CLASS X CHAPTER 03 - NATIONALISM IN INDIA NCERT SOLUTIONS

CHAPTER 03 - NATIONALISM IN INDIA
WRITE IN BRIEF
Question 1:
Explain:
(a) Why growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked
to an anti-colonial movement.
(b) How the First World War helped in the growth of
the National Movement in India.
(c) Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act.
(d) Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-
Cooperation Movement.
Answer :
(a) Colonisation affected people’s freedom, and
nationalist sentiments surged during the process of
struggle against imperial domination. The sense of
oppression and exploitation became a common bond
for people from different walks of life, and this
resulted in the growth of nationalist ideals. Thus,
growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to anti-
colonial movements.
(b) During the First World War, the British army
conducted forced recruitment from rural areas in
India. To finance the defence expenditure, high
custom duties and income taxes were imposed. Also,
during 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many
parts of India, thereby resulting in acute food
shortages. All this caused extensive anger and
opposition against the British colonial rule, and the
national movement of India headed towards a
stronger, more definitive direction.
(c) The Rowlatt Act was passed hurriedly through the
Imperial Legislative Council despite opposition from
Indian members. It gave the government autocratic
powers to repress political activities besides allowing it
to detain political prisoners without a trial, for two
years. The Indian were outraged by this act as it was
clearly undemocratic and oppressive, and hurt
national sentiments and dignity.
(d) Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation
Movement due to various incidents of violence
perpetrated by the masses, especially the Chauri
Chaura incident in 1922 where the people clashed
with the police, setting a police-station on fire.
Gandhiji felt that the people were not yet ready for a
mass struggle, and that satyagrahis needed to be
properly trained for non-violent demonstrations.
Question 2:
What is meant by the idea of satyagraha?
Answer :
The idea of satyagraha implies a unique method of
mass agitation that emphasises the power of truth, and
the need to search for truth. It upholds the belief that
if the cause is true and the fight is against injustice,
then there is no need for physical force or coercion
against the oppressor. Satyagraha is synonymous with
non-violent agitation, where an appeal is made to the
oppressor’s conscience to search for justice. Gandhiji
believed that this dharma of non-violence could be
the cause of national unity and harmony.
Question 3:
Write a newspaper report on:
(a) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre
(b) The Simon Commission
Answer :
(a) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre—facts—on 13
April,1919, General Dyer blocked the exit points from
the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh where a large
crowd had gathered—some to protest against the
British government’s repressive measures, others to
attend the annual Baisakhi fair. Dyer’s objective was to
“produce a moral effect” and terrorise satyagrahis.
Hundreds of innocent people including women and
children were killed on this day in the indiscriminate
firing by British soldiers. This led to large scale strikes,
clashes with police and attacks on government
buildings by the enraged Indian people.
(Base your newspaper report on these facts)
(b) The Simon Commission—facts—it arrived in India
in 1928 and faced protest slogans of “Go Back Simon”.
It was because this body was to suggest constitutional
changes in Indian governance, but it did not have any
Indian members. The Congress and the Muslim League
jointly demonstrated against it. Lord Irwin announced
a vague “dominion status” for India to quell the
movement, leading to a Round Table Conference in
October, 1929.
(Base your newspaper report on these facts)
Question 4:
Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter
with the image of Germania in Chapter 1.
Answer :
The image of Bharat Mata as painted by Abanindranath
Tagore shows her as bestowing learning, food and
clothing. She bears aesthetic quality as denoted by the
mala held by her. This is similar to the image of
Germania as painted by Philip Veit, where she holds a
sword, but looks more feminine. The other painting of
Bharat Mata is more manly in its representation. In it,
she is shown as bearing power and authority as
denoted by the lion and elephant beside her. The
latter image is more akin to the image of Germania by
Lorenz Clasen, where she wields a sword and shield,
and looks ready to fight.
DISCUSS
Question 1:
List all the different social groups which joined the
Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921. Then choose
any three and write about their hopes and struggles to
show why they joined the movement.
Answer :
The different social groups that joined the Non-
Cooperation Movement of 1921 were the urban
middle class comprising lawyers, teachers and
headmasters, students, peasants, tribals and workers.
Peasants, tribals and workers joined the movement
from the countryside. They did so with hopes of self-
emancipation. Peasants rebelled against talukdars and
landlords who demanded high rents and also forced
them to do begar or free labour. Tribal peasants
revolted against the enclosure of large forest tracts by
the British government, which left them devoid of a
livelihood as well as traditional rights. Plantation
workers, on the other hand, desired freedom to move
about and retain links with the villages they came
from. All three believed that Gandhi Raj would come
with the Non-Cooperation Movement, and this would
mark an end to their sorrows. Hence, they joined the
anti-colonial struggle.
Question 2:
Discuss the Salt March to make clear why it was an
effective symbol of resistance against colonialism.
Answer :
The Salt March was an effective symbol of resistance
against colonialism because it was done in revolt
against a commodity—salt, used by the rich and the
poor alike. The tax on salt, and the government
monopoly over its production was a severely
oppressive administrative move. The Salt March was
effective also because Gandhiji met a large number of
commoners during the march and he taught them the
true meaning of swaraj and non-violence. By
peacefully defying a law and making salt against
government orders, Gandhiji set forth an example to
the whole nation of how the oppressor could be
confronted in a non-violent manner. This also led to
the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.
Question 3:
Imagine you are a woman participating in the Civil
Disobedience Movement. Explain what the experience
meant to your life.
Answer :
A woman participating in the Civil Disobedience
Movement—facts—salt manufactured; foreign cloth
boycotted; liquor shops picketed; peaceful satyagrahis
attacked, including women and children; brutal
repression, many women went to jail as well; mostly
from high castes and rich families; saw national
service as a sacred duty
(Base your answer on these facts)
Question 4:
Why did political leaders differ sharply over the
question of separate electorates?
Answer :
Political leaders differed sharply over the question of
separate electorates because of differences in opinion.
While those supporting the cause of minorities and the
dalits believed that only political empowerment would
resolve their social backwardness, others like Gandhiji
thought that separate electorates would further slow
down the process of their integration into society.
Also, it was feared that the system of separate
electorates would gradually divide the country into
numerous fragments because every community or
class would then ask for separate representations.