History

The Making of the National movement

Answer the following questions

Q7. Why rowlatt act was called as devilish and tyrannical? How it lead to the incidence of jallianwala
Bagh?

Answer 7I). It curbed the basic freedom right of an individual i.e.freedom of expression and on the
contrary it also strength and police power. National leaders and others felt that government had no
right to restrict people freedom.

II)Gandhiji asked the Indian people to observe 6 April 1919 as a day of non-violent opposition to this
Act, as a day of “humiliation and prayer” and hartal (strike).

III) To control the situation Government imposed Martial Law and General Dyer took the command .

III) On 13th April a large crowd gathered in Jallianwala Bagh to protest against Rowlatt Act and many
of them came to attend the annual Baisakhi Fair. Being outsiders they were unaware of the Martial
Law .

IV) General Dyer ordered troops to open fire on crowd killing hundreds of People.

Q8. What was khilafat issue? How khilafat issue provided platform for the non cooperation
movement?

Answer – 8

I) In Ist World War Ottoman Turkey was defeated, so there were rumours that a harsh
treaty was going to be imposed of Ottoman Emperor (Khalipha) , who was regarded
spiritual head of Muslims all over the world.
II) So to defend the temporal powers of the khalipha Muslims in India organised
themselves under Ali Brothers, Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali into Khilafat committee.
III) They approached Gandhiji to launch a nationwide movement over Khilafat Issue, who
himself wad looking for an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims .
IV) At the Calcutta Session of the Congress in September 1920, Gandhiji convinced other
leaders to start a Non-Cooperation Movement – Khilafat Movement.

Q9. What was non cooperation movement ?How people participated in the non cooperation
movement? why it was called off?

Answer -9

I) The Non-cooperation movement was a political campaign launched on 4 September

1920, by Mahatma Gandhi to have Indians revoke their cooperation from the British
government, with the aim of persuading them to grant self-governance
 II) People surrendered the titles awarded by Government , Boycott civil services, army,
police , courts, and Legislative council, schools and foreign goods. Liquor shops were
picketed , foreign clothes were burnt in huge bonfires.
III) In February 1922 a crowd of peasants set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura.
Twentytwo policemen were killed on that day. The peasants were provoked because the
police had fired on their peaceful demonstration.Gandhiji called off the movement as
turned violent.

Q10. Explain the situation within Congress after the call of non cooperation movement.

Answer 10

I) Once the Non-Cooperation movement was over, Gandhiji’s followers stressed that the
Congress must undertake constructive work in the rural areas.
II) Other leaders such as Chitta Ranjan Das and Motilal Nehru argued that the party should
fight elections to the councils and enter them in order to influence government policies.
III) Through sincere social work in villages in the mid-1920s, the Gandhians were able to
extend their support base. This proved to be very useful in launching the Civil
Disobedience movement in 1930
IV) Through the sincere social work in villages the Gandhian’s were able to launch civil
disobedience movement in 1930..

Q11. What was Salt March ?why it was started by Gandhiji?

Answe 11 –

The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, Dandi March and the Dandi Satyagraha, was an
act of nonviolent civil disobedience in colonial India led by Mahatma Gandhi. The twenty four day
march lasted from 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930 as a direct action campaign of tax resistance and
nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly.

• Mahatma Gandhi along with other nationalists reasoned that it was sinful to tax salt
since it is such an essential item of our food.
• The Salt March related the general desire of freedom to a specific grievance shared
by everybody, and thus did not divide the rich and the poor.
• This marked the beginning of Civil Disobedience Movement.

Q12. Do you think that women participation has given freedom struggle and immense force?

Answer - 12

Both British officials and Indian nationalists felt that women’s participation gave the national
struggle an immense force.

I)Women from diverse backgrounds participated in the national movement from rural and urban
areas, from both conservative and liberal homes.

II ) Their involvement was significant for the freedom struggle, for the women’s movement, and for
themselves personally.

III)Participation in the freedom movement brought women out of their homes. It gave them a place
in the professions, in the governance of India, and it could pave the way for equality with men
IV)They fought with true spirit and undaunted courage and faced various tortures, exploitations and
hardships to earn us freedom.

Q13.Explain Quit India Movement.

IV) Answer 13
I) The Quit India Movement was launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress
Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8th August 1942, during World War II, demanding an
end to British rule in India.
II) To the people he said, “do or die” in your effort to fight the British – but you must fight
non-violently. Gandhiji and other leaders were jailed at once but the movement spread.
III) It specially attracted peasants and the youth who gave up their studies to join it.
IV) Communications and symbols of state authority were attacked all over the country. In
many areas the people set up their own governments.

Q14. Why Muslim league started viewing Muslims as a separate nation?

Answer 14

I) From the late 1930s, the League began viewing the Muslims as a separate “nation” from
the Hindus.
II) First reason was the history of tension between some Hindu and Muslim groups in the
1920s and 1930s
III) The provincial elections of 1937 seemed to have convinced the League that Muslims
were a minority, and they would always have to play second fiddle in any democratic
structure and may even go unrepresented.
IV) The Congress’s rejection of the League’s desire to form a joint Congress League
government in the United Provinces in 1937 also annoyed the League.
V) The Congress’s failure to mobilise the Muslim masses in the 1930s allowed the League to
widen its social support.

Q15. How did the demand for Pakistan let the bloody partition?

Answer 15

I) After the failure of the Cabinet Mission the Muslim League decided on mass agitation for
winning its Pakistan demand.
II) League announced 16 August 1946 as “Direct Action Day”. On this day riots broke out in
Calcutta, lasting several days and resulting in the death of thousands of people.
III) By March 1947 violence spread to different parts of northern India. Women had to face
untold brutalities during the Partition. Millions of people were forced to flee their
homeshomelands.
IV) Partition also meant that India changed, many of its cities changed, and a new country –
Pakistan – was born.
V) So, the joy of our country’s independence from British rule came mixed with the pain
and violence of Partition.