1915-1920 (BEFORE LAUNCHING THE NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT) Flashcards
What was the Rowlatt Act?
Rowlatt Act gave the government enormous powers to suppress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. In other words, the Act proposed no appeal, no vakil and no daleel.
Why was the Rowlatt Act imposed?
The imposing of the Rowlatt Act authorized the government to imprison any person without trial and conviction in a court of law.
Why was the Khilafat movement started?
Khilafat movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi and the Ali Brothers, Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali in response to the harsh treatment given to the Caliph of Ottoman empire and the dismemberment of the Ottoman empire by the British
Which Act did not permit plantation workers to leave the tea garden without permission?
Inland Emigration Act of 1859.
Name two main ‘Satyagraha’ movements organized by Mahatma Gandhi successfully in favour of peasants in 1916 and 1917.
- Indigo Planters Movement in Champaran, Bihar in 1916.
- Peasants Satyagraha Movement was organized in Kheda district in Gujarat in 1917 to support peasants in the demand for relaxation of revenue collection.
In which year and place did Mahatma Gandhi organise Satyagraha for the first time in India?
In 1916, in Champaran, Bihar.
Explain the idea of Satyagraha according to Gandhiji.
- Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915 from South Africa.
- Gandhiji’s novel method of mass agitation is know as ‘Satyagraha’.
- Satyagraha emphasised truth. Gandhiji believed that if the cause is true, if the struggle is against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.
- A satyagrahi can win the battle through non-violence. People, including oppressors, had to be persuaded to see the truth.
- Truth was bound to ultimately triumph. Gandhiji believed that dharma of non-violence could unite all India.
Explain any three facts about the new economic situation created in India by the First World War. (
The First World War created a dramatically new economic situation in India:
(i) Manchester imports into India declined as the British mills were busy with war production to meet the needs of the army paving the way for the Indian mills to supply for the huge home market.
(ii) As the war prolonged, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs. As a result new factories were set up, new workers were employed and everyone was made to work longer hours.
(iii) Cotton production collapsed and exports of cotton cloth from Britain fell dramatically after the war, as it was unable to modernize and compete with US, Germany, Japan. Hence within colonies like India, local industrialists gradually consolidated their position capturing the home market.
How did the plantation workers understand the idea of ‘Swaraj’? Explain.
- For the plantation workers of Assam, “Swaraj” meant freedom to move freely in and out of the confined space in which they all were enclosed and also to be able to keep the link with their native village intact. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, plantation workers were not allowed to leave their tea gardens without permission, which they were rarely given.
- When they heard of the Non-cooperation Movement, thousands of workers defied authorities, left the plantations and headed home
Explain the reaction of Indian people against the Rowlatt Act passed through the Imperial Legislative Council in 1919.
Reaction of Indian people against the Rowlatt Act of 1919:
- Rallies were organized against this Act.
- Railways, workshops and shops closed down.
- The procession in Amritsar provoked widespread attacks on buses, post offices, railway stations, telegraphic lines, etc.
- On 6th April Gandhiji held Hartal against this unjust law (Rowlatt Act).
- The peaceful demonstration in Jallianwala Bagh led to a violent movement all across the country.
How had the First World War created a new economic situation in India? Explain with three examples.
The First World War created a dramatically new economic situation in India:
(i) Manchester imports into India declined as the British mills were busy with war production to meet the needs of the army paving the way for the Indian mills to supply for the huge home market.
(ii) As the war prolonged, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs. As a result new factories were set up, new workers were employed and everyone was made to work longer hours.
(iii) Cotton production collapsed and exports of cotton cloth from Britain fell dramatically after the war, as it was unable to modernize and compete with US, Germany, Japan. Hence within colonies like India, local industrialists gradually consolidated their position capturing the home market
How was Rowlatt Act opposed by the people in India? Explain with examples.
- Gandhiji, who had formed a Satyagraha Sabha earlier, called for a countrywide protest against the proposed Rowlatt Act.
- Throughout the country, 6 April 1919 was observed as a National Humiliation Day.
- Gandhiji wanted a non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws.
- Hartals (Strikes) and rallies were organized in various cities.
- Workers went on strike in railway workshops. Shops closed down.
- The movement was non-violent but proved to be effective
Why did Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919? How was it organised ?
but proved to be effective.
The Rowlatt Act was passed despite the united opposition of the Indian members of Imperial Legislative Council.
The Act gave the government enormous powers to oppress political agitations.
1. It had allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. There was no provision for appeal.
2. The passing of this Act aroused large scale indignation.
Gandhiji, who had formed a Satyagraha Sabha earlier, called for a countrywide protest against the proposed Rowlatt Act.
3. Throughout the country, 6 April 1919 was observed as a National Humiliation Day.
4. Gandhiji wanted a non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws.
5. Hartals and rallies were organized in various cities. Workers went on strike in railway workshops.
6. Shops were closed down.
7. The movement was non-violent
Explain any three problems faced by the peasants of Awadh.
Three problems faced by the peasants of Awadh were:
- Talukdars and landlords demanded exorbitantly high rents and a variety of other taxes from the peasants.
- Peasants had to do begar and work at the landlords’ farms without any payment.
- As tenants they had no security of tenure and were being regularly evicted so that they could acquire no right over the leased land
Describe the role of the peasants in Awadh in the Non-cooperation Movement.
Role of the peasants in Awadh in the Non-cooperation Movement:
- In Awadh, the peasants’ movement was led by Baba Ramchandra—a Sanyasi who had earlier worked in Fiji as indentured labour.
- The movement was against taluqdars and landlords who demanded high rents from the peasants.
- Peasants had to do ‘bega/ and work at landlords’ farms without any payment. As tenants, they had no security of tenure and could be evicted without any notice.
- The peasants’ movement demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar and social boycott of these landlords.
- In many places Nai-Dhobi bandits were organized to deprive landlords of the services of even washermen and barbers.
- In 1920, Jawahar Lai Nehru began talking to the villagers and formed ‘Oudh Kisan Sabha’. Within a month 300 branches had been setup in the villages.
- As the movement spread in 1921, the houses of taluqdars and merchants were attacked, bazaars were looted and grain hoards were taken over.
