Nationalism in India

Question 1

What was the Rowlatt Act? (2011 OD)

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Why was the Rowlatt Act imposed? (2011 D)

Answer 2

The imposing of the Rowlatt Act authorized the government to imprison any person without trial and conviction in a court of law.

Question 3

In which session of the Indian National Congress was the demand for ‘Puma Swaraj’ formalized? (2012 D)

Answer 3

Lahore Session, December 1929.

Question 4

Who composed ‘Vande Mataram’? (2012 D)

Answer 4

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Question 5

Who created the first image of Bharat Mata? (2012 D)

Answer 5

Abanindranath Tagore

Question 6

Why was the Khilafat movement started? (2012 OD)

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

What combination of colours was there in the ‘Swaraj flag’ designed by Gandhiji in 1921? (2012 OD)

Answer 7

Red, Green and White.

Question 8

What was the main reason to withdraw the Non-cooperation Movement? (2013 OD)

Answer 8

Mahatma Gandhi called off the Non-cooperation Movement as the movement had turned violent in many places. The Chauri Chaura incident in 1922 turned into a violent dash and 22 policemen were killed. Gandhiji felt satyagrahis were not ready for mass struggles.

Question 9

Which Act did not permit plantation workers to leave the tea garden without permission?

Answer 9

Inland Emigration Act of 1859.

Question 10

Name two main ‘Satyagraha’ movements organized by Mahatma Gandhi successfully in favour of peasants in 1916 and 1917. (2013 D)

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Who is the author of the famous book ‘Hind Swaraj’? (2014 D)

Answer 11

Mahatma Gandhi.

Question 12

In which novel was the hymn ‘Vande Mataram’ included and who was the novel written by? (2014 OD)

Answer 12

Novel—Aandamath
Author — Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

Question 13

In which year and place did Mahatma Gandhi organise Satyagraha for the first time in India? (2014 D)

Answer 13

In 1916, in Champaran, Bihar.

Question 14

Explain the idea of Satyagraha according to Gandhiji. (2014 D)

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Explain the effects of ‘worldwide economic depression’ on India, towards late 1920s. (2013 OD)

Answer 15

In 19th century, colonial India had become an exporter of agricultural goods and an importer of manufactures.
The worldwide economic depression immediately affected Indian trade. India’s exports and imports nearly halved between 1928 and 1934. As international prices crashed, prices in India also plunged. Peasants producing for the world market were worst hit. Though agricultural prices fell, the colonial government refused to reduce revenue demands. Peasants indebtedness increased. For example, Jute producers of Bengal.

In these depression years, India became an exporter of precious metals, notably gold.

Question 16

Explain any three facts about the new economic situation created in India by the First World War. (2011 D)

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

How did the plantation workers understand the idea of ‘Swaraj’? Explain. (2011 OD)

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Explain the circumstances under which Gandhiji decided to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931. (2012 OD)

Answer 18

Gandhiji decided to call off the Civil Disobedience movement in 1931 because:

Political leaders like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan were arrested. More than one lakh people were arrested.
Government responded with brutal repression and peaceful satyagrahis were arrested. Women and children were beaten up.
It resulted in an uprising in Peshawar in 1930.
Industrial workers in Sholapur attacked police post. In Chittagong, the revolutionaries captured the armoury and a pitched battle was fought between the government troops and the revolutionaries. (any three)
In such a situation, Gandhiji called off the movement and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed.

Question 19

Explain any three reasons for the lukewarm response of some Muslim organizations to the Civil Disobedience Movement. (2011 D)

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

How had the First World War created a new economic situation in India? Explain with three examples. (2013 D)

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

How was Rowlatt Act opposed by the people in India? Explain with examples. (2013 D)

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Why did Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919? How was it organised Explain. (2016 D, 2015 D, 2014 OD)

Answer 22

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.
It had allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. There was no provision for appeal.
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. 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 and rallies were organized in various cities. Workers went on strike in railway workshops. Shops were closed down. The movement was non-violent but proved to be effective.

Question 23

Which were the two types of demands mentioned by Gandhiji in his letter to Viceroy Irwin on 31st January 1930? Why was abolition of ‘salt tax’ most stirring demand? Explain. (2013 OD)

Answer 23

Some of the demands were of general interest; others were specific demands of different classes from industrialists to peasants.

On 31st January, 1930 Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands, one of which was the demand to abolish Salt Tax.
Salt was one of the most essential food items consumed by the rich and poor alike and a tax on it was considered an oppression on the people by the British Government.
Gandhiji’s letter was an ultimatum and if his demands were not fulfilled by March 11, he had threatened to launch a civil disobedience campaign.

Question 24

Explain any three problems faced by the peasants of Awadh. (2011 D)

Answer 24

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.