NCERT Solutions for Chapter 2 Nationalism in India Class 10 History
Book Solutions1a
Explain:
Why growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement.
Answer
In all the colonies of the world, the colonisers exploited the people socially, religiously, economically and politically. In the process of struggle against colonisers, people began discovering their unity. The sense of being oppressed under colonialism provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together into a common struggle for freedom.
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1b
Explain:
How the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India.
Answer
During, First World War, there was forced recruitment in the rural areas of India by the British army during the First World War. To finance the defence expenditure, high customs duties and income taxes were imposed. In 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India which resulted in acute shortages of food. Also, there was an influenza epidemic. These things caused widespread anger among rural and common people. At this stage, Gandhiji appeared as a leader and suggested a new mode of struggle
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1c
Explain:
Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act.
Answer
The government passed the Rowlatt Act in the Imperial Legislative Council in 1919 against the united opposition of the Indian members. The Act gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities. It allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
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1d
Explain:
Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement. Answer
In February 1922, at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur (UP), a group of peaceful Indian demonstrators turned violent. They burnt alive 22 policemen. When Mahatma Gandhi came to know about it, he decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement. He felt that the movement was turning violent in many places and satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they would be ready for mass struggles.
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2
What is meant by the idea of satyagraha?
Answer
Satyagraha was a novel method of mass agitation. The idea of ‘Satyagraha’ emphasized the power of truth and the need to search for truth. The philosophy of satyagraha suggested that if the cause was true, one was bound to succeed without using any violence. Without being aggressive, a satyagrahi could appeal to the morality of the unjust oppressor.
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3a
Write a newspaper report on:
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Answer
13 April 1919 - A large crowd of people had gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh. Some came to protest against the government’s Rowlatt Act. Others had come to attend the annual Baisakhi fair. Being from outside the city, many villagers were unaware of the Martial Law that had been imposed. Suddenly, a British military officer, General Dyer came, blocked the exit points from the Bagh and opened fire upon the innocent citizens. Hundreds of innocent people including women and children were killed and wounded due to firing by the British soldiers.
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3b
Write a newspaper report on:
The Simon Commission
Answer
October 1928 - Simon Commission arrived in India to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and to submit a detailed report on reforms. The Simon Commission was constituted by the Tory Government in Britain, under Sir John Simon. But nationalists in India opposed the Commission because it had not a single Indian member. Therefore, when the Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan “Go Back Simon”. All parties, including Congress and the Muslim league, participated in the demonstrations.
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4
Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter 1.
Answer
There are two images of Bharat Mata one by Abanindranath Tagore and the second by another artist. In the image prepared by Tagore, Bharat Mata is portrayed as an ascetic figure. She has been shown as calm, composed, divine and spiritual. She is shown also as dispensing learning food and clothing.
In the second figure, Bharat Mata is shown with a Trishul, standing beside a lion and an elephant both symbols of power and authority. This figure is a different to the one painted by Abanindranath Tagore.
On the other hand, the image of Germania as a female figure is standing against a background of the tricolour fabric of the national flag. She is wearing a crown of oak leaves, as the German oak stands for heroism.
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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 to show why they joined the movement.
Answer
The different social groups that joined the Non-cooperation Movement of 1921 were the urban middle class comprising lawyers, teachers and headmasters, students, peasants, tribals and workers.
• The peasants wanted reduction of revenue, abolition of begar, and social boycott of oppressive landlords.
• Plantation workers wanted the right to move freely in and outside the plantations and get land in their own villages.
• Tribal people wanted to restore their means of livelihood which meant entry to the forests so they can graze their cattle, or to collect fuelwood and fruits.
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2
Discuss the Salt March to make clear why it was an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism.
Answer
Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation as it was consumed by rich and poor alike. He sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands. The most unusual of the demand among them was the abolishment of the salt tax. Gandhiji declared that the tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production was the most oppressive move of British rule. Gandhi’s letter was an ultimatum that if the demands were not fulfilled then Congress would launch a civil disobedience campaign. Irwin was unwilling to negotiate. So, Gandhi stated his famous salt march accompanied by 79 of his trusted volunteers. The march was over 240 miles, from Gandhi’s ashram in Sabarmati to the Gujarati coastal town Dandi and ceremonially violated the law, manufactured salt by boiling seawater. This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
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3
Imagine you are a woman participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Explain what the experience meant to your life.
Answer
I participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 so I could be a part of the nation making process. This experience of mine changed my ways of life and thinking. Moved by Mahatma Gandhi's call, I, along with other women, took part in protest marches, manufactured salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. It was a proud moment for me to participate in Gandhi's Civil Disobedience Movement.
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4
Why did political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates?
Answer
Political leaders differed sharply over the question of separate electorates because of differences in opinion.
• Many dalit leaders were keen on a different political solution to the problems of the community. They began organising themselves, demanding a separate electorate that would choose dalit members for legislative councils. They believed political empowerment would resolve the problems of their social disabilities.
• Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who organised the dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930, clashed with Mahatma Gandhi at the second Round Table Conference by demanding separate electorates for dalits.
• Gandhiji believed that separate electorates would further slow down the process of their integration into society.
• The Muslim leaders like Muhammad Ali Jinnah also demanded separate electorates for the Muslims so that the interests of the Muslims could be protected.
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