Nationalism in India
Introduction
The journey of India's freedom struggle took a dramatic turn during and after the First World War (1914-1918). NCERT Class 10 History Chapter 2 "Nationalism in India" begins by exploring how the war's impact on Indian economy and society, combined with British repressive policies like the Rowlatt Act, sparked mass movements. This section introduces us to Mahatma Gandhi's entry into Indian politics and his unique method of Satyagraha (non-violent resistance). The Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 became a turning point that shattered Indian trust in British justice. Gandhi's strategic alliance with the Khilafat Movement brought Hindus and Muslims together in the historic Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922), marking the first mass participation of Indians from all sections of society in the independence struggle. Understanding this period is crucial for CBSE board exams as questions from this section regularly appear in both MCQ and long-answer formats.
Table of Contents
Impact of the First World War on India
Economic Crisis and Hardships
The First World War created unprecedented economic difficulties for Indians:
|
Economic Impact |
Details |
Effect on Common People |
|
Defense Expenditure |
Increased hugely; financed by war loans and higher taxes |
Heavy tax burden on all Indians |
|
Customs Duties |
Raised significantly |
Imported goods became expensive |
|
Income Tax |
Introduced for the first time |
Middle class affected directly |
|
Price Rise |
Prices doubled between 1913-1918 |
Severe hardship for poor families |
|
Forced Recruitment |
Villages forced to supply soldiers |
Loss of able-bodied men from families |
|
Forced Labour (Begar) |
Compulsory unpaid work demanded |
Peasants exploited without wages |
Natural Disasters Add to Misery
Example 1: Crop Failures
· Between 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India
· Led to acute shortage of food
· Prices skyrocketed, making basic necessities unaffordable
Example 2: Spanish Flu Epidemic
· The influenza epidemic struck India in 1918-19
· Killed an estimated 12-13 million people
· This was one of the deadliest pandemics in Indian history
· Combined with food shortage, it created a humanitarian crisis
Class 10 Science Chapter-1: Chemical Reactions and Equations, Notes, MCQ.
The Rowlatt Act (1919) - The "Black Act"
What Was the Rowlatt Act?
A repressive law passed by British in March 1919 giving the government enormous powers to suppress political activities.
Key Provisions:
· Detention without trial for up to 2 years
· No right to know charges against the accused
· No legal representation allowed
· Trials in camera (closed court, no public access)
· No right of appeal against the decision
Why Called "Black Act"?
Indians called it the "Black Act" because it was extremely oppressive
and took away basic civil liberties.
Gandhi's Response: Nationwide Satyagraha
Mahatma Gandhi called for a nation-wide satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act. This included:
· Rallies in different cities
· Railway workers went on strike
· Shops closed in protest
· Mass civil disobedience
Confused why the Balkans were called the “Powder Keg of Europe”? (NCERT Class 10 History)
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919)
What Happened That Day?
Date: April 13, 1919 (Baisakhi festival
day)
Place:
Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab
The Tragic Events:
|
Time |
Event |
Details |
|
Morning |
Martial law imposed |
Most people were unaware of this order |
|
Afternoon |
Large crowd gathered |
Some protesting, others attending Baisakhi fair |
|
Evening |
General Dyer arrived |
Came with armed troops |
|
4:30 PM approx |
Exit blocked |
Dyer ordered troops to block the only exit |
|
Firing began |
Continuous shooting |
Lasted approximately 10 minutes |
|
Result |
Mass casualties |
Hundreds killed, many more wounded |
Example of Brutality:
People tried to escape by jumping into a well inside the garden. Many drowned
or were crushed to death. The well still exists as a memorial with the remains
of those who died.
National Reaction
Rabindranath Tagore's Protest:
· India's greatest poet and Nobel laureate renounced his knighthood (British title)
· This was a powerful symbolic protest against British brutality
Impact on Freedom Struggle:
· Created intense anger across India
· Made people lose faith in British sense of justice
· Thousands joined the independence movement
· Strengthened resolve to fight for complete freedom
The Khilafat Movement
Background: Ottoman Empire and the Khalifa
Who was the Khalifa?
· The Sultan of Ottoman Turkey
· Considered the spiritual head of Muslims worldwide
· Symbol of Islamic unity
Why
Did It Matter to Indian Muslims?
After World War I:
· Ottoman Empire (which fought alongside Germany) was defeated
· Harsh peace treaty threatened to dismantle the Ottoman Empire
· The Khalifa's temporal powers were at risk
· Indian Muslims felt this was an insult to their religious leader
Leaders of the Khilafat Movement
Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali (The Ali Brothers):
· Formed the Khilafat Committee
· Organized protests and public meetings
· Sought Mahatma Gandhi's support
Gandhi's Strategic Vision
Why Did Gandhi Support Khilafat?
Gandhi saw this as a golden opportunity to:
1. Unite Hindus and Muslims in a common cause
2. Build communal harmony between the two communities
3. Launch a broader anti-British movement
4. Achieve Swaraj (self-rule) through Hindu-Muslim unity
Example of Unity:
In September 1920, at the Calcutta
session, Congress formally supported the Khilafat Movement.
This was historic because religious and political issues were merged into one
nationalist struggle.
Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)
Gandhi's Philosophy
Core Belief:
British rule existed in India because of Indian
cooperation. If Indians refused
to cooperate, British rule would collapse within a year.
Proposed Stages of the Movement
Stage 1: Symbolic Protests
· Surrender of titles and honors awarded by British government
Stage 2: Boycott
· Civil services
· Army and police
· Courts and legislative councils
· Government schools and colleges
· Foreign goods
Stage 3: Civil Disobedience
· If government used repression, launch full civil disobedience
· Refuse to pay taxes
· Complete non-cooperation with all British institutions
What People Were Asked to Do
|
Group |
Action Required |
Alternative Proposed |
|
Students |
Leave government schools/colleges |
Join national schools |
|
Teachers |
Resign from government institutions |
Teach in national schools |
|
Lawyers |
Boycott British courts |
Settle disputes through panchayats |
|
General Public |
Boycott foreign cloth |
Wear khadi (hand-spun cloth) |
|
Workers |
Go on strike |
Support Indian industries |
|
Peasants |
Refuse revenue payment |
(Only if situation demanded) |
The Movement Spreads
In Cities: Middle-Class Participation
Example 1: Educational Boycott
· Thousands of students left government schools
· Notable examples: Students of Banaras Hindu University, Aligarh Muslim University walked out
· National colleges were established
Example 2: Foreign Cloth Boycott
· Dramatic public bonfires of foreign clothes
· Production of Indian textile mills and handlooms increased
· Import of foreign cloth fell significantly between 1921-1922
Example 3: Liquor Shop Picketing
· Women actively participated
· Liquor shops were peacefully picketed
· Government revenue from liquor decreased
In Countryside: Peasant Movements
Example: Awadh Peasant Movement
· Led by Baba Ramchandra, a sanyasi
· Peasants demanded:
o Reduction of revenue
o Abolition of begar (forced labor)
· Oudh Kisan Sabha was formed
· Headed by Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra and others
Tribal Movements:
· Tribal people revolted in forest areas
· Protested against colonial forest laws
· Denied access to forests affected their livelihood
Andhra Pradesh:
· Militant guerrilla movement spread
· Alluri Sitaram Raju led tribal peasants
· Inspired by Gandhi but believed India could be liberated only by force
Chauri Chaura Incident (February 1922)
What Happened?
Date: February 1922
Place:
Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur district, United Provinces (now UP)
Sequence of Events:
1. Peaceful demonstration of peasants
2. Police fired on the crowd
3. Angry crowd retaliated
4. Demonstrators attacked the police station
5. Set fire to the station
6. 22 policemen were killed in the fire
Gandhi's Decision to Withdraw
Why Did Gandhi Withdraw the Movement?
· Gandhi was deeply disturbed by this violent incident
· He felt the movement was turning violent
· People were not adequately trained in non-violent methods
· He believed continuing would lead to more violence
· In February 1922, he called off the Non-Cooperation Movement
Reaction:
· Many Congress leaders were disappointed
· C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party
· They wanted to participate in council elections to oppose British from within.
The Making of Germany and Italy - Section 4 Complete Notes.
Previous Year Questions (PYQ) - MCQs
1.
The First World War started in which year?
A) 1912
B) 1914
C) 1916
D) 1918
Answer: B) 1914
2.
Which epidemic killed about 12-13 million people in India?
A) Plague
B) Cholera
C) Influenza
D) Smallpox
Answer: C) Influenza
3.
The Rowlatt Act was passed in:
A) 1917
B) 1918
C) 1919
D) 1920
Answer: C) 1919
4.
Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on:
A) April 10, 1919
B) April 13, 1919
C) April 15, 1919
D) May 13, 1919
Answer: B) April 13, 1919
5.
Who was the British commander responsible for Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
A) General O'Dwyer
B) General Dyer
C) General Nicholson
D) General Roberts
Answer: B) General
Dyer
6.
Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood to protest against:
A) Partition of Bengal
B) Rowlatt Act
C) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
D) Simon Commission
Answer: C) Jallianwala
Bagh massacre
7.
The Khilafat Movement was launched to protest against the injustice done to:
A) Turkey
B) Egypt
C) Persia
D) Arabia
Answer: A) Turkey
8.
The Ali brothers who led the Khilafat Movement were:
A) Muhammad Ali and Hassan Ali
B) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
C) Shaukat Ali and Liaquat Ali
D) Muhammad Ali and Aga Khan
Answer: B) Muhammad
Ali and Shaukat Ali
9.
Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in:
A) 1919
B) 1920
C) 1921
D) 1922
Answer: B) 1920
10.
Chauri Chaura incident took place in:
A) Bihar
B) Bengal
C) United Provinces
D) Punjab
Answer: C) United
Provinces
11.
How many policemen were killed in Chauri Chaura incident?
A) 15
B) 18
C) 22
D) 25
Answer: C) 22
12. The peasant movement in Awadh was led by:
A) Alluri Sitaram Raju
B) Baba Ramchandra
C) Sardar Patel
D) Rajendra Prasad
Answer: B) Baba Ramchandra
The Age of Revolutions: 1830–1848 – Class 10 Notes.
Board Exam Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
Q1. Explain the effects of the First World War on India.
Answer:
The First World War created severe economic hardship in India. Defense
expenditure increased hugely, financed by war loans and increased taxes
including customs duties and newly introduced income tax. Prices doubled
between 1913-1918. Villages were forced to supply soldiers and forced labour
(begar). Crop failures in 1918-21 and influenza epidemic that killed 12-13
million people worsened the situation, creating widespread discontent.
Q2. Why was the Rowlatt Act opposed by Indians?
Answer:
The Rowlatt Act (1919) was opposed because it gave enormous repressive powers
to the British government. It allowed detention of political prisoners without
trial for two years, no right to know charges, no legal representation, and
trials in closed courts with no appeal. Indians called it the "Black
Act." Gandhi launched nationwide satyagraha against it with rallies,
strikes, and shop closures.
Q3. Describe the Jallianwala Bagh incident.
Answer:
On April 13, 1919 (Baisakhi day), a large crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in
Amritsar. Some were protesting, others attending the fair, many unaware of
martial law. General Dyer arrived with troops, blocked the exit, and ordered
continuous firing for about 10 minutes. Hundreds were killed and wounded. This
brutal massacre created intense anger across India. Rabindranath Tagore
renounced his knighthood in protest.
Q4. Why did Gandhiji support the Khilafat Movement?
Answer:
Gandhi supported the Khilafat Movement to bring Hindus and Muslims together in
a unified struggle against British rule. After WWI, harsh peace treaty with
Turkey threatened the Khalifa's powers, angering Indian Muslims. Gandhi saw
this as an opportunity to build communal harmony and launch a broader
nationalist movement. At the Calcutta session (September 1920), Congress
formally supported it.
Q5. Why did Gandhiji withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer:
In February 1922, a peaceful demonstration at Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur, UP)
turned violent. When police fired, the angry crowd attacked and set fire to the
police station, killing 22 policemen. Gandhi was deeply disturbed by this
violence. He felt people were not adequately trained in non-violent methods and
the movement was turning violent. Therefore, he withdrew the Non-Cooperation
Movement in February 1922.
Board Exam Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
Q1. Discuss the main features of the Non-Cooperation Movement. Why was it withdrawn?
Answer:
The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) was launched by Mahatma Gandhi based
on his belief that British rule existed with Indian cooperation, and withdrawal
of cooperation would collapse it.
Main Features:
The movement had three proposed stages: (1) Surrendering titles and honors, (2)
Boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools
and foreign goods, (3) Full civil disobedience if government used repression.
Students left schools, teachers resigned, lawyers boycotted courts, and people burned foreign clothes. Middle-class participation was significant in cities. In countryside, peasants in Awadh led by Baba Ramchandra demanded reduction of revenue and abolition of begar. Tribal movements emerged in forest areas.
Withdrawal:
In February 1922, at Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur, UP), a peaceful demonstration
turned violent when police fired. The angry crowd attacked and burned the
police station, killing 22 policemen. Gandhi was deeply disturbed and felt
people weren't ready for non-violent struggle. He withdrew the movement, though
many leaders were disappointed. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru later formed the
Swaraj Party to participate in council elections.
Q2. Explain how the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India.
Answer:
The First World War (1914-18) significantly contributed to India's nationalist
awakening through economic hardships and political developments.
Economic Crisis:
War created huge defense expenditure financed by increased taxes and war loans.
Customs duties rose and income tax was introduced for the first time. Prices
doubled between 1913-1918, causing extreme hardship. Villages were forced to
supply soldiers and provide forced labour (begar). Crop failures between
1918-21 led to acute food shortage. The influenza epidemic killed 12-13 million
people, creating a humanitarian crisis.
Political Developments:
Indians hoped their war support would lead to greater autonomy. However,
instead of rewards, British introduced the repressive Rowlatt Act (1919)
allowing detention without trial. This shattered Indian expectations and
created anger.
Jallianwala Bagh:
The brutal massacre on April 13, 1919, where General Dyer killed hundreds of
peaceful people in Amritsar, intensified nationwide anger. Rabindranath Tagore
renounced his knighthood in protest.
Result:
These factors created an atmosphere of discontent and readiness to join the
freedom struggle. When Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), it
received mass support from all sections including students, teachers, lawyers,
workers, and peasants, marking the first true mass movement in India's freedom
struggle.
The French Revolution & the Idea of the Nation (Class 10 | NCERT Explained)
Memory Tricks for Dates
· 1919 = Three 9s almost = Three major events: Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh, Khilafat starts
· April 13, 1919 = Remember "13" unlucky number for that unlucky massacre day
· 1920 = Non-Cooperation starts (20-20 vision = clear vision for Swaraj)
· 1922 = Chauri Chaura (22 policemen killed, year ends in 22)
Conclusion
The period between the First World War and the Non-Cooperation Movement (1914-1922) marked a crucial turning point in India's freedom struggle. Economic hardships caused by the war, repressive British policies like the Rowlatt Act, and the brutal Jallianwala Bagh massacre transformed Indian nationalism from an elite movement to a mass movement. Mahatma Gandhi's entry into Indian politics with his unique weapon of non-violent Satyagraha gave new direction to the freedom struggle. His strategic alliance with the Khilafat Movement brought unprecedented Hindu-Muslim unity. Though the Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn after Chauri Chaura, it demonstrated the power of mass participation and non-violent resistance. This section is vital for CBSE Class 10 board exams, with questions regularly appearing in 3-mark and 5-mark formats.
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