NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science (History) Chapter 2 Nationalism in India

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 10th

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Class : 10th
Subject : Social-Science-History
Chapter : 2
Chapter Name : Nationalism In India

Q1 Why did various classes and groups of Indians participate in the Civil Disobedience
Movement?

Answer. The various classes and groups of Indian participated in the Civil Disobedience
Movement due to their own, limited motives. To them "swaraj" meant something they cawed
for. For example.
1. To businessmen, swaraj meant a time when colonial restrictions on business would no
longer exist and trade and industry would ourish without constraints.
2. Similarly to rich peasant classes, swaraj was a struggle against high land revenue.
3. Women took swaraj as the attainment of elevated status and equality with men in Indian
society.
4. Poor peasants considered swaraj as the time when they would have their own land, would
not have to pay rents or do beggar.
5. Working class dreamed for high wages and excellent working conditions. Hence, swaraj was
different for different classes and group of Indians.

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Q1 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 nance 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
de nitive 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) Gandhi ji 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 re. Gandhi ji felt that the people
were not yet ready for a mass struggle, and that satyagrahis needed to be properly trained for
non-violent demonstrations.

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Q2 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 ght 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. Gandhi ji believed that this dharma
of non- violence could be the cause of national unity and harmony.

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Q3 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 ring by British soldiers. This led to large scale strikes, clashes with police and
attacks on government buildings by the enraged Indian people.
(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.

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Q4 Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter
1.

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.

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Q1 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. Various social groups which joined the movement were
(i) Middle class people in the towns
(ii) Plantation workers
(iii) Peasants in rural areas
(iv) Tribal people
(v) Business class people

Middle Class People in the Towns
In towns, middle class people who consisted of students, teachers and lawyers responded to
the clarion call of non-cooperation and boycott. They saw the movement as a passport to
freedom from the foreign yoke.

Peasants and Tribals
In various places peasants and tribal also participated in the movement. The movement was
launched against the talukdars and landlords. For them Swaraj meant they would not be
required tc pay land dues i.e., land revenue, and the land they were cultivating would be
distributed among them.

Plantation Workers
They participated in the movement with the hope that they would be free to move out of the
con ned space in which they had been enclosed. They hoped that Gandhi Raj had come and
they would get land when they went back home.

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Q2 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, Gandhi ji 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.

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Q3 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 boycott; 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

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Q4 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.

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