The Making of the National Movement: 1870s-1947

A sense of shared identity and belonging among the people of India, regardless of their differences.

The British control over India's resources and the lives of its people.

The realization that India belonged to its people, not the British.

The various social, economic, and political changes brought about by the British in India.

The different groups and classes in India, each facing their own challenges under British Rule.

The feeling of discontent or unhappiness with British rule in India.

The question of who India belonged to and what its resources were meant for.

The recognition that India's resources and systems should benefit all its people.

A peaceful resistance movement led by Mahatma Gandhi against unjust British laws, specifically the Rowlatt Act.

Meetings organized to plan and launch the Rowlatt Satyagraha.

An honor bestowed by the British Crown for achieving exceptional personal achievements or public service.

A massacre that took place on Baisakhi Day (13 April 1919) in Amritsar, India, when British troops commanded by General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering of people.

A form of protest involving the suspension of work and business activities in a designated area to express disapproval or solidarity.

The strong belief that Hindus and Muslims should unite in their fight against British rule, emphasizing India as a land for all.

A commitment to non-violent resistance as a means to achieve political and social change.

The importance of supporting each other in pursuit of a just cause, a key principle espoused by Mahatma Gandhi.

The early Indian National Congress, despite being led by educated elites, was criticized for focusing on the interests of professional groups, landlords, and industrialists, rather than the broader needs of the common people.

The Moderate leaders of the Indian National Congress believed that the British government, despite its flaws, respected the ideals of freedom and justice. They thought that expressing their demands and making the government aware of Indian feelings would lead to reforms.

The Moderates used methods like publishing newspapers, writing articles, giving speeches, and sending representatives to different parts of India to raise awareness about the unjust nature of British rule and mobilize public opinion.

The Moderates' approach to political change was characterized by petitions, appeals, and a belief in the British sense of fairness. This method, however, faced criticism for its perceived lack of direct action and reliance on the British government for reforms.

In the 1890s, a new group of Indian leaders emerged who disagreed with the Moderates' approach and believed in more radical methods to achieve independence. They criticized the reliance on petitions and appeals and emphasized the importance of self-reliance and active resistance.

Leaders like Bepin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Lala Lajpat Rai advocated for a more active and assertive approach to achieving independence, believing that self-reliance and constructive work were crucial for national progress.

The criticism of the Moderates' approach as 'politics of prayers' highlighted the shift in Indian political thinking from a reliance on appeals and petitions to a more active and assertive approach that emphasized self-reliance and constructive work.

The rise of radical leaders like Tilak, Pal, and Lajpat Rai marked a turning point in the Indian nationalist movement, shifting the focus from appeals to the British to a more active and self-reliant approach towards independence.

A political movement that aimed to achieve independence for India from British rule.

A major political party in India during the independence movement, known for its focus on non-violent resistance.

A prominent figure in the Indian independence movement, known for his strong advocacy for Hindu-Muslim unity.

A political party representing the interests of Muslims in British India.

A key event in the Indian independence movement where representatives of the Congress and the Muslim League came together to discuss future political arrangements.

A political concept that emerged in the late 1930s, which suggested that Muslims in India formed a distinct nation separate from Hindus.

The 1937 provincial elections in British India where the Muslim League felt that Muslims were underrepresented in the political system.

The fear that Muslims would be marginalized and underrepresented in a democratic India.

A revolutionary nationalist group, founded in 1928, aiming to fight against colonial rule and exploitation through a revolution of workers and peasants.

A protest action by Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt in 1929 where they threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly, aiming to draw attention to the injustices of colonial rule.

The objective of the Central Legislative Assembly Bombing was 'to make the deaf hear,' implying a way to wake up the indifferent government to the exploitation of the people.

A law under British rule that gave the state exclusive control over the production and sale of salt, a key element in Indian life.

Gandhiji's 1930 movement to break the Salt Law by marching to the coast and making their own salt, emphasizing the unjust nature of British rule and calling for independence.

The aim or goal of complete self-rule or independence for India, which became a rallying cry for the freedom movement.

An event commemorating the Indian independence from British rule, observed on 26 January 1930.

A revolutionary slogan expressing resistance and challenging the existing power structures, advocating for change and demanding a change in the system.

A political strategy within the Indian National Congress that advocated for more radical and immediate action against British rule, including boycotts and civil disobedience.

The Indian National Congress's approach to achieving independence, characterized by peaceful protests, appeals to British morality, and working within the existing political system.

Gandhi's call for Indians to refuse cooperation with the British government and institutions, leading to widespread boycotts of British goods, and the establishment of Indian-run institutions.

The creation of Pakistan, which emerged from the demand for a separate Muslim nation within India, fueled by political divisions, concerns about religious minorities, and the legacy of colonialism.