CBSE Class 10 History Chapter 2 Nationalism in India Questions and Answers

Content Structure

  • 1. NCERT Solutions
    • 1A. Write in Brief
    • 1B. Discuss
  • 2. Extra Questions and Answers
    • 2A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
    • 2B. Very Short Type Questions and Answers
    • 2C. Short Answer-type Questions
    • 2D. Case/Source-based Questions and Answers
    • 2E. Long Questions and Answers

1. NCERT Solutions

1A. Write in Brief

1. Explain:
a) Why growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement.
Ans: Nationalism in the colonies developed through struggles against colonial rule. People from different groups and classes experienced the effects of colonial rule and began to oppose it. Their common struggle against colonialism brought them together and created a feeling of unity. Thus, the growth of nationalism was closely linked with the anti-colonial movement.

b) How the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India.The First World Ans: War created economic and political hardships in India. Defence expenditure increased, taxes were raised and prices doubled between 1913 and 1918. Forced recruitment in villages created anger. Crop failures, food shortages and the influenza epidemic made the situation worse. People expected their hardships to end after the war, but they continued. This growing anger helped the National Movement to grow.

c) Why were Indians outraged by the Rowlatt Act?
Ans: Indians were angry with the Rowlatt Act because it gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities. It allowed political prisoners to be detained without trial for two years. The Act was passed despite the united opposition of Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council. Gandhiji considered it an unjust law and started a nationwide satyagraha against it.

d) Why did Gandhiji decide to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans: Gandhiji withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 because the movement was becoming violent in many places. He felt that satyagrahis were not properly trained for mass struggles. Since satyagraha was based on non-violence, he believed that the movement should be stopped.

2. What is meant by the idea of Satyagraha?
Ans: Satyagraha was a method of struggle based on the power of truth and non-violence. Gandhiji believed that if the cause was true and the struggle was against injustice, physical force was not necessary. A satyagrahi did not take revenge or use violence. Instead, he tried to appeal to the conscience of the oppressor and persuade him to understand the truth. Gandhiji believed that truth would ultimately triumph.

3. Write a Newspaper Report
a) The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Hundreds Killed at Jallianwala Bagh Amritsar, 13 April 1919
Ans: A large crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh today. Some people had come to protest against the government’s repressive measures, while others had come to attend the annual Baisakhi fair. Many villagers from outside the city were unaware that martial law had been imposed. General Dyer entered the enclosed ground, blocked the exit points and ordered his troops to open fire on the crowd. Hundreds of people were killed. The incident has created great anger among the people, and the government has responded to the growing protests with severe repression in many places.

b) The Simon Commission “Go Back Simon” – Protest Against Simon Commission India, 1928
Ans: The Simon Commission has arrived in India and has been met with strong protests. The commission was appointed to examine the working of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. However, there is not a single Indian member in the commission; all its members are British. The Congress, the Muslim League and other parties have joined the demonstrations. People across India are raising the slogan “Go back Simon” to express their opposition to the commission.

4. Compare the Images of Bharat Mata and Germania
Ans: The images of Bharat Mata and Germania both represented the nation through a female figure. Both images helped people create a visual idea of the nation and develop a feeling of nationalism. Bharat Mata was shown by Abanindranath Tagore as a calm, composed, divine and spiritual ascetic figure. Her image was connected with devotion to the motherland. Germania, as discussed in Chapter 1, was also a female symbol of the nation. Thus, both figures represented the nation, but Bharat Mata was especially connected with spirituality, devotion and Indian cultural traditions.

1B. 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.
Ans: The main social groups that joined the Non-Cooperation Movement were middle-class people in towns, peasants in Awadh, tribal peasants in the Gudem Hills and plantation workers in Assam.

  • Peasants of Awadh – The peasants of Awadh were led by Baba Ramchandra. They suffered because of high rents, different cesses, begar and insecurity of land. They wanted a reduction in revenue, abolition of begar and a social boycott of oppressive landlords. They joined the movement because they hoped that Swaraj would bring relief from these problems.
  • Tribal Peasants – The tribal peasants of the Gudem Hills were angry because the colonial government had closed forest areas and stopped them from grazing cattle and collecting fuelwood and fruits. They were also forced to do begar for road building. They joined the struggle because they wanted their traditional rights and freedom.
  • Plantation Workers – For plantation workers in Assam, Swaraj meant freedom to move in and out of the tea gardens and maintain a link with their villages. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, they could not leave the plantations without permission. When they heard about the Non-Cooperation Movement, thousands left the plantations because they believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and that everyone would be given land in their villages.

2. Discuss the Salt March to make clear why it was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism.
Ans: Gandhiji chose salt as a powerful symbol because it was used by both the rich and the poor and was one of the most essential items of food. The British government imposed a tax on salt and controlled its production. Gandhiji felt that this showed the oppressive nature of British rule. On 31 January 1930, he sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin with eleven demands. When the demands were not accepted, he began the Salt March with 78 trusted volunteers from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi. The march covered more than 240 miles and lasted 24 days. On 6 April, Gandhiji reached Dandi and broke the salt law by making salt from seawater. Thousands of people then broke the salt law, made salt and demonstrated outside government salt factories. Therefore, salt became an effective symbol because it connected the struggle against colonial rule with the everyday life of ordinary people.

3. Imagine you are a woman participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Explain what the experience meant to your life.
Ans: Taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement would mean coming out of my home and actively joining the national struggle. During Gandhiji’s Salt March, I would listen to him and feel inspired by his call. I would take part in protest marches, make salt and picket foreign cloth and liquor shops. I might also be sent to jail for participating in the movement. Gandhiji’s call would make me see service to the nation as a sacred duty. However, my participation would not necessarily change the traditional idea of a woman’s position. Gandhiji believed that women should look after the home and be good mothers and wives. The Congress was also reluctant to allow women to hold positions of authority. Therefore, my participation would give me an important role in the national struggle, while many traditional expectations about women would continue.

4. Why did political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates?
Ans: Political leaders differed over separate electorates because they had different ideas about political representation and the protection of different communities. Dr B. R. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for dalits because he believed that political empowerment would help solve their social problems. Gandhiji opposed separate electorates for dalits because he believed that this would slow down their integration into society. When the British government accepted Ambedkar’s demand, Gandhiji began a fast unto death. Among Muslims, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was willing to give up separate electorates if Muslims received reserved seats in the Central Assembly and representation according to their population in Muslim-dominated provinces. Sir Muhammad Iqbal later stressed separate electorates as a safeguard for Muslim political interests. Many Muslim leaders feared that their culture and identity might be submerged under the domination of a Hindu majority. Thus, leaders differed because they had different views about representation, minority interests and social identities.

2. Extra Questions and Answers

2A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. When did the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement begin?
a) January 1919
b) August 1920
c) January 1921
d) February 1922

Ans: c) January 1921

2. Which book did Gandhiji write in 1909?
a) Anandamath
b) Hind Swaraj
c) The Folklore of Southern India
d) Vande Mataram

Ans: b) Hind Swaraj

3. Who formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose
b) C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru
c) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
d) Ambedkar and Iqbal

Ans: b) C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru

4. Who led the Statutory Commission that came to India in 1928?
a) General Dyer
b) Sir John Simon
c) Lord Irwin
d) C. R. Das

Ans: b) Sir John Simon

5. What did the Lahore Congress of December 1929 demand?
a) Dominion status
b) Purna Swaraj
c) Separate electorates
d) Council elections

Ans: b) Purna Swaraj

6. When was 26 January 1930 declared to be celebrated as Independence Day?
a) Lahore Congress
b) Calcutta Congress
c) Nagpur Congress
d) Madras Congress

Ans: a) Lahore Congress

7. Which item did Gandhiji choose as a powerful symbol of resistance?
a) Cloth
b) Salt
c) Wheat
d) Cotton

Ans: b) Salt

8. How many demands did Gandhiji send to Viceroy Irwin on 31 January 1930?
a) 5
b) 8
c) 11
d) 15

Ans: c) 11

9. From where did Gandhiji begin the Salt March?
a) Wardha
b) Sabarmati Ashram
c) Lahore
d) Bombay

Ans: b) Sabarmati Ashram

10. Where did the Salt March end?
a) Dandi
b) Ahmedabad
c) Amritsar
d) Peshawar

Ans: a) Dandi

11. How many trusted volunteers accompanied Gandhiji at the beginning of the Salt March?
a) 50
b) 68
c) 78
d) 100

Ans: c) 78

12. Who was arrested in April 1930, leading to demonstrations in Peshawar?
a) Abdul Ghaffar Khan
b) Motilal Nehru
c) G. D. Birla
d) Dr Ambedkar

Ans: a) Abdul Ghaffar Khan

13. Which organisations were formed to organise business interests?
a) Khilafat Committee and Justice Party
b) Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress and FICCI
c) Swaraj Party and Muslim League
d) Oudh Kisan Sabha and Congress

Ans: b) Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress and FICCI

14. Assertion: Gandhiji withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922.
Reason: He felt that the movement was becoming violent in many places.
A. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.
B. Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason does not correctly explain Assertion.
C. Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
D. Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

Ans: A. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.

15. Assertion: Gandhiji chose salt as a symbol of resistance.
Reason: Salt was used by both the rich and the poor.
A. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.
B. Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason does not correctly explain Assertion.
C. Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
D. Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

Ans: A. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.

16. Assertion: The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Reason: People were asked to break colonial laws during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
A. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.
B. Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason does not correctly explain Assertion.
C. Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
D. Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

Ans: A. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.

17. Assertion: Women participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Reason: Gandhiji’s call encouraged them to see service to the nation as a sacred duty.
A. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.
B. Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason does not correctly explain Assertion.
C. Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
D. Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

Ans: A. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.

18. Which pair is correctly matched?
a) Champaran – Cotton mill workers
b) Kheda – Peasant struggle
c) Dandi – Simon Commission
d) Jallianwala Bagh – Salt March

Ans: b) Kheda – Peasant struggle

19. Which pair is correctly matched?
a) Baba Ramchandra – Awadh peasants
b) Alluri Sitaram Raju – Assam plantation workers
c) Abdul Ghaffar Khan – Patidars
d) Dr B. R. Ambedkar – Jats

Ans: a) Baba Ramchandra – Awadh peasants

Read the following passage and answer the questions:

Gandhiji found salt to be a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. Salt was used by both rich and poor and was one of the most essential items of food. The government imposed a tax on salt and controlled its production. Gandhiji considered this an oppressive feature of British rule.

20. Why did Gandhiji choose salt?
a) It was used only by rich people.
b) It was an essential item used by rich and poor.
c) It was produced only in villages.
d) It was a luxury item.

Ans: b) It was an essential item used by rich and poor.

21. What did Gandhiji want to abolish?
a) Income tax
b) Salt tax
c) Council elections
d) Land revenue only

Ans: b) Salt tax

22. Where did Gandhiji break the salt law?
a) Sabarmati
b) Dandi
c) Lahore
d) Amritsar

Ans: b) Dandi

Read the following passage and answer the questions:

Different social groups joined the Civil Disobedience Movement with different hopes. Rich peasants wanted relief from high revenue. Poor peasants wanted their unpaid rent to landlords to be remitted. Business groups wanted freedom from colonial restrictions, while some workers joined the movement against low wages and poor working conditions.

23. Why did rich peasants join the movement?
a) They wanted higher revenue.
b) They wanted relief from high revenue.
c) They wanted more foreign goods.
d) They wanted higher rents.

Ans: b) They wanted relief from high revenue.

24. What did poor peasants want?
a) Unpaid rent to landlords to be remitted.
b) Higher rent.
c) More foreign imports.
d) More colonial restrictions.

Ans: a) Unpaid rent to landlords to be remitted.

25. Why did some workers participate in the movement?
a) To support low wages
b) Against low wages and poor working conditions
c) To support foreign goods
d) To support colonial restrictions

Ans: b) Against low wages and poor working conditions.

2B. Very Short Type Questions and Answers

1. What was Satyagraha?
Ans: Satyagraha was a method of struggle based on the power of truth and non-violence. Gandhiji believed that an unjust system could be opposed without using physical force. A satyagrahi appealed to the conscience of the oppressor and tried to make him understand the truth.

2. When did Mahatma Gandhi return to India?
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in January 1915. In South Africa, he had successfully fought against the racist regime through the method of mass agitation called satyagraha.

3. Where did Gandhiji organise his early satyagraha movements?
Ans: Gandhiji organised early satyagraha movements in Champaran in 1917, among cotton mill workers in Ahmedabad in 1918, and among peasants in Kheda in 1918.

4. What was the Rowlatt Act?
Ans: The Rowlatt Act of 1919 gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities. It allowed political prisoners to be detained without trial for two years. Gandhiji considered it an unjust law and launched a nationwide satyagraha against it.

5. Who were Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali?
Ans: Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali were young Muslim leaders who discussed with Gandhiji the possibility of united mass action on the Khilafat issue. Gandhiji saw this as an opportunity to bring Muslims into a unified national movement.

6. When did the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement begin?
Ans: The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement began in January 1921. It brought together different social groups, each with its own hopes and demands, under the wider call for Swaraj.

7. Why did Gandhiji withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans: Gandhiji withdrew the movement in February 1922 because it was becoming violent in many places. He felt that satyagrahis needed proper training before they could take part in mass struggles.

8. Who formed the Swaraj Party?
Ans: C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress. They wanted to return to council politics and oppose British policies from within the provincial councils.

9. What was the aim of the Swaraj Party?
Ans: The Swaraj Party wanted to participate in the provincial councils, oppose British policies, argue for reforms and show that the councils were not truly democratic.

10. What was the Simon Commission?
Ans: The Simon Commission was a Statutory Commission under Sir John Simon. It was appointed to examine the working of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. It was opposed because it had no Indian member.

11. Why was the Simon Commission opposed?
Ans: The Simon Commission was opposed because all its members were British and there was not a single Indian member. When it arrived in India in 1928, people protested against it with the slogan “Go back Simon.”

12. Why did Gandhiji choose salt as a symbol?
Ans: Gandhiji chose salt because it was used by both the rich and the poor and was one of the most essential items of food. The salt tax and government control over salt production showed the oppressive nature of British rule.

13. What was the Salt March?
Ans: The Salt March was Gandhiji’s march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi with 78 trusted volunteers. The march covered more than 240 miles. On 6 April 1930, Gandhiji reached Dandi and broke the salt law by making salt from seawater.

14. What was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?
Ans: The Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 5 March 1931 was an agreement under which Gandhiji agreed to participate in a Round Table Conference in London. In return, the government agreed to release political prisoners.

15. Why did the Congress not support “no rent” campaigns?
Ans: The Congress was afraid that supporting “no rent” campaigns might upset the rich peasants and landlords. Therefore, it was unwilling to support such campaigns in most places, making its relationship with poor peasants uncertain.

16. How did women participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Ans: Thousands of women came out of their homes to listen to Gandhiji. They joined protest marches, manufactured salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many women also went to jail. Gandhiji’s call made them see service to the nation as a sacred duty.

17. Who were the dalits?
Ans: The people who were then called “untouchables” began to call themselves dalit, meaning oppressed, from around the 1930s. Gandhiji worked against untouchability, while many dalit leaders demanded political rights and separate representation.

18. What did Dr B. R. Ambedkar demand for dalits?
Ans: Dr B. R. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for dalits. He believed that political empowerment would help solve their social disabilities. He organised the dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930.

19. What was the Khilafat Committee?
Ans: The Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919 to defend the temporal powers of the Khalifa. Young Muslim leaders such as Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali discussed the possibility of united mass action with Gandhiji.

20. Why did Gandhiji send eleven demands to Viceroy Irwin?
Ans: Gandhiji sent eleven demands to Viceroy Irwin to make the demands of the national movement wide-ranging. Some were of general interest, while others represented different classes, from industrialists to peasants. The aim was to bring different groups together in a united campaign.

21. What happened after Gandhiji reached Dandi?
Ans: On reaching Dandi on 6 April 1930, Gandhiji broke the salt law by making salt from seawater. This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. People in different parts of India then began breaking the salt law and demonstrating against the government.

22. What happened after the arrest of Gandhiji in 1930?
Ans: After Gandhiji was arrested, industrial workers in Sholapur attacked police posts, municipal buildings, law courts and railway stations. These buildings symbolised British rule. The government responded with brutal repression and arrested about 100,000 people.

2C. Short Answer-type Questions

1. Explain the main effects of the First World War on India.
Ans: The First World War created economic and political hardships in India. Defence expenditure increased, taxes were raised and prices doubled between 1913 and 1918. Villages faced forced recruitment. Crop failures in 1918–19 and 1920–21 caused food shortages, while the influenza epidemic increased suffering. People expected their hardships to end after the war, but they continued.

2. Explain the main features of Satyagraha.
Ans: Satyagraha was based on the power of truth and non-violence. Gandhiji believed that an unjust cause could be opposed without physical force. A satyagrahi did not seek revenge or become aggressive. Instead, he appealed to the conscience of the oppressor and tried to persuade him to understand the truth.

3. Describe Gandhiji’s early Satyagraha movements in India.
Ans: Gandhiji organised satyagraha movements in different places after returning to India. In 1917, he went to Champaran to support peasants against the oppressive plantation system. In 1918, he organised a movement among cotton mill workers in Ahmedabad and supported the peasants of Kheda who could not pay revenue.

4. Describe the Jallianwala Bagh incident.
Ans: On 13 April 1919, a large crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. Some had come to protest while others attended the Baisakhi fair. General Dyer entered the enclosed ground, blocked the exits and ordered his troops to fire. Hundreds were killed. The government then used brutal repression against the people.

5. Explain the participation of the middle class in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Ans: The movement began with middle-class participation in towns and cities. Thousands of students left government schools and colleges, while headmasters and teachers resigned. Lawyers gave up their legal practices. Council elections were boycotted in most provinces. Foreign goods were also boycotted, and foreign cloth was burnt in large bonfires.

6. Describe the peasant movement in Awadh.
Ans: In Awadh, peasants were led by Baba Ramchandra against talukdars and landlords. They suffered from high rents, cesses, begar and insecurity of tenure. They demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar and social boycott of oppressive landlords. The Oudh Kisan Sabha was formed in October 1920 under Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra and others.

7. What were the main demands of the peasants in Awadh?
Ans: The peasants of Awadh wanted reduction of revenue, abolition of begar and social boycott of oppressive landlords. They suffered from high rents, different cesses and forced labour. As tenants, they also had no security of tenure and could be regularly evicted from the land they cultivated.

8. Explain the tribal movement in the Gudem Hills.
Ans: In the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh, tribal people were angry because the government closed large forest areas and stopped them from grazing cattle and collecting fuelwood and fruits. They were also forced to do begar for road building. Under Alluri Sitaram Raju, they used guerrilla warfare and attacked police stations to achieve Swaraj.

9. Why was the Swaraj Party formed?
Ans: After the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement, some Congress leaders wanted to participate in elections to the provincial councils. C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress. They wanted to oppose British policies inside the councils, argue for reforms and show that the councils were not truly democratic.

10. How did the economic depression affect Indian peasants?
Ans: Agricultural prices began falling from 1926 and collapsed after 1930. The demand for agricultural goods and exports declined. Peasants found it difficult to sell their harvests and pay government revenue. By 1930, the countryside was in turmoil because of the continuing economic difficulties.

11. Why was the Simon Commission opposed in India?
Ans: The Simon Commission was appointed to examine the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. However, it had no Indian member; all its members were British. When it arrived in India in 1928, people from different political parties protested against it and raised the slogan “Go back Simon.”

12. What was the importance of the Lahore Congress of 1929?
Ans: At the Lahore Congress in December 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress formally demanded Purna Swaraj, or full independence. It was also decided that 26 January 1930 would be celebrated as Independence Day and people would take a pledge to struggle for complete independence.

13. Why did Gandhiji choose salt for the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Ans: Gandhiji chose salt because it was consumed by both rich and poor and was an essential item of food. The government imposed a tax on salt and controlled its production. Gandhiji believed that this showed the oppressive nature of British rule, making salt a powerful symbol of resistance.

14. Describe the Salt March.
Ans: Gandhiji began the Salt March from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 trusted volunteers. They walked more than 240 miles to the coastal town of Dandi. The march lasted 24 days. On 6 April 1930, Gandhiji reached Dandi and broke the salt law by making salt from seawater.

15. Describe the government’s response to the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ans: The colonial government arrested Congress leaders one by one. Violent clashes occurred in several places. Peaceful satyagrahis were attacked, women and children were beaten, and about 100,000 people were arrested. The government used brutal repression to control the movement.

16. What was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?
Ans: The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on 5 March 1931. Gandhiji agreed to participate in a Round Table Conference in London, while the government agreed to release political prisoners. Gandhiji attended the conference in December 1931, but the negotiations failed and he returned disappointed.

17. Why did rich peasants later become disappointed with the movement?
Ans: Rich peasants expected the movement to bring a reduction in revenue. They were disappointed when the movement was called off in 1931 without revising revenue rates. When the movement restarted in 1932, many rich peasants refused to participate.

18. How did industrial workers participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Ans: Industrial workers did not participate in large numbers, except in the Nagpur region. Some workers adopted ideas such as the boycott of foreign goods and connected them with their struggles against low wages and poor working conditions. There were railway workers’ strikes in 1930 and dockworkers’ strikes in 1932.

19. Describe the participation of women in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ans: Women participated in large numbers. They joined protest marches, made salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many women went to jail. In urban areas, many came from high-caste families, while in rural areas they came from rich peasant households. Gandhiji’s call made them see service to the nation as a sacred duty.

20. What was the importance of the Poona Pact?
Ans: The Poona Pact of September 1932 gave the Depressed Classes, later known as the Scheduled Castes, reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils. However, their representatives were to be elected by the general electorate.

2D. Case/Source-based Questions and Answers

Case/Source 1 – The First World War

Read the source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The First World War created a new economic and political situation in India. Defence expenditure increased greatly and was financed through war loans and increased taxes. Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918. Villages were asked to supply soldiers, and forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger. Crop failures and an influenza epidemic caused further suffering.

1. How did the First World War affect the economic situation in India?
Ans: The First World War created serious economic difficulties in India. Defence expenditure increased greatly because the British government had to spend more money on the war. To meet these expenses, the government raised taxes and took war loans. These measures placed an additional burden on ordinary people. Thus, the war made the economic condition of many Indians difficult.

2. How did the rise in prices affect the people of India?
Ans: Prices increased greatly during the First World War. They doubled between 1913 and 1918. This rise in prices made essential goods expensive and created hardship for common people. People had to spend more money on their daily needs, while their incomes did not increase in the same proportion. Therefore, the rising prices made life more difficult for ordinary families.

3. Why did forced recruitment create anger in rural areas?
Ans: During the war, villages were asked to supply soldiers to the British government. In many rural areas, people were forcibly recruited into the army. This created widespread anger because villagers did not want to send their family members to fight in a war that was not directly related to them. Forced recruitment therefore increased opposition to British rule.

4. What other problems increased the suffering of Indians during the war?
Ans: The suffering of Indians increased because of crop failures and the influenza epidemic. Crop failures caused food shortages and made the lives of poor people more difficult. At the same time, the influenza epidemic spread across the country and caused the death of millions of people. These problems added to the economic and social difficulties created by the war.

Case/Source 2 – The Idea of Satyagraha

Read the source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth. If the cause was true and the struggle was against injustice, physical force was not necessary. A satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence without seeking revenge or being aggressive.

1. What was the main idea of Satyagraha?
Ans: The main idea of Satyagraha was the power of truth. Gandhiji believed that people should search for truth and stand firmly against injustice. If a person was fighting for a just and truthful cause, there was no need to use physical force. A Satyagrahi could oppose injustice through truth, courage, patience and non-violence.

2. Why did Gandhiji believe that physical force was unnecessary?
Ans: Gandhiji believed that physical force was unnecessary when people were fighting against injustice for a truthful cause. He wanted people to use moral strength instead of violence. According to him, violence could create hatred and revenge, whereas non-violence could change the heart of the opponent and make him understand the truth.

3. How should a Satyagrahi behave during a struggle?
Ans: A Satyagrahi should remain peaceful, truthful and non-violent during a struggle. He should not become aggressive or seek revenge against the opponent. Even when facing injustice, he should show courage and patience. The purpose of Satyagraha was not to defeat or punish the opponent but to make him realise the truth.

4. What did Gandhiji believe about the power of truth and non-violence?
Ans: Gandhiji believed that truth had great moral power and would ultimately triumph. He believed that people should not force others to accept their ideas through violence. Instead, they should appeal to the conscience of the opponent. He also believed that non-violence could unite people from different backgrounds in a common struggle against injustice.

Case/Source 3 – Rowlatt Act

Read the source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The Rowlatt Act was hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of Indian members. It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed political prisoners to be detained without trial for two years.

1. Why did Indians oppose the Rowlatt Act?
Ans: Indians opposed the Rowlatt Act because it gave the British government enormous powers to suppress political activities. It allowed political prisoners to be detained without trial for two years. Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council strongly opposed the Act, but it was passed despite their united opposition. Therefore, Indians considered it an unjust and repressive law.

2. What powers did the Rowlatt Act give to the government?
Ans: The Rowlatt Act gave the government wide powers to repress political activities. One of its most unfair provisions allowed political prisoners to be detained without trial for two years. This meant that a person could be kept in prison without being given a proper opportunity to prove his innocence before a court.

3. How did Gandhiji react to the Rowlatt Act?
Ans: Gandhiji considered the Rowlatt Act unjust and decided to organise a nationwide Satyagraha against it. He wanted Indians to oppose the law through peaceful civil disobedience. He planned to begin the movement with a hartal on 6 April 1919. This showed Gandhiji’s determination to resist unjust British laws through non-violent methods.

4. What happened after the hartal against the Rowlatt Act?
Ans: After the hartal, protests spread to different parts of India. Rallies and strikes were organised, and shops were closed in many cities. People expressed their anger against the repressive law. The protests showed that opposition to British rule was becoming wider and that people were ready to participate in national movements.

Case/Source 4 – Jallianwala Bagh

Read the source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
On 13 April 1919, a large crowd gathered at Jallianwalla Bagh. Some people had come to protest against the government’s repressive measures, while others had come to attend the Baisakhi fair. General Dyer entered the enclosed ground, blocked the exit points and opened fire on the crowd.

1. Why had people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh?
Ans: A large crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on 13 April 1919. Some people had come to protest against the government’s repressive measures. Others had come to attend the Baisakhi fair. Many villagers from outside the city were not aware of the restrictions and martial law imposed by the government.

2. What did General Dyer do at Jallianwala Bagh?
Ans: General Dyer entered the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh with his troops. He blocked the exit points so that people could not easily escape. He then ordered his soldiers to open fire on the crowd. The firing caused a large number of deaths and injuries and became one of the most brutal incidents of British rule in India.

3. What was the immediate effect of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
Ans: The firing at Jallianwala Bagh killed hundreds of people and shocked the entire country. When the news spread, people in many north Indian towns became angry. Protests, strikes and clashes with the police took place. The incident greatly increased hatred and opposition towards British rule.

Case/Source 5 – Khilafat Issue

Read the source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The First World War ended with the defeat of Ottoman Turkey. There were rumours that a harsh peace treaty would be imposed on the Ottoman emperor, the spiritual head of the Islamic world. To defend the temporal powers of the Khalifa, a Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919.

1. Why did the Khilafat issue become important after the First World War?
Ans: The Khilafat issue became important after the defeat of Ottoman Turkey in the First World War. There were rumours that a harsh peace treaty would be imposed on the Ottoman emperor, who was regarded as the spiritual head of the Islamic world. Indian Muslims were concerned about the position and powers of the Khalifa and therefore began organising to defend them.

2. What was the purpose of the Khilafat Committee?
Ans: The Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919 to defend the temporal powers of the Khalifa. Muslim leaders were worried that the Ottoman emperor would lose his important position after the war. The committee therefore worked to protect the interests connected with the Khalifa.

3. Why did Gandhiji support the Khilafat issue?
Ans: Gandhiji supported the Khilafat issue because he wanted to bring Hindus and Muslims closer together. He believed that the issue could provide an opportunity to unite Muslims with the national movement. By supporting the concerns of Indian Muslims, he hoped to build a broad-based movement against British rule.

4. Which Muslim leaders discussed united action with Gandhiji?
Ans: Young Muslim leaders such as Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali discussed united mass action with Gandhiji. Gandhiji saw their cooperation as an important opportunity to strengthen Hindu-Muslim unity. He wanted the Khilafat issue and the national movement to become part of a common struggle against British rule.

Case/Source 6 – Non-Cooperation

Read the source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
In Hind Swaraj, Gandhiji declared that British rule was established in India with the cooperation of Indians and survived because of this cooperation. If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule would collapse and Swaraj would come.

1. Why did Gandhiji believe that British rule survived in India?
Ans: Gandhiji believed that British rule survived because Indians cooperated with the British government. The British depended on Indian cooperation to run their administration and institutions. Therefore, Gandhiji believed that Indians had the power to weaken British rule by withdrawing their support and refusing to cooperate with the colonial government.

2. What would happen if Indians refused to cooperate with the British?
Ans: Gandhiji believed that if Indians stopped cooperating with the British, British rule would collapse. He believed that the British could not rule India without the cooperation of the Indian people. By refusing to support British institutions and activities, Indians could move towards achieving Swaraj or self-rule.

3. What was the main objective of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans: The main objective was to withdraw Indian cooperation from British rule. Gandhiji wanted Indians to stop supporting British institutions and gradually make colonial rule difficult to operate. Through peaceful non-cooperation, he wanted Indians to work towards Swaraj and show that British rule depended upon Indian support.

4. How did Gandhiji propose to begin the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans: Gandhiji proposed that the movement should begin with the surrender of titles given by the government. People were then expected to boycott civil services, the army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools and foreign goods. If the government responded with repression, Gandhiji proposed moving towards a wider civil disobedience campaign.

2E. Long Questions and Answers

1. Explain the effects of the First World War on the economic and political situation in India.
Ans: The First World War created serious economic and political difficulties in India. Defence expenditure increased greatly, so the British government financed the war through war loans and increased taxes. Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918, which made daily life difficult for ordinary people. Villages were also asked to supply soldiers, and forced recruitment created widespread anger in rural areas. The situation became worse because of crop failures in many parts of India in 1918–19 and 1920–21. Food shortages increased the suffering of the people. The influenza epidemic added to these difficulties and caused the death of millions. These economic hardships, forced recruitment and widespread suffering created dissatisfaction among Indians and helped increase opposition to British rule.

2. Explain the main features of Satyagraha introduced by Gandhiji.
Ans: Satyagraha was based on the power of truth and non-violence. Gandhiji believed that if the cause was true and the struggle was against injustice, physical force was not necessary. A Satyagrahi had to remain peaceful and should not seek revenge against the opponent. The aim was not to defeat or harm the opponent but to make him understand the truth. Gandhiji believed that truth had great moral power and would ultimately triumph. He wanted people to resist injustice through courage, patience and non-violence. Satyagraha also encouraged people from different communities to come together for a common cause. In this way, Gandhiji developed a new method of fighting injustice without hatred, violence or aggression.

3. Describe the Rowlatt Satyagraha and explain why the Rowlatt Act was opposed.
Ans: The Rowlatt Act was strongly opposed by Indians because it gave the British government enormous powers to repress political activities. It allowed political prisoners to be detained without trial for two years. The Act was hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of Indian members. Gandhiji considered the law unjust and decided to organise a nationwide Satyagraha against it. The movement was planned to begin with a hartal on 6 April 1919. Rallies, strikes and the closing of shops followed in different cities. People used peaceful methods to express their opposition to the law. The Rowlatt Satyagraha showed the growing dissatisfaction among Indians and became an important early movement against British repression.

4. Describe the Jallianwala Bagh incident and explain its impact on the national movement.
Ans: On 13 April 1919, a large crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. Some people had come to protest against government repression, while others had come to attend the Baisakhi fair. General Dyer entered the enclosed ground, blocked the exit points and ordered his troops to fire on the crowd. Hundreds of people were killed. The incident shocked Indians across the country. When the news spread, people in many north Indian towns became angry and took part in strikes, protests and clashes with the police. Some government buildings were also attacked. The British government responded with brutal repression. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre therefore greatly increased hatred towards British rule and strengthened the feeling of nationalism among Indians.

5. Explain the Khilafat issue and why Gandhiji supported it.
Ans: The Khilafat issue developed after the First World War when Ottoman Turkey was defeated. There were rumours that a harsh peace treaty would be imposed on the Ottoman emperor, who was regarded by many Muslims as the spiritual head of the Islamic world. To defend the temporal powers of the Khalifa, a Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919. Young Muslim leaders such as Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali discussed united mass action with Gandhiji. Gandhiji supported the Khilafat issue because he wanted to bring Hindus and Muslims closer together. He believed that the issue could bring Muslims into a united national movement. Thus, he saw the Khilafat movement as an opportunity to strengthen Hindu-Muslim unity and the struggle against British rule.

6. Explain Gandhiji’s idea and programme of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Ans: Gandhiji believed that British rule in India survived because Indians cooperated with the British. He argued that if Indians refused to cooperate, British rule would collapse and Swaraj would come. He proposed that the movement should begin with the surrender of government-given titles. People were then expected to boycott civil services, the army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools and foreign goods. The purpose was to withdraw Indian support from British institutions and weaken colonial rule. Gandhiji also stated that if the government used repression, a full civil disobedience campaign would be started. The Non-Cooperation Movement was therefore based on peaceful withdrawal of cooperation. Gandhiji wanted ordinary Indians to participate in the national struggle and work together to achieve Swaraj.

7. Describe the causes and demands of the peasant movement in Awadh.
Ans: The peasants of Awadh suffered greatly under talukdars and landlords. They were forced to pay high rents and different cesses. They also had to perform begar, or unpaid labour, on landlords’ farms. As tenants, they had no security of tenure and could be regularly evicted from the land they cultivated. Led by Baba Ramchandra, the peasants organised a movement against these unfair practices. They demanded a reduction in revenue, abolition of begar and a social boycott of oppressive landlords. In many places, panchayats organised nai-dhobi bandhs against landlords. The Oudh Kisan Sabha was formed in October 1920 under Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra and others. The movement reflected the peasants’ demand for economic relief and protection from exploitation.

8. Explain the causes and nature of the tribal rebellion in the Gudem Hills.
Ans: The tribal people of the Gudem Hills depended on forests for their livelihood. The colonial government closed large forest areas and prevented them from grazing cattle and collecting fuelwood and fruits. These restrictions badly affected their traditional way of life. The government also forced the hill people to perform begar for road building. This created further anger among the tribal population. Under the leadership of Alluri Sitaram Raju, a militant guerrilla movement developed in the early 1920s. The rebels attacked police stations, tried to kill British officials and used guerrilla warfare. Raju believed that India could be liberated through force. The movement showed the strong opposition of tribal communities to colonial forest policies, forced labour and interference in their traditional rights.

9. What did Swaraj mean to plantation workers in Assam? Explain.
Ans: Swaraj had a special meaning for plantation workers in Assam. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, plantation workers were not allowed to leave the tea gardens without permission, and such permission was rarely given. Therefore, they wanted freedom to move in and out of the plantations and maintain contact with their villages. When they heard about the Non-Cooperation Movement, thousands of workers left the plantations and started travelling towards their homes. They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and that they would receive land in their villages. However, a railway and steamer strike stopped their journey. The police caught them and brutally beat them. Their actions show that different groups understood Swaraj according to their own problems and hopes.

10. Explain the importance of the Lahore Congress of 1929.
Ans: The Lahore Congress of December 1929 was an important event in India’s national movement. It was held under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru. During this session, the Congress formally demanded Purna Swaraj, meaning complete independence for India. It was a major change because the demand was now clearly for full freedom from British rule. The Congress also decided that 26 January 1930 would be celebrated as Independence Day. People were asked to take a pledge and struggle for complete independence. However, the celebrations attracted limited attention. Gandhiji therefore felt that the idea of freedom needed to be connected with everyday problems of the people. He selected salt as an important issue because it was used by both rich and poor and could unite people in the national struggle.

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