Question

how did different social groups affect the civil disobedience movement? 5 marker

Answer 1

The resctions were:-

1. Rich peasant communities - these communities like the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh eagerly took part in the Civil Disobedience Movement. They wanted to fight against the high revenue imposed by the government. However, since the revenue rates were not revised after the second roundtable conference, they did not take part in the movement with the same momentum.

2. Peasants - the peasants not only demanded low revenue but because of the agricultural depression, they could not pay the rent to rich landlords. As a result they wanted their unpaid rent to be remitted. No rent campaigns could not be supported by the Congress as they thought it would alienate the rich agriculturalists.

3. Industrialists - industrialists had earned a lot of money during World War 1 and wanted to increase their income. As a result, they were against colonial policies that restricted trade. Industrialists formed many powerful organisations such as Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce. They, moreover, refused to trade in foreign goods and also gave financial assistance to the nationalist movement.

4. Industrial workers - these workers stayed aloof as the industrialists became close to the Congress. Industrial workers made their demands of more wages and better working conditions a part of the overall demand for swaraj. There were strikes by railway workers in 1930 and dockworkers in 1932. In Nagpur, industrial workers in tin mines wore Gandhi caps and protested.

5. Women - women were active participants in this movement. During Gandhiji's Dandi March, women came out of their homes and listened to him wherever he rested. Women took part in political meetings, rallies, etc and also took part in strikes. Moreover, women picketed liquor shops and boycotted foreign goods. However, Gandhiji believed only in the symbolic presence of women.