Topic 2: Changing Political Relationships, 1920-30

Question 1

What did the Nehru Report recommend as the best way for the British to rule India?

Answer 1

Dominion status (one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire) , with the same terms given to the white colonies, was seen as the best option moving forward.

Question 2

What was the effect of the 1920-22 Satyagraha?

Answer 2

Although it remained nominally peaceful and saw a mass show of Hindu-Muslim solidarity after Gandhi’s imprisonment the movement turned violent with forced conversions and massacres committed by both sides.
Thus completely undoing the progress made over the past year and souring the relationship between Congress and the Muslim League.

Question 3

How did Congress/ Muslim League, react to the Nehru Report?

Answer 3

Most of Congress supported the Nehru Report and wanted to put it into practice however, the ‘Young Hooligans’ were dissatisfied and wanted the British to completely withdraw by 1929.

The Muslim League was also dissatisfied with the ‘report’ as it didn’t grant them separate electorates.

Question 4

What was Gandhi’s dilemma heading into the Lahore Congress?

Answer 4

Gandhi’s dilemma involved the divided nature of congress, as although everybody was in agreement about their opposition to the Raj, they disagreed to what extent they should take their opposition and what tactics to use. These problems had to be reconciled in order for Congress to move forward united.

Question 5

What was the collective name used by Gandhi to describe ‘radicals’ within Congress and what were their names?

Answer 5

The Young Hooligans: Subhas Chandra Bose, Jayaprakash Narayan & Jawaharlal Nehru.

Question 6

Did Congress seek Domination Status or Purna Swaraj (total independence)?

Answer 6

Initially, Congress sought Domination Status, but later on, in the next decade, Congress began seeking Purna Swaraj(total independence).

Question 7

Why was the British salt tax a good policy for Congress to oppose?

Answer 7

The salt tax brought little in revenue for the Raj and did not affect the Indian populace significantly, however salt was a good symbolic target. Because salt cut across all sects of Indian Society and united people from all cultures, castes, and religions. Thus making it an effective tool to unite the population.

Question 8

How did the Raj initially respond to Gandhi breaking the salt law?

Answer 8

Gandhi was arrested alongside hundreds of participants, then whole Congress Working Committee was also arrested.

Question 9

What was the Initial Raj response to Gandhi braking the salt law?

Answer 9

Gandhi was arrested alongside hundreds of peasants all over India, later in June the whole Congress Working Committee was also arrested.

Question 10

Why was the new civil disobedience campaign harder to deal with for the Raj?

Answer 10

As Congress was arrested, the campaign was lead by local groups, meaning the Raj had no central organisation to oppose or negotiate with.

Question 11

Was the campaign a success?

Answer 11

During 1930 the campaign became a threat to the Raj in almost all provinces, most notably Bombay and Gujarat, more groups such a women were involved much more. However, towards the end of the year and heading into 1931 its was clear that the campaign ran out of steam and the law was setting in once again.

Question 12

How did Jinnah react to Gandhi’s support for the Kalifate movement and its subsequent collapse?

Answer 12

Jinnah did not support Gandhi’s decision as he believed it was only a political strategy and that the existing power balance within Muslim politics could be undermined.

Question 13

What made Jinnah a secular Muslim?

Answer 13

He openly drank alcohol, rarely went to a mosque. Wore European clothing and after his young wife died he married a non-Muslim.

Question 14

After his absence from politics, Jinnah returned in 1937.

How did he change? What did he begin to fight for?

Answer 14

He began to relate himself with the Muslim population. He started learning Urdu, began wearing Muslim clothing, stop drinking alcohol, and started followed Muslim values. He began pushing to separatist movements.

Question 15

After Congress rejected ML’s Jinnah’s compromise in 1927, he came up with a new offer consisting of 14 points. What are some of the themes/ aspects of the points?

Answer 15

Minorities in Provinces should be represented, but not at the expenses of the majority.
In Central legislature, Muslims should be represented by at least one third.
Full religious liberty.
Muslim culture to be protected.

Question 16

Was the proposal of 14 points accepted by Congress?

Answer 16

No. Jinnah’s 14 points were once again rejected, resulting in him leaving India and Indian politics, moving to England.

Question 17

What did the failure of cooperation create within the Muslim League?

Answer 17

A new idea of separatism had become much more popular with the Muslim minority after Congress’ refusal to cooperate.

Question 18

Why were many Muslims in India pressured and challenged by the Kalifat during WW1?

Answer 18

The Kalifat during WW1 was the Ottoman Empire(Turkey), which decided to join the Central powers against Britain. This meant many Indian Muslims, even the most loyal were challenged to the extreme.

Question 19

What happened to the Kalifat movement after WW1?

Answer 19

The Treaty of Sevres greatly reduced Turkey’s size and power. The sultan was overthrown and the Caliph and the Kalifat were disbanded. This meant that millions of Muslims lost their most important spiritual leader.

Question 20

How did the collapse of the Kalifat affect Muslim-Hindu relations?

Answer 20

Many Muslim leaders joined Gandhi on his 1920-21 civil disobedience campaign. Gandhi also publicly supported the Kalifat, which helped bring the two religions closer.

Question 21

What happened to the Muslim-Hindu relations at the end of the non-cooperation campaign?

Answer 21

Hindus thought that the Lucknow pact gave away too much(eg, separate electorates) while Muslims lost trust in Congress and many Muslim members left. In 1921 10.9% of members were Muslim, only 3.6% 1923. Muslims began to seek other movements to fight for their cause.

Question 22

The new Muslim movements aimed to create an Ajuman Tabligh-ul-Islam. What was this and what did it mean for the Muslims in India?

Answer 22

Ajuman Tabligh-ul-Islam: a gathering or association for the promotion of Islam. Throughout India, Muslim values were to be preached, Mosques were to be built and Muslim religious education was to be taught.

Question 23

How did these new Muslim aims/ priorities affect the Hindu relations?

Answer 23

Wherever Muslims were in the minority, their poorer standards of living were blamed on the Hindu majority, not on the Raj as it was done before. Anti-Hindu sentiment grew rapidly, which resulted in even less religious cooperation.

Question 24

How did Raj’s policy of strict religious neutrality affect the Indian populous?

Answer 24

The policy encouraged both Muslims and Hindus( and all other religions) to believe they had equal right to carry out their practices, no matter what offense they gave. Princely states generally saw less religious friction since harsher punishment could be given.

Question 25

How did each religion’s festivals irritate the other? (Muslim / Hindu)

Answer 25

Muslims liked to pray in Silence, whereas Hindus generally played loud music. At Muslim festivals (Bakr’Id) cows were often killed, which annoyed the Hindus as the cow is seen as sacred. The Hindu festival of Holi lasted 2 days and was very loud and consistently annoyed Muslims.

Question 26

How did Hindu organisations such as Arya samj, turn more Muslims towards separatism?

Answer 26

Arya samj in particular sought out to end cow slaughter by Muslims and openly criticised Islam itself.
This put them in direct conflict with Muslims, which felt under threat as their livelihoods were at risk. The Hindu group Mahasabha or the ‘ginger group’ was also powerful and not afraid to use violence.

Question 27

What was the Raj’s stand on separateness?

Answer 27

The Raj’s aimed to allow all classes of Indians to participate in the government, this also included allowing minorities such as Muslims to have separate electorates. Thus the Raj contributed to the idea of separateness.

Question 28

Why was the Hindu caste system so dividing?

Answer 28

You could not progress into another caste, you were born into it. You could only work jobs designated to your caste. Did not apply to Muslims, which was irritating for the Hindus.

Question 29

What were the Princely states and in what ways did they differ from other provinces?

Answer 29

They were territories ruled by Indian Princes, who were protected by and semi-ruled by the British. The Raj’s laws did not apply in them and their leaders were free to rule however they liked. This meant then even if the Raj was loosening its grip over India, millions of people were not affected.

Question 30

Why did Muslim feel like they lost power within India?

Answer 30

Previously, the sub-continent was ruled the Mughal Empire, which was dominantly Muslim, although religiously tolerant. Now that the British were in charge, it had felt like they lost their rightful power. Furthermore, the Raj was giving the Hindus more influence over India, thus adding to the anger.