NATIONALISM IN INDIA

Nationalism: Nationalism is a feeling of love and concern towards one’s own nation.

1 State the difference between nationalism in India and Europe

Nationalism in India
 Nationalism in India is intimately connected to anti colonial movement.
 People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle against
colonialism.
 The sense of being oppressed under colonialism united them under the leadership of
Gandhiji.
Europe
 Nationalism in Europe came to be associated with the formation of nation states.
 It also meant a change in people’s understanding of who they were, and what defined
their identity and sense of belonging.
 New symbols and icons, new songs and ideas forged new links and redefined the
boundaries of communities. It was a long process.
SUB UNIT 1
THE FIRST WORLD WAR, KHILAFAT AND NON COOPERATION

2 How did the First World War help in the growth of nationalism in India?
OR
Explain the major problems posed by the First World War in India
 The First World War created a new economic and political situation in India.
 It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and
increasing taxes. Customs duties were raised and income tax introduced.
 Throughout the war period prices of the products increased. It doubled between 1913
and 1918. It created extreme hardship for the common people.
 There was forced recruitment in rural areas. Villages were called upon to supply
soldiers.
 There was acute shortage of food in India due to crop failure. This was followed by an
influenza epidemic.
 According to the census of 1921, 12to 13 million people perished as a result of famine
and the epidemic.
 The First World War played an important role in strengthening national movement in
India.
 The Indians realized that the war was fought for the British and not for the Indians. This
united Indians against the British under Gandhiji.
3 When did Gandhiji return to India from South Africa?
January 1915
4 What is Satyagraha? Briefly describe the role of Gandhiji in launching Satyagrahas

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  Satyagraha is a new method of mass agitation launched by Gandhiji.
 The idea of satyagraha emphasized on the power of truth and need to search for
truth. It is based on the principle of truth and non violence.
 It suggested that if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical
force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.
 Without being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non- violence. It
could be done by using moral force, by appealing the conscience of the oppressor.
 Satyagraha is not a physical force. A satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary;
he does not seek his destruction.
 Satyagraha is a pure soul force. Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why
this force is called satyagraha. The British used physical force where as Gandhiji used
soul force.
 Gandhiji launched the first Satyagraha in South Africa against apartheid (racial
segregation).
5 Write a note on the local Satyagrahas organized by Gandiji
 Champaran Satyagraha in Bihar 1917
It was a satyagraha against oppressive plantation system
 Kheda Styagraha in Gujarat 1918
It was a Satyagraha to support the peasants against high revenue collection.
They were affected by crop failure and a plague epidemic.
 Ahmedabad Mill Strike in Gujarat 1918
It was organised by cotton mill workers against the exploitation of workers by
mill owners. It was a protest against poor working condition in factories.
6 Gandhiji said," passive resistance is not the weapon of the weak". Why?
Gandhiji said” passive resistance is not the weapon of the weak because it
calls for intense activity with a lot of inner strength
7 “Satyagraha is pure soul-force” substantiate this statement.
Truth is the very substance of the soul that is informed with knowledge and
thus this force is called satyagraha.
8. What according to Mahatma Gandhi is the best weapon to use to collapse
British rule in India?
Mahatma Gandhi in his book Hind Swaraj declared that through non-cooperation
only British rule could be collapsed in India as they could build their empire only
with the cooperation of Indians.
9 What is Rowlatt Act?
 The Rowlatt Act is an oppressive act passed through the Imperial Legislative Council
on the basis of the recommendations made by Sir Sydney Rowlatt in March, 1919.
 It gave the British the enormous powers to repress political activities.
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  According to this act anyone could be arrested without warrant and allowed
detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.

10 What is the impact of Rowlatt Act?

OR
Why did Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against Rowlatt Act?
How was it organised?
 Gandhiji decided to launch the Rowlatt Satyagraha on 6th April 1919 with a hartal.
 Rallies were organized in various cities, workers went on strike in railway workshops,
and shops closed down.
 Alarmed by popular upsurge, the British administration decided to clamp down on
nationalists
 Local leaders were picked up from Amritsar, and Gandhiji was barred from entering
Delhi.
 On 10th April 1919, the police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession
 Martial law was imposed and General Dyer took command. On 13th April the
infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place.
11 Write a short note on Jallianwala Bagh incident
OR
Explain the impact of Jallianwala Bagh incident on the people
 Martial law and arrest of Dr Satyapal and Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew on 10th April 1919
created discontent among the people. So they decided to conduct a meeting in protest.
 On 13th April a crowd of villagers had gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala
Bagh. Some came to protest against the govt policies and others had come to attend the
Baisakhi fair.
 They were unaware of Martial Law imposed in Amritsar. General Dyer entered the
area and blocked the exit points and opened fire on the unarmed crowd. Hundreds of
people were killed.
 His object was to produce moral effect by creating a feeling of terror and awe.
Reactions (Effects of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre)
Response of the People
 As the news spread there were strikes and clashes with police.
 Govt buildings were attacked.
Response of the Goverment
 The govt responded with brutal repression by humiliating people in many ways:
 Satyagrahis were forced to rub their noses on the ground
 Crawl on the streets
 Do salute to all sahibs
 People were flogged and villages were bombed (Gujranwala in Pakistan).
 Seeing the violence Gandhiji called off the Rowlatt Satyagraha.
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 12 What is Khilafat Movement? Why did Gandhiji support this movement?
The First World War had ended with the defeat of Ottoman Turks (Turkish Empire).
 The Khilafat Movement was started to regain the lost power of Turkey after the
First World War.
 There was a rumour that the Treaty of Sevres would destroy the Ottoman Empire.
 The Emperor (Khalifa) was the temporal and spiritual head of the Muslims all over
the world.
 To defend the Khilafat (kingdom of the Khalifa), the Muslims of India formed the
Khilafat Committee in Bombay in March, 1919.
 Ali brothers (Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali) began discussing with Gandhiji
about the possibility of united struggle. Gandhiji supported it because he saw it as an
opportunity to bring the Muslims under the umbrella of a unified national
movement.

13 Name the Congress session in which Gandhiji convinced other leaders of INC the
need to start the Non Cooperation Movement in support of Khilafat issue
Calcutta Session (West Bengal) September 1920
14 Name the Congress session in which INC passed the Non Cooperation Resolution?
Nagpur Session (Maharastra) December 1920
15 Why did Gandhiji feel the need to launch a broad based movement in 1920?
 Gandhiji knew that no powerful movement could be organized without bringing
Hindus and Muslims together. So Gandhiji supported khilafat movement with
Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali in favour of Ottoman Emperor (Turkish Emperor)
( Khalifa) – the spiritual head of the Muslims.
 In 1919 Gandhiji decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act
which gave the govt enormous power to repress political activities and allowed
detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. Gandhiji wanted non –
violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws.
 Many leaders in the congress were reluctant to support the movement. They feared that
the movement might lead to popular violence. Finally with the effort of Gandhiji in
Nagpur session of INC in Dec 1920 a compromise was worked out and the Non
Cooperation Programme was adopted.
 Indian National Congress under Gandhiji decided to fight for swaraj
16 Name the book written by Gandhiji. What is the theme of his book?
Hind Swaraj
Mahatma Gandhi declared that British rule was established in India with the
cooperation of Indians, and had survived only because of this cooperation. If
Indians refused to cooperate, British rule in India would collapse within a year, and
swaraj would come.
17 How did Gandhiji propose to organize the movement?
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 Gandhiji proposed to organize the movements in 3 stages.
 Surrender of titles awarded by the British
 Boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools and
foreign goods.
 In case the govt used repressive methods, a full civil disobedience movement
would be launched.
18 Why did Gandhiji launch the Non Cooperation Movement? (Objectives)
 To attain swaraj
 To protest against Rowlatt Act and Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre.
 To support the khilafat issue ( To settle the problems in Turkey)
19 Evaluate Gandhian ideal of Non cooperation
In his book Hind Swaraj, Mahatma Gandhi declared that British rule was
established in India with the cooperation of Indians, and had survived only because of
this cooperation. If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule in India would collapse
within a year, and swaraj would come.
Gandhiji proposed to organize the movements in 3 stages.
 Surrender of titles awarded by the British
 Boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools and
foreign goods.
 In case the govt used repressive methods, a full civil disobedience movement
would be launched.
SUB UNIT 2
DIFFERING STRANDS WITHIN THE MOVEMENT
20. How did the movement unfold in towns? What were the economic effects?
Why did the movement slowdown in cities?
 The movement began in January 1921 with middle class participation.
 Thousands of students left govt controlled schools and colleges, headmasters and
teachers resigned, and lawyers gave up their legal practices.
 Council elections were boycotted in most of the provinces except Madras.
Effects (Economic Effects)
 Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed and foreign cloth burnt in
huge bonfires.
 Import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, its value dropped from 102
crore to 57 crore.
 Merchants refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade.
 People began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian clothes.
 Production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up.

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Reasons for slow down (Limitations)
 The Boycott of foreign goods posed great problem. The mill made foreign cloth was
cheaper and refined as compared to Khadi cloth which was rough and expensive. The
poor people could not afford it.
 Boycott of British institutions posed another problem. The alternative Indian
Institutions were less in number.
 Students and teachers began joining back to government schools and colleges likewise
other professionals like lawyers joined back in government courts.
 The movement was stopped in 1922 when the movement became violent.
21. Name the political party which contested election during the Non Co-operation
Movement. Why?
Justice Party of Madras
 It was a political party of non Brahmans.
 They felt that entering the council was one way of gaining power. It was something
that usually only Brahmans had access to.
22 Define the term Indentured labour
A bonded labour under contract to work for an employer for a specific period of time.
23. What were the demands of the peasants in Awadh? State the contributions of Nehru
OR
How did the peasants interpret the call for swaraj during the noncooperation
movement?
In the countryside the movement was organised by the peasants and tribals.
 In Oudh peasants were led by Baba Ramchandra, a sanyasi who had earlier been to
Fiji as an indentured labourer.
 The movement was against Talukdars and land lords who demanded high revenue and
rents.
 Peasants also had to do begar and work at landlords land without payment.
 Tenants had no security of tenure.
 The peasant movement demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar and social
boycott of oppressive land lords.
 In many places Nai – Dhobi Bandhs were organized by Panchayats.
 In October 1920, Oudh Kissan Sabha was set up under the leadership of Jawaharlal
Nehru and Baba Ramchandra. Within a month over 300 branches had been set up in
the villages around the region.
 In 1921, the houses of talukdars and merchants were attacked, bazaars were looted
and grain hoards were taken over.
 In many places leaders told peasants that Gandhiji had declared that no taxes were
to be paid and land was to be redistributed among the poor.
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24. Briefly describe the tribal peasant movements in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh
OR
Describe the contributions of Alluri Sitaram Raju in the tribal movement
 Tribal peasants in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh started a militant guerrilla
movement under Alluri Sitaram Raju.
 The colonial government had enclosed large forest areas and prevented people from
entering the forests to graze their cattle or to collect fuel wood and fruits. This enraged
the hill people.
 The government forced them to do begar for road building.
 Sitaram Raju claimed that he had a variety of special powers like astrological
predictions, healing the people and could survive bullet shots. People believed that he is
the incarnation of God.
 Raju was highly inspired by Non-cooperation movement but he asserted that India
could be liberated only by use of force.
 They attacked police stations and attempted to kill British officials. Finally he was
captured and executed in1924.
25. What did Swaraj or freedom meant to plantation workers during the
non-cooperation movement? Explain.
OR
How was the notion of Swaraj interpreted by plantation workers? How far were they
successful in achieving their goal?
 -For plantation workers in Assam, swaraj meant the right to move freely in and
out of the confined area and to continue the link with their village.
 Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859 plantation workers were not allowed
to leave the tea gardens without their permission.
 When INC started the Non-cooperation movement they believed that Gandhi Raj
was coming and every one would be given land in their own villages
 But their movements were suppressed. They were caught by the police and brutally
beaten up.
26 Why did Gandhiji withdraw the Non cooperation movement in 1922?
Gandhiji withdrew the Non Cooperation Movement in 1922.
Reasons:
 Movement was turning violent in many places.
 Gandhiji felt that satyagrahis needed to be properly trained for mass struggles.
 Some leaders within the congress wanted to participate in elections to the provincial
council to oppose British policies

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  Chauri Chaura incident: In Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur (UP), the police fired
upon a peaceful peasant procession. The angry mob put fire on the police station
which caused the death of 22 police men.
SUB UNIT 3
TOWARDS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
27 Explain the factors which gave rise to the Civil Disobedience Movement
OR
Describe the factors that shaped the nature of Indian politics towards the late 1920s
The second mass movement under the leadership of Gandhiji was launched on 12th
March 1930 with Salt Satyagraha.
Factors
 After the withdrawal of Non Cooperation Movement there was no unity in the INC. Some
leaders wanted to take part in the elections and to oppose the bills from within the council.
 C R Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party in 1923. Their programme is
popularly known as council entry programme.
 The young leaders of INC like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subash Chandra Bose demanded
radical agitation and full Independence.
 Due to great depression the prices of agricultural goods began to fall from 1926 and
collapsed after 1930. As the demand for agricultural goods fell and exports declined,
peasants found it difficult to sell their harvests and pay their revenue. By 1930 countryside
was in turmoil.
 In 1927, the Tory govt in Britain constituted a Statutory Commission (law Commission)
under Sir John Simon. This was appointed to look into the functioning of the constitutional
system in India and suggest changes. There was no Indian member in the commission.
They were all British. When they reached India on 3rd Feb 1928, they were greeted with
the slogan “Go Back Simon”.
 In Oct 1929, Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India gave an offer of dominion status in an
unspecified future and a Round Table Conference to discuss future constitution. This
did not satisfy the congress leaders.
 In 1929 Congress held its annual session in Lahore under the presidency of Jawaharlal
Nehru. They passed 3 resolutions
 Purna Swaraj or complete independence for India was accepted as the goal of the
Congress.
 It was declared that 26th Jan 1930 would be celebrated as Independence Day when
people take a pledge to struggle for complete independence.
 To launch Civil Disobedience Movement
 Salt law and neglect of Gandhiji’s eleven demands by the British led to the beginning of
the Civil disobedience movement.
28 What was the objective of Simon Commission? Why was it opposed in India?
 Tory government in Britain constituted a Statutory Commission (law Commission)
under Sir John Simon.
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  Simon commission was set up to look into the functioning of the Constitutional system
in India and suggest changes.
 It was opposed by the Indians Reasons: (1) It had no Indian member. (2) They were
all whites.
 When the Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan
‘Go back Simon’.
29 Elucidate the demands made in the Lahore session of 1929

 In 1929 Congress held its annual session in Lahore under the presidency of Jawaharlal
Nehru. They passed 3 resolutions.
RESOLUTIONS
 Purna Swaraj or complete independence for India was accepted as the goal of the
Congress.
 It was declared that 26th Jan 1930 would be celebrated as Independence Day when people
take a pledge to struggle for complete independence.
 To launch Civil Disobedience Movement
30 Critically examine the features of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
 The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched with the Salt Satyagraha in 1930.
 They broke the salt law, manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of govt salt
factories.
 This was the most widespread non - violent mass movement led by Gandhiji.
 Foreign cloth was boycotted and liquor shops were picketed.
 Peasants refused to pay revenue and Chaukidari taxes.
 Village officials resigned.
 In many places forest people violated the forest laws. They got into reserved forest to
collect wood and graze cattle.
 It also includes the participation of rich peasants, poor peasants, industrialists,
industrial workers and women.
31. Examine the events which led to the Civil Disobedience Movement
 Arrival of Simon Commission - The Simon Commission arrived India in 1928 but
there was no Indian member in the commission.
 Offer by Lord Irwin - Lord Irwin, viceroy announced in October 1929, a vague offer
of ‘dominion status’ for India in an unspecified future and a Round Table
conference to discuss a future constitution.
 Lahore session of INC - The decisions of the Lahore Congress Session.(Points to be
explained)
 Steps taken by Business Class - The business class wanted protection against imports
of foreign goods and a rupee – sterling exchange ratio that would discourage imports.
32 Why did Gandhiji oppose the Salt Law?

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 The British govt acquired monopoly over manufacture and sale of salt. It led to
increase in the price of salt. Salt was something consumed by the rich and the poor alike,
and it was the most essential item of food.
33. What was the main idea of Gandhiji behind launching the Civil Disobedience
Movement?
OR
Mahatma Gandhi found salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. In the light
of the statement, describe the main events of the Dandi March
OR
Salt March became an effective tool of resistance against colonialism. Explain
 Gandhiji’s main idea behind launching the Civil Disobedience Movement was not only
to withdraw the Indian support to the British but also to break unjust laws through
Satyagraha.
 Gandhiji’s letter to Lord Irwin includes 11 demands. Some of them were of general
demands and some were of specific demands of different classes, from industrialists to
peasants.
 The tax on salt and govt monopoly over its production revealed the most
oppressive face of the British rule
 Gandhiji wanted to launch a mass movement which would involve people irrespective
of their caste, language, region or religion.
 Salt was something consumed by the rich and the poor alike, and it was the most
essential item of food.
 Salt being a commodity used by all was seen as the symbol of united resistance.
 Gandhiji started the Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) on 12th March 1930, from
Sabarmati Ashram with 78 volunteers for over 240 miles. When he reached Dandi on
6th April 1000s of followers were with him. On the same day he broke the salt law by
boiling sea water. This led to the beginning of Civil Disobedience Movement.
34. Name the leaders who were arrested in the first stage of Civil Disobedience
Movement. How did the people react?

 Peshawar - Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan ( April 1930 ) Angry crowd demonstrated
in the streets
 Sholapur - Gandhiji ( May 1930 ) Industrial workers of Sholapur attacked the police
aid post, municipal buildings, law courts and railway station
35. Name the leaders who were in jail when Gandhiji came back to India from London
after the Second Round Table Conference
Khan Abdul Ghaffar khan and Jawaharlal Nehru
36. Why did Gandhiji decide to call off Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931?
OR
What is the importance of Gandhi – Irwin Pact?
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  When Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Mahatma Gandhiji were arrested people turned
violent and attacked government buildings.

 The Britsh government responded with brutal repression. Peaceful satyagrahis were
attacked, women and children were beaten, and about 100,000 people were
arrested.

 On 5March 1931 Gandhiji met Lord Irwin and signed the Gandhi Irwin Pact.
 By this pact the govt agreed to release all political prisoners except those charged
with acts of violence and reduce salt tax.
 Gandhiji agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in
the Second Round Table Conference.
37 Why did Gandhiji relaunch the Civil Disobedience Movement with great
apprehension? Explain
Gandhiji relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement with great apprehension.
 In December 1931 Gandhiji went to London to attend the Second Round Table
Conference, but the negotiation broke down and he returned disappointed.
 In India he discovered that the government had begun a new cycle of repression.
 Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru were in jail.The Congress had been
declared illegal.
 A series of measures had been imposed to prevent meetings, demonstrations and
boycotts.
38 Name the different social group which participated in the CDM. Why did they join?
What were their ideals? What did Swaraj mean to them?
OR
Various classes and groups of Indians participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement
for different reasons. Choose any four classes and explain their reason to participate in
the movement OR
How did the Civil Disobedience Movement come into force in various parts of the country?
Rich Peasants, Poor Peasants, Industrialists, Industrial Workers and Women were the
participants of Civil Disobedience Movement.
Rich Peasants

 In the countryside rich peasants like Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of UP were active in the
movement. They were mainly the producers of cash crops.

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 The Great Depression created a lot of economic crisis to them. They found it difficult to pay
tax to the govt. The govt refused to reduce the revenue. This led to the entry of rich peasants in
the CDM.

 For them the fight for swaraj was a struggle against high revenues. They were
disappointed when it was called off in 1931. When it was restarted in 1932 many of them
refused to take part.

Poor Peasants

1 Poor peasants were not just interested in the lowering of the revenue demand.
2 Many of them were small tenants cultivating land they had rented from their land lords. They
could not pay rent because of the depression and dwindling cash incomes. They wanted
unpaid rent to the landlord to be remitted.
3 They conducted a lot of radical movements and were led by socialists and communists.
4 Congress could not give full support because they thought rich peasants and landlords would
be upset. Congress was unwilling to support ‘no rent’ campaign in most places. So, the
relationship between the poor peasants and the Congress remained uncertain.

Industrialists (Business classes)

A. Industrialists reacted against colonial policies that restricted business activities.

B. They wanted protection against imports of foreign goods, and a rupee - sterling exchange
ratio that would discourage imports.
C. To organize their interests they formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in
1920 and the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries in 1927.
Purushottamdas -Thakurdas and G D Birla were the prominent leaders.
D. They attacked colonial control over the Indian economy and supported the Civil Disobedience
Movement. They gave financial assistance and refused to buy or sell imported goods.

E. Most businessmen came to see Swaraj as a time when colonial restriction on business
would no longer exist and trade and industry would flourish without restraint.
F. They were not so active in the second stage of CDM. They were afraid of the spread of
militant activities, and worried about prolonged disruption of business and growing
influence of Socialism among the younger members of the Congress.

Industrial Workers

 Industrial workers did not participate in large numbers except in Nagpur.

 They took part only in the boycott movement to improve their wages and working
conditions.
 There were strikes by railway workers in1930 and dock workers in 1932.
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 In 1930, 1000s of workers in Chotanagpur tin mines wore Gandhi cap and participated in
protest rallies and boycott campaigns. But the Congress was reluctant to include workers
demands in their programme.
Women
 One of the most important features of the Civil Disobedience Movement was the
participation of women.
 Thousands of them came out of their homes to take part in the CDM.
 They participated in protest marches, manufactured salt, and picketed foreign cloths and liquor
shops.
 In urban areas they came from high class families and rural areas they were from rich
peasant households. Many went to jail.
 They believed that service to nation as a sacred duty of women.
 Gandhiji was convinced that it was the duty of women to look after home and hearth,
be good wives and good mothers.

 Congress was reluctant to give them high position in the Congress. Congress was keen only on
their symbolic presence.
Limits of Civil Disobedience Movement
39. Briefly describe the limits of CDM
The Civil disobedience Movement which was launched 1930 didn’t get the support of all
section of Indian society especially the Depressed classes and the Muslims.
Depressed Classes
 Depressed classes or Dalits or Untouchables were not recognized by the Congress for a
long time because the party was dominated by Sanatanis or High Class Hindus.
 Gandhiji was in favour of bringing equality in the society by uplifting the dalits by
giving them the title, harijan or the children of God.

 But many Dalit leaders were keen on a different political solution to the problems of the
community. They began to organize themselves and started demanding separate
electorate. They believed that by improving the political conditions they could improve
their social status.

 In 1930, B R Ambedkar formed a separate organization for the dalits, the Depressed
Classes Association.

 In the Second Round Table Conference they demanded separate electorate for the
dalits. They got separate electorate from the British.
 The reaction of Gandhiji was prompt and clear. He announced his decision to fast unto
death or till the decision on separate electorate for the depressed classes should be
withdrawn. The historic fast began on 15th Sept 1932.

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  To save the life of Gandhiji Congress leaders summoned a meeting at Poona on 24 th
Sept 1932. B R Ambedkar accepted the Congress demand. It gave the depressed
classes reserved seats in the Central and Provincial legislatures instead of separate
electorate. On the basis of this Gandhiji broke his fast on 24th Sept, 1932. This
agreement is called the Poona Pact.
 The dalit continued to be apprehensive of the Congress led national movement (Civil
Disobedience Movement).
Muslims

 The Muslim League did not take part in the Civil Disobedience Movement. From the
middle 1920’s Congress came to be associated with Hindu Mahasabha. It worsened the
relationship between the Hindus and the Muslims.

 In 1927 they made effort to negotiate. Mohammed Ali Jinnah was ready to give up
separate electorate if the Muslims were assured reserved seats in the Central and
Provincial legislative councils and representation in proportion to population in Muslim
dominated provinces (Bengal and Punjab).

 In 1928 All Party Conference was held to settle the problems but M R Jayakar,
leader of Hindu Mahasabha opposed.
 So when they started Civil Disobedience Movement there was suspicion and distrust between
communities. They feared that the culture and identity of the minorities would be destroyed
under the domination of Hindus.
40 What was the issue of clash between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar? How did
they resolve? Explain
 In the Second Round table conference the British granted separate electorate for
Dalits.
 Gandhiji protested because he believed that it would slowdown the process of their
integration into society.
 It is an expansion of divide and rule policy started by the British after the Revolt of
1857.
 Ambedkar accepted Gandhiji’s position. The Result was Poona Pact of September 1932. It
gave the depressed classes reserved seats in the Central and Provincial legislatures instead of
separate electorate.
SUBUNIT 4
THE SENSE OF COLLECTIVE BELONGING
41. How did people belonging to different communities, regions or language group
develop a sense of collective belonging?
OR
What do you mean by a sense of collective belonging? How was it practiced by the
Indians in India?
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 OR
Examine the importance of national symbols in promoting nationalism among Indians
 Sense of collective belonging (nationalism) means that people began to feel that they
were all a part of the same nation and discovered the unity which bound them together.
 It came partly through the experience of united struggles against the British.
 There were also a variety of cultural processes through which nationalism captured
people’s imagination.
 History and fiction, folklore and songs, popular print and symbols played a part in the
making of nationalism.
Image of Bharat Mata:
 The identity of nation came to be visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata.
 The image was first created by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. In 1870s he wrote
Vande Mataram as a hymn to the motherland. Later it was included in his novel
Anandamath.
 Then it was portrayed by Abanindranath Tagore. It reflected Bharat Mata as an ascetic
figure; she is calm, composed, divine and spiritual.
 Devotion to this mother figure came to be seen as evidence of one’s nationalism
Revival of Indian Folklore:
 Idea of nationalism also developed through a movement to revive Indian folklore.
 In the late 19th c India, nationalists began recording folk tales sung by bards and they
toured the villages to gather folk songs and legends. These tales gave a true picture of
traditional culture which had been damaged by outside forces.
 It was essential to preserve this folk tradition in order to discover one’s national identity
and restore a sense of pride in one’s past.
Examples :
 In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore himself began collecting ballads, nursery rhymes
and myths, and led the movement for folk revival.
 In Madras, Natesa Sastri collected Tamil folk tales and published ‘The folklore of
Southern India’ in 4 vols. He believed that folk lore was national literature.
 Folklores are the most trustworthy manifestation of people’s thoughts and
characteristics.

Icons and Symbols:

 As national movement developed nationalist leaders became more and more aware of
such icons and symbols in unifying people and inspiring in them a feeling of
nationalism.
 During the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal, a tricolor flag (Swadeshi Flag) (Green,
yellow and Red) was designed.
 It had eight lotuses representing eight provinces of British India and Vande
Matharam in the middle
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  It also had a crescent moon and the sun, representing the Muslims and the Hindus.
 By 1921, Gandhiji had designed the Swaraj flag. It is a tricolor flag (white, green and
red) with spinning wheel in the centre representing the Gandhian ideal of self-help.
 Carrying the flag and holding it aloft, during the marches became a symbol of defiance.

Reinterpretation of History:
 The British saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing
themselves.
 By the end of 19th century, Indians began looking into the past to discover India’s great
achievements in art, architecture, science, mathematics, religion and culture, laws and
philosophy, craft and trade.

 Nationalist historians urged the readers to take pride in India’s great achievements in the past
and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under the British rule.

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