India and the Contemporary World - I: Nationalism in India – CBSE NCERT Study Resources

We studied how Gandhi led these movements to challenge British rule through peaceful protests.

• Non-Cooperation: Boycott of schools, courts, and foreign goods (e.g., burning British cloth).
• Civil Disobedience: Salt March (1930) defied salt laws, uniting farmers and tribals.

Modern protests like farmers' agitations use similar nonviolent methods.

Tribals joined the freedom struggle due to forest laws and exploitation.

• Alluri led Andhra tribals (1922-24) against British forest policies.
• Warli Revolt (1945) in Maharashtra resisted landlord oppression.

Today, tribal rights movements (e.g., Pathalgadi) reflect similar demands for autonomy.

These events exposed British repression, uniting Indians.

• Rowlatt Act allowed arrests without trial, sparking protests.
• Jallianwala Bagh (April 1919) killings turned moderates into radicals.

Laws like UAPA face similar criticism for suppressing dissent today.

Both movements merged to create Hindu-Muslim unity against colonialism.

• Khilafat: Muslims protested British treatment of Turkey's Caliph.
• Non-Cooperation: Joint boycotts (e.g., schools, foreign goods).

Recent protests like CAA-NRC saw similar interfaith solidarity.

The Non-Cooperation Movement, led by Gandhi, aimed to resist British rule through peaceful means.

• Mass participation: Students left schools, lawyers boycotted courts.
• Chauri Chaura incident (1922) led to violence, forcing Gandhi to withdraw the movement.
• Economic impact: Foreign goods were boycotted, promoting Swadeshi.

Today, peaceful protests inspire movements like farmers' agitations, showing Gandhian methods' lasting influence.

Tribal peasants in Gudem Hills (Andhra) revolted against British forest laws restricting their livelihoods.

• Led by Alluri Sitarama Raju, they attacked police stations.
• Linked to Gandhi’s ideals but used armed resistance.
• Showed how local grievances merged with nationalism.

Similar tribal movements today, like against mining, reflect ongoing struggles for rights.

Gandhi’s 240-mile march to Dandi challenged the salt tax, uniting Indians.

• Dandi: Gandhi made salt, breaking the law.
• Coastal protests: Thousands followed, producing salt nationwide.
• Global attention: Exposed British oppression.

Symbolic protests, like climate marches, draw from this model of civil disobedience.

Both movements (1919-22) merged religious and nationalist demands to oppose colonialism.

• Khilafat: Muslims protested British treatment of Turkey’s Caliph.
• Non-Cooperation: Hindus joined, boycotting British institutions.
• Unity: Gandhi linked both, creating mass mobilization.

Interfaith solidarity remains key in movements like anti-CAA protests.

We studied how Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement to oppose British rule through peaceful means.

• Students left schools, lawyers boycotted courts (e.g., Chauri Chaura incident).
• Foreign goods were burnt, and khadi promoted.
• Farmers in Awadh refused taxes under Baba Ramchandra.

Today, movements like 'Boycott China' show similar mass participation against foreign dominance.

The Salt March was Gandhi's protest against the British salt tax, uniting Indians.

• Gandhi marched 240 miles from Sabarmati to Dandi.
• People made salt illegally, defying laws (e.g., coastal protests in Mumbai).
• Women like Sarojini Naidu joined, showing inclusivity.

Protests like farmers' marches today reflect similar defiance against unjust laws.

The brutal killing of unarmed Indians in Amritsar angered the nation.

• General Dyer ordered firing on a peaceful crowd.
• Over 1,000 were killed/injured, as per our textbook.
• Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest.

Incidents like police brutality today remind us of colonial oppression.

Both movements united Hindus and Muslims against British rule.

• Khilafat aimed to protect the Ottoman Caliph (led by Ali brothers).
• Non-Cooperation involved boycotts (e.g., schools, courts).
• Gandhi merged them for broader participation.

Today, interfaith protests like CAA/NRC show similar unity.

Why Gandhi emphasized boycott:

• Gandhi believed that British institutions like courts and schools were tools of colonial control, and boycotting them would weaken British authority.
• Boycotting foreign goods, especially British-manufactured textiles, aimed to revive Indian industries like khadi and promote economic self-reliance (Swadeshi).

Contribution to nationalism:

• The boycott united Indians across regions and communities under a common goal of Swaraj, fostering a sense of collective identity.
• Mass participation in protests, such as burning foreign clothes, made nationalism a people's movement rather than just an elite struggle.

This strategy also highlighted the power of peaceful resistance, making the movement more inclusive and widespread.

Immediate causes:

• The massacre occurred after the British imposed the Rowlatt Act (1919), which allowed arrests without trial, angering Indians.
• A peaceful crowd had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest these repressive laws, unaware of a ban on public meetings.

Impact on freedom struggle:

• The brutal killing of unarmed civilians shocked Indians, turning many against British rule and strengthening the demand for independence.
• It led to widespread protests and became a rallying point for the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22), uniting people across India.

The event exposed the cruelty of colonial rule, making Indians more determined to achieve Swaraj.

The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) was a major step in India's struggle for independence, led by Mahatma Gandhi. It aimed to resist British rule through peaceful means by refusing to cooperate with colonial institutions. The movement's significance lies in:

• Boycott of British Institutions: Indians were urged to leave government jobs, boycott courts, and withdraw from British-run schools to weaken administrative control.
• Promotion of Swadeshi: The movement encouraged the use of Indian-made goods and the boycott of foreign products to hurt British economic interests.
• Mass Participation: It united people across regions and communities, including peasants, students, and women, making it a truly national movement.

By challenging British authority non-violently, the movement laid the foundation for future struggles and instilled a sense of self-reliance (Swaraj) among Indians.

The Salt March (1930) was a pivotal event in the Civil Disobedience Movement, led by Gandhi to protest the British monopoly on salt production and taxation. The statement highlights its symbolic and practical significance:

• Defiance of Unjust Laws: By making salt at Dandi, Gandhi broke the salt laws, inspiring millions to challenge British authority through peaceful disobedience.
• Mass Mobilization: The march attracted global attention and united Indians across castes and classes, strengthening the nationalist movement.
• Economic Impact: The boycott of British salt and goods disrupted colonial revenue, proving the power of non-violent resistance.

The movement demonstrated that Indians could organize large-scale protests, paving the way for future agitations like the Quit India Movement. It also showcased Gandhi's strategy of Satyagraha as an effective tool against oppression.

(a) Gandhi emphasized the boycott of British institutions and goods to economically and politically weaken British rule in India. By refusing to use their courts and schools, Indians undermined the legitimacy of British authority. The boycott of foreign goods, especially British-manufactured cloth, aimed to revive Indian swadeshi industries and promote self-reliance.

(b) This strategy strengthened the nationalist movement by:

• Uniting people across different regions and communities under a common cause.
• Encouraging mass participation, including women and students, making it a truly people's movement.
• Promoting Indian industries, which boosted economic nationalism.
• Demonstrating the power of non-violent resistance, which became a hallmark of India's freedom struggle.

(a) Gandhi's Salt March (1930) inspired the farmer and others by:

• Demonstrating that even small acts of defiance, like breaking the salt law, could challenge British authority.
• Showing the power of civil disobedience as a tool for mass mobilization.
• Encouraging ordinary Indians to take initiative against unjust laws, making the movement decentralized yet unified.

(b) The broader impact included:

• Widespread refusal to pay taxes and revenues, which strained British finances.
• Increased participation from rural areas, expanding the movement beyond cities.
• Forcing the British to negotiate, as seen in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), recognizing the movement's strength.
• Strengthening nationalist sentiment, as people realized their collective power against colonial rule.

The idea of non-cooperation became a powerful tool in the Indian nationalist movement because it aimed to weaken British authority without resorting to violence. Mahatma Gandhi believed that by refusing to cooperate with British institutions, Indians could undermine their control. Here’s how it worked:

• Boycott of British courts: Indians started resolving disputes in local panchayats, reducing dependence on colonial legal systems.
• Boycott of government schools: Students left British-run institutions, and national schools like Kashi Vidyapeeth were established.
• Rejection of foreign goods: Swadeshi goods were promoted, hurting British economic interests.

This strategy united people across classes and regions, making it a mass movement. The Chauri Chaura incident, however, led Gandhi to withdraw the movement, showing his commitment to non-violence.

The Rowlatt Act was a repressive law passed by the British in 1919, allowing them to imprison Indians without trial. Its significance lies in how it fueled nationalist sentiments:

• Unjust provisions: It denied basic rights like habeas corpus, angering Indians who expected reforms after World War I.
• Mass protests: Gandhi launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha, bringing people together against colonial rule.
• Jallianwala Bagh massacre: The brutal shooting of unarmed protesters in Amritsar exposed British cruelty, turning more Indians against them.

This event deepened distrust in British rule and strengthened the demand for Swaraj, paving the way for larger movements like Non-Cooperation.

(a) Gandhi emphasized boycotting British institutions like courts and schools because they symbolized British authority and control over India. By refusing to cooperate, Indians could undermine the legitimacy of colonial rule and assert their self-respect. Boycott was a non-violent way to challenge British dominance and create awareness about self-governance.

(b) This strategy strengthened nationalism by uniting people across regions and communities under a common goal. The boycott of foreign goods promoted Swadeshi, encouraging Indians to rely on locally made products, which fostered economic independence. Mass participation in such movements created a sense of collective identity and resistance against colonial rule.

The refusal to pay land revenue by farmers like the one in Punjab directly challenged the economic foundation of British rule. The British relied heavily on land revenue for their administration, and such acts of civil disobedience disrupted their income. This also inspired others to join the movement, weakening colonial authority.

• It highlighted the exploitation of Indian peasants, drawing attention to their struggles.
• The participation of rural masses expanded the reach of the freedom struggle beyond urban areas.
• It demonstrated the power of collective action and non-violent resistance, key principles of Gandhi's leadership.

Such actions strengthened the morale of Indians and showcased their determination to achieve Swaraj (self-rule).