the most important
PYQs and some are highly likely to come
in your board exams.
Explain the idea of Satyagraha according to
Gandhiji.
1

● The word 'Satyagraha' is Sanskrit in origin. It is

a compound word formed of 'Satya', meaning
'truth' and 'Agraha', meaning 'clinging, holding
on to that truth.

● Gandhiji’s novel method of mass agitation is

known as ‘Satyagraha’.

● Gandhiji believed that if the cause is true, if

the struggle is against injustice, then physical
force was not necessary to fight the
oppressor.

● A satyagrahi can win the battle through

non-violence. People, including oppressors,
had to be persuaded to see the truth. Truth
was bound to ultimately triumph. Gandhiji
believed that dharma of non-violence could
unite all India.
Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to launch a nationwide
Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919?
Explain any three reasons. 2

Gandhiji decided to launch a nationwide

satyagraha against the proposed UNJUST Rowlatt
Act (1919) because of the following reasons:

● The Act had been hurriedly passed through

the Imperial Legislative Council despite the
united opposition of the Indian members.

● It gave the government enormous powers to

repress political activities.

● It allowed detention of political prisoners

without trial for two years.

● Under the Act even the peaceful satyagrahis

could be detained.
Describe the incident of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
3

● On 13th April, Jallianwala Bagh incident took

place.

● On that day a crowd of villagers who had

come to attend a fair on the occasion of
Baisakhi in the enclosed ground of
Jallianwala Bagh.

● Being from outside the city, they were

unaware of the martial law that had been
imposed.

● Dyer entered the area, blocked the exit points,

and opened fire on the crowd, killing
hundreds.
Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to withdraw the
‘Non-Cooperation Movement’ in February 1922?
Explain three reasons. 4

● Gandhi felt the movement was turning violent

in many places.

● A clash took place at Chauri-Chaura in Uttar

Pradesh.

● A group of volunteers picketing a liquor shop

were beaten up by police officer.

● In protest a group of peasants went to the

police station bolted the door and set fire to
the police station killing 22 policemen.

The incident shocked Gandhiji and he immediately

withdrew the movement.
“The plantation workers in Assam had their own
understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of
Swaraj”. Support the statement with arguments. 5

The plantation workers in Assam had their own

understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of
Swaraj” —

● For plantation workers in Assam, SWARAJ meant the

right to move freely in and out of the confined space
in which they were enclosed.

● Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859 plantation

workers were not permitted to leave the tea gardens
without permission.

● Swaraj meant retaining a link with the village from

which they had come.

● When they heard of the Non-cooperation Movement,

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 village.
 a) Why did Gandhiji launch Salt March.
b) Describe the main features of the ‘Salt March’.
6

a) On 31st January, 1930 Gandhi sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin

stating 11 demands, one of which was the demand to abolish Salt
Tax.

- Salt was one of the most essential food items consumed by

the rich and poor alike and a tax on it was considered an
oppression on the people by the British Government.

- His letter was an ultimatum and if demands were not

fulfilled by March 11, he had threatened to launch a civil
disobedience campaign.

- Mahatma Gandhi started his famous ‘Salt March’ or ‘Dandi

March’ on 11th March, 1930 accompanied by 78 of his trusted
volunteers.

- The march was to cover 240 miles from Gandhi’s ashram in

Sabarmati to the Gujarati Coastal town of Dandi.

- On 6th April, he reached Dandi, and ceremonially violated

the law, manufacturing salt by boiling sea water. This
marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
b) Describe the main features of the ‘Salt March’.

b) - Mahatma Gandhi started his famous ‘Salt March’ or ‘Dandi

March’ on 11th March, 1930 accompanied by 78 of his trusted
volunteers.

- The march was to cover 240 miles from Gandhi’s ashram in

Sabarmati to the Gujarati Coastal town of Dandi.

- On 6th April, he reached Dandi, and ceremonially violated

the law, manufacturing salt by boiling sea water. This
marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
‘The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from
the Non-Cooperation Movement.’ Support the
statement with examples. 7

Non- Cooperation Civil Disobedience

Movement Movement

Launched in the 1920s. Launched in the 1930s.

Indians were only asked Indians were only asked

not to cooperate with the not to cooperate & also
British Government. to break the civil laws.

Movement called off- Movement ended with

Chauri Chaura incident. Gandhi- Irwin pact.

Participation of the small No participation of the

farmers. small farmers.
“Dalit participation was limited in the Civil Disobedience
Movement”. Examine the statement.
8

● The abstract concept of Swaraj did not move

the nation’s untouchables. They had begun to
call themselves dalit or oppressed from around
1930s.

● For the long time, the Congress had ignored

the dalits for fear of offending the Sanatanis,
the conservative high caste Hindus.

● Dalit leaders believed in a different political

solution to the problem of their community.

● Dalits thought that only political empowerment

would resolve their problem of social
disabilities.
● They began organising themselves,
demanding reserves seats in educational
institutions and a separate electorate that
would choose their Dalit members for
Legislative councils.

● Dr. B.R. Ambedkar demanded separate

electorate for Dalits which was denied by
Gandhiji.

● Dalit movement continued to be

apprehensive of the Congress led national
movement & their participation was limited.
 Explain the attitude of the Indian merchants and
industrialists towards the Civil Disobedience
Movement. 9

- Merchants reacted against colonial policies that restricted

business activities.

- They wanted protection against import of foreign goods

and wanted a rupee-sterling foreign exchange ratio that
would discourage imports.

- Industrialists formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial

Congress in 1920.

- They formed the Federation of the Indian Chamber of

Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927.

- They refused to sell or buy imported goods. They gave

financial assistance and supported the Civil Disobedience
Movement.

- Industrialists like G.D.Birla and Purshottamdas Thakurdas

attacked colonial control over the Indian economy.
“Nationalism spreads when people begin to believe that
they are all part of the same nation.” Justify the
statement. 10

● United Struggle- different religious groups and

communities unitedly struggled against the British
rule.

● Cultural processes- unity spread through various

cultural processes like history, folklore, songs and
symbols that helped in spread of nationalism.

● Common identity- The painting of ‘Bharat Mata’ was

commonly identified as motherland and affected the
people equally.

● Revival of Indian Folklore- Reviving the folklore

through folk songs, legends helped in promoting
traditional culture and restore a sense of pride in the
past history and culture.

● Role of the leaders- Leaders like' Mahatma Gandhi,

Jawaharlal Nehru aroused the feelings of nationalism
through their motivational speeches and political
activities.
 What is Martial Law? What role did it play in
Jallianwala Bagh incident?
12

● Martial law: It is system in which military authority

has the power to take control of the normal
administration of justice.

● The martial law imposed by General Dyer in

Amritsar deprived the people of the following
rights:

- Right of assembly

- Right to protest
Read the given text and answer the following questions:

In the countryside, rich peasant communities – like the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh –
were active in the movement. Being producers of commercial crops, they were very hard hit by the trade
depression and falling prices. As their cash income disappeared, they found it impossible to pay the
government’s revenue demand. And the refusal of the government to reduce the revenue demand led to
widespread resentment. These 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. For them the fight for swaraj was a struggle against high revenues. But they were deeply
disappointed when the movement was called off in 1931 without the revenue rates being revised. So when the
movement was restarted in 1932, many of them refused to participate.

The poorer peasantry were not just interested in the lowering of the revenue demand. Many of them were
small tenants cultivating land they had rented from landlords. As the Depression continued and cash incomes
dwindled, the small tenants found it difficult to pay their rent. They wanted the unpaid rent to the landlord to
be remitted. They joined a variety of radical movements, often led by Socialists and Communists.
Apprehensive of raising issues that might upset the rich peasants and landlords, the Congress was unwilling to
support ‘no rent’ campaigns in most places. So the relationship between the poor peasants and the Congress
remained uncertain.

11
a) Name two rich peasant communities who were active in the
movement?
b) Why did rich peasants joined the Civil Disobedience
Movement?
c) Why the relationship between the poor peasants and the
Congress remained uncertain? 11

a) The Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar

Pradesh.

b) Rich peasants joined CDM because they were hard

hit by the trade depressions and falling prices. The
government refused to reduce the revenue
demand led to a widespread resentment.

c) The Congress could not give full support to the

poor peasants, as it thought rich peasants and
landlord would be upset. It was unwilling to
support ‘no rent’ campaign in most places. Thus,
the relationship between the poor peasants and
the Congress remained uncertain.
1. Who launched the Khilafat Movement?

2. What was Simon Commission?

3. Explain the role of Rabindranath Tagore

and Abanindranath Tagore in the freedom
struggle?

4. Why was Poona Pact signed?

5. Who designed the Swaraj flag? Which

colours were included in it?
 ANSWERS

1. The Khilafat Movement was a united struggle launched by

Muhammad Ali & Shaukat Ali.
2. Simon commission was a statutory commission constituted
under Sir John Simon. It was constituted to look into the
functioning of the constitutional system in India and
suggest changes.
3. Abanindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat
Mata. Devotion to this mother figure came to be seen as
evidence of one’s nationalism.
Rabindranath Tagore in Bengal started collecting ballard,
nursery rhymes, etc, and also led the movement of folk
revival.
4. The Poona Pact (September 1932) was signed to give
Depressed classes (SCs & STs) reserved seats in provincial
and central legislative councils.
5. Gandhiji designed the swaraj flag.
It was a tricolour – red, green and white and had a
spinning wheel in the centre, representing the Gandhian
ideal of self-help.