Q. How did the racial arrogance of the British lead to growth of national consciousness in the later half of the 19th century ? Ans. The English rulers began to act arrogantly and insult the Indians at every step. They put undue restrictions on the Indians and looked down upon them as animals. But such a policy of racial arrogance of the British led to the growth of national consciousness in India in the later half of the 19th century in a number of ways, as given above :–
(i) The British maintained their exclusive clubs, where entry of Indians was prohibited. Also, they put restrictions that during the rail journey, Indians could not travel in the same coaches in which they were travelling, thus shamelessly treating the Indians as inferior. All this infuriated the Indians as they could not tolerate to be treated as inferiors by the foreigners and they developed a hatred against he Britishers and tried to get rid of them.
(ii) The feeling of racial superiority in the British rulers made them insult the Indians openly. Naturally, nobody can tolerate this and the Indians got ready to face the arrogant English people with full force.
(iii) The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 and Arms Act of 1879 made it clear to the Indians that they would continue to be discriminated in every field. Hence their resolve to fight out the enemy only one grew.
(iv) Finally, when the liberty Bill, which sought equality both to the Indian and European Judges, could not be passed in 1883, the Indians now fully that they could not get justice from the English and decided to get freedom by ousting the English from the countries.
(ii) The feeling of racial superiority in the British rulers made them insult the Indians openly. Naturally, nobody can tolerate this and the Indians got ready to face the arrogant English people with full force.
(iii) The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 and Arms Act of 1879 made it clear to the Indians that they would continue to be discriminated in every field. Hence their resolve to fight out the enemy only one grew.
(iv) Finally, when the liberty Bill, which sought equality both to the Indian and European Judges, could not be passed in 1883, the Indians now fully that they could not get justice from the English and decided to get freedom by ousting the English from the countries.
Ans. 1. The war created a new economic and political situation, which led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes. Also, customs duties were raised and income tax introduced.
2. Due to and in the course of the first World War, prices increased dramatically – doubling between 1913 and 1918 – leading to extreme hardships for the common people.
3. Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers, and forced recruitment were carried out in rural areas.
2. Due to and in the course of the first World War, prices increased dramatically – doubling between 1913 and 1918 – leading to extreme hardships for the common people.
3. Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers, and forced recruitment were carried out in rural areas.
Q. What did the slogan of Swaraj mean ? How was the slogan of complete independence different from it ?
Ans. The slogan of Swaraj meant self-government or the system of government that was prevailing in the self-governed British colonies at that time. It did not mean complete independence from all foreign control. On the contrary, the Complete Independence meant full control over the country, without any foreign intervention whatsoever. Thus Swaraj and Complete Independence differed much from each other. Swaraj was self government but not free from foreign control whereas Complete Independence meant freedom from all internal and external control. The slogan of Complete Independence was adopted for the first time, in December 1927 A.D., when the Congress was holding its session at Madras.
Q. What was Khilafat Movement ? Explain.
Ans. Among the general national resentment, a new issue stirred the emotions of the Indian Muslims. During the cause of the First World War, the British government took certain decisions that offended the Muslims greatly. Turkey had fought against the British in the war and was defeated. The ruler of Turkey was the caliph (Khalifa) or the religious head of the Muslims. The British had partitioned the Turkish Empire and weakened the position of the Khalifa. The Indian Muslims sent a delegation to the Viceroy of India and the Secretary of State for India to restore the position of the ruler of Turkey to the pre-war level. But their demand was completely ignored. Meanwhile, the Allies decided to disband the office of the Caliph after the first great war. This enraged the Muslims who considered it as an insult to their religions beliefs.
The Muslims in India started a powerful politico-religious movement known as the Khilafat Movement. Its leaders, the Ali Brothers – Muhammad Alli and Shaukat Ali plunged themselves into the movement. Muslim theologians also lent their support to them. Moreover, the success of the agitation was further assured by the large measure of sympathy and support which Mahatma Gandhi gave to it.
The Muslims in India started a powerful politico-religious movement known as the Khilafat Movement. Its leaders, the Ali Brothers – Muhammad Alli and Shaukat Ali plunged themselves into the movement. Muslim theologians also lent their support to them. Moreover, the success of the agitation was further assured by the large measure of sympathy and support which Mahatma Gandhi gave to it.
Q. What did the Indians make during the Firts World War ? How did the British government react to it ?
Ans. During the First World War (1914 – 1918), despite their differences with the British Government, the Indians gave much help to it. Indian troops fought in France, Belgium, Egypt, the Sudan, North China, Persia, East Africa. Mesopotamia, etc. also. India bore the heavy expenditure of maintaining a large army. She also gave a huge gift of one hundred million pounds to Britain to conduct war. Besides, the Indian princes and the rich helped the British by contributing to the war fund. Under these circumstances, the British authorities decided to please the Indians by a further instalment of reforms. Consequently, the British Prime Minister Asquith declared that the Indian problem would be solved from a new angle of vision in the future. Because of these developments, the Indians sensed a ray of hope.
Ans. To protest against the Rowlatt Act, Mahatama Gandhi declared 6th April, 1919 as Satyagraha day, which proved to be a unique success. Some incidents of violence took place in Delhi and Ahmedabad. The most serious disturbance, however, took place at Amritsar where three prominent Englishmen were killed. Sir Michael O’ Dyer, the Governor of Punjab, issued a proclamation on April 11, which forbade meetings and processions. The Government also arrested two prominent Congress leaders Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satya Pal. On April 13, i.e., the Baisakhi Day, about 20,000 people assembled in the Jallianwala Bagh for a peaceful general meeting to protest against the arrest of their leaders. A large number of people, who had come to visit the Harimandar Sahib also joined the meeting. Brigadier General Dyer, who was looking for such an opportunity, arrived at Jallianwala Bagh with 500 troops, who were ordered to open fire without giving the people a warning to disperse. In the relentless firing that followed, about 400 people were killed and nearly 1200 were wounded. This massacre is known as the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Q. Name the factors that made the national movement a mass movement at the end of the First World War.
Ans. The following were the main factors that made the national movement a mass movement at the end of the First-World War –
(i) The major factor was the arrival of Mahatama Gandhi on the political field of India. His method of non-violent resistance and the gospel of the Hindu-Muslim unity drew millions of people into the National Movement.
(ii) The people had been impoverished by the war expenditure imposed on India to such an extent that they turned against the British Government in large numbers.
(iii) The defeat and disband of Khalifa of Turkey by the Allies had already provoked the Muslim masses against the British Government.
(iv) The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) fell short of the aspiration and the expectations of the Indians, who now felt one after another blow to their hopes of getting justice and equality.
(v) The Rowlatt Act as well as the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy acted as a nail on the Coffin in such a scenario.
(i) The major factor was the arrival of Mahatama Gandhi on the political field of India. His method of non-violent resistance and the gospel of the Hindu-Muslim unity drew millions of people into the National Movement.
(ii) The people had been impoverished by the war expenditure imposed on India to such an extent that they turned against the British Government in large numbers.
(iii) The defeat and disband of Khalifa of Turkey by the Allies had already provoked the Muslim masses against the British Government.
(iv) The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) fell short of the aspiration and the expectations of the Indians, who now felt one after another blow to their hopes of getting justice and equality.
(v) The Rowlatt Act as well as the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy acted as a nail on the Coffin in such a scenario.
Q. List all the different social groups which joined the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921. Then choose any three and write about their hopes and struggles to show why they joined the movement. (N.C.E.R.T.)
Ans. The social groups of India, that joined the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921 were as under –
1. Middle-classes people, i.e., students, teachers, lawyers etc.
2. Political parties except the Justice Party of Madras, the party of non-Brahmins.
3. Peasants of Awadh led by Baba Ramchandra.
4. Merchants and traders.
5. Tribals of Andhra Pradesh led by Alluri Sitaram Raju.
6. Plantation workers in Assam.
Why they joined the Non-cooperation Movement
1. Tribals of Andhra Pradesh: The tribals of Andhra Pradesh were a disturbed lot. They could not enter the forests because now those were reserved by the colonial government. Thus they could not collect fuelwood from forests. Moreover, tribal people depended upon cattle which grazed in the jungles. But this activity also stopped as soon as the forests were reserved. Thus, the lives of tribals came to a standstill.
Led by Alluri Sitaram Raju, who firmly believed in Gandhi except his non-violent methods of attaining freedom, the tribals rebelled against the oppressive British government and joined the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement but violently.
2. Peasants of Awadh: The poor peasants of Awadh also had a tough time. As they did not have land, they had to cultivate the landlord’s field, who asked for rents, which if not paid at times led to the confiscation of the rented land as well as the crops. This incurred credit to the poor peasants, and they got trapped into the vicious debt cycle. So, much so, often they had to do begar and work at landlords farms without any payment.
Bana Ramchandra, a Sanyasi, led the poor peasants movement and with the help of Jawahar Lal Nehru established the ‘‘Oudh Kisan Sabha’’ in 1920. This movement was later merged with the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movements of 1921.
3. Planation Workers: The plantation workers assumed that by joining the Non-Cooperation Movement they could reunite with their families, by overruling the terms and conditions of their contracts. So, many of them defied the authorities, left the planations and headed home. They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and everyone would be given land in their own villages. But their plans failed as they could not reach their destinations because of railways and steamer strikes and were caught by the police and beaten up by them brutually.
Led by Alluri Sitaram Raju, who firmly believed in Gandhi except his non-violent methods of attaining freedom, the tribals rebelled against the oppressive British government and joined the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement but violently.
2. Peasants of Awadh: The poor peasants of Awadh also had a tough time. As they did not have land, they had to cultivate the landlord’s field, who asked for rents, which if not paid at times led to the confiscation of the rented land as well as the crops. This incurred credit to the poor peasants, and they got trapped into the vicious debt cycle. So, much so, often they had to do begar and work at landlords farms without any payment.
Bana Ramchandra, a Sanyasi, led the poor peasants movement and with the help of Jawahar Lal Nehru established the ‘‘Oudh Kisan Sabha’’ in 1920. This movement was later merged with the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movements of 1921.
3. Planation Workers: The plantation workers assumed that by joining the Non-Cooperation Movement they could reunite with their families, by overruling the terms and conditions of their contracts. So, many of them defied the authorities, left the planations and headed home. They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and everyone would be given land in their own villages. But their plans failed as they could not reach their destinations because of railways and steamer strikes and were caught by the police and beaten up by them brutually.
Q. Why did political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates ?
Ans. Separate electorates means that people of one religion only vote for a candidate of their own religion. This system was put in vague cleverly by the Britishers who were famous for their policy of Divide and Rule. By doing so, they wanted to prolong their stay in India. The different political leaders differed over the question of separate electrorates because of the following reasons –
(i) The Congress leaders opposed British Government’s policy of separate electorates. They knew well that it was all the mischief of the British Government to create a wedge among the different sections of the society.
(ii) The Muslim leaders, like Muhammad Iqbal and Mr. Jinnah asked for separate electrorates to safeguard the political interests of the Muslims. They were of the opinion that as the majority of the people were Hindus, so in case of joint-electrorates, the Muslims would have a little chance of winning the seats.
(i) The Congress leaders opposed British Government’s policy of separate electorates. They knew well that it was all the mischief of the British Government to create a wedge among the different sections of the society.
(ii) The Muslim leaders, like Muhammad Iqbal and Mr. Jinnah asked for separate electrorates to safeguard the political interests of the Muslims. They were of the opinion that as the majority of the people were Hindus, so in case of joint-electrorates, the Muslims would have a little chance of winning the seats.
Q. Why did the Congress ignored the dalits for a long time ? What role did Gandhiji play in uplifting them ?
Ans. The Congress had ignored the dalits for a long time for the fear of offending the Sanatanis, the conservative high-caste Hindus. But Mahatama Gandhi declared that swaraj could never be a success if untouchability was not eliminated, and under his constructive programme he laid stress on the removal of untouchability.
Gandhiji called Dalits as harijans, meaning ‘the children of God’. He also organised satyagraha to secure their entry into the places of worship, the temples as well as their access to public wells, tanks, roads and schools. He toured their colonies and even lived there. So, much so, Gandhiji himself used to clean his toilet to dignify the work of bhangis.
Thus we can conclude that Gandhiji was bent upon uplifting the dalits and left no stone upturned to achieve his objective.
Gandhiji called Dalits as harijans, meaning ‘the children of God’. He also organised satyagraha to secure their entry into the places of worship, the temples as well as their access to public wells, tanks, roads and schools. He toured their colonies and even lived there. So, much so, Gandhiji himself used to clean his toilet to dignify the work of bhangis.
Thus we can conclude that Gandhiji was bent upon uplifting the dalits and left no stone upturned to achieve his objective.
Q. 43. When was the Muslim League formed ? Describe briefly the policies of the Muslim League from 1906 to 1940.
Ans. The Muslim League was formed on 30th December. Some of its prominent leaders include Aga Khan, Nawab Salimullah of Dacca and Mohammad Ali Jinah. The main aims and policies of the Muslims League from 1906-1940 were the following –
(i) To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslim of India.
(ii) To ask for more and more reforms for the Muslims.
(iii) To promote the feelings of loyalty to the British Government among the Muslims for getting more and more benefits for the Muslims.
(iv) To make a demand for the separate electorate and then for a separate state for the Muslims.
It was with these objectives in mind that the Muslim League at its Lahore Session in 1940 A.D. for the formation of a separate state of Pakistan for the first time.
(i) To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslim of India.
(ii) To ask for more and more reforms for the Muslims.
(iii) To promote the feelings of loyalty to the British Government among the Muslims for getting more and more benefits for the Muslims.
(iv) To make a demand for the separate electorate and then for a separate state for the Muslims.
It was with these objectives in mind that the Muslim League at its Lahore Session in 1940 A.D. for the formation of a separate state of Pakistan for the first time.
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