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Nationalism in India

NCERT Class 10 · Social Science Based on NCERT Class 10 Social Science textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter traces the growth of modern nationalism in India from the 1920s, focusing on the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements led by Mahatma Gandhi. It explains how the anti-colonial struggle forged a shared identity among diverse social groups, each interpreting 'swaraj' in their own way. The one big idea is that nationalism in India was not a single, uniform movement but a complex process involving different classes, communities, and regions, with both unity and conflict.
Key Concepts (20)
Satyagraha
A novel method of mass agitation emphasising the power of truth and the need to search for truth; it suggests that if the cause is true and the struggle is against injustice, physical force is not necessary, and a satyagrahi can win the battle through non-violence by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor.
e.g. Mahatma Gandhi organised satyagraha movements in Champaran (1917) to support peasants against the oppressive plantation system, in Ahmedabad (1918) for cotton mill workers, and in Kheda (1918) for peasants affected by crop failure.
Rowlatt Act (1919)
An act hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite united opposition of Indian members, giving the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowing detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
e.g. Mahatma Gandhi launched a nationwide satyagraha against this Act, starting with a hartal on 6 April 1919, which led to widespread protests and the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre.
Jallianwalla Bagh incident
On 13 April 1919, a large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwalla Bagh in Amritsar; General Dyer entered, blocked exit points, and opened fire, killing hundreds, with the declared object of producing a 'moral effect' of terror and awe.
e.g. The incident sparked strikes, clashes with police, and attacks on government buildings across many north Indian towns, and led Mahatma Gandhi to call off the Rowlatt satyagraha.
Khilafat issue
After the First World War, the Ottoman Turkey was defeated, and there were rumours of a harsh peace treaty being imposed on the Ottoman emperor (the Khalifa), the spiritual head of the Islamic world; a Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919 to defend his temporal powers.
e.g. Mahatma Gandhi saw this as an opportunity to bring Muslims under a unified national movement, and at the Calcutta session of the Congress in September 1920, he convinced other leaders to start a non-cooperation movement in support of Khilafat and swaraj.
Non-Cooperation Movement
A mass movement launched in January 1921, based on the idea that British rule survived only with Indian cooperation; it proposed surrendering titles, boycotting civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools, and foreign goods, and if repression occurred, launching full civil disobedience.
e.g. Thousands of students left government schools, lawyers gave up practices, foreign cloth was burnt, and the import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922.
Swaraj
A term meaning 'self-rule' or 'independence', which meant different things to different social groups: for rich peasants it meant lower revenues, for poor peasants it meant remission of rent, for tribals it meant freedom from forest laws, and for plantation workers it meant the right to move freely.
e.g. In the Lahore Congress of December 1929, the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' or full independence was formalised, and 26 January 1930 was declared as Independence Day.
Civil Disobedience Movement
A movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, beginning with the Salt March to Dandi to break the salt law; it involved not only refusing cooperation but actively breaking colonial laws, such as manufacturing salt, boycotting foreign cloth, picketing liquor shops, and refusing to pay revenue.
e.g. The movement saw large-scale participation of women, peasants, and industrialists, and was marked by brutal repression, with about 100,000 people arrested.
Salt March (Dandi March)
A 240-mile march from Sabarmati ashram to Dandi, a coastal town in Gujarat, undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi with 78 volunteers from 12 March to 6 April 1930; on reaching Dandi, Gandhi ceremonially violated the salt law by manufacturing salt from sea water, marking the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
e.g. The march was a powerful symbol that united the nation because salt was consumed by all, rich and poor, and the salt tax revealed the oppressive face of British rule.
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931)
A pact by which Mahatma Gandhi consented to participate in the Round Table Conference in London, and the government agreed to release political prisoners; it ended the first phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
e.g. After the pact, Gandhi went to London for the Second Round Table Conference in December 1931, but negotiations broke down, and he returned disappointed.
Poona Pact (September 1932)
An agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, after Gandhi's fast unto death, which gave the Depressed Classes (later Scheduled Castes) reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils, but to be voted in by the general electorate, not separate electorates.
e.g. This pact resulted from Gandhi's opposition to separate electorates for dalits, which he believed would slow down their integration into society.
Simon Commission (1928)
A statutory commission set up by the British Tory government under Sir John Simon, with no Indian member, to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes; it was greeted with the slogan 'Go back Simon'.
e.g. All parties, including the Congress and the Muslim League, participated in demonstrations against the Simon Commission, and Lala Lajpat Rai succumbed to injuries from a police assault during a peaceful demonstration.
Purna Swaraj
The demand for full independence for India, formalised at the Lahore Congress in December 1929 under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru; it was declared that 26 January 1930 would be celebrated as Independence Day.
e.g. The Independence Day pledge stated that India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj.
Dalit
A term meaning 'oppressed', used from the 1930s by the nation's 'untouchables' to refer to themselves; they demanded reserved seats in educational institutions and a separate electorate for legislative councils.
e.g. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar organised the Depressed Classes Association in 1930 and clashed with Gandhi over separate electorates, leading to the Poona Pact.
Bharat Mata
The image of India as a mother figure, first created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s with the hymn 'Vande Mataram', and later painted by Abanindranath Tagore in 1905 as an ascetic, calm, divine figure; devotion to this mother figure became evidence of nationalism.
e.g. The image was widely circulated in popular prints and became a symbol of national identity.
Forced recruitment
A process by which the colonial state forced people to join the army during the First World War, causing widespread anger in rural areas.
e.g. Villages were called upon to supply soldiers, and this forced recruitment, along with rising prices and crop failures, led to extreme hardship.
Begar
Labour that villagers were forced to contribute without any payment, often demanded by landlords or the colonial government.
e.g. In Awadh, peasants had to do begar and work at landlords' farms without payment, which was one of the grievances leading to the peasant movement.
Boycott
The refusal to deal and associate with people, or participate in activities, or buy and use things; usually a form of protest.
e.g. During the Non-Cooperation Movement, foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed, and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires.
Picket
A form of demonstration or protest by which people block the entrance to a shop, factory, or office.
e.g. During the Civil Disobedience Movement, women picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops.
Harijan
A term meaning 'children of God', used by Mahatma Gandhi to refer to the 'untouchables' as part of his campaign to eliminate untouchability.
e.g. Gandhi organised satyagraha to secure harijans entry into temples and access to public wells, tanks, roads, and schools.
Communalism
A belief that each religious community is entitled to free development on its own lines, which in the Indian context led to demands for separate electorates and fears of minority identity being submerged under a Hindu majority.
e.g. Sir Muhammad Iqbal, as president of the Muslim League in 1930, reiterated the importance of separate electorates for Muslims as a safeguard for their minority political interests.
How It Works
The Idea of Satyagraha
  1. Emphasise the power of truth and the need to search for truth.
  2. If the cause is true and the struggle is against injustice, physical force is not necessary.
  3. A satyagrahi wins the battle through non-violence by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor.
  4. Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, the satyagrahi persuades the oppressor to see the truth.
  5. Truth is bound to ultimately triumph through this struggle.
💡 Satyagraha is not passive resistance; it is active, soul-force, and requires intense activity. It is not the weapon of the weak but of the strong.
Non-Cooperation Movement: Unfolding in Stages
  1. Stage 1: Surrender of titles awarded by the government.
  2. Stage 1: Boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools, and foreign goods.
  3. If the government uses repression, launch a full civil disobedience campaign.
  4. The movement began in January 1921 with middle-class participation in cities.
  5. It spread to the countryside, drawing in peasant and tribal struggles.
  6. In February 1922, after the Chauri Chaura incident, Gandhi withdrew the movement due to violence.
💡 The movement was called off because Gandhi felt satyagrahis needed proper training before mass struggles, not because the movement failed.
Civil Disobedience Movement: Launch and Phases
  1. Gandhi sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin on 31 January 1930 with eleven demands, including abolition of the salt tax.
  2. When demands were not met by 11 March, Gandhi began the Salt March from Sabarmati to Dandi on 12 March.
  3. On 6 April 1930, Gandhi violated the salt law by manufacturing salt at Dandi, marking the start of the movement.
  4. People broke salt laws, boycotted foreign cloth, picketed liquor shops, refused to pay revenue, and violated forest laws.
  5. The government responded with brutal repression; Gandhi was arrested, leading to violent clashes.
  6. Gandhi called off the movement and signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact on 5 March 1931.
  7. After the failed Round Table Conference, Gandhi relaunched the movement in 1932, but it lost momentum by 1934.
💡 Unlike Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience involved actively breaking colonial laws, not just refusing cooperation.
Formation of the Swaraj Party and Internal Debates
  1. After the withdrawal of Non-Cooperation, some leaders wanted to participate in council elections under the Government of India Act of 1919.
  2. C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to council politics.
  3. Younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose pressed for more radical mass agitation and full independence.
  4. This internal debate shaped Indian politics towards the late 1920s.
💡 The Swaraj Party wanted to oppose British policies within councils, not abandon the struggle.
The Making of a Sense of Collective Belonging
  1. Nationalism spreads through united struggles and cultural processes.
  2. History and fiction, folklore and songs, popular prints and symbols played a part.
  3. The image of Bharat Mata was created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and painted by Abanindranath Tagore.
  4. Nationalists revived Indian folklore by collecting folk tales, songs, and legends to discover national identity.
  5. Nationalist histories reinterpreted India's past to instill pride, highlighting ancient achievements and the decline under British rule.
  6. The Swaraj flag (tricolour with a spinning wheel) became a symbol of defiance.
💡 The sense of collective belonging was not just political but also cultural, using symbols, songs, and history.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements
✗ Both movements were the same; they both involved boycotting British goods and institutions.
→ Non-Cooperation (1921-22) involved refusing to cooperate with British rule (boycotting councils, schools, foreign goods), while Civil Disobedience (1930-34) involved actively breaking colonial laws (e.g., salt law, forest laws, revenue refusal). The scope and methods were different.
✓ Non-Cooperation was a refusal to cooperate; Civil Disobedience was a deliberate violation of unjust laws.
⚠ Mistaking the Reason for Withdrawal of Non-Cooperation
✗ Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement because it failed to achieve swaraj.
→ The movement was withdrawn because Gandhi felt it was turning violent (e.g., Chauri Chaura incident) and satyagrahis needed proper training for mass struggles, not because it failed.
✓ Gandhi withdrew the movement in February 1922 due to the violent clash at Chauri Chaura, as he believed non-violence was essential for the movement's integrity.
⚠ Thinking the Salt March was the Entire Civil Disobedience Movement
✗ The Civil Disobedience Movement was only about the Salt March and breaking the salt law.
→ The Salt March was the starting point, but the movement included many other forms of civil disobedience: boycott of foreign cloth, picketing liquor shops, refusal to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes, violation of forest laws, and resignation of village officials.
✓ The Civil Disobedience Movement began with the Salt March but encompassed widespread defiance of multiple colonial laws.
⚠ Confusing the Poona Pact with Separate Electorates
✗ The Poona Pact gave dalits separate electorates.
→ The Poona Pact gave dalits reserved seats in legislative councils, but they were to be voted in by the general electorate, not a separate electorate. Gandhi opposed separate electorates, and Ambedkar accepted this compromise.
✓ The Poona Pact (1932) provided reserved seats for dalits in provincial and central councils, elected by the general electorate, not separate electorates.
⚠ Assuming All Muslims Supported the Khilafat Movement
✗ All Muslims supported the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements, and the Hindu-Muslim unity lasted throughout.
→ While the Khilafat issue initially brought many Muslims into the national movement, after its decline, a large section felt alienated from the Congress. By the 1930s, communal tensions and distrust grew, and many Muslim leaders demanded separate electorates.
✓ The Khilafat movement fostered Hindu-Muslim unity temporarily, but after its decline, communal divisions deepened, and many Muslims did not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
⚠ Thinking the Simon Commission was Welcomed by Indians
✗ The Simon Commission was set up to give Indians more rights, and Indians welcomed it.
→ The Simon Commission had no Indian members, which was seen as an insult. It was greeted with the slogan 'Go back Simon' and widespread protests, including a demonstration where Lala Lajpat Rai was fatally injured.
✓ The Simon Commission (1928) was all-British and was met with nationwide protests and the demand for its withdrawal.
Compare & Contrast
Nature of protest
Non-Cooperation Movement (1921-22)
Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34)
Non-Cooperation involved refusing to cooperate with British institutions (boycotting councils, schools, foreign goods); Civil Disobedience involved actively breaking colonial laws (salt law, forest laws, revenue refusal).
Scope and participation
Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919)
Non-Cooperation Movement (1921-22)
Rowlatt Satyagraha was limited mostly to cities and towns; Non-Cooperation was a more broad-based movement that spread to the countryside and involved peasants, tribals, and workers.
Solution to dalit problems
Gandhi's view on dalits
Ambedkar's view on dalits
Gandhi believed in eliminating untouchability through moral persuasion and integration (calling them 'harijan'), and opposed separate electorates; Ambedkar demanded political empowerment through reserved seats and separate electorates for dalits.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: Typically 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Short Answer (3 marks), 1 Long Answer (5 marks), and sometimes a Source-Based Question (4-5 marks). Total weightage: 10-12 marks.
Most asked: Causes and features of the Non-Cooperation Movement · The Salt March and the Civil Disobedience Movement · Jallianwalla Bagh incident and its impact · Role of different social groups (peasants, tribals, workers, women, dalits) in the national movement · The Gandhi-Irwin Pact and Poona Pact · Simon Commission and the demand for Purna Swaraj · Limits of Civil Disobedience (dalits and Muslims)
Don't skip: Compare and contrast the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements (5 marks).; Explain how different social groups (peasants, tribals, workers, women, dalits, business classes) participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and what swaraj meant to them (5 marks).; Describe the events leading to the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre and its impact on the national movement (3 marks).
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. Modern nationalism in India grew out of the anti-colonial movement, with different social groups sharing a common bond of oppression.
  2. Mahatma Gandhi's idea of satyagraha emphasised non-violent mass agitation based on truth and appealing to the oppressor's conscience.
  3. The Rowlatt Act (1919) allowed detention without trial and led to the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre on 13 April 1919.
  4. The Khilafat issue was used by Gandhi to bring Hindus and Muslims together for the Non-Cooperation Movement.
  5. The Non-Cooperation Movement (1921-22) involved boycotting British institutions, schools, courts, and foreign goods.
  6. Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement after the Chauri Chaura incident due to violence.
  7. The Simon Commission (1928) had no Indian members and was met with the 'Go back Simon' protests.
  8. The Lahore Congress (1929) under Jawaharlal Nehru demanded Purna Swaraj (complete independence).
  9. The Salt March to Dandi (1930) began the Civil Disobedience Movement by breaking the salt law.
  10. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) ended the first phase of Civil Disobedience; Gandhi attended the Round Table Conference.
  11. The Poona Pact (1932) gave dalits reserved seats in legislatures but not separate electorates.
  12. Women participated in large numbers in the Civil Disobedience Movement, picketing shops and manufacturing salt.
  13. Rich peasants supported the movement for lower revenues; poor peasants wanted rent remission.
  14. Industrialists supported the movement initially but later became wary of militant activities and socialism.
  15. Dalit participation was limited; Ambedkar demanded separate electorates, leading to the Poona Pact.
  16. Many Muslims felt alienated after the Khilafat movement and demanded separate electorates for minority protection.
  17. Nationalist symbols like Bharat Mata, the Swaraj flag, and folk tales helped create a sense of collective belonging.
  18. The reinterpretation of Indian history by nationalists aimed to instill pride in India's ancient achievements and fight colonial stereotypes.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. A student reads about the Rowlatt Act of 1919 and learns that it allowed detention without trial for two years. If a similar law were proposed today in a democratic country, which of the following would MOST likely be the primary reason for public opposition? A) It violates the principle of fundamental rights and due process B) It reduces taxes collected by the government C) It prevents forced recruitment into the army D) It increases the influence of local leaders

  • A. It violates the principle of fundamental rights and due process ✓
  • B. It reduces taxes collected by the government
  • C. It prevents forced recruitment into the army
  • D. It increases the influence of local leaders

Answer: A — The Rowlatt Act's core injustice was denial of legal trial rights; students must transfer this to modern democratic values. Option B is incorrect as taxes are not mentioned in the Act's context.

Q2. During the First World War, prices in India doubled between 1913 and 1918. How did this economic condition contribute to the rise of nationalism? A) It increased prosperity and made people grateful to the British B) It created hardship for common people, uniting them against colonial rule C) It strengthened the plantation system and improved peasant conditions D) It reduced forced recruitment and improved rural stability

  • A. It increased prosperity and made people grateful to the British
  • B. It created hardship for common people, uniting them against colonial rule ✓
  • C. It strengthened the plantation system and improved peasant conditions
  • D. It reduced forced recruitment and improved rural stability

Answer: B — The chapter explicitly connects economic hardship (inflation, failed crops, famines) to the shared grievance that unified diverse groups against colonialism. Option A reverses the actual effect.

Q3. Assertion (A): Mahatma Gandhi's satyagraha movement was called 'passive resistance' by critics, but Gandhi rejected this term. Reason (R): Gandhi believed satyagraha required intense active participation based on soul-force and truth, not passive inaction. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is true but R is false
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: A — The Gandhi quote in the chapter directly supports both the assertion and the causal reasoning: he explicitly rejects 'passive resistance' and explains satyagraha as active soul-force. Option B would mean they are both true but unrelated, which is false here.

Q4. Assertion (A): The crops failed and influenza epidemic in 1918-21 killed 12-13 million people in India. Reason (R): These disasters occurred because the British deliberately withheld food supplies during the war years. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is true but R is false ✓
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: C — The chapter confirms the death toll from famine and epidemic (Assertion A is true), but does not attribute this to deliberate British withholding; rather it resulted from crop failure and war conditions. Reason R introduces an unsupported causal claim.

Q5. Read the extract: 'In 1917 he travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system. In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi went to Ahmedabad to organise a satyagraha movement amongst cotton mill workers.' What does this sequence of events suggest about Gandhi's strategy? A) He focused only on urban factory workers and ignored rural areas B) He deliberately targeted only the most oppressive industries C) He sought to mobilise diverse social groups—peasants and workers—through satyagraha D) He prioritised organising textile workers over peasants due to their greater political power

  • A. He focused only on urban factory workers and ignored rural areas
  • B. He deliberately targeted only the most oppressive industries
  • C. He sought to mobilise diverse social groups—peasants and workers—through satyagraha ✓
  • D. He prioritised organising textile workers over peasants due to their greater political power

Answer: C — The extract shows Gandhi organising in both rural Champaran (peasants) and urban Ahmedabad (mill workers), reflecting his inclusive strategy to unite different social groups. Option A contradicts the text directly.

Q6. Read the extract: 'Rallies were organised in various cities, workers went on strike in railway workshops, and shops closed down. Alarmed by the popular upsurge, and scared that lines of communication such as the railways and telegraph would be disrupted, the British administration decided to clamp down on nationalists.' What does the British response reveal about their concern? A) The British feared loss of economic control and communication networks, which were vital to colonial rule B) The British believed peaceful protests were more dangerous than armed rebellion C) The British wanted to encourage more satyagraha movements to test public support D) The British prioritised opening shops over maintaining military control

  • A. The British feared loss of economic control and communication networks, which were vital to colonial rule ✓
  • B. The British believed peaceful protests were more dangerous than armed rebellion
  • C. The British wanted to encourage more satyagraha movements to test public support
  • D. The British prioritised opening shops over maintaining military control

Answer: A — The extract explicitly states the British feared disruption of railways and telegraph—infrastructure essential to colonial administration. Option B overgeneralises and is not supported by the text.

Q7. In South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi had successfully used satyagraha against racist laws. What does his decision to launch the Rowlatt satyagraha in 1919 suggest about his confidence in this method? A) He doubted satyagraha would work in India because conditions were different B) He believed the success in South Africa proved satyagraha could work on a larger scale in India C) He wanted to test satyagraha only on the Rowlatt Act before using it elsewhere D) He considered satyagraha ineffective but had no alternative method available

  • A. He doubted satyagraha would work in India because conditions were different
  • B. He believed the success in South Africa proved satyagraha could work on a larger scale in India ✓
  • C. He wanted to test satyagraha only on the Rowlatt Act before using it elsewhere
  • D. He considered satyagraha ineffective but had no alternative method available

Answer: B — The chapter shows Gandhi returning from South Africa with proven satyagraha success, then using it progressively in India (Champaran, Ahmedabad, Kheda) before launching the nationwide Rowlatt campaign. Option A contradicts this progression.

Q8. Read the extract: 'In most countries the making of this new national identity was a long process. In India... the growth of modern nationalism is intimately connected to the anti-colonial movement. People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism.' According to this passage, how did Indian nationalism differ from European nationalism? A) Indian nationalism was based on shared culture, while European nationalism was based on opposition to colonialism B) Indian nationalism emerged through anti-colonial struggle and shared grievance, while European nationalism was based on nation-state formation and internal identity C) Indian nationalism was weaker because it took a shorter time to develop D) Indian nationalism rejected all external influences, unlike European nationalism

  • A. Indian nationalism was based on shared culture, while European nationalism was based on opposition to colonialism
  • B. Indian nationalism emerged through anti-colonial struggle and shared grievance, while European nationalism was based on nation-state formation and internal identity ✓
  • C. Indian nationalism was weaker because it took a shorter time to develop
  • D. Indian nationalism rejected all external influences, unlike European nationalism

Answer: B — The chapter explicitly contrasts European nationalism (nation-state formation, new symbols/ideas) with Indian nationalism (emerging through colonial oppression as a shared bond). Option A reverses the distinction.

Q9. The chapter notes that 'each class and group felt the effects of colonialism differently... their notions of freedom were not always the same.' Why would the Congress under Gandhi's leadership face challenges in maintaining unity despite this diversity? A) Because all Indians agreed on the meaning of independence, making unity automatic B) Because different social groups had conflicting economic interests and visions for post-independence India, requiring continuous negotiation C) Because only peasants and workers could participate in the national movement D) Because the Congress rejected all forms of civil disobedience

  • A. Because all Indians agreed on the meaning of independence, making unity automatic
  • B. Because different social groups had conflicting economic interests and visions for post-independence India, requiring continuous negotiation ✓
  • C. Because only peasants and workers could participate in the national movement
  • D. Because the Congress rejected all forms of civil disobedience

Answer: B — The chapter explicitly states that unity 'did not emerge without conflict' because different groups experienced colonialism differently and had varying notions of freedom. Option A contradicts this fundamental point.

Q10. Assertion (A): The famine and influenza epidemic of 1918-21 killed 12-13 million Indians, according to the 1921 census. Reason (R): The high death toll resulted entirely from crop failures caused by natural drought and poor weather conditions. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is true but R is false ✓
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: C — The assertion (death toll) is confirmed by the census data in the chapter; however, Reason R is incomplete—the chapter attributes deaths to both crop failure AND the influenza epidemic, and these occurred in a context of war-induced price inflation and resource strain, not solely natural causes.

Flashcards

What is satyagraha?

Satyagraha is a method of non-violent struggle based on truth and moral force that appeals to the oppressor's conscience without using physical violence.

When did Mahatma Gandhi return to India?

Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915 after his success with satyagraha movements in South Africa.

What was the Rowlatt Act (1919)?

The Rowlatt Act was a repressive law that gave the British government enormous powers to suppress political activities and detain prisoners without trial for up to two years.

What happened on 6 April 1919?

A hartal (strike) was organized nationwide to protest against the Rowlatt Act, with workers striking, shops closing, and mass rallies held in various cities.

What was the Jallianwalla Bagh incident?

On 13 April 1919, General Dyer ordered his troops to fire on a large, unarmed crowd in Jallianwalla Bagh, Amritsar, killing hundreds of people in an enclosed space.

Why did the First World War increase economic hardship in India?

WWI led to increased defence spending, raised customs duties, introduced income tax, caused prices to double between 1913-1918, and forced rural recruitment, creating widespread suffering.

What peasant movements did Gandhi organize before 1919?

Gandhi organized satyagrahas in Champaran (1917) against plantation systems, Ahmedabad (1918) with mill workers, and Kheda (1918) to demand revenue relief during crop failure.

How did the sense of nationalism emerge in colonies like India?

Nationalism emerged through the shared experience of colonial oppression, as people from different classes and groups united against a common foreign enemy.

Why did the British clamp down on the Rowlatt satyagraha?

The British were alarmed by the popular upsurge and feared disruption of critical communication lines like railways and telegraphs due to mass strikes and protests.

What did General Dyer's stated objective in Jallianwalla Bagh reveal?

Dyer openly declared his aim was to 'produce a moral effect' and create terror and awe in the minds of satyagrahis to suppress the movement through fear.

Important Board Questions

What were the immediate economic impacts of the First World War on Indian society that contributed to the growth of nationalism? [2 marks]

Focus on: doubled prices 1913-1918, increased defence expenditure financed through taxes and customs duties, forced rural recruitment, and subsequent food shortages and influenza deaths (12-13 million) that created shared suffering across all classes.

Explain how satyagraha as a method of struggle was fundamentally different from violent resistance. Why did Gandhi believe this approach could unite all Indians? [3 marks]

Satyagraha emphasizes truth, appeals to oppressor's conscience without physical force, requires intense activity (not passive), and is based on dharma of non-violence. Gandhi believed this universal principle of non-violence could transcend regional, religious, and class divisions in Indian society.

Analyze the events leading up to and following the Jallianwalla Bagh incident of 13 April 1919. How did this event influence the growth of the nationalist movement? [5 marks]

Context: Rowlatt Act (repressive law), hartal 6 April, police firing 10 April, martial law imposed, Dyer's deliberate aim to create 'terror and awe.' Jallianwalla Bagh: blocked exits, fired on unarmed crowd including unaware villagers attending Baisakhi fair, killed hundreds. Impact: news spread, triggered strikes, clashes, attacks on government buildings across north India, transformed anger into mass nationalist movement, shifted Indian public opinion decisively against British rule.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Nationalism in India

Q1. Assertion (A):

The Rowlatt Act was opposed by Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council.

Reason (R):

The Rowlatt Act gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed detention without trial.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true. The assertion correctly states that Indian members opposed the Act, and the reason correctly explains why it was oppressive. However, the reason does not logically explain why Indian members opposed it—they opposed it because it was unjust, not just because of what it did. The reason is accurate but not the direct explanation for the assertion.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Mahatma Gandhi's satyagraha movement required the use of aggressive physical force against oppressors.

Reason (R):

Satyagraha emphasizes appealing to the conscience of the oppressor through non-violence and truth.

Answer: D — A is false but R is true — The assertion is false because satyagraha explicitly rejected physical force. The reason is true and accurately describes satyagraha. Since the assertion is false, the answer is D regardless of the reason's validity.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Crops failed in many parts of India in 1918-19 and 1920-21, leading to food shortages and widespread hardship.

Reason (R):

These crop failures were accompanied by an influenza epidemic that killed 12-13 million people according to the 1921 census.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The text explicitly states 'in 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India, resulting in acute shortages of food. This was accompanied by an influenza epidemic. According to the census of 1921, 12 to 13 million people perished.' The reason correctly explains the severity of the hardship mentioned in the assertion.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Nationalism in India

Case Study:

The year 1918-1921 was a period of severe economic and social crisis in India. Factory workers in Ahmedabad faced wage cuts and unemployment. Cotton mill owners refused to increase wages despite the doubling of prices. Rural peasants in Kheda district could not pay revenue due to crop failures and plague. Railway workers faced reduced employment due to post-war cutbacks. Data from government records showed that prices had doubled from 1913 to 1918, while average wages increased by only 30%. The government continued collecting taxes and imposed new income taxes to finance the war debt. This created widespread discontent across all social groups, from industrial workers to peasants to small traders.

Q1. Based on the passage, which social group would have been most affected by the doubling of prices?

  • A. Large factory owners
  • B. Common workers and peasants whose wages did not match price increases ✓
  • C. British administrators
  • D. Wealthy merchants

Answer: B

Q2. Why did the peasants in Kheda district specifically demand revenue collection relaxation?

  • A. They wanted complete cancellation of all taxes
  • B. They were affected by crop failure and plague, making them unable to pay ✓
  • C. They opposed British rule on principle
  • D. They wanted better prices for their agricultural products

Answer: B

Q3. How did the government's financial policies contribute to the crisis described in the passage?

  • A. Government policies increased wages for workers
  • B. Taxes were reduced to help poor people
  • C. War loans and increased taxes like income tax added to people's hardship without corresponding wage increases ✓
  • D. Government gave subsidies to help affected groups

Answer: C

Q4. Which of the following was a consequence of the economic crisis described in the passage?

  • A. Increased loyalty to the British government
  • B. Improvement in industrial production
  • C. Widespread discontent across all social groups that could be mobilized for anti-colonial movements ✓
  • D. Reduction in nationalist sentiment

Answer: C

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for Nationalism in India

Real CBSE board exam questions from past papers — free to attempt.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/1 · 1 mark

Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option: I. Second Round Table Conference II. Formation of Depressed Class Association III. Lahore Session of Indian National Congress IV. Formation of Awadh Kissan Sabha

  • I, II, IV, III
  • I, II, III, IV
  • IV, III, II, I
  • IV, III, I, II

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/1 · 4 marks

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 8th 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 Orissa. The British responded with much force, yet it took more than a year to suppress the movement.

How did the failure of the Cripps Mission contribute to the launch of the Quit India Movement?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/1 · 1 mark

Name the place where Gandhiji broke the Salt Law. [Map-based question]

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/3 · 5 marks

Describe the role of Giuseppe Mazzini in the Italian unification.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/1 · 1 mark

Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option: I. Salt Satyagraha II. Kheda Satyagraha III. Rowlatt Satyagraha IV. Ahmedabad Mill Workers Satyagraha

  • II, I, III, IV
  • II, IV, III, I
  • III, II, IV, I
  • II, I, IV, III

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/1 · 1 mark

Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? Column A (Writer) - Column B (Contribution):

  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak – Gulamgiri
  • Jyotiba Phule – Amar Jiban
  • Raja Rammohan Roy – Sambad Kaumudi
  • Tarabai Shinde – Istri Dharam Vichar

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/1 · 1 mark

The sense of collective belonging As the national movement developed, nationalist leaders became more and more aware of such icons and symbols in unifying people and inspiring in them a feeling of nationalism. Another means of creating a feeling of nationalism was through reinterpretation of history. By the end of the nineteenth century many Indians began feeling that to instill a sense of pride in the nation, Indian history had to be thought about differently. The British saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing themselves. In response, Indians began looking into the past to discover India's great achievements. They wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and architecture, science and mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade had flourished. This glorious time, in their view, was followed by a history of decline, when India was colonised. These nationalist histories urged the readers to take pride in India's great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule.

How did icons help to unite Indians during the freedom struggle?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/1 · 1 mark

Which of the following countries has a democratic government since independence?

  • Syria
  • Cuba
  • India
  • Afghanistan

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/2 · 4 marks

The sense of collective belonging. As the national movement developed, nationalist leaders became more and more aware of such icons and symbols in unifying people and inspiring in them a feeling of nationalism. Another means of creating a feeling of nationalism was through reinterpretation of history. By the end of the nineteenth century many Indians began feeling that to instill a sense of pride in the nation, Indian history had to be thought about differently. The British saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing themselves. In response, Indians began looking into the past to discover India's great achievements. They wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and architecture, science and mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade had flourished. This glorious time, in their view, was followed by a history of decline, when India was colonised. These nationalist histories urged the readers to take pride in India's great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule.

(8.1) How did icons help to unite Indians during the freedom struggle?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/3 · 1 mark

The place where Gandhiji launched satyagraha for the Indigo planters. (For Visually Impaired Candidates)

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 2 marks

(a) Explain the role of anti- [incomplete in source] OR (b) [Text in Hindi - skipped]

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 3 marks

Explain the statement in the context of Non-Cooperation Movement.

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Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions, Chapter-wise

All 805 CBSE board questions from 2022–2026, sorted by chapter and question type. Free PDF download.

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Class 10 Social Science Map Work

All 87 places on the CBSE 2026-27 map list, with where each is and what to remember, marked with the board years (2022–2026) each was asked. Free PDF download.

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