Nationalism in India Class 10 History Chapter 2 Extra Questions

Nationalism in India Class 10 History Chapter 2 Extra Questions area available here. These extra questions are prepared by the subject experts of our team.

Nationalism in India Class 10 History Chapter 2 Extra Questions

Question 1: How did nationalism emerge in India?
Answer: In India, nationalism emerged through the anti-colonial movement, where people discovered unity in their struggle against colonialism.

Question 2: What was the role of the Congress under Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian nationalist movement?
Answer: The Congress under Mahatma Gandhi attempted to unite various groups within one movement against colonialism, although this unity was not without conflict.

Question 3: What will be discussed in this chapter about Indian nationalism?
Answer: The chapter will cover the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements of the 1920s, exploring how the Congress developed the national movement, the participation of different social groups, and how nationalism influenced people.

Question 4: What were the implications of the economic and political situation created by World War I?
Answer: The war led to increased defence expenditure, higher taxes, rising prices, and hardships for the common people due to food shortages and forced recruitment, exacerbating anger and discontent.

Question 5: What were the consequences of the famines and epidemic in India around 1920-21?
Answer: According to the census of 1921, 12 to 13 million people died due to famines and the influenza epidemic, causing immense suffering and loss of life.

Question 6: What new developments occurred in the national movement after 1919?
Answer: After 1919, the national movement in India spread to new areas, incorporated new social groups, and developed new modes of struggle, reflecting evolving strategies and broader participation.

Question 7: What was Mahatma Gandhi’s method of mass agitation called?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi’s method of mass agitation was called satyagraha.

Question 8: What were the principles of satyagraha as emphasized by Gandhi?
Answer: Satyagraha emphasized the power of truth, the search for truth, and the idea that if the cause was just and against injustice, physical force was unnecessary. It advocated for nonviolence and winning over the oppressor through appealing to their conscience.

Question 9: How did Gandhi believe non-violence could unite all Indians?
Answer: Gandhi believed that the principle of non-violence (satyagraha) could unite all Indians by appealing to their sense of truth and justice, rather than through force or aggression.

Question 10: Where did Mahatma Gandhi organise his first satyagraha movement after returning to India?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi organised his first satyagraha movement after returning to India in Champaran, Bihar, in 1917 to support peasants against the oppressive plantation system.

Question 11: What issues did Mahatma Gandhi address in the Kheda district of Gujarat in 1917?
Answer: In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi organised a satyagraha in Kheda, Gujarat, to support peasants affected by crop failure and a plague epidemic who were unable to pay revenue and demanded relaxation of revenue collection.

Question 12: Where did Mahatma Gandhi organise a satyagraha movement among cotton mill workers in 1918?
Answer: In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi went to Ahmedabad to organise a satyagraha movement among cotton mill workers.

Question 13: What did Mahatma Gandhi decide to launch in 1919 in response to the Rowlatt Act?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919).

Question 14: What were the provisions of the Rowlatt Act (1919) that Mahatma Gandhi opposed?
Answer: The Rowlatt Act gave the government extensive powers to suppress political activities and detain political prisoners without trial for up to two years.

Question 15: How did Mahatma Gandhi propose to oppose the Rowlatt Act?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi proposed non-violent civil disobedience, starting with a hartal (strike) on 6 April, as a response to the unjust provisions of the Rowlatt Act.

Question 16: What actions were taken by Indians in response to the Rowlatt Act in April 1919?
Answer: Rallies were organized, workers went on strike in railway workshops, and shops closed down in protest against the Rowlatt Act.

Question 17: Why did the British administration decide to take harsh measures during the protest against the Rowlatt Act?
Answer: The British administration was alarmed by the popular uprising and feared disruption of communication lines like railways and telegraphs, leading them to clamp down on nationalists.

Question 18: What event escalated tensions in Amritsar on 10 April 1919?
Answer: On 10 April, police in Amritsar fired on a peaceful procession, which led to widespread attacks on banks, post offices, and railway stations.

Question 19: Who took command after martial law was imposed in Amritsar?
Answer: General Dyer took command after martial law was imposed in Amritsar following the events of April 1919.

Question 20: When did the Jallianwalla Bagh incident occur?
Answer: The infamous Jallianwalla Bagh incident took place on 13 April.

Question 21: Why did a large crowd gather at Jallianwalla Bagh on that day?
Answer: Some came to protest against the government’s repressive measures, while others were attending the annual Baisakhi fair.

Question 22: What actions did General Dyer take during the Jallianwalla Bagh incident?
Answer: General Dyer entered the area, blocked the exit points, and opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the deaths of hundreds.

Question 23: What was General Dyer’s objective in firing upon the crowd?
Answer: General Dyer stated that his objective was to ‘produce a moral effect’ and instill terror and awe in the minds of satyagrahis (non-violent protesters).

Question 24: What were the immediate consequences of the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre?
Answer: The news of the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre led to widespread protests in many north Indian towns, including strikes, clashes with police, and attacks on government buildings.

Question 26: How did the government respond to the protests following the Jallianwalla Bagh incident?
Answer: The government responded with brutal repression, which included humiliating punishments like forcing satyagrahis to rub their noses on the ground, crawl on the streets, and salute sahibs. They also resorted to flogging and bombing villages.

Question 27: What action did Mahatma Gandhi take in response to the escalating violence?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi called off the movement after seeing violence spread in response to the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre and its aftermath.

Question 28: Why did Mahatma Gandhi feel the need to launch a more broad-based movement in India after the Rowlatt satyagraha?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi felt that the Rowlatt satyagraha, which was mostly limited to cities and towns, needed to be expanded into a more inclusive movement across India.

Question 29: How did Mahatma Gandhi propose to bring Hindus and Muslims closer together for the national movement?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi proposed taking up the Khilafat issue as a way to unite Hindus and Muslims. The issue involved defending the temporal powers of the Khalifa, the spiritual head of the Islamic world.

Question 30: What was the Khilafat Committee, and when was it formed?
Answer: The Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919 to defend the Khalifa’s temporal powers after the end of World War I and rumors of a harsh peace treaty on Ottoman Turkey.

Question 31: What decision did Mahatma Gandhi influence at the Calcutta session of the Congress in September 1920?
Answer: At the Calcutta session of the Congress in September 1920, Mahatma Gandhi convinced other leaders to start a non-cooperation movement not only for swaraj (self-rule) but also in support of the Khilafat issue, aiming to unify Hindus and Muslims under a single national movement.

Question 32: According to Mahatma Gandhi in Hind Swaraj (1909), what was the key factor that sustained British rule in India?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi argued in Hind Swaraj that British rule in India was sustained by the cooperation of Indians.

Question 33: How did Mahatma Gandhi propose to make non-cooperation a movement?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi proposed that non-cooperation should unfold in stages. It would begin with surrendering government-awarded titles and boycotting civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools, and foreign goods. If the government used repression, a full civil disobedience campaign would follow.

Question 34: What activities did Mahatma Gandhi and Shaukat Ali undertake to mobilize support for the movement in 1920?
Answer: During the summer of 1920, Mahatma Gandhi and Shaukat Ali toured extensively to mobilize popular support for the non-cooperation movement.

Question 35: What were the concerns of many within the Congress regarding the proposed Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: Many within the Congress were concerned about boycotting the council elections scheduled for November 1920 and feared that the movement might lead to popular violence.

Question 36: What was the situation within the Congress between September and December 1920?
Answer: Between September and December 1920, there was an intense internal struggle within the Congress regarding the Non-Cooperation Movement, with supporters and opponents initially unable to find common ground.

Question 37: How was the issue of the Non-Cooperation Movement resolved within the Congress?
Answer: The issue was resolved at the Congress session in Nagpur in December 1920, where a compromise was reached, and the Non-Cooperation programme was officially adopted.

Question 38: How did the Non-Cooperation Movement begin in terms of participation?
Answer: The Non-Cooperation Movement started with active participation from the middle class in cities.

Question 39: What actions did participants in the movement take?
Answer: Thousands of students left government-controlled schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned, and lawyers gave up their legal practices in support of the movement.

Question 40: What was the participation in council elections like during the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: Most provinces boycotted the council elections, except Madras. In Madras, the Justice Party, representing non-Brahmans, participated as a means to gain some political power traditionally accessible only to Brahmans.

Question 41: What were the economic effects of the non-cooperation movement?
Answer: The non-cooperation movement had dramatic economic effects. Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops were picketed, and foreign cloth was burnt in bonfires.

Question 42: How did the import of foreign cloth change between 1921 and 1922?
Answer: The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, with its value dropping from Rs 102 crore to Rs 57 crore.

Question 43: How did merchants and traders contribute to the non-cooperation movement?
Answer: Many merchants and traders refused to deal in foreign goods or finance foreign trade as the boycott movement spread.

Question 44: What impact did the boycott of foreign goods have on Indian textile production?
Answer: As people discarded imported clothes and began wearing only Indian ones, the production of Indian textile mills and handlooms increased.

Question 45: Why did the non-cooperation movement in cities begin to slow down?
Answer: The non-cooperation movement in cities slowed down due to several reasons, including the higher cost of Khadi cloth compared to mass-produced mill cloth, which many poor people couldn’t afford.

Question 46: What challenges did the boycott of British institutions present to the movement?
Answer: The boycott of British institutions posed a challenge because alternative Indian institutions needed to be established first for the movement to sustain itself effectively.

Question 47: Why did students, teachers, and lawyers start returning to government-controlled institutions and courts?
Answer: Students and teachers began returning to government schools and colleges, and lawyers resumed work in government courts because alternative Indian institutions were slow to develop, making it difficult for the movement to maintain momentum.

Question 48: Where did the Non-Cooperation Movement spread after originating in the cities?
Answer: The Non-Cooperation Movement spread to the countryside.

Question 49: Who joined the movement in rural areas?
Answer: The movement drew in the struggles of peasants and tribals that were developing in different parts of India after the war.

Question 50: Who led the peasant movement in Awadh?
Answer: The peasant movement in Awadh was led by Baba Ramchandra, who was a sanyasi and had previously worked as an indentured labourer in Fiji.

Question 51: What were the main grievances of the peasants in Awadh?
Answer: Peasants in Awadh protested against high rents, various additional taxes imposed by landlords, and forced labor (begar) without payment. They also faced insecurity as tenants, being frequently evicted.

Question 52: What were the demands of the peasant movement in Awadh?
Answer: The peasant movement demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar (forced labor), and social boycott of oppressive landlords. They organized nai-dhobi bandhs (boycotts by barbers and washermen) to pressure landlords.

Question 53: Who played a significant role in organizing the peasants in Awadh?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru began organizing villagers in Awadh in June 1920 and later co-headed the Oudh Kisan Sabha with Baba Ramchandra and others.

Question 54: How did the Congress aim to integrate the Awadh peasant struggle into the wider Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: The Congress aimed to integrate the Awadh peasant struggle into the wider Non-Cooperation Movement that began the following year, aligning their efforts with national objectives.

Question 55: What actions did the peasant movement undertake in 1921 that concerned the Congress leadership?
Answer: In 1921, as the peasant movement spread, houses of landlords and merchants were attacked, bazaars were looted, and grain hoards were seized. Local leaders invoked Gandhi’s name to justify actions like refusing to pay taxes and advocating land redistribution among the poor.

Question 56: How did tribal peasants interpret Mahatma Gandhi’s message and the idea of swaraj?
Answer: Tribal peasants, such as those in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh, interpreted Gandhi’s message and swaraj by engaging in militant guerrilla movements, which was not approved by the Congress.

Question 57: What grievances did tribal people in the Gudem Hills have against the colonial government?
Answer: Tribal people in the Gudem Hills were angered by the colonial government’s closure of large forest areas, which affected their livelihoods and denied them traditional rights to graze cattle and collect fuelwood and fruits.

Question 58: Who emerged as the leader of the militant movement in the Gudem Hills?
Answer: Alluri Sitaram Raju emerged as the leader of the militant movement in the Gudem Hills.

Question 59: What special powers did Alluri Sitaram Raju claim to have?
Answer: Alluri Sitaram Raju claimed to have special powers including correct astrological predictions, healing abilities, and the ability to survive bullet shots.

Question 60: How did Alluri Sitaram Raju view Mahatma Gandhi and the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: Alluri Sitaram Raju admired Mahatma Gandhi and promoted aspects of the Non-Cooperation Movement like wearing khadi and abstaining from alcohol. However, he believed that India could only be liberated through the use of force, not non-violence.

Question 61: What actions did the Gudem rebels take in their pursuit of swaraj?
Answer: The Gudem rebels attacked police stations, attempted to assassinate British officials, and engaged in guerrilla warfare to achieve swaraj (self-rule).

Question 62: How did plantation workers in Assam understand the concept of swaraj?
Answer: For plantation workers in Assam, swaraj meant the freedom to move freely in and out of the tea gardens where they were confined. It also meant maintaining a connection with their home villages.

Question 63: What restrictions did plantation workers face under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859?
Answer: Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, plantation workers in Assam were not allowed to leave the tea gardens without permission, which was rarely granted.

Question 64: How did plantation workers respond to the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: Upon hearing of the Non-Cooperation Movement, thousands of plantation workers defied the authorities, left the tea plantations, and attempted to return to their villages, believing that Gandhi’s rule (Gandhi Raj) was imminent and they would receive land in their villages.

Question 65: What happened to the plantation workers on their journey home?
Answer: The plantation workers were stranded on their journey due to a railway and steamer strike and were subsequently caught by the police and brutally beaten up.

Question 66: How did the visions of these movements differ from the Congress programme?
Answer: The visions of these movements were not aligned with the Congress programme. They interpreted the term swaraj in their own ways, envisioning it as a time when all suffering and troubles would end.

Question 67: How did tribals emotionally connect to the all-India agitation?
Answer: Tribals chanted Gandhiji’s name and raised slogans demanding ‘Swatantra Bharat’ (Independent India), emotionally relating to the broader all-India agitation.

Question 68: What significance did Mahatma Gandhi hold for these movements?
Answer: When tribals acted in the name of Mahatma Gandhi or linked their movement to that of the Congress, they were identifying with a movement that extended beyond their immediate locality.

Question 69: Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement because he felt it was becoming violent in many places, and he believed that satyagrahis needed proper training before engaging in mass struggles.

Question 70: What was the sentiment among some leaders within the Congress regarding mass struggles versus participation in provincial councils?
Answer: Some leaders within the Congress were tired of mass struggles and wanted to participate in elections to the provincial councils established by the Government of India Act of 1919. They believed it was important to oppose British policies within these councils and demonstrate their lack of true democracy.

Question 71: Who formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress, and what was its purpose?
Answer: C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to advocate for a return to council politics and to argue for reforms within the existing colonial framework.

Question 72: What were the views of younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose regarding the direction of the movement?
Answer: Younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose pressed for more radical mass agitation and advocated for achieving full independence rather than participating in council politics.

Question 73: What were the two factors that influenced Indian politics in the late 1920s?
Answer: The two factors were internal debate and dissension within the Indian political landscape, and the impact of the worldwide economic depression.

Question 74: How did the worldwide economic depression affect India?
Answer: The worldwide economic depression led to a collapse in agricultural prices after 1930. This resulted in reduced demand for agricultural goods and declining exports, making it difficult for peasants to sell their harvests and pay their revenues.

Question 75: What was the state of the countryside by 1930?
Answer: By 1930, the countryside was in turmoil due to the economic hardships faced by peasants as a result of falling agricultural prices and declining exports.

Question 76: What did the new Tory government in Britain establish in response to the nationalist movement in India?
Answer: The new Tory government in Britain established a Statutory Commission under Sir John Simon.

Question 77: What was the purpose of the Simon Commission?
Answer: The Simon Commission was tasked with examining the functioning of the constitutional system in India and recommending changes.

Question 78: What issue did Indians have with the Simon Commission?
Answer: Indians objected to the fact that the Simon Commission did not include any Indian members; all the members were British.

Question 79: How did the composition of the Simon Commission impact its reception in India?
Answer: The fact that the Simon Commission did not include any Indian members led to widespread protests and boycotts in India, as it was seen as disregarding Indian perspectives and interests.

Question 80: How did Indians respond to the arrival of the Simon Commission in India in 1928?
Answer: Indians greeted the Simon Commission with the slogan ‘Go back Simon’ and participated in widespread demonstrations against it.

Question 81: What concessions did Lord Irwin, the viceroy, offer in response to the protests against the Simon Commission?
Answer: In October 1929, Lord Irwin offered a vague promise of ‘dominion status’ for India in the future and announced a Round Table Conference to discuss a future constitution.

Question 82: Why were Congress leaders dissatisfied with Lord Irwin’s offer?
Answer: The Congress leaders, especially the radicals led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, were dissatisfied because they wanted immediate and complete independence (Purna Swaraj) for India, rather than a vague promise of dominion status.

Question 83: What significant decision was made at the Lahore Congress in December 1929?
Answer: At the Lahore Congress in December 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the demand for ‘Purna Swaraj’ or full independence for India was formally adopted.

Question 84: How did Mahatma Gandhi aim to connect the abstract idea of freedom to practical issues?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi aimed to relate the abstract idea of freedom to concrete issues of everyday life by encouraging people to take action and make independence a practical goal in their daily struggles.

Question 85: What symbol did Mahatma Gandhi find to unite the nation?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi found salt to be a powerful symbol that could unite the nation.

Question 86: What action did Mahatma Gandhi take on 31 January 1930?
Answer: On 31 January 1930, Mahatma Gandhi sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands.

Question 87: What was the purpose of the eleven demands Gandhi sent to Viceroy Irwin?
Answer: The purpose of the eleven demands was to make them wide-ranging so that all classes within Indian society could identify with them and be brought together in a united campaign.

Question 88: Which demand was the most stirring of all, according to Gandhi?
Answer: The most stirring demand was the abolition of the salt tax.

Question 89: Why was the salt tax a significant issue?
Answer: The salt tax was significant because salt was an essential item consumed by both the rich and the poor, and the tax on it, along with the government monopoly over its production, revealed the oppressive nature of British rule.

Question 90: What was the nature of Mahatma Gandhi’s letter to Viceroy Irwin?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi’s letter was an ultimatum stating that if the demands were not fulfilled by 11 March, the Congress would launch a civil disobedience campaign.

Question 91: How did Viceroy Irwin respond to Gandhi’s letter?
Answer: Viceroy Irwin was unwilling to negotiate with Gandhi.

Question 92: What action did Mahatma Gandhi take after Irwin’s refusal to negotiate?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi started his famous salt march accompanied by 78 of his trusted volunteers.

Question 93: What was the route and distance of the salt march?
Answer: The march was over 240 miles, from Gandhiji’s ashram in Sabarmati to the Gujarati coastal town of Dandi.

Question 94: How long did the salt march take and how far did the volunteers walk each day?
Answer: The volunteers walked for 24 days, about 10 miles a day.

Question 95: What did Mahatma Gandhi do on 6 April at Dandi?
Answer: On 6 April, Mahatma Gandhi ceremonially violated the law by manufacturing salt by boiling sea water.

Question 96: What was the significance of the salt march?
Answer: The salt march was significant as it demonstrated peaceful defiance against British rule and united thousands of Indians in the struggle for swaraj.

Question 97: What marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: The ceremonial manufacture of salt by Mahatma Gandhi at Dandi marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Question 98: How was the Civil Disobedience Movement different from the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: In the Civil Disobedience Movement, people were asked not only to refuse cooperation with the British but also to break colonial laws.

Question 99: What actions did people take as part of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: People broke the salt law, manufactured salt, demonstrated in front of government salt factories, boycotted foreign cloth, picketed liquor shops, refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes, village officials resigned, and forest people violated forest laws by entering Reserved Forests to collect wood and graze cattle.

Question 100: What actions did the colonial government take in response to the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: The colonial government began arresting Congress leaders one by one, which led to violent clashes in many places.

Question 101: What happened when Abdul Ghaffar Khan was arrested in April 1930?
Answer: Angry crowds demonstrated in the streets of Peshawar, facing armoured cars and police firing, resulting in many deaths.

Question 102: How did the industrial workers in Sholapur react to Mahatma Gandhi’s arrest?
Answer: They attacked police posts, municipal buildings, law courts, and railway stations, symbolizing British rule.

Question 103: How did the government respond to the violent reactions and protests?
Answer: The government implemented a policy of brutal repression, attacking peaceful satyagrahis, beating women and children, and arresting about 100,000 people.

Question 104: Why did Mahatma Gandhi call off the Civil Disobedience Movement in March 1931?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi called off the movement to enter into a pact with Irwin, known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, where Gandhi agreed to participate in the Round Table Conference in London, and the government agreed to release political prisoners.

Question 105: What was agreed upon in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?
Answer: Gandhiji consented to participate in the Round Table Conference in London, and the government agreed to release political prisoners.

Question 106: What happened when Gandhi went to London for the Round Table Conference in December 1931?
Answer: The negotiations broke down, and Gandhi returned to India disappointed.

Question 107: What did Gandhi discover upon his return to India after the Round Table Conference?
Answer: Gandhi discovered that the government had begun a new cycle of repression, with Ghaffar Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru in jail, the Congress declared illegal, and measures imposed to prevent meetings, demonstrations, and boycotts.

Question 108: What was Gandhi’s response to the new cycle of repression in India?
Answer: With great apprehension, Gandhi relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Question 109: How long did the relaunched Civil Disobedience Movement continue?
Answer: The movement continued for over a year but lost its momentum by 1934.

Question 110: Which social groups participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement in the countryside?
Answer: The rich peasant communities, such as the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh, were active participants in the movement.

Question 111: Why did the rich peasants join the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: They were hard hit by the trade depression and falling prices, which made it impossible for them to pay the government’s revenue demand. Their cash income disappeared, leading to widespread resentment.

Question 112: What did swaraj mean to the rich peasants in the context of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: For the rich peasants, swaraj meant a struggle against high revenues imposed by the government.

Question 113: How did the rich peasants support the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: They became enthusiastic supporters, organizing their communities and at times forcing reluctant members to participate in the boycott programs.

Question 114: Why were the rich peasants disappointed when the Civil Disobedience Movement was called off in 1931?
Answer: They were disappointed because the movement was called off without the revenue rates being revised.

Question 115: What was the response of the rich peasants when the Civil Disobedience Movement was restarted in 1932?
Answer: Many of the rich peasants refused to participate in the restarted movement in 1932 due to their earlier disappointment.

Question 116: What were the main concerns of the poorer peasantry during the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: The poorer peasantry were interested in the lowering of rent rather than just the revenue demand. They wanted the unpaid rent to landlords to be remitted as their cash incomes dwindled during the Depression.

Question 117: What challenges did small tenant farmers face during the Depression?
Answer: Small tenant farmers found it difficult to pay their rent to landlords as their cash incomes dwindled during the Depression.

Question 118: What types of movements did the poorer peasants join, and who often led these movements?
Answer: The poorer peasants joined a variety of radical movements, which were often led by Socialists and Communists.

Question 119: Why was the Congress unwilling to support ‘no rent’ campaigns in most places?
Answer: The Congress was apprehensive of raising issues that might upset the rich peasants and landlords, so they were unwilling to support ‘no rent’ campaigns.

Question 120: How was the relationship between the poor peasants and the Congress during the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: The relationship between the poor peasants and the Congress remained uncertain due to the Congress’s reluctance to support ‘no rent’ campaigns.

Question 121: Did the industrial working classes participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement in large numbers?
Answer: No, the industrial working classes did not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement in large numbers, except in the Nagpur region.

Question 122: Why did the workers stay aloof from the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: Workers stayed aloof because industrialists came closer to the Congress, creating a disconnect between the Congress and the workers.

Question 123: Did any workers participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: Yes, some workers did participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement, selectively adopting ideas like the boycott of foreign goods as part of their own movements against low wages and poor working conditions.

Question 124: What were some specific instances of worker participation in the movement?
Answer: Specific instances included strikes by railway workers in 1930, dockworkers in 1932, and thousands of workers in Chotanagpur tin mines wearing Gandhi caps and participating in protest rallies and boycott campaigns in 1930.

Question 125: Why was the Congress reluctant to include workers’ demands in its programme of struggle?
Answer: The Congress was reluctant to include workers’ demands because it felt this would alienate industrialists and divide the anti-imperial forces.

Question 126: What was an important feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer: An important feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement was the large-scale participation of women.

Question 127: How did women participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement during Gandhiji’s salt march?
Answer: During Gandhiji’s salt march, thousands of women came out of their homes to listen to him, participated in protest marches, manufactured salt, and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many went to jail.

Question 128: From which backgrounds did women who participated in the movement come?
Answer: In urban areas, women who participated were from high-caste families, while in rural areas, they came from rich peasant households.

Question 129: How did women view their participation in the movement?
Answer: Moved by Gandhiji’s call, women began to see service to the nation as a sacred duty.

Question 130: Did the increased public role of women signify a radical change in their societal position?
Answer: No, the increased public role did not necessarily mean a radical change in the societal position of women.

Question 131: What was Gandhiji’s view on the duty of women?
Answer: Gandhiji was convinced that it was the duty of women to look after home and hearth, be good mothers, and good wives.

Question 132: How did the Congress view the role of women within the organization?
Answer: For a long time, the Congress was reluctant to allow women to hold any position of authority within the organization and was keen only on their symbolic presence.

Question 133: Why did the Congress initially ignore the dalits?

Answer: The Congress ignored the dalits for fear of offending the conservative high-caste Hindus known as sanatanis.

Question 134: What did Mahatma Gandhi declare about swaraj and untouchability?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi declared that swaraj would not come for a hundred years if untouchability was not eliminated.

Question 135: How did Mahatma Gandhi address the issue of untouchability?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi called the ‘untouchables’ harijan, or the children of God, and organized satyagraha to secure them entry into temples, access to public wells, tanks, roads, and schools. He also cleaned toilets himself to dignify the work of the bhangi (the sweepers).

Question 136: What were the aspirations of many dalit leaders during this time?

Answer: Many dalit leaders were keen on a different political solution to the problems of their community. They began organizing themselves, demanding reserved seats in educational institutions, and a separate electorate that would choose dalit members for legislative councils.

Question 137: Why was dalit participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement limited in certain regions?

Answer: Dalit participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement was limited, particularly in the Maharashtra and Nagpur region, where their own organization and political movements were quite strong.

Question 138: Why did Dr. B.R. Ambedkar clash with Mahatma Gandhi at the second Round Table Conference?

Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar clashed with Mahatma Gandhi at the second Round Table Conference by demanding separate electorates for dalits.

Question 139: What was Mahatma Gandhi’s response to Ambedkar’s demand for separate electorates?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi began a fast unto death in response to Ambedkar’s demand for separate electorates, believing that it would slow down the process of dalit integration into society.

Question 140: What was the outcome of the conflict between Gandhi and Ambedkar regarding separate electorates?

Answer: Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhi’s position, leading to the Poona Pact of September 1932. This pact provided reserved seats for the Depressed Classes (later known as Scheduled Castes) in provincial and central legislative councils, but they were to be elected by the general electorate, not through separate electorates.

Question 141: How did the Poona Pact impact the dalit movement?

Answer: The Poona Pact provided reserved seats for dalits in legislative councils but elected by the general electorate, not separately. Despite this, the dalit movement remained apprehensive of the Congress-led national movement.

Question 142: Why were some Muslim political organizations lukewarm towards the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Answer: After the decline of the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement, many Muslims felt alienated from the Congress due to its growing association with openly Hindu nationalist groups like the Hindu Mahasabha.

Question 143: What contributed to worsening relations between Hindus and Muslims during this period?

Answer: Relations between Hindus and Muslims deteriorated as each community organized religious processions with militant fervor, leading to communal clashes and riots in various cities. Each riot further widened the divide between the two communities.

Question 144: Why were large sections of Muslims alienated from the Congress during the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Answer: Many Muslims felt alienated because they perceived the Congress to be increasingly associated with Hindu religious nationalist groups like the Hindu Mahasabha. This association deepened communal tensions and created suspicion among Muslims about the Congress’s commitment to protect minority interests.

Question 145: What were the concerns expressed by Muslim leaders and intellectuals regarding the status of Muslims during the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Answer: Muslim leaders and intellectuals were concerned about the status of Muslims as a minority within India. They feared that under the dominance of a Hindu majority, the cultural and identity interests of minorities, including Muslims, would be marginalized or ignored.

Question 146: How did nationalism become a reality in the minds of people?

Answer: Nationalism became a reality in people’s minds through the development of a sense of collective belonging across different communities, regions, or language groups. This was achieved partly through experiences of united struggles and also through various cultural processes that captured people’s imagination.

Question 147: What role did cultural processes play in the development of nationalism?

Answer: Cultural processes such as history, fiction, folklore, songs, popular prints, and symbols played a significant role in shaping nationalism. They helped in creating a sense of unity and collective identity among people belonging to diverse communities and regions within a nation.

Question 148: How did the image of Bharat Mata symbolize the identity of India?

Answer: The image of Bharat Mata, first popularized by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s hymn ‘Vande Mataram’ and later visualized in paintings like Abanindranath Tagore’s, became a powerful symbol of India’s identity. It depicted Bharat Mata as a serene, divine figure embodying the essence of the nation.

Question 149: What role did Bharat Mata play during the Swadeshi movement?

Answer: Bharat Mata became a rallying symbol during the Swadeshi movement in Bengal. It was embraced as a representation of the motherland, inspiring patriotism and devotion among Indians striving for independence from British rule.

Question 150: How did the image of Bharat Mata evolve over time?

Answer: Over the years, the image of Bharat Mata took on various forms as it spread through popular prints and was painted by different artists. It evolved from Abanindranath Tagore’s depiction as an ascetic and spiritual figure to encompass diverse artistic interpretations reflecting nationalistic sentiment.

Question 151: How did nationalists in late-nineteenth-century India contribute to the revival of Indian folklore?

Answer: Nationalists in late-nineteenth-century India contributed to the revival of Indian folklore by recording folk tales sung by bards and collecting folk songs and legends from villages. They believed that these tales offered a genuine glimpse into traditional culture, which had been affected by external influences.

Question 152: Why was preserving Indian folklore considered essential by nationalists?

Answer: Nationalists considered preserving Indian folklore essential because they believed it revealed the true national identity and restored pride in India’s cultural heritage. By safeguarding these folk traditions, they sought to counter the influence of foreign cultures and strengthen the sense of national pride.

Question 153: Who were some key figures involved in the revival of Indian folklore?

Answer: Rabindranath Tagore in Bengal and Natesa Sastri in Madras were key figures involved in the revival of Indian folklore. Tagore collected ballads, nursery rhymes, and myths, advocating for the preservation of folk traditions. Natesa Sastri published a comprehensive collection of Tamil folk tales, viewing folklore as the authentic expression of people’s thoughts and characteristics.

Question 154: How did nationalist leaders use icons and symbols to unify people during the national movement?

Answer: Nationalist leaders used icons and symbols to unify people by creating visual representations that inspired feelings of nationalism. For example, during the Swadeshi movement, a tricolour flag with eight lotuses representing British India’s provinces and a crescent moon symbolizing unity between Hindus and Muslims was designed.

Question 155: What was the significance of the Swaraj flag designed by Gandhiji?

Answer: The Swaraj flag designed by Gandhiji had a tricolour of red, green, and white, with a spinning wheel in the center symbolizing self-help and India’s quest for independence. Carrying and displaying this flag during marches became a powerful symbol of defiance against British rule.

Question 156: How did symbols like flags contribute to the national movement’s goals?

Answer: Symbols like flags played a crucial role in the national movement by visually representing the aspirations for independence and unity among different communities. They served as rallying points during protests and marches, fostering a sense of collective identity and resistance against colonial rule.

Question 157: How did Indians reinterpret history to foster nationalism?

Answer: Indians began to reinterpret history by emphasizing India’s great achievements in ancient times, such as advancements in art, architecture, science, mathematics, religion, culture, law, philosophy, crafts, and trade. This was to instill a sense of pride in the nation and counter the British portrayal of Indians as backward and incapable.

Question 158: What challenges did nationalist historians face in their efforts to unify people through history?

Answer: Nationalist historians faced challenges when the glorified past focused predominantly on Hindu achievements and iconography. This approach excluded narratives and symbols important to other communities, causing them to feel marginalized in the nationalist discourse.

Question 159: How did nationalist histories motivate Indians during the struggle against British rule?

Answer: Nationalist histories motivated Indians by urging them to take pride in India’s glorious past and use it as inspiration to change their current conditions under British colonial rule. This narrative framed the struggle for independence as a revival of India’s former greatness.

Question 160: What was the significance of the Congress Working Committee’s resolution passed in Wardha on 14 July 1942?

Answer: The resolution called for the immediate transfer of power to Indians and demanded that the British quit India, marking a decisive shift towards complete independence.

Question 161: How did the ‘Quit India’ movement differ from earlier movements like the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements?

Answer: Unlike earlier movements which focused on specific demands or protests, the ‘Quit India’ movement aimed directly at the complete withdrawal of the British from India, intensifying the demand for independence.

Question 162: Who were some prominent leaders and figures involved in the ‘Quit India’ movement?

Answer: Prominent leaders included Jayprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia, and notable women like Matangini Hazra, Kanaklata Barua, and Rama Devi, who actively participated in the movement across different regions of India.

Question 163: How did the British respond to the ‘Quit India’ movement?

Answer: The British responded with forceful repression, including arrests, crackdowns on demonstrations, and attempts to suppress the movement over a period of more than a year.