NATIONALISM IN

INDIA

The anti-Colonial sentiments united

different groups of people in India.
But, their vision on nationalism is
different. We will learn how Mahatma
Gandhi and Congress tried to forge
all these groups into one single unit.
 CONDITIONS DURING
FIRST WORLD WAR

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS:
1. War expenditure is met with
i. Customs duties were
increased
ii. Income tax was introduced. MILITARY CONDITIONS:
War Loans 1. Forced recruitment into
2. Crops failed and resulted in army from rural areas.
famines 2. This enraged the rural
3. Influenza took lives India
4. All the prices went up
5. Acute food shortage
6. Took the lives of 12=13
million people (approx.)
 Earlier movements of
Gandhiji
The early moments He returned to India in 1915
began in South and organized Cahmparan,
Africa with new idea Kheda and Ahmedabad mill
of Satyagraha Workers struggles against
oppressors.
Champaran (Bihar) Kheda (Gujarat) movement was
movement was organized to support the
organized in the year peasants who demanded the
1917 against Indigo relaxation of revenue as crops
planters. failed and plague effected their
lives.
Gandhiji organized a
Satyagraha movement in
Ahmedabad to support
textile mill workers in 1918
 Idea of Satyagraha

It is not 1.The idea of Satyagraha is a novel method

of agitation against the oppressor It is the
passive
2. It appeals directly to the conscience of weapon of the
resistance
the oppressor if the fight is against the strongest but
indeed intense
injustice and has true reason. not the
activity
3. There is no need of any physical force weakest
and violence.

Non-violence
and Dharma
are the two
main principles
 Rowlatt Act And
Jallianwallah Bagh

1. Rowlatt Act was passed by 1. The leaders in Punjab were arrested.

Imperial Legislative Council 2. To protest the arrests when agitations
Despite the opposition of the were launched Martial Law was imposed in
Indian members. Amritsar.
2. It gave enormous powers to 3.Unaware of this, many people from
the government to repress villages assembled in Jallianwallah bagh on
political activists and detain the occasion of Baisakhi. This led to
them up to 2 years without bloodshed which is known as Jallianwallah
trial. Bagh massacre on 13th April 1919.

1.Many crowds took to streets in North India as the news spread out
about Jallian Wallah Bagh Massacre.
2. The government buildings were set fire and attacked the police.
3. In response, the government made the Satyagrahis to rub their
noses against streets, salam the sahibs and crawl on the streets.
4. People were flogged and villages around Punjab were bombed. As
violence broke out, Gandhiji called off the movement .
 Announcing Non-
Cooperation Movement
1. Gandhiji felt the need of 1. There were rumors that harsh treaty was
announcing nationwide movement. to be imposed against Turkey emperor (the
2. He wanted to unite Hindus and spiritual head of Islamic world ) Khalifa.
Muslims. 2. A Khilafat Committee was formed in India
3. He felt Khilafat as the reason to in 1919 by the young generation leaders like
unite Hindus and Muslims to unite Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali discussed
Hindus and Muslims to launch with Gandhiji to launch a movement.
Nationwide movement 3. He convinced the Congress leaders in
Calcutta session in 1920 on the need for
launching non-cooperation movement for
Khilafat and Swaraj.
 Unfolding Non-
Cooperation Movement

1. Gandhiji believed that the British could

not have continued their rule if Indians
There was opposition did not have cooperated.
to the proposal of 2. Gandhiji wanted to unfold non- However a
Gandhiji, as they cooperation movement in stages. compromise was
were reluctant to 3. It should begin with surrender of titles, achieved in Nagpur
, the year
Session in
boycott the elections boycott of civil services, army, police,
and felt that it would 1920 to launch non-
courts and legislative councils, schools, cooperation
lead to violence and foreign goods movement
4. A Civil Disobedience movement can be
launched, if the government follows
repressive measures.
 Differing Strands in
Movement
Movement in Towns:
1. Students, workers left Offices and
Schools and colleges Reasons for failure in Towns:
2. Lawyers left practice. 1. There were no Indian alternative for
3. Headmasters and Teachers resigned. schools, colleges and offices
4. Council Elections were Boycotted except 2. So they joined back their works.
in Madras. 3. Teachers joined joined back into
5. Foreign goods were boycotted government run schools.
6. Liquor shops were picketed 4. Lawyers restarted their practice.
7. Foreign cloth was burnt 5. The Khadi cloth was very expensive when
8. Wearing Indian cloth became the symbol compared to the mill cloth of British
of movment. It improved Indian Textile 6. People could not buy and again shifted to
production mill cloth of British.
9. Merchants and traders refused to trade
in foreign goods and to finance it.
 Differing Strands in
Movement
Rebellion in the countryside:
1. The Peasants of Awadh were guided by Baba
Ramachandra to fight the autocracy of British.
2. The movement was against Talukdars and Reasons for the failure :
landlords. 1. The Peasants of Awadh interpreted
3. The peasants have to pay high rents, cesses, the Non-Cooperation movement in
Begar and faced fear of eviction their own way.
4. They demanded the abolition of Begar, 2. The houses of Talukdars,
Reduction of revenue, and social boycott of merchants and Landlords were
oppressive landlords Panchayats organized Nai- attacked
dhobi bands 3. Hoards were taken over.
5. J Nehru toured in United provinces and came to 4. Bazars were looted.
know about the problems of the peasants. 5. In many places local leaders told
6. Soon, The Oudh Kissan Sabha was formed by that Gandhiji asked not to pay
Oct 1920 with J Nehru and Ramachandra as the taxes and land has to be
leaders. redistributed among the poor
7. Vallabhbhai Patel led Bardoli peasants 6. These incidences which were
satyagraha which gained sympathy from all over unexpected by Congress made
India. Congress unhappy
 NATIONALISM IN
INDIA
Tribal Peasants : Tribal peasants in Gudem hills rebelled
against British under the leadership of Alluri Seetaramaraju.
1.The Gudem people were affected by forest laws which
restricted their free movement and livelihood.
2. They were influenced by Seetarama Raju to refuse Begar
to construct roads
3. Seetarama Raju was influenced by the non-cooperation
movement and forced people to wear Khadi and give up
Drinking.
4. He also believed that Swaraj cannot be achieved through
nonviolence. Violence is the solution.
5. The tribal people attacked Police Stations, attempted to
kill British officials, and carried on guerilla warfare methods.
6. Seetarama raju was captured in 1924 and was executed.
Thus the tribal movement came to an end.
 Different Strands in
the Movement- Assam
Plantation Workers

1. The Inland Emigration Act 1859 restricted the movement

of the plantation workers to their homelands.
2. When they heard about the non Cooperation movement
they left the plantations and started back to their homes.
3. They believed that in Gandhiraj, people will be given
lands in their villages.
4. But, unfortunately, they could not reach their
destinations as, they were captured by Police due to
Steamer and railway strikes and were beaten up.
 Withdrawal of non-cooperation movement,
Simon Commission and Poorna Swaraj
1. The outbreak of violence in Chauri Chaura made Gandhiji to stop the non-cooperation
movement.
2. He felt that the Satyagrahis were not yet ready
3. Bythate time, some leaders who were fed up with nationwide movements wanted to
participate in elections. Mr. Motilal Nehru and C R Das started Swaraj party to contest
elections
4. The world wide depression affected the peasants and agricultural prices. So, the
countryside was in turmoil
5. The new Tory government has sent Simon Commission to look into the Constitutional
functioning in India.
6. There were no Indians in the commission and the commission was welcomed with
placards showing “Simon go back”
7. In response to the situation The British gave a vague offer of Dominion Status.
8. The young leaders like Nehru and Bose wanted to take radical steps and hence, they
announced Poorna Swaraj as their goal in Lahore Session of 1929.
9. They have celebrated the independence day by hoisting flag on January 26th,1930. On
that day pledges were taken and National Flag was hoisted. But, this could not bring all
the regions and people into the struggle. Hence, Gandhi has to plan a new way.
 Towards Civil
Disobdience
1. Gandhi wrote a letter to Lord Irwin with 11 demands which included the interests of all
sections of the society like industrialists, Peasants, and common people. The most
important of all was to abolish the salt tax and monopoly of salt production
2. Salt is a very important food item consumed by all sections of the society.
3. He also mentioned that if the demands were not fulfilled by 11th March, Congress would
launch civil disobedience.
4. Irwin paid deaf ear, hence, Gandhi began his Dandi March
5. He walked from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi on Gujarat Coast in 24 days for about 240
miles. On his way, Gandhi addressed the people and explained his idea of swaraj,
satyagraha and asked everyone to defy the laws.
6. On 6th April, he made salt and broke the salt law. Everyone, in every part of the country
broke the salt laws and demonstrated in front of the factory gates.
7. Foreign cloth was boycotted, liquor shops were picketed, Peasants refused to pay revenue
and Chaukidari taxes, Tribal people entered the reserved forests and broke forest laws, and
Village officials resigned.
8. The movement was with great energy and momentum. British took repressive measures like
arresting Khan Abdul Gaffarkhan first and later Gandhiji. Violence broke out in many
parts. Children, Women and satyagrahis were beaten brutally. So, Gandhi had withdrawn
the movement.
Dandi March
 2nd Round Table Conference
and the Revolutionaries

1. Mahatma Gandhi entered into A pact ‘Revolution is the inalienable right of

with Irwin on 5th March 1931 and mankind.
temporarily suspended the movement. Freedom is the imprescriptible
2. According to the pact, Gandhi agreed to birthright of all.
attend the 2nd Round conference on a The labourer is the real sustainer of
condition that all the political prisoners society …
would be released. To the altar of this revolution we have
3. In the round table conference the brought our youth as incense, for no
negotiations failed so, he returned back sacrifice is too
and launched the movement again. But, great for so magnificent a cause. We are
the movement became weak and came content. We await the advent of
to an end by 1934. revolution.
Inquilab Zindabad!’
 Participants in the movement
Participants Reason First Stage 2nd Stage
Rich Peasants like Jats Unable to pay high revenues Participated actively and Lost interest as the
of U P & Patidars of due to great depression made others also to revenue demand was not
Gujarat participate fulfilled and did not
participate
Poor Peasants No rent Campaign Did not participate as Did not participate
Congress ignored them with
the fear of loss of rich land
lords support
Industrialists Protection from Foreign Participated actively and Growing militant
imports and Rupee Sterling made others also to activities, socialist
ratio participate activities, long disruption
of business made them
not to participate

Workers Workers rights Did not participate as Did not participate as

Congress ignored them with Congress ignored them
the fear of loss of with the fear of loss of
industrialists support industrialists support
Women Enthusiasm to serve the Participated actively though Participated actively
nation their role was not though their role was not
recognized recognized
 LIMITS OF
MOVEMENT
Dalits: These were called as Harijans by Gandhiji
1. Congress ignored them for a long time due to the fear of Muslims: After the non-
sanatanis. Cooperation movement
2. Gandhiji declared that if the untouchability continues, communal riots took place.
Swaraj cannot be achieved. Mohammad Ali Jinnah was
3. He organized Satyagrahas to get the access for harijans into ready to give up the demand
temples, wells, tanks, and other areas for separate electorate if the
4. The Dalit leaders organized themselves into associations reservations are given for
and demanded reservations in educational institutions, central Assembly and
separate electorate to enter the assemblies. proportional representation
5. Dr B R Ambedkar formed Depressed Classes Association in according to the population
1930. He disputed with Gandhi at 2nd round conference for ratio was accepted. But, M
separate electorate. R Jayakar of Hindu
6. Gandhi fasted as he believed that separate electorate would Mahasabha did not accept
make the dalits away from the others but will not integrate for any compromise in
them. 1928.
7. So Ambedkar signed Poona Act accepting for reservations With this most of the
and withdrawing the separate electorate demand. Muslims members remained
8. Dalits remained away from the civil disobedience movement away from the movement.
Sense of collective
belonging

Observe how Tilak was surrounded by the symbols

of all religions.
The sense of belongingness fosters unity among
the people. This came from united struggles
against colonial government. History and fiction,
folklore and songs, popular prints and symbols, all
played a part in the making of nationalism.
Abanindranath Tagor designed the first
Bharatamata idol and later it was designed by
many. The national Flag also took many changes
after Gandhiji proposed tricolor Flag.
Bankimchandra Chatopadhyay through his
Anandmath gave the National Song
Vandemataram and Rabindranath Tagor provided
National Anthem Janaganamana.
 Quit India
Movement

The failure of the Cripps Mission and the effects of World War II created widespread
discontentment in India. This led Gandhiji to launch a movement calling for complete
withdrawal of the British from India. The Congress Working Committee, in its meeting in
Wardha on 14 July 1942, passed the historic ‘Quit India’ resolution demanding the
immediate transfer of power to Indians and quit India. On 8 August 1942 in Bombay, the
All India Congress Committee endorsed the resolution which called for a non-violent mass
struggle on the widest possible scale throughout the country. It was on this occasion that
Gandhiji delivered the famous ‘Do or Die’ speech. The call for ‘Quit India’ almost brought
the state machinery to a standstill in large parts of the country as people voluntarily threw
themselves into the thick of the movement. People observed hartals, and demonstrations
and processions were accompanied by national songs and slogans. The movement was truly
a mass movement which brought into its ambit thousands of ordinary people, namely
students, workers and peasants. It also saw the active participation of leaders, namely,
Jayprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali and Ram Manohar Lohia and many women such as
Matangini Hazra in Bengal, Kanaklata Barua in Assam and Rama Devi in Odisha. The
British responded with much force, yet it took more than a year to suppress the movement.