Nationalism in India - Q&A

a) Why growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement.
In India, as in many other colonies, the growth of modern nationalism is intimately connected to the anti-colonial movement. This connection exists because:
1. Discovery of Unity: People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism.
2. Shared Oppression: The sense of being oppressed under colonialism provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together.
3. Common Enemy: The movement against the colonial rulers brought people from diverse backgrounds together to fight for a common cause, fostering a sense of national identity.

b) How the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India.
The First World War created a new economic and political situation that helped in the growth of the National Movement in the following ways:
1. Economic Hardship: It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure, which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes. Customs duties were raised and income tax was introduced.
2. Price Rise: Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918, leading to extreme hardship for the common people.
3. Forced Recruitment: Villages were called upon to supply soldiers, and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger.
4. Crisis: This was accompanied by crop failure in 1918-19 and 1920-21, resulting in acute food shortages, and an influenza epidemic that killed 12 to 13 million people. These hardships united people against British rule.

c) Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act.
Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act (1919) because:
1. Undemocratic Passage: The Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members.
2. Repressive Powers: It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities.
3. Detention without Trial: It allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. This was seen as a violation of civil rights and a "black law."

d) Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 because:
1. Violence: He felt the movement was turning violent in many places. The immediate cause was the Chauri Chaura incident in Gorakhpur, where a peaceful demonstration turned into a violent clash with the police, resulting in the burning of a police station and the death of police officers.
2. Need for Training: Gandhi felt that satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they would be ready for mass struggles.

2. What is meant by the idea of satyagraha?
The idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth. It suggested that:
1. If the cause was true and the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.
2. Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence.
3. This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor. People, including the oppressors, had to be persuaded to see the truth, instead of being forced to accept it through violence.

3. Write a newspaper report on:

a) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Amritsar, 14 April 1919:
Yesterday, a horrific incident unfolded at Jallianwala Bagh that has shocked the nation. On 13 April, a large crowd had gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh. While some were there to protest against the government’s new repressive measures, many others had come to attend the annual Baisakhi fair, unaware of the martial law imposed in the city.
General Dyer entered the area, blocked the only exit points, and without warning, opened fire on the peaceful crowd. The firing lasted for several minutes, killing hundreds and wounding many more. General Dyer later declared that his object was to "produce a moral effect" and create a feeling of terror and awe in the minds of satyagrahis. This brutal act has sparked widespread anger and strikes across north India.

b) The Simon Commission
India, 1928:
The Statutory Commission under Sir John Simon arrived in India today amidst widespread protests. The commission has been set up to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. However, it has been met with black flags and slogans of "Go back Simon."
The primary cause of anger is that the commission does not have a single Indian member; all its members are British. Indian political parties, including the Congress and the Muslim League, believe that a body deciding India's future constitution must include Indian representation. Demonstrations are being held across the country to boycott the commission’s proceedings.

4. Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter 1.
1. Symbolism:
- Bharat Mata: The image of Bharat Mata acts as a symbol of the Indian nation. In Abanindranath Tagore’s painting, she is portrayed as an ascetic figure—calm, composed, divine, and spiritual. In other images, she is shown with a trishul, standing beside a lion and an elephant, symbolising power and authority.
- Germania: Germania is the allegory of the German nation. She is often portrayed wearing a crown of oak leaves, as the German oak stands for heroism. She holds a sword, symbolising readiness to fight.

2. Nature:
- Bharat Mata reflects the spiritual and religious traditions of India (asceticism, divinity) as well as power.
- Germania reflects heroism, strength, and readiness for war.

3. Purpose: Both images were created to visualise the nation and inspire a sense of collective belonging and nationalism among the people.

Discuss

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.
Social groups that joined the movement:
- Middle-class people in the towns (students, teachers, lawyers)
- Peasants in the countryside (e.g., Awadh)
- Tribal peasants (e.g., Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh)
- Plantation workers in Assam
- Business groups and merchants

Three specific groups and their hopes/struggles:

1. Peasants in Awadh:
- Struggle: Their struggle was against talukdars and landlords who demanded exorbitantly high rents and a variety of other cesses. They were also forced to do begar (labour without payment).
- Hopes: They participated in the movement hoping for a reduction of revenue, the abolition of begar, and a social boycott of oppressive landlords. For them, Swaraj meant an end to these oppressive practices.

2. Tribal Peasants (Gudem Hills):
- Struggle: The colonial government had closed large forest areas, preventing them from entering the forests to graze cattle or collect fuelwood and fruits. This threatened their livelihoods and traditional rights.
- Hopes: Led by Alluri Sitaram Raju, they joined the movement to fight for their rights to access forest resources. They believed in the power of force (guerrilla warfare) to achieve Swaraj, though they were inspired by Gandhi.

3. Plantation Workers (Assam):
- Struggle: Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, they were not permitted to leave tea gardens without permission. They were confined and cut off from their homes.
- Hopes: For them, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of the confined space and retaining a link with their villages. They believed that "Gandhi Raj" was coming and everyone would be given land in their own villages.

2. Discuss the Salt March to make clear why it was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism.
The Salt March was an effective symbol of resistance for the following reasons:
1. Universal Consumption: Salt was something consumed by the rich and the poor alike, and it was one of the most essential items of food. The tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production was seen as the most oppressive face of British rule.
2. Unifying Factor: By choosing salt, Mahatma Gandhi could unite different classes and groups within Indian society, as it was a grievance shared by everyone.
3. Defiance of Law: The march from Sabarmati to Dandi (240 miles) was a highly publicised event. On 6 April, Gandhi reached Dandi and ceremonially violated the law by manufacturing salt. This signaled the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement, where people were asked to break colonial laws, not just refuse cooperation.
4. Mass Mobilisation: Thousands came to hear Gandhi during the march, and he urged them to peacefully defy the British. It inspired people across the country to break salt laws and demonstrate in front of government salt factories.

3. Imagine you are a woman participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Explain what the experience meant to your life.
As a woman participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement, the experience has been life-changing. For the first time, I have moved out of the confines of my home to take part in public activities. I listened to Gandhiji’s call and felt that service to the nation is a sacred duty of women.

I participated in protest marches, helped manufacture salt, and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. I even witnessed many women, including those from high-caste families and rich peasant households, going to jail. This participation gave me a sense of empowerment and a feeling of contributing directly to the freedom struggle, although I know that the Congress is still reluctant to give women positions of authority within the organisation.

4. Why did political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates?
Political leaders differed over the question of separate electorates because they represented different social groups and had different fears regarding the outcome of such a system:

1. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Dalits): He demanded separate electorates for Dalits (Depressed Classes). He believed that political empowerment and separate representation were necessary to resolve the problems of their social disabilities. He feared that without it, the upper-caste majority would continue to ignore their interests.

2. Mahatma Gandhi (Congress): He strongly opposed separate electorates for Dalits and went on a fast unto death. He believed that separate electorates would slow down the process of their integration into the main society and divide the Hindu community.

3. Muslim League (Muhammad Ali Jinnah): Muslim leaders demanded separate electorates to safeguard the political interests of Muslims. They feared that the culture and identity of minorities would be submerged under the domination of a Hindu majority in a united India.

4. Congress Position: The Congress generally opposed separate electorates as they believed it would encourage communalism and divide the nation, hindering national unity.