Question

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 3 Nationalism in India
August 16, 2020 by Rama Krishna

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 3 Nationalism in India
Q.1. Explain:
(a) Why is the growth of nationalism in the colonies linked to an anti-colonial movement ?
(b) How did the First World War help in the growth of the National Movement in India? [CBSE2014]
Or
Explain any four facts to show how did the First World War help in the growth of the National Movement in India. [CBSE March 2011]
(a) Why were Indians outraged by the Rowlatt Act ?
(b) Why did Gandhiji decide to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans.
(a) The growth of Modern nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement due to the factors as mentioned below :

People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism. The sense of being oppressed under colonialism provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together.
As each class and group felt the effects of colonialism differently, their experiences were varied and their notions of freedom were not always the same, so the Congress under Mahatma Gandhi tried to forge these groups together within one movement.
Thus, in spite of differences and conflicts, different groups and communities came under the banner of Indian National Congress and took part in various movements which were anti¬colonial or against the British.
(b) The First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India as it created a new economic and political situation as mentioned below :

The defense expenditure had increased.
War loans were taken and more taxes were imposed.
Custom duties were raised.
Income tax was introduced.
The rise in prices led to extreme hardships for the people.
There was widespread discontentment in the rural area due to forced recruitment of soldiers.
In 1918-19 and 1920-21 crops failed in many parts of India resulting in acute shortages of food.
There was influenza epidemic too. According to the Census of 1921, twelve to thirteen million people perished as a result of famines and epidemics. People thought that their hardships and suffering would come to an end after the war but that did not happen. So these factors were responsible for the rise of nationalism in India.
(c) Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act (1919) due to the following reasons :

They had hoped that after the war their hardships would be over and the government would take steps to improve their condition.
On the other hand, the government got the Rowlatt Act passed in the Imperial Legislative Council 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.
These provisions meant the suspension of two principles of justice – trial by jury and habeas corpus – the rights safeguarding against illegal imprisonment.
The Rowlatt Act was considered as Black Law and the Indians under the leadership of Gandhi decided to oppose it by non-violent civil disobedience which would start with a hartal on 6 April.
(d) Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement due to the reasons as mentioned below :

The movement was turning violent in many places.
Gandhiji thought that Satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they would be ready for mass struggles. This was in context of the incident in Chauri-Chaura, a village in Gorakhpur district UP where twenty two policemen were brutally killed after they had fired on a political procession.
There had been disturbances in Madras and Calcutta also. The above factors made it clear that the country was not yet ready of mass movement. So Gandhiji prevailed upon the Congress Working Committee to call off the movement.


Q.2. What is meant by the idea of Satyagraha?
Or
Explain the idea of Satyagraha according to Gandhiji.

Answer 1

Answer 2:

• Satyagraha is pure soul-force.
• Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why this force is called Satyagraha.
• The soul is informed with knowledge. It burns the flame of love.
• Non-violence is the supreme dharma.
• The idea of Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth. It suggested that if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then the physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.
• Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence.
• In Satyagraha, people including the oppressors – had to be persuaded to see the truth, instead of being forced to accept truth through the use of violence.
• In this way by this struggle, truth was bound to ultimately triumph. Mahatma Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence would unite all Indians.

Answer 2

Answer:

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre: A public meeting was announced for the 13th April 1919, at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar to protest against the Rowlatt Act. The people were allowed to assemble there. After they had gathered there in thousands, General Dyer marched there with armoured cars and troops. Without giving any warning to the people to disperse, he ordered firing on the unarmed, and peaceful people. The casualties among the Indians were very heavy. Dyer’s purpose in doing so was to ‘produce a moral effect’, to create in the minds of Satyagrahis, a feeling of terror and awe. This massacre of innocent people in thousands converted Mahatma Gandhi into a non-cooperator.

Explanation: