Gandhi and INC

Question 1

Hindus and Muslims in Inter-War period of WW2

Answer 1

1920-40 transformed INC from middle/upper class debating group to political party of masses
Much of credit given to Gandhi
Rising force of nationalism tempered by Muslim minority led by Jinnah
Lucknow Pact days long forgotten, Muslims worsened at both local and national levels

Question 2

Non- Cooperation 1920-22

Answer 2

Swaraj (self rule) declared as ultimate aim. Gandhi set unrealistic time frame of a year to achieve this. Did create support however
Lawyers boycotted in courts, teachers in schools. Universal boycotts on British goods such as cloth and had an economic impact on British manufacturers
30,000 people arrested, made matters worse for Raj

Question 3

Gandhi and the masses

Answer 3

Gained mass support by opposing child marriage Purdah. Untouchability, and oppression of Hindu widows, rose to 2 million INC membership
1920s INC appealed to peasants portraying Gandhi like a Messiah, strategy that roused the peasants to the nationalist cause

Question 4

Satyagraha 1922

Answer 4

Led to nationalist organizations
Non violent
Drew international attention due to problems for British
Often unsuccessful in achieving specific aims, showed British Empire that could be defeated by masses

Question 5

Chauri Chaura

Answer 5

Small scale riots broke out during 1921- 600 people killed
More deaths 1922
Troops from Provincial government called in and Martial Law put in place
Ahisma was forgotten by rebel mobs
In town Chauri Chaura- 22 policeman had been burnt and beaten to death
Feb 1922 Gandhi went on hunger strike due to INC doing nothing to curb violence, demanded end of 2nd satyagraha. Fasted close to death and ended Satyagraha

Question 6

Gandhi Arrested

Answer 6

Saved Raj from revolution but Gandhi arrested 1922 sentenced to 6 years
Served 2 year released due to appendicitis
While in prison INC consolidated
C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru took over from Gandhi
Gandhi set up Congress Working Committee (CWC) like a Cabinet in government
Persuaded Congress to promote literacy among masses, improve sanitation and begin campaign to eradicate untouchability

Question 7

Release from Prison

Answer 7

Became a symbol of pride when arrested
Upon release Gandhi did not return to politics immediately due to fear of how masses would react e.g. violence as well as time not being right for civil disobedience

Question 8

The ‘Young Hooligans’

Answer 8

Name given by Gandhi to 3 young men of INC who had demanded purna swaraj
BOSE, NEHRU, NARAYAN REMEMBER 2 NAMES AT LEAST
Rejected any notion of dominion status, attracted socialism and Gandhi deeply conservative declared them as radicals
Nehru became Gandhi’s most trusted disciple years to come and 1947-64 first PM (Indian)

Question 9

Nehru Report 1928

Answer 9

Motilal Nehru and Sapru produced an alternative approach to nationalist cause in 1928
Nehru Report first constitution wrote by Indians only and conceived dominion status for India, same terms of white self governed countries
Endorsed by INC but rejected by Jinnah and Young Hooligans
Only report but did show some INC prepared to negotiate independence

Question 10

Lahore Congress 1929

Answer 10

December 1928 Gandhi appealed to British to grant Dominion Status or face another satyagraha. British did not respond.
Annual Congress in Lahore 1929 following December Young Hooligan demands finally accepted by INC and should aim for nothing less than Purna Swaraj
Caused INC to reject the Round Table Conference
INC nominated 1930 as Independence Day while stemming support from more radical movements such as one led by Bose
CWC agreed a secret meeting that Gandhi should initiate a civil disobedience campaign when he judged moment right

Question 11

Salt March 1930

Answer 11

Gandhi and followers marched to protest against British monopoly on salt
Gandhi argued salt from Indian Ocean belonged to Indian people not British
Campaign one of most successful of nationalism, British responded by imprisonment of 60,000 people
20,000 protestors arrested on Viceroys orders
Gandhi arrested- were mistaken didn’t neutralize nationalists made them worse

Question 12

Aftermath of Salt March

Answer 12

British response to treat it as a joke and Gandhi’s little tricks- so did nothing but continue repressive policies
Gandhi arrest= triggered nationalist Hartals
British arrested entire CWC
INC had announced Independence Day for India, British ignored it
End of 1930 INC and Raj at a stalemate