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

The struggle for freedom in India was not just a political movement, but also a unifying force that brought together people from different regions, classes and communities. Chapter-2 of Class-10th History “Nationalism in India”, explains how the First World War, economic hardships and the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi transformed the Indian national movement into a mass struggle.

It highlights important events such as the Satyagraha movements, the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement and the role of different groups and communities in shaping the idea of one united India.

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: 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-8: 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-9: 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-10: 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-11: 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.

Conclusion

• The Indian freedom struggle was a long and multi-dimensional movement.
• Different groups- peasants, tribals, students, workers, women and business classes- all played their part.
• Under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership, nationalism was transformed into a mass movement based on truth and non-violence (Satyagraha).
• Movements like Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and Salt March reflected the growing unity among Indians.
• Despite differences of class, caste, community and gender, people came together with the dream of Swaraj (self-rule).
• By the 1940s, the spirit of nationalism had spread so widely that it became impossible for the British to continue their rule in India.

Full Chapter Explanation

Detailed notes of other chapters:

The Rise Of Nationalism In Europe (Notes)- Class-10th History Chapter-1

Making Of A Global World: Class-10th History Chapter-3 (Easy NCERT Notes)