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

Introduction

• First World War (1914-1918) created new political and economical situations in India.
• India was still under British Rule.
• The war years gave rise to new social and political conditions that shaped Indian Nationalism.

Impact of the First World War in India:

• Increased defence expenditure.
• Prices of goods were rising.
• Forced Recruitment of Indian soldiers in British army.
• Shortage of food.

Growth of Nationalism:

• Economic hardships + Political awareness = led to the new nationalist feelings.
• Common people began to realise that colonial rule was responsible for suffering.
• This created a base for mass movements against the British.

The role of Mahatma Gandhi:

• After the war, Mahatma Gandhi emerged as a leader of Indian nationalism.
• Introduced Satyagraha (truth-force/ non-violent resistance) as a new method of struggle.
• His leadership turned Indian Nationalism into a mass movement involving peasants, workers, women and students.

Topic-1: The First World War

Economic and social impact:

• “Huge War Expenditure”= So, Britishers imposed high taxes.
• Prices of food and goods doubled between 1913-1918, common people had to suffer.
• Shortages of food and essential goods led to famine-like situations.
• Epidemics (Spanish Flu) spread in 1918 and about 12-13 million people died in India.

Military Recruitment:

• British carried out forced recruitment from Indian villages.
• Many peasants and tribal men were taken into the army against their will.
• Families suffered due to loss of earning members.

Impact on peasants and farmers:

• Peasants forced to supply soldiers, grains and money for war.
• Heavy burden on loans and taxes.
• Rural India forced severe distress.

Rise of nationalist sentiments:

• People connected their sufferings to colonial exploitation.
• People realised that British rule was the root cause of their misery.
• Created a fertile ground for mass nationalism.

Role of Gandhiji after the war:

• Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915.
• Launched Satyagraha movements against British exploitation (from 1917 onwards).
• Transformed discontent into organised national struggle.

Topic-2: The idea of Satyagraha and Mahatma Gandhi

The idea of Satyagraha= coined by Mahatma Gandhi. Derived from Sanskrit words: “Satya= truth” and “Agraha= holding firmly”. Thus, Satyagraha= truth force.

Principles of Satyagraha:

• Non-violence (ahimsa): struggle without physical force.
• Truth as a weapon: Belief that truth and justice ultimately win.
• Conversion, not coersion: Aim was to change the heart of the oppressor, not to destroy them.
• Peaceful Protest: No use of arms.

Mahatma Gandhi and Satyagraha in India:

• Gandhiji returned from South Africa in January 1915, where he successfully used Satyagraha against racial discrimination.
• Introduced the idea of Satyagraha in India to unite people against British rule.

Early Satyagraha movements in India:

1. Champaran Satyagraha (1917, Bihar)

• Issue– Indigo planters forced peasants to grow Indigo under harsh conditions.
• Outcome– Gandhiji helped peasants get justice, reduced exploitation.

2. Kheda Satyagraha (1917, Gujarat)

• Issue- Farmers demanded remission of revenue due to crop failure.
• Outcome- Revenue collection suspended, relief for peasants.

3. Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918, Gujarat)

• Issue- Cotton mill workers demanded better wages.
• Outcome- Gandhiji led hunger strike and the result came into the favour of Indians (35% wage increased for workers).

Topic-3: Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh Incident, Khilafat Movement

1. Rowlatt Act (1919)

• Nicknamed the “Black Act”.
• Passed by the imperial Legislative Council inspite of strong opposition by Indian members.

Provisions:

• Gave government emergency powers to repress political activities.
• Allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for 2 years.
• Restrictions on press and freedom of assembly.

2. Jallianwala Bagh Incident

• On 13th April 1919 (Baisakhi Day), thousands of people gathered peacefully at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, to protect against the Rowlatt Act.
• General Dyer blocked the only exit and ordered troops to fire on the unarmed crowd.
• Hundreds were killed and thousands were wounded.
• Shocked the entire nation.

Led to:

• Stronger nationalist feelings.
• Gandhiji’s call for non-cooperation with the British government.

3. Khilafat Movement (1919-1924)

• After the First World War, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) defeated- fear that the Khalifa (Caliph, religious leader of Muslims) would be removed.
• Indian Muslims started Khilafat Movement to defeat Khalifa’s authority.
• Leaders: Ali brothers (Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali).

Demands:

• Ottoman Caliph should retain control over Muslim holy places.
• Khalifa’s position should not be weakened.

Gandhiji saw it as an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims. He supported Khilafat leaders and merged it with the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922).

Topic-4: Non-Cooperation Movement

Background:

• After Rowlatt Act, 1919 and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, trust in British rule declined.
• Mahatma Gandhi declared British rule based on cooperation of Indians. If Indians withdrew cooperation, British rule would collapse.
• Gandhiji proposed Non-Cooperation Movement in Nagpur Session of Congress (1920).
• Supported by Khilafat Movement (Muslim leaders: Ali brothers).

Programme of Non-Cooperation Movement:

• Withdrawal from institutions (schools, colleges, government jobs)
• Swadeshi and self-reliance (khadi and charkha)
• Peaceful protests, hartals and rallies.

Suspension of the movement:

• Movement turned violent at Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh in February 1922- protesters set police station on fire, killing 22 policemen.
• Gandhiji immediately withdrew the movement, stating that non-violence was the core principle.

Topic-5: Non-Cooperation Movement: In Towns

Started in 1920- mainly middle had participated in it (students, teachers, lawyers).

Students and Teachers:

• Students left government schools and colleges.
• Teachers resigned from educational institutions.

Lawyers:

• Prominent lawyers like C. Rajagopalachari, Motilal Nehru, Chittaranjan Das gave uo their practices.

Traders and Merchants:

• Boycotted foreign goods and promoted Swadeshi (Indian-made goods).
• Imports of foreign cloth fell drastically.
• Foreign cloth burnt in public bonfires.

Liquor shops and foreign cloth shops were picketed and use of khadi (homespun cloth) encouraged.

Result in towns:

• Strengthened the spirit of nationalism among the urban middle class.
• Increased the demand for khadi and Indian goods.

But the participation was limited:

• Poor could not afford costly khadi.
• Many students and lawyers returned to government institutions later.

Topic-6: Non-Cooperation Movement- Countryside Participation

Peasants in Awadh (Uttar Pradesh)- le by Baba Ramchandra (a sanyasi).

Issues:

• High rents and illegal taxes.
• Forced labour (begar).
• Oppression by landlords (taluqdars).

Demands:

• Reduction of land revenue.
• Abolition of begar.
• Social boycott of oppressive landlords.

By 1921, the Oudh Kisan Sabha formed. Spread “NO-RENT” campaigns.

Tribal communities:

Mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Central provinces.

Issues:

• British restricted access to forests.
• Tribals dependent on forests for fuel, food and fodder.

Leader: Alluri Sitaram Raju (Andhra Pradesh)

• Inspired by Gandhiji but believed in violent methods.
• Led a guerilla war against the British.
• Encouraged tribals to wear khadi and give up drinking, but also took arms.

Topic-7: Plantation Workers (Assam)

Background:

• Plantation workers lived in very harsh conditions.
• Under Inland Emigration Act of 1859, workers were not free to leave tea plantations.
• They were often exploited by planters and had no link with villages.

Demands:

• Right to move freely.
• Retain connection with their families.

They left plantations and defied authorities, believing Gandhi Raj would give them land in villages. Thousands joined, but movement was later suppressed violently.

Outcome:

• Uprisings were suppressed brutally by the police.
• Movement in plantations showed the spread of nationalism to workers, but heir interpretation of freedom was different from Gandhi’s idea of Swaraj.

Topic-8: Swaraj Party- Simon Commission

Background:

• After Gandhiji withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement (1922, Chauri Chaura), discontent in Congress.
• Some leaders wanted to enter councils and voice nationalist demands.

Formation:

• Founded in January 1923 by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru.
• Named Swaraj Party (Congress-Khilafat Swaraj Party).

Aim:

• Enter legislative councils and obstruct colonial government from within (policy of council entry).
• Use councils to demand reforms and expose British rule.

Significance:

• Kept up nationalist spirit when mass movements were suspended.
• Pressured British by opposing policies in legislatures.

Simon Commission (1927)

Background:

• To review Government of India Act, 1919, British set up a Statutory Commission (two years early).

Details:

• Simon Commission (1927) headed by Sir John Simon.
• Had 7 members- all British, no Indian representative.

Reaction in India:

• Indians outraged- seen as insult (“Indians not fit to decide their future”).
• Nationwide boycott of Commission.
• Protests with slogan: “Simon Go Back”.
• In Lahore (1928), Lala Lajpat Rai got injured in police lathi charge, later died- inflamed nationalist feelings.

Topic-9: Salt March and the Civil Disobedience Movement

Salt law

Background:

• Simon Commission (1927) boycott- led to the demand for complete independence (Purna Swaraj) in Lahore session of Congress, 1929 under Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Gandhiji announced Civil Disobedience Movement against unjust colonial rules.
• Chose salt law as the starting point (salt was a basic need, heavily taxed by the British).

March to Dandi:

• On 12th March 1930, Gandhiji with 78 followers began a 240 mile march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi (Gujarat).
• On 6th April 1930, Gandhiji broke the salt law by making salt from the seawater.
• Marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Civil Disobedience Movement

Nature:

Unlike Non-cooperation Movement, it went beyond boycott, included refusal to obey British laws peacefully.

Main features of the protest:

• Breaking salt law.
• Boycott of foreign cloth and liquor.
• Refusal to pay taxes.
• Resignation from government services.
• Violence of forest laws by peasants and tribals.

Participation:

• Rich peasant communities: hoping to lower revenue demands.
• Poor peasants: unpaid rent to be remitted.
• Business classes: Boycotted foreign goods, resisted import duties.
• Women: participated in large numbers, picketed liquor shops, made salt and joined protests.
• Muslims: lack of Hindu-Muslim unity.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931):

• Gandhiji called off the movement in 1931.
• Pact between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin (Viceroy):
  1. Government agreed to release political prisoners.
  2. Gandhiji agreed to attend Second Round Table Conference in London.
• But the conference failed and the movement resumed.

Topic-10: How participants saw the movement?

Rich peasants:

• Mainly Patidars (Gujarat) and Jats (Uttar Pradesh).
• Wanted reduction of land revenue.
• When revenue not reduced, many became discontented and stopped participating after 1931.

Poor peasants:

• Struggled with debts to moneylenders.
• Wanted remission to unpaid rent.
• Joined movement in hopes of relief but Congress leadership was reluctant to support their demands (feared loss of support from rich peasants and zamindars).
• Participation remained limited.

Business classes:

• Spread boycott of foreign goods.
• Demand: Lower import duties and protection for Indian industries.
• Initially supported Civil Disobedience, but after 1931, their enthusiasm declined because:
  1. Government refused to protect Indian industries.
  2. Business profits were hit by the Great Depression.

Industrial workers:

• Workers in Nagpur region participated in large numbers.
• Demanded better wages, working conditions along with Swaraj.
• Congress was cautious in fully including their demands, fearing it would upset industrialists.

Workers:

• Participated in large numbers for the first time.
• Women like Sarojini Naidu, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay led picketing of liquor shops and salt making.
• Thousands of rural women joined marches and boycotts.
• However, their role remained largely symbolic as Congress did not give them equal decision making authorities.

Muslim Political Groups:

• Participation was limited compared to Non-cooperation Movement.
• Reasons:
  1. Hindu Mahasabha propaganda created fear of Hindu domination.
  2. Failure of Congress to address Muslim political and cultural rights.
  3. Communal riots in 1920s further weakened trust.
• Many Muslims kept away, leading to decline in Hindu-Muslim unity.

Topic-11: Limits of the Civil Disobedience Movement

Dalits (Untouchables/ Depressed Classes):

• Very little participation.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for Dalits (Poona Pact, 1932).
• Dalits felt Congress was dominated by high caste Hindus and ignored their social issues.

Muslims:

• Limited paricipation.
• Reasons:
  1. Congress failed to address Muslim concerns (protection of culture, separate electorates).
  2. After Khilafat Movement collapsed, Muslim support declined.
• Led to communal tensions in many regions.

Industrial workers:

• Partial participation.
• Congress did not include worker’s economic demands (higher wages, better conditions), fearing it might alienate industrialists.
• Workers joined in places like Nagpur, but not on a large scale.

Rich and poor peasants:

• Rich peasants: Initially active, but withdrew when revenue reduction was not granted.
• Poor peasants: Wanted rent remission, but Congress was reluctant to support (feared loss of zamindar’s support).
• Hence, participation weakened in rural areas.

Women:

• Joined in large numbers (picketing, marches, salt making).
• But Congress did not give them decision making powers, keeping their role symbolic.

Topic-12: Sense of collective belonging

• Nationalism spread when people started to imagine themselves as one nation.
• A shared identity gave Indians a feeling of unity in the struggle against colonial rule.

Symbols and Images:

• Image of Bharat Mata (Mother India) popularised by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his song “Vande Mataram”.
• Later, painted by Abanindranath Tagore as a Mother Goddess, symbolising nation as divine and spiritual.
• Helped people visualize India as a motherland.

Folklore and Folk songs:

• Nationalists collected folk tales, songs and legends.
• They believed folklore expressed the real spirit of the nation.
• Example: Rabindranath Tagore collected ballads and songs in Bengal.
• In Madras, Natesa Sastri published “The Folklore of the Southern India”.

Nationalist figures and icons:

• Leaders used mythological and historical figures to inspire pride.
• Example: Shivaji, Maharana Pratap glorified as symbols of resistance against foreign domination.

Reinterpretation of History:

• Nationalists wrote about India’s glorious past (ancient science, culture, trade, art).
• British rule depicted as a period of decline and slavery.
• Aim: To install pride and confidence among Indians.