nationalism in india notes
Answers
The growth of modern nationalism is intimately connected to anti-colonial
movement.
The congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi tried to forge groups together within one movement.
First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation
*National Movement was spreading in New areas in 1919 and incorporating new social groups and developing new modes of struggle.
*Mahatma Gandhi came to India and The Idea of Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth.
*He advocated that physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.
*In 1916, He travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system.
The Idea of Satyagraha
*Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January, 1915. His heroic fight for the Indians in South Africa was well-known. His novel method of mass agitation known as Satyagraha had yielded good results.
*The idea of Satyagraha emphasized the power of truth and the need to search for truth.
*In 1916, Gandhi travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system.
*In 1917,crops field in Kheda district of Gujrat, but the government refused to remit land revenue and insisted on its full collection.
*In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi intervened in a dispute between workers and mill owners of Ahmedabad. He advised to workers to go on strike and to demand a 35% increase in wages.
The Rowlatt act
*When the Rawlatt act 1919, was passed hurriedly through the Imperial Legislative Council inspire of unanimous opposition of the Indian members, Gandhiji’s patience comes to an end.
*Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal on 6th April.
*6th April 1919 was observed as Satyagraha Day when people all over the country observed fast and hartal.
*In 1919, the country witnessed a remarkable political awakening in India.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
*A large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jalliawalla Bagh.
*People came to protest against government’s repressive measure while some came to attend the annual Baisakhi fair.
*General Dyer entered the area. Blocked the exit points and opened fire on the crowd, killing hundreds.
*The government responded with brutal repression seeking to humiliate and terrorise people.
*Satyagrahis were forced to rub their noses on the ground, crawl on the streets and do Salaam (salute) to all Sahibs.
Khilafat movement
*Rowlatt Satyagraha had been a widespread movement, it was still limited mostly to cities and towns.
*Mahatma Gandhi now felt the need to launch a more broad based movement in India.
*But he was certain that no such movement could be organized without bringing the Hindus and Muslims closer together.
*The Muslims of India decided to force Britain to change her Turkish policy.
*A Khalifa Committee was formed under the leadership of Maulana Azad, Ajmal Khan and Hasrat Mohani.
*A young generation of Muslim leaders like the brothers Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali began discussing with Mahatma Gandhi about the possibility of a united mass action on the issue.
Differing strands within the movement:
*Rebellion in the countryside: – From the cities, the noncooperation movement spread to the countryside. After the war, the struggles of peasants and tribal were developing in different parts of India.
*One movement here war against talukdars and landlords who demanded from peasant exorbitantly high rents and a variety of other cesses.
*Peasants had to do begar. The peasant movement demanded reduction of revenue, an abolition of begar and social boycott of oppressive landlords.
*Oudh Kisan Sabha was setup headed by. Jawaharlal Nehru and other, within a month, over 300 branches had been set up by the villagers.
*Tribal peasants interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of Swaraj in yet another way.
*The colonial government had closed large forest areas preventing people from entering the forests to graze their cattle, or to collect fuel wood and fruits.
*Alluri Sitaram Raju Claimed that he had a variety of special powers. He asserted that India could be liberated only by the use of force.
Towards Civil Disobedience
*Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922.
*The movement was turning violent in many places and satyagarhis needed properly trained for mass struggle.
*CR Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to council politics.
*Salt was a powerful symbol that could unite the nation.
*Salt march accompanied by 78 of his trusted volunteers.
*Finally, Mahatma Gandhi once again decided to call off the movement and entered into a pact with Irwin on 5 March 1931.
*Participants saw the movement in different angle such as Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar Pradesh.