Class-10th Nationalism In India(Chapter-2)(History)

 Nationlism In India
Class-10th(Notes)

Part-1

In India,the growth of modern nationalism is connected to the anti-colonial movement.People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism.The Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi tried to unite each class and group together within one movement.

The First World War,Khilafat and Non-Cooperation

The first world war(1914)created a new economic and political situation worldwide.India faced various problem during the war period.For example-

• Defence expenditure increased.
• Custom duties were raised and income tax.
• Prices of food grains were increased and doubled between 1913 and 1918.
• Villagers were recruited forcefully in army.

After the war in 1918-19 and 1920-21,Indian industries faced heavy loses,people suffered from acute shortage of food,influenza epidemic etc. In such a critical situation a new leader Mahatma Gandhi came to India from South Africa In January,1915.

The idea of Satyagraha

• Gandhiji's method of movement and protest based on truth and non-violence was known as Satyagraha.The idea of Satyagraha emphasised on the power of truth.As per Gandhiji without being aggressive a satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence.
• In 1917,Gandhiji travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasents to struggle against oppressive plantation system.In the same year Gandhiji also organised a shortage of food due to crop failure and plague epidmic.
• In 1918,Gandhiji went to Ahemdabad to organise a Satyagraha movement amongest cotton mill workers.

The Rowlatt Act

• The Rowlatt Act was passed through the Imperial Legislative Council in 1919 but Indian members opposed the Act
• According to this Act,the political prisoners could be detained in prison for two years without any trial.
• Gandhiji decided to opppose this Act with Satyagraha
• On 6th April,1919 Gandhiji launched a nation wide Satyagraha With hartal.
• Rallies were organised in various cities,workers went on strike in railway workshop and shops were closed down.
• Several local leaders were arrested.Gandhiji was barred(restricted)from entering Delhi.
• On 10th April,1919 the police in Amritsar opened fired on peaceful procession.
• Martial Law was imposed in Amritsar and the Command of the area was given to the General Dyer.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

• On 13 April 1919 a large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar,Punjab.
• Some People gathered there to protest against government's repressive measures,while some came to attend the annual Baishakhi fair.Many of them unaware of the martial law that was imposed.
• General Dyer blocked the exit points of the ground and gave order to open fire on the crowd.Hundred of people were killed in this incident.
• As the news spread,strikes,clashes with the police and attacks on government building started.
• The government responded with force to end the movement by humailiting people.Satyagrahis were froced to rub their noses on the ground,crawd on the streets and do salaam(salute)to all sahibs.
• Rabindranath Tagore returned his title,knighthood during this incident.
• Mahatma Gandhi called off the Satyagraha Movement when he saw spread of violence.

Khilafat Movement

• The First World War had ended with the defeat of Ottoman Empire.
• After the First World War rumours were spread that a peace treaty was going to be imposed on Khalifa(spiritual head of Islamic world) Of Ottoman Empire.
• Gandhiji believed that by this Khilafat issue he could unite the Hindus and Muslims and launch a wide movement in India.
• A Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay under the leadership of Maulana Azad,Hakim Ajmal Khan and Hasrat Mohani.
• Muslim Leaders,Muhammad Ali and Saukat Ali began discussing with Gandhiji about a united mass action on the Khilafat Issue. Gandhiji saw this as an opportunity of uniting Hindus and Muslims.
• The Congress passed the resolution in its Calcutta Session in September 1920 to start a Non-Cooperation movement in support of Khilafat as well as for Swaraj.

Need of Non-Coopertion Movement

Gandhiji in his famous book Hind Swaraj (1909) declared that British rule was established in India with the Cooperation of Indians.If Indians Refused to cooperate,British rule in India would collapse with in a year and Swaraj would come.

Mahatma Gandhi proposed the following startegy for the implementation of Non-Cooperation as a Movement

• The movement would begin with a surrender of titles,honours and honorary posts by the people.
• The movement would boycott Civil services,Army,police,British courts and Legislative Assemblies,School and Colleges and British Goods
• The British goods would be replaced by domestic goods or Swadeshi to promote the Native Cottage Industries.
• In case of government Suppression,Civil Disobedience Movement would be launched.

The Non-Cooperation Movement was adopted by the Congress during the Nagpur Conference in December 1920 and it began under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.

Differing Strands Within The Movement

In January 1921,The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement started.Various Social groups participated in the movement with their own specific aspiration.

The movements in Towns

• Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement started in the cities with middle-class participation.
• Students and teachers left government-controlled school and lawyers left courts
• Foreign goods were boycotted.The merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade.As a result,the production of Indian textile mills and handlooms increased.
• Liqour shops were picketed
• Council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras.
• However,this movement gradually slowed down for many reasons like expensive Khadi clothes were not suitable for poor people and no alternative institutions were set-up.Finally the teachers and students had to resume their studies and jobs in government schools and lawyers joined back in government courts.

Rebellion in the Countryside

From cities,the Non-Cooperation Movement spread to the countryside.

Peasant Movement in Awadh 

• In Awadh,the peasant Movement developed under the leadership of Baba Ramchandra(a Sanyasi who had earlier been a Fiji as an Indentured Labourer).
• This Peasant Movement demanded reduction of revenue,abolition of begar and social boycott of Opressive landlords.
• In many places,nai-dhobhi bandhs were organised by panchayats to deny services to all landlords.
• In October,1920 the Oudh Kisan Sabha was set-up.It was headed by Jawaharlal Nehru,Baba Ramchandra and few others.Within a month,over 300 branches of this sabha had been set up in the villages around the region.
• As the peasant movement spread,the houses of Talukdars(Indian Landholders)and merchants were attacked,bazaars were looted and grain hoards were taken over.

Tribal Movement in Andhra Pradhesh

• Tribal peasants interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of Swaraj.
• In the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh,a militant Guerrilla Movement spread in the early 1920 under the leadership of Alluri Sitaram Raju.
• Raju convinced people to wear 'Khadi' and give up drinking according to Gandhian ideas.
• The Gudem rebels attacked police stations,attempted to kill British officals and carried on Guerrilla warfare for achieving Swaraj.
• Raju was captured and executed in 1924 and gradually he become a folk hero.

Swaraj in the Plantations

• According to Indian Emigration Act of 1859 plantation workers were not permitted to leave the tea gardens without permission.
• When the news of Non-Cooperation Movement spread to the plantation,they left their their job and headed towards their home.
• The plantation workers believed that in Gandhi Raj,everyone would be given land in their own village.However they were caught by the police and brutally beaten up.