Nationalism in India Notes in English Class 10 History Chapter-2 Book-India and the Contemporary World-II
0Team Eklavyaअप्रैल 22, 2025
In Europe, modern nationalism inspired the rise of nation-states, which gave rise to new national identities and ideas about society. Symbols, songs and ideas united communities and generated national sentiments. In India, the rise of nationalism was linked to the struggle against colonialism. British oppression united people, and the Congress under Mahatma Gandhi organised various groups. However, there were differences in this unity. After 1920, the participation of various groups gave a new form to nationalism and changed the way of thinking.
First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement
The period after 1919 brought a new phase for the Indian freedom movement. The national movement rapidly spread to new areas and different sections of the society. At this time Mahatma Gandhi gave a new direction to Indian politics.
1. Effect of World War
World War I led to a massive increase in defence spending in India, which led to increased taxes and a sharp rise in the cost of living.
Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918, making life extremely difficult for the common man.
In the countryside, the forced recruitment of conscripts and poor harvests added to popular anger.
The flu pandemic and famine between 1918 and 1921 made the situation even worse, resulting in millions of deaths.
After the war, people were hoping that the situation would improve, but this did not happen, which further increased the disappointment of the general public.
2. Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of Satyagraha
Gandhiji returned to India from South Africa in 1915 and introduced the new method of Satyagraha. Satyagraha is a unique struggle based on truth and non-violence, which opposes injustice without violence and revenge. Its purpose is to bring about a change in the mind of the oppressor.
During his early movements in India, Gandhi supported farmers in Champaran, Bihar in 1917 who were facing the atrocities of indigo cultivation. In the same year, he fought for tax exemption for farmers in Kheda, Gujarat. In 1918 he demanded minimum wages and better working conditions for the workers of Ahmedabad.
After these movements, the protest against the Rowlatt Act in 1919 and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre further strengthened Gandhiji's leadership.
3. Rowlatt Act (1919)
Under the Rowlatt Act, the government had got the right to imprison any person without trial. Gandhiji called for Satyagraha across the country against this unjust law.
Meanwhile, on 13 April 1919, the horrific incident of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place, when General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar. Hundreds of people were killed in this ruthless action, which shocked the entire country and further intensified the movement.
However, when violence started increasing during the movement, Gandhiji decided to withdraw the movement due to his non-violence principles.
4. Khilafat and Non-cooperation Movement
In 1919, Indian Muslims launched the Khilafat Movement to save the power of the Turkish Caliph, which was supported by Gandhiji with the aim of Hindu-Muslim unity.
After this, Gandhiji started the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. He believed that British rule was dependent on the cooperation of Indians, and if this cooperation was withdrawn, this rule would end.
The movement included the renunciation of government titles, boycott of foreign clothes and goods, and resignation from government jobs, schools, and courts.
In 1920, the Congress approved the non-cooperation movement in the Nagpur session. After this, Gandhiji and Shaukat Ali gathered support for this movement across the country.
Different currents within the movement
The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement began in 1921. Different sections of society participated in it, but their expectations and the meaning of the movement were different for everyone. Let us understand this in simple language.
1. Movement in cities
The urban middle class showed active participation during the Non-Cooperation Movement. Thousands of students left schools and colleges, and many teachers and lawyers resigned from their posts.
The elections were boycotted in all provinces except Madras, but in Madras the Justice Party (non-Brahmins) did not boycott the elections as they wanted to work for their rights in the Council.
The economic impact of this movement was also widespread. Foreign textiles and goods were boycotted, liquor shops were picketed, and foreign cloth was burnt on Holi.
As a result, imports of foreign cloth fell by half between 1921-1922, and the demand for Indian cloth increased handloom production. However, the movement had its problems. Khadi was expensive for the poor, making the boycott of foreign cloth unfeasible for long.
British institutions were boycotted, but alternative Indian institutions were slow to develop. As a result, people slowly returned to government schools and courts.
2. Revolt in the rural areas
Farmers also fought for their rights during the Non-Cooperation Movement.
In Avadh, under the leadership of Baba Ramchandra, farmers demanded reduction in rent, abolition of forced labour and boycott of landlords. Panchayats called for "barber-dhobi bandh".
In 1920, Jawaharlal Nehru and Baba Ramchandra together formed Awadh Kisan Sabha.
The movement turned violent in 1921, with incidents such as attacks on landlords' houses, looting of markets, and seizure of grain warehouses.
In the name of Gandhiji, it was propagated among the farmers that they need not pay land tax and the land will be distributed among the poor.
Besides, tribal peasants in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh revolted for their rights over forests.
This rebellion was led by Alluri Sitarama Raju, who supported Gandhiji but believed that force was the only way to achieve independence. He waged a guerrilla war but was hanged in 1924.
3. Swaraj in the Plantations
For workers on Assam's plantations, "swaraj" meant freedom to return to their villages. However, under the 1859 law, workers were not allowed to leave the plantations.
During the Non-Cooperation Movement, workers started running away from the plantations towards their villages, as they believed that they would get land under Gandhiji's rule.
Due to the railway and steamer strike, many workers were stranded on the way, where the police caught them, beat them and sent them back.
Towards civil disobedience
After the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922, many changes took place in Indian politics. In the next phase of the movement, Gandhiji started the Civil Disobedience Movement. This movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement because it also involved the violation of English laws. Let us understand this in simple language.
1. The situation after non-cooperation
Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement fearing increasing violence, as he felt the satyagrahis needed further training.
After this, in 1923, C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress. The aim of this party was to oppose British policies by entering the councils.
At the same time, the country was also struggling with an economic crisis. From 1926, prices of agricultural products began to fall, and by 1930 farmers were in dire straits, which had a profound impact on the rural economy.
2. Simon Commission and Poorna Swaraj
In 1928, the Simon Commission, which came to India to study constitutional reforms, faced widespread opposition because there was no Indian member in this commission.
It was protested across the country with slogans "Simon Commission go back".
Subsequently, in the Lahore session of 1929, the Congress demanded "Purna Swaraj". The first Independence Day was celebrated in the country on 26 January 1930, which became a symbol of Indians' commitment to independence.
3. Civil Disobedience Movement and Salt March
Gandhi described the salt tax as oppressive and made it a symbol of protest against British rule.
On 31 January 1930, he sent a list of 11 demands to the Viceroy, in which the abolition of salt tax was the main demand. When the demands were not accepted, Gandhiji started the Civil Disobedience Movement.
In March 1930, he undertook a historic 240-km walk from the Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, known as the Salt March.
On April 6, he broke the law by making salt by boiling sea water.
The movement spread enthusiasm throughout the country. People broke the salt law, boycotted foreign clothes and liquor, peasants refused to pay revenue, and forest dwellers violated forest laws and entered reserved forests.
4. Government repression and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact
The government responded harshly to the civil disobedience movement. Leaders were arrested, peaceful protesters were attacked, and lakhs of people were imprisoned.
To calm the situation, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed in 1931, under which Gandhiji agreed to participate in the Round Table Conference. In return, the government promised to release political prisoners, which reduced the intensity of the movement to some extent.
5. Participation of social groups
Different sections of society participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement with their own expectations. Well-off peasants, especially in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, were protesting against heavy taxes and for them Swaraj was a symbol of "tax waiver".
Poor farmers wanted to waive off the rent of landlords, but Congress did not openly support this issue.
The merchant class opposed foreign imports, and swaraj for them symbolised the end of colonial restrictions on trade.
The working class boycotted foreign clothes, but their issues were ignored by the Congress.
Women also played an active role in the movement. They broke the salt law in large numbers and participated in picketing, but the Congress did not give them important positions in the organization.
In this way, the participation of different classes broadened the movement, but their expectations could not be fully fulfilled.
6. The limits of civil disobedience
The participation of Dalits in the Civil Disobedience Movement remained limited.
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar demanded separate political rights and social reforms for Dalits, which became an important issue apart from the movement.
Talking about the Muslim community, after the non-cooperation movement a large section of Muslims distanced themselves from the Congress.
Communal riots and the concerns of the Muslim minority further deepened this division, reducing their participation in the movement and increasing the challenge posed by the Congress.
sense of collective belonging
Nationalism develops when people start feeling that they are part of the same nation. This feeling develops through joint struggles and cultural processes.
1. Image of Mother India
The concept of Bharat Mata became an important symbol in the creation of Indian nationalism.
In the 1870s, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote the song "Vande Mataram", an emotional expression of Mother India.
Abanindranath Tagore later portrayed Mother India as a calm and spiritual ascetic who became a symbol of the spiritual and cultural dignity of the nation.
This image became a symbol of nationalism and patriotism during the Indian independence struggle, and looking at the image of Bharat Mata with reverence became a symbol of faith in nationalism.
2. Folk tales and cultural renaissance
During the rise of Indian nationalism, nationalists went from village to village and collected folk songs, legends, and myths, which were considered the true identity of traditional Indian culture.
These folk tales became a source of national pride and inspired Indians to be proud of their cultural heritage.
Scholars such as Rabindranath Tagore and Natesa Sastri played an important role in reviving these folk traditions, thereby strengthening Indian culture and national spirit.
3. Use of flags and symbols
Flags also had important symbolic use during the Swadeshi movement. A tricolour flag was created in Bengal, with green, yellow and red colours. The lotus flower and the crescent moon were considered symbols of Hindu-Muslim unity.
In 1921 Gandhi introduced the Swaraj flag, which was white, green and red, with a spinning wheel at its centre symbolising self-reliance. Carrying this flag in processions became a symbol of defiance against British rule and the aspiration for self-rule.
4. Reinterpretation of history
Indian nationalists highlighted the great achievements of ancient India to promote Indian pride during the independence struggle.
He inspired Indians to be proud of their history by emphasizing the progress of ancient India in the fields of art, science, and culture.
Its objective was to create a sense of self-respect and independence among Indians, so that they could unite and fight against colonial rule.
5.Problems
Much of the past and symbolism during Indian nationalism was based on Hindu culture, causing the movement to be seen as primarily associated with Hindu traditions and symbols.
Because of this cultural base, other communities, especially Muslims, began to feel alienated from this movement, which increased the fear of communal division within the framework of nationalism.
