Chapter 02 Nationalism in India PDF

CHAPTER-2 Nationalism in India 1.The First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation  Emergence of a new economic and political landscape due to the war.  Surge in defense spending, funded through war loans and increased taxes (elevated customs duties and th...

CHAPTER-2 Nationalism in India 1.The First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation  Emergence of a new economic and political landscape due to the war.  Surge in defense spending, funded through war loans and increased taxes (elevated customs duties and the introduction of income tax).  Escalation of prices and hardships for the general populace.  Compulsory recruitment of individuals for the war effort.  Severe shortage of food leading to widespread famine and suffering.  Concurrent influenza epidemic causing millions of casualties.  Growing realization among Indians that their involvement in the war was unwarranted.  This realization fostered unity among Indians against British rule The Idea of Satyagraha  January 1915: Mahatma Gandhi returns to India from South Africa, initiating the Satyagraha movement.  Satyagraha focuses on the power of truth and the imperative to seek it.  Gandhi advocates non-violence as a means to unite all Indians and achieve victory.  1917: Gandhi travels to Champaran, Bihar, inspiring peasants to resist the oppressive plantation system.  Same year: Organizes satyagraha in Kheda, Gujarat, supporting peasants in their struggle.  1918: Gandhi leads a satyagraha movement among cotton mill workers in Ahmedabad. 1|Page NOTES BY MAYANK CHOUDHARY (MENTOR: ANAND SMART EDUCATION ) Indian workers in South Africa march through Volksrust, 6 November 1913 Mahatma Gandhi was leading the workers from Newcastle to Transvaal.When the marchers were stopped and Gandhiji arrested, thousands of more workers joined the satyagraha against racist laws that denied rights to non- whites. The Rowlatt Act Gandhiji, in 1919, decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act of 1919. Provisions of the Rowlett Act:  Granting the government authority to suppress political activities or demonstrations.  Authorization for the detention of political prisoners without trial for a period of two years.  Empowering the British government to apprehend individuals and conduct searches without requiring a warrant. 2|Page NOTES BY MAYANK CHOUDHARY (MENTOR: ANAND SMART EDUCATION ) The Rowlatt Act was opposed by Indians in the following ways:  Commencement of non-violent civil disobedience against the unjust law.  Organization of rallies in different cities to protest the legislation.  Workers initiating strikes in railway workshops as part of the resistance.  Closure of shops in protest against the unjust law. Jallianwalla Bagh incident:  On 13 April, the Jallianwalla Bagh incident took place.  On that day a crowd of villagers who had come to Amritsar to attend a fair gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwalla Bagh.  Being from outside the city, they were unaware of the martial law that had been imposed. 3|Page NOTES BY MAYANK CHOUDHARY (MENTOR: ANAND SMART EDUCATION )   Dyer entered the area, blocked the exit points, and opened fire on the crowd, killing hundreds.  His object, as he declared later, was to ‘produce a moral effect’, to create in the minds of satyagrahis a feeling of terror and awe. The reasons for starting the Khilafat Movement  After Ottoman Turkey's defeat in WWI, rumors circulated about an impending severe peace treaty for the Ottoman emperor (Khalifa).  Global Muslim support rallied behind the temporal authority of the Khalifa in response.  In India, the Khilafat Committee emerged, led by Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali.  During the September 1920 Calcutta Congress session, Muhammad Ali persuaded fellow leaders to initiate a non-cooperation movement in solidarity with Khilafat and Swaraj. Why Non-cooperation?  In his famous book Hind Swaraj (1909) Mahatma Gandhi said that British rule was established in India with the help of Indians, and had survived only because of this cooperation.  If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule in India would collapse within a year, and swaraj would come.  He wanted the non-cooperation to be implemented in stages and made a nationwide movement. (a) Surrender of Government titles that the government had awarded. (b) Boycott civil services, army, police, court and legislative councils and schools. (c) Boycott of foreign made goods. (d) If the government used repression, a full civil disobedience campaign was to be launched. 4|Page NOTES BY MAYANK CHOUDHARY (MENTOR: ANAND SMART EDUCATION )   During the summer of 1920 Mahatma Gandhi and Shaukat Ali toured extensively, mobilizing popular support for the Khilafat movement.  Many in the Congress however, were reluctant to boycott the council elections scheduled for November 1920, and they feared violence may happen.  At the Congress session at Nagpur in December 1920, a compromise was worked out and the Non-Cooperation program was adopted. Differing Strands within the Movement  The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement began in January 1921.  Various social groups participated in this movement, each with its own specific aspiration.  All of them responded to the call of Swaraj, but the term meant different things to different people. The Movement in the Towns  In the towns, the middle class started the movement, and thousands of teachers, students, and headmasters left most of the government- controlled schools and colleges, and lawyers gave up practicing.  On the economic front, the effects of the non-cooperation were many.  The production from Indian textile mills expanded after the boycotting of foreign goods started.  The movement came to be slowed down because Khadi clothes were expensive, less Indian institutions for students as well as teachers to choose from; so they went back to normal forms of earnings. Picket – A form of demonstration or protest by which people block the entrance to a shop, factory or office. (हड़ताल के दौरान कार्यस्kल ें कार्यकतायं के प्रवेश को रोकते कें यचारी, हड़ताली कें यचारी) 5|Page NOTES BY MAYANK CHOUDHARY (MENTOR: ANAND SMART EDUCATION )  Rebellion in the Countryside Awadh Peasants:  Baba Ramchandra, a sanyasi, led the peasants of Awadh in a movement against oppressive talukdars and landlords.  The landlords and talukdars imposed exorbitant rents and other cesses on the peasants, who were forced to engage in unpaid beggar work and toil on landlords' farms without compensation.  Peasants, as tenants, lacked security of tenure and were frequently evicted from their homes.  The peasant movement aimed for a reduction in revenue, the abolition of beggar work, and a social boycott against oppressive landlords.  Panchayats organized nai-dhobi bandhs in many places, depriving landlords of essential services such as barbers and watermen.  The Oudh Kisan Sabha, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra, and others, was established to advocate for peasant rights.  In 1921, there were instances of attacking talukdars' and merchants' houses, looting bazaars, and taking over grain hoards as part of the protest. Tribal Peasants:  Large forest areas were closed by the colonial government, barring people from grazing their cattle, collecting fuelwood, and gathering fruits, causing resentment among the hill people.  The closure of these forests not only impacted their livelihoods but also led to the perception that their traditional rights were being denied.  The government's imposition of unpaid beggar work for road construction further fueled the discontent of the hill people.  Faced with the denial of traditional rights and forced beggar work, the hill people initiated a revolt against the colonial authorities. 6|Page NOTES BY MAYANK CHOUDHARY (MENTOR: ANAND SMART EDUCATION )  Alluri Sitaram Raju:  Alluri Sitaram Raju, a tribal leader in the Gudem hills of Andhra Pradesh, initiated a militant guerrilla movement.  The tribal community opposed colonial policies, which adversely affected their livelihoods and denied them traditional rights.  Inspired by Gandhiji’s Non-Cooperation movement, Alluri Sitaram Raju encouraged people to wear khadi and abandon drinking.  He claimed to possess special powers, including making astrological predictions, healing people, and surviving bullet shots.  Despite advocating for non-violent practices like khadi-wearing and abstinence from alcohol, he maintained that India could only achieve liberation through the use of force, rejecting the path of non-violence. Swaraj in the plantations  For Plantation workers in Assam, freedom meant right to move in and out of the plantation so they headed home but caught by the police and were brutally beaten up.  In February 1922, Gandhiji made the decision to withdraw the Non- Cooperation Movement following the Chauri Chaura incident, which occurred in Gorakhpur district of UP on 4th February 1922.  The incident unfolded when a peaceful demonstration in a bazaar escalated into a violent clash with the police, resulting in the deaths of three civilians and approximately 22 or 23 policemen.  Gandhiji believed that Satyagrahis required proper training before they could effectively engage in mass struggles. Towards Civil Disobedience Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non- Cooperation Movement in February 1922 because: 7|Page NOTES BY MAYANK CHOUDHARY (MENTOR: ANAND SMART EDUCATION )   Violence was escalating in various locations within the movement.  Gandhiji believed that Satyagrahis must undergo adequate training before being prepared for large-scale struggles.  In 1928, Simon Commission arrived in India and was greeted with “Go back, Simon”. In 1929, under Jawaharlal Nehru’s Presidency, Lahore Congress came to formalize the demand for “Purna Swaraj” or for the full independence of India, and in 26 January 1930 was declared to be celebrated as Independence Day. The Salt March and the CDM  On January 31, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi dispatched a letter to Viceroy Irwin outlining eleven demands.  Among these demands, the most impactful was the call for the abolition of the salt tax, a burden borne by both the wealthy and the impoverished.  The letter conveyed that these demands needed fulfillment by March 11, or else the Congress would initiate the civil disobedience campaign.  The famous salt march was started by Mahatma Gandhi accompanied by 76 of his trusted followers from Sabarmati to Dandi.  On the 6th of April, they reached Dandi, and violated the law, by manufacturing salt and marking the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.  In different parts of India, the salt law was broken, and foreign clothes were boycotted, peasants refused to pay revenue, forest laws were violated.  Following disturbing incidents, Mahatma Gandhi decided to halt the movement and entered into an agreement with Irwin on March 5, 1931.  This pact, known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, saw Gandhiji agreeing to participate in the Round Table Conference in London.  The conference proved unsuccessful. Subsequently, Mahatma Gandhi relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement, which continued for a year but gradually lost momentum by 1934. 8|Page NOTES BY MAYANK CHOUDHARY (MENTOR: ANAND SMART EDUCATION ) The Dandi march: During the salt march Mahatma Gandhi was accompanied by 78 volunteers. On the way they were joined by thousands How Participants saw the Movement  Some active groups in the movement included the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh who became ardent supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement and were disappointed when the movement was called off in the year 1931.  Poorer sections of the society like peasants, also participated in the radical movements, mostly led by Socialists and Communists.  In 1927, the business interests of the society were consolidated into the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, as well as the Industrial and Commercial Congress.  These organizations actively opposed colonial economic control and endorsed the Civil Disobedience Movement during its initial launch.  Additionally, in both 1930 and 1932, railway workers, along with dock workers, engaged in strikes. 9|Page NOTES BY MAYANK CHOUDHARY (MENTOR: ANAND SMART EDUCATION )  Women join nationalist processions. During the national movement, many women, for the first time in their lives, moved out of their homes on to a public arena. Amongst the marchers you can see many old women and mothers with children in their arms. The Limits of Civil Disobedience  Dalits, often referred to as untouchables, did not find resonance with the idea of Swaraj.  Mahatma Gandhi, recognizing their importance, termed them Harijans or the children of God, emphasizing their indispensable role in achieving Swaraj.  While he orchestrated satyagraha for the untouchables, they were inclined toward a distinct political resolution for addressing the community's challenges.  Their specific demands included reserved seats in educational institutions and the establishment of a separate electorate. 10 | P a g e N O T E S B Y M A Y A N K C H O U D H A R Y ( M E N T O R : A N A N D S M A R T E D U C A T I O N )   In 1930, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, organizing Dalits into the Depressed Classes Association, clashed with Mahatma Gandhi at the second Round Table Conference, advocating for separate Dalit electorates.  The September 1932 Poona Pact granted the Depressed Classes (later Scheduled Castes) reserved seats in legislative councils. Following the decline of the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat movement, Muslim alienation from Congress intensified, leading to deterioration in Hindu-Muslim relations.  Muhammad Ali Jinnah expressed readiness to abandon the request for separate electorates, provided that Muslims could secure reserved seats in the Central Assembly and representation proportional to their population in Muslim-majority provinces.  However, the prospect of reaching a resolution during the All Parties Conference in 1928 faded away when M.R. Jayakar from the Hindu Mahasabha vehemently opposed attempts at finding a compromise. The Sense of Collective Belonging (सामहू िक अपनेपन की भावना)  As individuals begin to embrace the idea of belonging to a unified nation, the sentiment of nationalism emerges, characterized by a sense of collective belonging.  This cohesion is fostered through various means such as history, fiction, folklore, songs, popular prints, and symbols that integrate into the fabric of Nationalism in India.  In the twentieth century, India became associated with the representation of Bharat Mata, envisioned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of "Vande Mataram," a hymn dedicated to the motherland.  Abanindranath Tagore crafted the renowned image of Bharat Mata as an ascetic figure characterized by serenity, composure, and spirituality.  Nationalists in the 19th century commenced the recording of folk tales sung by bards who, traversing various villages, recounted folklore and legends through their folk songs. 11 | P a g e N O T E S B Y M A Y A N K C H O U D H A R Y ( M E N T O R : A N A N D S M A R T E D U C A T I O N )   Swadeshi movement in Bengal, a tricolor flag was designed which had eight lotuses that represented eight provinces under British, a crescent moon which represented the Hindus and also Muslims.  Gandhiji in the year 1921, designed the Swaraj flag, a tricolor and a spinning wheel in the center, which represented Gandhiji’s idea of what is known as self-help. – Bal Gangadhar Tilak, an early-twentieth-century print. Notice how Tilak is surrounded by symbols of unity. The sacred institutions of different faiths (temple, church, masjid) frame the central figure. Bharat Mata, Abanindranath Tagore, 1905. Notice that the mother figure here is shown as dispensing learning, food and clothing. The mala in one hand emphasises her ascetic quality. Abanindranath Tagore, like Ravi Varma before him, tried to develop a style of painting that could be seen as truly Indian. Nehru is here shown holding the image of Bharat Mata and the map of India close to his heart. In a lot of popular prints, nationalist leaders are shown offering their heads to Bharat Mata. The idea of sacrifice for the mother was powerful within popular imagination. 12 | P a g e N O T E S B Y M A Y A N K C H O U D H A R Y ( M E N T O R : A N A N D S M A R T E D U C A T I O N ) Bharat Mata. This figure of Bharat Mata is a contrast to the one painted by Abanindranath Tagore. Here she is shown with a trishul, standing beside a lion and an elephant – both symbols of power and authority. 13 | P a g e N O T E S B Y M A Y A N K C H O U D H A R Y ( M E N T O R : A N A N D S M A R T E D U C A T I O N )