Nationalism in India Module 3

Nationalism in India Module 3

By A R

Chauri Chaura, 1922 (CC 22)

At Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur, a peaceful demonstration in a bazaar, turned into a violent clash with the police.

Hearing of this incident, Gandhi called off Non Cooperation Movement.​

Gandhi felt satyagrahis needed to be properly trained​ before they would be ready for mass struggles

Towards Civil Disobedience

Within Congress - some leaders - tired of mass struggles & wanted to participate in elections for Provincial Councils as set by Govt of India Act 1919

​

They felt it was important to

​ oppose British policies in the councils

argue for reform

demonstrate how councils were not truly democratic​

Jawaharlal Nehru & Subhas Chandra Bose pressed for more radical mass agitations & full independence​

C R Das, Motilal Nehru formed Swaraj Party within Congress to argue for return yo council politics

Towards Civil Disobedience

Towards Civil Disobedience

FACTORS SHAPING INDIAN POLITICS 1920s - 1930s:

​

Worldwide economic depression

Agricultural prices began to fall (​1926) & collapsed (1930)

Peasants found it difficult to sell their harvests, pay revenues - countryside was in turmoil​

SIMON COMMISSION

​Tory Govt in Britain - constituted a statutory commission under Sir John Simon to look into the functioning of constitutional system in India

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PROBLEM : NOT A SINGLE INDIAN MEMBER​

SIMON COMMISSION

​Simon Commission came to India in 1928

Slogans : GO BACK SIMON

All parties - Congress & Muslim League opposed​

DOMINION STATUS

Lord Irwin announced in Oct 1929 - vague offer of Dominion Status for India in an unspecified future & a Round Table Conference to discuss future constitution.

​

Congress leaders NOT satisfied

Radicals - JL Nehru & Bose became more assertive

Liberals & Moderates- proposing constitutional set up within British dominion​, lost influence.

Multiple Choice

The ___Government in Britain formed the Simon Commission

• Whigs

• Tory

• council

• provincial

Multiple Choice

Simon Commission was ____

• Accepted by Congress & Muslim League

• Opposed by Congress & Muslim League

• Opposed by Congress, accepted by Muslim League

• Opposed by Muslim League , accepted by Congress

Purna Swaraj (La De Ja Pu)

​Dec 1929, under Jawaharlal Nehru , Lahore Congress formalised demand for Purna Swaraj = full independence for India

​

26 Jan 1930= independence day, people to take pledge to struggle for Purna Swaraj​

Multiple Choice

Which day was to be celebrated as Independence Day as per Nehru's Purna Swaraj call?

• 30 Jan 1930

• 26 Jan 1929

• 30 Jan 1929

• 26 Jan 1930

Salt March

​Gandhi found a powerful symbol that could unite the nation

31 Jan 1930, he sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating 11 demands

It had wide ranging demands so all Indian classes could identify & be brought together in a united campaign.​

​

Most stirring demand - abolish Salt Tax

Salt consumed by both rich & poor, tax on salt & Govt monopoly over its production - oppressive face of British rule.​

​

Salt March (11 Demands , 11 March Deadline)

​The letter had a deadline - 11 March, if demands not met = Civil Disobedience Campaign

​

Irwin unwilling to negotiate, Gandhi started salt march

Salt March Stats

​78 volunteers walked with Gandhi

240 miles from Sabarmati to Dandi

lasted 24 days

Walked 10 miles a day

Thousands came to hear Gandhi wherever he stopped

April 6 @ Dandi, ceremonially violated law, manufactured salt by boiling sea water​

Multiple Choice

How many demands did Gandhi make to Lord Irwin?

• 101

• 21

• 11

• Only 1 for making salt

Multiple Choice

On which day did Gandhi break the salt law?

• 6 April

• 6 March

• 16 June

• 26 Jan

Civil Disobedience

​People broke colonial laws

Thousands broke salt laws

Foreign cloth boycotted

Liquor shops picketed

Peasants refused to pay revenue & chaukidari tax

Village officials resigned

Forest people violated forest laws​

Repercussions

​Violent clashes between leaders & Colonial Govt

Abdul Ghaffar Khan(Gandhian)​ - arrested in April 1930, angry crowds protested in Peshawar

Gandhi also arrested

Industrial workers at Sholapur attached police posts, municipal buildings etc - all structures that symbolised British rule

Govt - brutal repression

Peaceful satyagrahis attacked, women & children beaten

100000 people arrested​

Gandhi- Irwin Pact

​Gandhi called off the movement

Entered into a pact with Irwin on 5 March 1931

Agreed to participate in Round Table Conference at London

Govt to release the political prisoners​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Gandhi-Irwin pact

​In Dec 1931, Gandhi went to London for conference

Negotiations broke down, Gandhi disappointed

When he came back - JL Nehru & Ghaffar Khan both in jail

Congress declared illegal​

Measures imposed to prevent meetings, demo​nstrations & boycotts

Gandhi launched Civil Disobedience Movement again, but it lost its momentum by 1934​

Multiple Choice

Who was a Gandhi follower in Peshawar?

• Sajid Ali Khan

• Abdul Ghaffar Khan

• Salimullah Khan

• Sir Sayd Ahmed Khan

Multiple Choice

Congress Boycotted which Round Table Conference?

• 1st

• 2nd

• 7th

• 5th