Chapter 6 – Peasant, working class and left movements in 20th century India: Characteristics and Observations

Peasant, Working Class and Left Movements in 20th Century India is an important chapter in WBBSE Class 10 History. Here, you will find Peasant, Working Class and Left Movements questions and answers arranged clearly to help you revise quickly and prepare better for your Madhyamik examination.

Content Structure

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)
2. Very short-type questions and answers
- 2A. Fill in the blanks
- 2B. True or false
- 2C. Very short-type questions and answers
3. Short-type questions and answers
4. Analytical questions and answers
5. Explanatory questions and answers

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs) [1 mark each]

1. In which year was the Partition of Bengal carried out?
a) 1903
b) 1905
c) 1906
d) 1911

Ans: b) 1905

2. The Eka Movement took place in which region?
a) Punjab
b) Bihar
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) Bengal

Ans: c) Uttar Pradesh

3. The Bardoli Satyagraha was led by:
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Vallabhbhai Patel
d) Subhas Chandra Bose

Ans: c) Vallabhbhai Patel

4. Who was the Governor-General during the Partition of Bengal?
a) Lord Curzon
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Wellesley
d) Lord Hastings

Ans: a) Lord Curzon

5. The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in:
a) 1919
b) 1920
c) 1921
d) 1922

Ans: b) 1920

6. In which year did the Bardoli Satyagraha take place?
a) 1925
b) 1926
c) 1928
d) 1930

Ans: c) 1928

7. Who led the Eka Movement at a later stage?
a) Baba Ramchandra
b) Madari Pasi
c) Gandhi
d) Nehru

Ans: b) Madari Pasi

8. The Moplah Rebellion took place in:
a) Punjab
b) Bengal
c) Malabar
d) Bihar

Ans: c) Malabar

9. The Civil Disobedience Movement started in:
a) 1928
b) 1929
c) 1930
d) 1932

Ans: c) 1930

10. The All India Kisan Sabha was formed in:
a) 1925
b) 1930
c) 1936
d) 1942

Ans: c) 1936

11. Who was the first president of the All India Kisan Sabha?
a) N. G. Ranga
b) Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
c) M. N. Roy
d) Jayaprakash Narayan

Ans: b) Swami Sahajanand Saraswati

12. Who founded the Forward Bloc?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Mahatma Gandhi
c) Subhas Chandra Bose
d) B. R. Ambedkar

Ans: c) Subhas Chandra Bose

13. The Quit India Movement was launched in:
a) 1939
b) 1940
c) 1942
d) 1945

Ans: c) 1942

14. Who gave the slogan “Do or Die”?
a) Subhas Chandra Bose
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Mahatma Gandhi
d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Ans: c) Mahatma Gandhi

15. Where was the Communist Party of India first established?
a) Bombay
b) Calcutta
c) Tashkent
d) Delhi

Ans: c) Tashkent

16. The Communist Party of India was formed in:
a) 1917
b) 1920
c) 1925
d) 1930

Ans: b) 1920

17. The Congress Socialist Party was formed in:
a) 1932
b) 1933
c) 1934
d) 1936

Ans: c) 1934

18. Who founded the Communist Party of India?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) M. N. Roy
c) Gandhi
d) Subhas Bose

Ans: b) M. N. Roy

19. Who was one of the founders of the Congress Socialist Party?
a) Subhas Bose
b) Jayaprakash Narayan
c) Gandhi
d) Patel

Ans: b) Jayaprakash Narayan

20. The Forward Bloc was formed in:
a) 1937
b) 1938
c) 1939
d) 1940

Ans: c) 1939

2. Very short-type questions and answers

2A. Fill in the blanks [1 mark each]

1. The Partition of Bengal was carried out in the year ______. (1905)
2. Fazlul Haq was popularly known as ______. (Sher-e-Bangla)
3. The Eka Movement took place in ______ Pradesh. (Uttar Pradesh)
4. The Congress Socialist Party was formed in ______.(1934)
5. The Moplah Rebellion occurred in ______. (Malabar)
6. The Quit India Movement began in ______. (1942)
7. The All India Kisan Sabha was formed in ______.(1936)
8. The Civil Disobedience Movement started in ______. (1930)
9. The Forward Bloc was founded in ______. (1939)
10. The Meerut Conspiracy Case took place in ______. (1929)

2B. True or false [1 mark each]

1. The Partition of Bengal was carried out in 1905. (True)
2. Subhas Chandra Bose founded the Forward Bloc. (True)
3. Madari Pasi was associated with the Eka Movement. (True)
4. The Meerut Conspiracy Case was started in 1929. (True)
5. The Bardoli Satyagraha was a violent movement.(False)
6. The Hali system was practised in Bengal.(False)
7. The All India Kisan Sabha was formed in 1936.(True)
8. The Congress Socialist Party was formed in 1934. (True)
9. The Civil Disobedience Movement began in 1930. (True)
10. The Communist Party of India was formed in Bombay. (False)

2C. Very short-type questions and answers [1 mark each]

1. In which year was Bengal partitioned?
Ans: Bengal was partitioned in the year 1905 by the British Government.

2. Who was the Governor-General during the partition of Bengal?
Ans: Lord Curzon was the Governor-General of India during the partition of Bengal.

3. In which year did Gandhiji start his Salt March?
Ans: Gandhiji started his Salt March in the year 1930.

4. Who was the author of the book ‘Indian in Transition’?
Ans: The book Indian in Transition was written by M. N. Roy.

5. Why is the Eka movement so named?
Ans: The Eka Movement was so named because it emphasised unity “Eka” meaning one or unity among the peasants against oppression.

6. Who was Madar Pasi?
Ans: Madar Pasi was a prominent leader of the Eka Movement, who mobilised peasants against landlords and British authorities.

7. Name two leaders of the Moplah rebellion.
Ans: Two leaders of the Moplah rebellion were Ali Musliyar and Variyamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji.

8. In which year was the first nationwide Non-Cooperation movement launched in India?
Ans: The first nationwide Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in the year 1920 under Mahatma Gandhi.

9. Who was the leader of the peasant movement in Midnapore during the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans: Birendranath Sasmal was the leader of the peasant movement in Midnapore during the Non-Cooperation Movement.

10. Who introduced the policy of Satyagraha?
Ans: The policy of Satyagraha was introduced by Mahatma Gandhi as a method of non-violent resistance.

11. Who gave the call ‘Do or die’?
Ans: The call “Do or Die” was given by Mahatma Gandhi during the Quit India Movement.

12. In which year was the Congress Socialist Party formed?
Ans: The Congress Socialist Party was formed in the year 1934.

13. In which year did Gandhiji start the Quit India Movement?
Ans: Gandhiji started the Quit India Movement in the year 1942.

14. Who was the editor of ‘Langal’?
Ans: The journal Langal was edited by Kazi Nazrul Islam.

15. What was the duration of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Ans: The Civil Disobedience Movement lasted from 1930 to 1934.

16. In which year was the Bardoli Satyagraha movement launched?
Ans: The Bardoli Satyagraha movement was launched in the year 1928 under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel.

17. In which year was the Indian Independence League formed?
Ans: The Indian Independence League was formed in the year 1928.

18. Write the names of two leftist parties of 20th century India.
Ans: Two important leftist parties of 20th century India were the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Congress Socialist Party (CSP).

19. Who formed the Indian Independence League?
Ans: The Indian Independence League was formed by Rash Behari Bose.

20. Name two leaders of the Anti-partition movement.
Ans: Two important leaders of the Anti-partition movement were Surendranath Banerjee and Bipin Chandra Pal.

21. Who founded the Nawjawan Bharat Sabha?
Ans: The Nawjawan Bharat Sabha was founded by Bhagat Singh in 1926.

22. When was May Day first observed in India?
Ans: May Day was first observed in India in the year 1923.

23. In which year was the Communist Party of India first banned?
Ans: The Communist Party of India was first banned in the year 1934 by the British Government.

24. Who founded the Radical Democratic Party?
Ans: The Radical Democratic Party was founded by M. N. Roy.

25. Who founded the Revolutionary Socialist Party and when?
Ans: The Revolutionary Socialist Party was founded by Tridib Chaudhuri and others in 1940.

3. Short-type questions and answers [2 marks each]

1. Mention two features of the peasant rebellion of the 19th century.
Ans: Two main features of the peasant rebellions of the 19th century were:

Spontaneous and Localised Nature: These rebellions were mostly spontaneous and confined to local areas, lacking proper organisation or central leadership.
Target of Protest: The peasants mainly revolted against zamindars, moneylenders, and British officials due to economic exploitation and oppressive policies.

2. What was the role of the peasants in the Anti-partition movement?
Ans: The peasants actively participated by boycotting foreign goods, joining protests, and supporting the Swadeshi Movement, thereby strengthening the movement.

3. What were the causes of the peasant movement in the 20th century?
Ans: The peasant movements in the 20th century were caused by high land revenue, illegal cesses, oppression by zamindars, exploitation by moneylenders, and the adverse effects of colonial agrarian policies.

4. What were the different provinces in which peasant movement broke out during the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans: Peasant movements during the Non-Cooperation Movement broke out in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab.

5. Where and why did the Bakasht Movement break out?
Ans: The Bakasht Movement broke out in Bihar, particularly in districts like Patna, due to the eviction of tenants from bakasht lands by zamindars and the denial of their occupancy rights.

6. What is the Hali system? Where was it practised?
Ans: The Hali system was a form of bonded labour in which peasants worked for landlords under oppressive conditions, and it was mainly practised in Gujarat.

7. Why is October 16, 1905 important in the history of India?
Ans: October 16, 1905 is important because the Partition of Bengal came into effect on this day, and it was observed as a day of national mourning and protest against British policy.

8. In which session was the Non-Cooperation resolution adopted?
Ans: The Indian National Congress adopted the resolution of the Non-Cooperation Movement in the Nagpur Session in 1920.

9. Name the regions of Bihar where peasant movements took place during Non-Cooperation.
Ans: In Bihar, peasant movements broke out in regions such as Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Saran, and Patna.

10. How was the All India Kisan Sabha formed?
Ans: The All India Kisan Sabha was formed in 1936 at the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress by bringing together various regional peasant organisations.

11. How was the All India Kisan Sabha formed?
Ans: The All India Kisan Sabha was formed in 1936 at Lucknow by uniting different peasant groups under a common organisation to fight for agrarian rights.

12. Why did the leadership of the Eka Movement change from Congress to Madari Pasi?
Ans: The leadership of the Eka Movement shifted from Congress to Madari Pasi because the Congress leaders withdrew support due to the increasing militancy, and local peasants began to follow Madari Pasi’s leadership.

13. What were the aims of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans: The aims of the Non-Cooperation Movement were to attain Swaraj, to boycott British institutions and goods, and to promote national unity through non-violent resistance.

14. What was the role of Baba Ramchandra in the peasant movement?
Ans: Baba Ramchandra played a crucial role by organising peasants, mobilising them against exploitation, and leading agrarian protests in Uttar Pradesh.

15. What was the attitude of the Indian National Congress towards the Bardoli Satyagraha?
Ans: The Indian National Congress showed full support and sympathy towards the Bardoli Satyagraha and recognised it as a successful example of non-violent resistance.

16. Why did the Bardoli Satyagraha Movement start?
Ans: The Bardoli Satyagraha started in protest against the unjust increase in land revenue by the British government in Bardoli.

17. Mention two features of the working class movement in India in the 20th century.
Ans: Two main features were:
• It was organised under trade unions and political parties.
• It aimed at improving wages, working conditions, and labour rights.

18. By what name was Fazlul Haq popularly known?
Ans: Fazlul Haq was popularly known as “Sher-e-Bangla” (Tiger of Bengal).

19. Who presided over the first session of the All India Kisan Sabha? What was the objective of the Sabha?
Ans: The first session of the All India Kisan Sabha was presided over by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, and its objective was to protect peasants’ rights and fight against exploitation by landlords and the British government.

20. What was the symbol of his Krishak Praja Party?
Ans: The symbol of the Krishak Praja Party was the plough, representing the peasants.

4. Analytical questions and answers [4 marks each]

1. Give an account of the Eka Movement.
Ans: The Eka Movement was a peasant movement that took place in Uttar Pradesh during 1921–22. It was organised by peasants against the high rents, illegal cesses, and oppression by zamindars. The word “Eka” means unity, which reflected the peasants’ collective resistance. Initially supported by the Congress, the movement later came under the leadership of Madari Pasi. The peasants took oaths to refuse excessive rents and to resist exploitation, making it a significant agrarian protest.

2. What was the nature of the Bardoli Satyagraha Movement?
Ans: The Bardoli Satyagraha Movement of 1928 was a non-violent and well-organised peasant movement led by Vallabhbhai Patel. It was based on the principle of Satyagraha or peaceful resistance. The peasants refused to pay the enhanced land revenue and maintained strict discipline and unity. The movement remained non-violent and ultimately became a successful example of Gandhian methods.

3. What was the reaction of the government to the Bardoli Satyagraha Movement?
Ans: The government initially reacted with repressive measures such as confiscation of land and property of the peasants. However, due to the strong unity and non-violent resistance of the peasants, the government was eventually forced to appoint an inquiry committee. Finally, it reduced the revenue demand and returned confiscated lands, marking the success of the movement.

4. How was the Congress Socialist Party formed?
Ans: The Congress Socialist Party was formed in 1934 within the Indian National Congress by a group of socialist leaders. Leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev, and others came together to promote socialist ideas. It aimed to work within the Congress while advocating for the rights of workers and peasants.

5. What were the causes of the Moplah Rebellion?
Ans: The Moplah Rebellion of 1921 in Malabar was caused by agrarian discontent among Muslim tenants Moplahs against Hindu landlords. Other causes included high rents, insecurity of tenure, and British support to landlords. Religious tensions and the influence of the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements also contributed to the outbreak of the rebellion.

6. What were the programmes of the Congress Socialist Party?
Ans: The programmes of the Congress Socialist Party included abolition of zamindari, redistribution of land, promotion of workers’ rights, and establishment of a socialist society. It also aimed at organising peasants and workers and supporting anti-imperialist struggles.

5. Explanatory Questions and answers [8 marks each]

1. What was the role of the working class during the Anti-partition movement?
Ans: During the Anti-partition movement of 1905, the working class participated by supporting the Swadeshi and Boycott movements through strikes, demonstrations, and refusal to use foreign goods. Workers in industries such as jute mills, railways, and factories in regions like Bengal actively joined protests against the partition of Bengal. They contributed by boycotting British-made goods and promoting indigenous products, thereby giving the movement a strong economic dimension. Although their participation was not highly organised or widespread, it marked one of the earliest instances of working-class involvement in nationalist politics. This early participation laid the foundation for greater involvement of workers in later mass movements of the freedom struggle.

2. Give a brief account of the peasant participation in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Ans: The peasants actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22), giving it a mass base. In regions like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh, peasants protested against high rents, illegal cesses, and oppression by zamindars. Leaders like Baba Ramchandra mobilised peasants in Awadh. They refused to pay rents and took part in boycott movements. However, in some areas, the movement turned militant, leading to tension with Congress leadership. Despite limitations, peasant participation strengthened the national movement.

3. What was the nature of peasant participation in the Quit India Movement?
Ans: During the Quit India Movement (1942), peasant participation was spontaneous, widespread, and often militant. In many rural areas, peasants attacked police stations, government offices, and communication systems as symbols of British authority. They established parallel governments in places like Ballia and Tamluk. Unlike earlier movements, it was less controlled by leadership and reflected deep rural discontent. Their active involvement made the movement a powerful mass uprising.

4. Give an account of peasant participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ans: In the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34), peasants played a significant role by refusing to pay land revenue and taxes. In provinces like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Bihar, they organised protests against landlords and colonial authorities. The Bardoli Satyagraha became a model of disciplined peasant resistance. Peasants also supported the boycott of foreign goods. However, the movement remained largely non-violent under Gandhian leadership, though some local conflicts occurred.

5. Give an account of the working-class movements in India during the 20th century.
Ans: The working-class movement in India developed significantly during the 20th century due to rapid industrialisation, urbanisation, and the harsh working conditions faced by labourers. Workers in factories, mills, railways, and plantations organised strikes and protests to demand better wages, shorter working hours, improved working conditions, and legal rights. The formation of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920 marked a major milestone, as it provided a national platform for labour organisation. Communist and socialist leaders played a crucial role in mobilising workers and linking their economic struggles with the broader nationalist movement. Over time, working-class movements became more organised and politically conscious, contributing not only to labour reforms but also strengthening the fight against colonial rule by weakening the economic foundations of British authority.

6. Write a note on the All India Kisan Sabha.
Ans: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was formed in 1936 at the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress as a national organisation to represent the interests of peasants. It emerged in response to widespread agrarian distress, high rents, illegal cesses, and exploitation by zamindars and moneylenders. Prominent leaders such as Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, N. G. Ranga, and E. M. S. Namboodiripad played key roles in its formation and expansion. The Sabha demanded reduction of land revenue and rent, abolition of zamindari, security of tenure for tenants, and relief from rural indebtedness. It organised peasant protests, conferences, and movements across different regions, thereby giving a strong voice to rural masses. Over time, it became the principal organisation representing peasants at the national level and played a significant role in linking agrarian issues with the broader freedom struggle.

7. When and how was the Communist Party of India formed?
Ans: The Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed in 1920 at Tashkent by M. N. Roy along with other Indian revolutionaries who were influenced by Marxist ideology and the success of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. The formation took place outside India due to strict colonial surveillance and repression within the country. The party aimed to promote socialist ideas, end colonial exploitation, and organise workers and peasants into a united revolutionary force. In the following years, communist leaders gradually built networks within India by working through trade unions, labour organisations, and peasant movements. Despite facing bans, arrests, and trials by the British government, the CPI managed to expand its influence and emerged as an important political force advocating both national independence and social transformation.

8. Discuss the growth of communist activities within the Congress.
Ans: Communist ideas began to grow within the Congress during the 1920s and 1930s, influenced by global events like the Russian Revolution and the spread of socialist thought. Many young and radical leaders within the Congress were attracted to Marxist and socialist ideologies, which emphasised economic equality and the rights of workers and peasants. They operated through groups such as the Congress Socialist Party and the Workers and Peasants Party, aiming to mobilise the masses and push the Congress towards more radical socio-economic reforms. These groups organised strikes, peasant movements, and awareness campaigns, thereby strengthening mass participation in the national movement. Although there were ideological differences and occasional conflicts with conservative leaders within the Congress, communist influence helped broaden the social base of the freedom struggle and introduced issues of class struggle and economic justice into nationalist politics.

9. Give an account of the peasant movement of the 20th century.
Ans: Peasant movements in the 20th century were more organised and politically conscious compared to the 19th century. They arose due to high revenue demands, exploitation by zamindars, and economic hardships. Important movements included the Champaran Movement, Kheda Satyagraha, Bardoli Satyagraha, Eka Movement, Moplah Rebellion, and Tebhaga Movement. The formation of organisations like the All India Kisan Sabha (1936) gave a national dimension. These movements contributed significantly to the anti-colonial struggle.

10. Give a brief account of leftist movements in India during the 1930s and 1940s.
Ans: The 1930s and 1940s witnessed the rapid growth of leftist movements in India, largely influenced by socialist and communist ideologies. This period saw the formation of important organisations such as the Congress Socialist Party, the Communist Party of India, and the All India Kisan Sabha. These groups actively worked among workers and peasants, organising strikes, protests, and agrarian movements to demand economic justice, land reforms, and better working conditions. Leftist leaders emphasised equality, anti-imperialism, and the upliftment of the poor and marginalised sections of society. Movements like the Tebhaga Movement in Bengal and the Telangana Movement in Hyderabad reflected strong agrarian resistance and radical demands for land redistribution. Overall, leftist movements played a crucial role in broadening the social base of the national movement and bringing socio-economic issues to the forefront of India’s struggle for independence.