The Making of the National Movement: 1870s-1947*

 

*Chapter 9*

*Exercises*

*1. Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s?*

People were dissatisfied with British rule because:

- British were exercising control over the resources of India

- British were attempting to control the lives of its people and until this control ended, India could not be for Indians

- The Arms Act was passed in 1878, disallowing Indians from possessing arms

- The Vernacular Press Act was also enacted in 1879, in an effort to silence those who were critical of the government

- In 1883, there was a furor over the attempt by the government to introduce the Ilbert Bill

*2. Who did the Indian National Congress wish to speak for?*

The Congress was composed of representatives of all the different communities of India. Hence, the party wished to speak for the masses in the fight for freedom.

*3. What economic impact did the First World War have on India?*

The First World War altered the economic and political situation in India. It led to:

- A huge rise in defence expenditure

- Increased taxes on individual incomes and business profits

- A sharp rise in prices, creating difficulties for common people

- Business groups reaped fabulous profits from the war

- Decline in imports from other countries into India

*4. What did the Muslim League resolution of 1940 ask for?*

The Muslim League resolution of 1940 demanded "Independent States" for Muslims in the north-western and eastern areas of the country.

*5. Who were the Moderates? How did they propose to struggle against British rule?*

The Moderates were leaders who wanted to develop public awareness about the unjust nature of British rule. They proposed to struggle against British rule by:

- Publishing newspapers and writing articles

- Criticising British rule in speeches

- Sending representatives to different parts of the country to mobilise public support

- Expressing demands and making the government aware of the feelings of Indians

*6. How was the politics of the Radicals within the Congress different from that of the Moderates?*

The Radicals advocated for mass mobilisation and boycott of British institutions and goods, while the Moderates wanted to follow the rules and laws posed by the British. The Radicals also believed in revolutionary violence, which the Moderates opposed.

*7. Discuss the various forms that the Non-Cooperation Movement took in different parts of India. How did people understand Gandhiji?*

The Non-Cooperation Movement took different forms in different parts of India, including:

- Nonviolent campaigns against high land revenue demand in Kheda, Gujarat

- Picketing of liquor shops in coastal Andhra and interior Tamil Nadu

- Forest satyagraha in Andhra Pradesh

- Enthusiasm for the Khilafat call among Muslim traders and peasants in Sind

- Akali agitation in Punjab to remove corrupt mahants from gurdwaras

People understood Gandhiji as a kind of messiah who could help them overcome their misery and poverty. They credited him with their own achievements and believed he would help them in their fights against zamindars and for land.

*8. Why did Gandhiji choose to break the salt law?*

The Salt March related the general desire of freedom to a specific grievance shared by everybody, and thus did much to bring the nation together. The tax on salt, and the government's monopoly on its manufacture, was a deeply resented aspect of British rule. Gandhiji chose to break the salt law because it was a symbol of British oppression and an issue that affected all Indians.

*9. Describe the significance of the Salt March.*

The Salt March was significant because:

- It was a non-violent protest against the British salt tax

- It brought the nation together and created a sense of unity and solidarity

- It was a powerful symbol of resistance against British rule

- It marked a major milestone in the Indian freedom struggle

*10. How did the Indian National Congress mobilize the masses for the Civil Disobedience Movement?*

The Indian National Congress mobilized the masses for the Civil Disobedience Movement by:

- Launching a non-cooperation movement with the British government

- Encouraging people to boycott British goods and institutions

- Organizing protests and demonstrations

- Using the press and other forms of media to spread the message of the movement

*Important Dates*

- 1885: Indian National Congress founded

- 1905: Partition of Bengal

- 1906: Muslim League founded

- 1919: Rowlatt Act passed

- 1919: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

- 1920: Non-Cooperation Movement launched

- 1928: Bardoli Satyagraha

- 1930: Civil Disobedience Movement launched

- 1940: Muslim League resolution demanding separate homeland for Muslims

- 1942: Quit India Movement

- 1947: India gains independence

*Key Figures*

- Mahatma Gandhi

- Jawaharlal Nehru

- Subhas Chandra Bose

- Lala Lajpat Rai

- Bal Gangadhar Tilak

- Bipin Chandra Pal

*Key Terms*

- Swaraj: Self-rule

- Satyagraha: Non-violent resistance

- Swadeshi: Use of domestic goods

- Boycott: Refusal to buy or use certain goods

- Non-cooperation: Refusal to cooperate with the government