Nationalism in India PDF

Nationalism in India Introduction Modern nationalism was associated with the formation of nation states. In India like many other colonies, the growth of modern nationalism is connect...

Nationalism in India Introduction Modern nationalism was associated with the formation of nation states. In India like many other colonies, the growth of modern nationalism is connected to the anti-colonial movement. The First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation The First World War (1914-1918) created a new political and economic situation. India faced various problems during war period: → Increase in defence expenditure. → Prices increased through the war years. →Customs duties were raised and income tax introduced. → Forced recruitment in rural areas. During 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failure in many parts of India. Hardships did not end after the war was over. According to the census of 1921, 12 to 13 million people perished as a result of famines and the epidemic. The Idea of Satyagraha 1. Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January, 1915. His heroic fight for the Indians in South Africa was well-known. 2. His novel method of mass agitation known as Satyagraha had yielded good results. 3. The idea of Satyagraha emphasized the power of truth and the need to search for truth. 4. In 1917, Gandhi travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system. 5. In 1918, crops field in Kheda district of Gujrat, but the government refused to remit land Revenue and insisted on its full collection. 6. 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. 7. Satyagraha brought Gandhiji into close touch with the workers in the urban areas. The Rawlatt act 1. The Rawlatt act 1919, was passed hurriedly through the Imperial Legislative Council inspire of unanimous opposition of the Indian members. 2. It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities, and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. 3. Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal on 6th April. 4. 6th April 1919 was observed as Satyagraha Day when people all over the country observed fast and hartal. 5. 1919, the country witnessed a remarkable political awakening in India. 6. Local leaders were picked up from Amritsar and Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi. 7. On 10th April, the police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession, provoking widespread attacks on banks. 8. Martial law was imposed and General Dyer took command. Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre 1. A large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jalliawalla Bagh. 2. People came to protest against government’s repressive measure while some came to attend the annual Baisakhi fair. 3. General Dyer entered the area. Blocked the exit points and opened fire on the crowd, killing hundreds. 4. The government responded with brutal repression seeking to humiliate and terrorise people. 5. Satyagrahis were forced to rub their noses on the ground, crawl on the streets and do Salaam (salute) to all Sahibs. Khilafat movement 1. Rowlatt Satyagraha had been a widespread movement, it was still limited mostly to cities and towns. 2. Mahatma Gandhi now felt the need to launch a more broad based movement in India. 3. But he was certain that no such movement could be organized without bringing the Hindus and Muslims closer together. 4. The First World War had ended with the defeat of Ottoman Turkey. There were rumors that a harsh peace treaty was going to be imposed on the Ottoman Emperor, who was the spiritual head (Khalifa) of the Islamic world. 5. The Muslims of India decided to force Britain to change her Turkish policy. 6. A Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919. 7. Khilafat Movement was led by two brothers Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali. Why Non-cooperation?  In his famous book Hind Swaraj (1909) Mahatma Gandhi declared that British rule was established in India with the cooperation 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. At the Congress session at Nagpur in December 1920, the Non-Cooperation programme was adopted. Differing strands within the movement The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement began in January 1921. The Movement in the Towns It started with middle class participation in cities. Students, teachers, lawyers gave up studies, jobs, legal practices and joined movements. Council elections were boycotted. Foreign goods were boycotted. Liquor shops were picketed. Movement in the countryside Peasants and tribals took over the struggle which turned violent gradually. Peasant Movement in Awadh  The peasants were led by Baba Ramchandra in Awadh against landlords and talukdars. In many places nai – dhobi bandhs were organised by panchayats to deprive landlords of the services of even barbers and washermen.  In June 1920, Jawaharlal Nehru began going around the villages in Awadh, talking to the villagers, and trying to understand their grievances.  By October, the Oudh Kisan Sabha was set up headed by Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra and a few others. Movement of Tribals in Andhra Pradesh Alluri Sitaram Raju led the guerrilla warfare in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh. The Gudem rebels attacked police stations, attempted to kill British officials and carried on guerrilla warfare for achieving swaraj. Raju was captured and executed in 1924. Swaraj in the Plantations For the plantation workers, Swaraj means moving freely. They protested against the Inland Emigration Act (1859) which prevented them from leaving the plantation without permission. Each group interpreted the term swaraj in their own ways. Towards Civil Disobedience The Chauri Chaura incident took place at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of the United Province, (modern Uttar Pradesh) in British India on 5 February 1922, when a large group of protesters, participating in the Non-cooperation movement, clashed with police, who opened fire. In retaliation the demonstrators attacked and set fire to a police station, killing all of its occupants. The incident led to the deaths of three civilians and 22 policemen. Mahatma Gandhi, who was strictly against violence, halted the non-co-operation movement on the national level on 12 February 1922, as a direct result of this incident  Many leaders such as C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to council politics. Younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose pressed for more radical mass agitation and for full independence. Simon Commission.  It was constituted by the Tory government of Britain to look into the demands of the nationalists and suggest changes in the constitutional structure of India.  But since all the members in the commission were British, the Indian leaders opposed the commission.  The Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928. It was greeted with the slogan ‘Go back Simon’.  All parties joined the protest. In October 1929, Lord Irwin announced a vague offer of ‘dominion status’ for India but its timing was not specified.  In December 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalised the demand of ‘Purna or full independence for India.  It was declared that 26 January 1930, would be celebrated as the Independence Day when people were to take a pledge to struggle for complete independence.  But the celebrations attracted very little attention. So Mahatma Gandhi had to find a way to relate this abstract idea of freedom to more concrete issues of everyday life. The Salt March and the Civil Disobedience Movement  Gandhiji chose salt as the medium that could unite the nation as it is consumed by all the sections of the society.  On 31 January 1930, he sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands.  The most important demand was to abolish the salt tax.  Mahatma Gandhi’s letter was, in a way, an ultimatum.  If the demands were not fulfilled by 11 March, the letter stated, the Congress would launch a civil disobedience campaign.  The Salt March or Dandi March was started by Gandhiji on 12th March 1930.  He was accompanied by 78 volunteers.  They walked for 24 days to cover a distance of 240 miles from Sabaramati to Dandi. Many more joined them in the way.  On 6th April 1930, Gandhiji ceremonially violated the law by taking a fistful of salt.  The Salt March marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.  Thousands of people broke the salt law in different parts of country.  People demonstrated in front of government salt factories. Foreign cloth was boycotted.  Peasants refused to pay revenue. Village officials resigned. Tribal people violated forest laws. Response of British Rulers  The colonial government began to arrest the Congress leaders. This led to violent clashes in many places.  Mahatma Gandhi was arrested about a month later.  People began to attack the symbols of British rule; such as police posts, municipal buildings, law courts and railway stations.  The government’s repression was quite brutal. Even women and children were beaten up. About 100,000 people were arrested. Gandhi-Irwin Pact  When things began to take a violent turn, Mahatma Gandhi called off the movement.  He signed a pact with Irwin on 5th March 1931. This was called the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.  As per the Pact, Gandhiji agreed to participate in the Round Table Conference in London. In return of that, the government agreed to release the political prisoners.  Gandhiji went to London in December 1931. The negotiations broke down and Gandhiji had to return with disappointment.  When Gandhiji came back to India, he found that most of the leaders were put in jail.  Congress had been declared illegal. Many measures were taken to prevent meetings, demonstrations and boycotts.  Mahatma Gandhi relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement. By 1934, the movement had lost its momentum. How Participants saw the Movement Rich Peasants: For the farmers, the fight for swaraj was a struggle against high revenues. When the movement was called off in 1931; without the revenue rates being revised; the farmers were highly disappointed. Many of them refused to participate when the movement was re-launched in 1932. Poor Peasants: The small tenants just wanted the unpaid rent to the landlord to be remitted. The Congress was unwilling to support the “no rent” campaigns due to the fear of upsetting the rich peasants and landlords. Business Classes. Businessman: For the businessmen, swaraj meant an end to oppressive colonial policies. They wanted an environment which could allow the business to flourish. They were apprehensive of militant activities and of growing influence of socialism among the younger members of the Congress. Industrial Workers: The industrial working classes did not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement in large numbers, except in the Nagpur region. Since industrialists were closer to the Congress, workers kept a distance from the movement. But some workers selectively participated in the Movement. Congress did not want to alienate the industrialists and hence preferred to keep the workers’ demands at bay. Women’s Participation Women also participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement in large numbers. However, most of the women were from high-caste families in the urban areas and from rich peasant households in the rural areas. But for a long time, the Congress was reluctant to give any position of authority to women within the organization. The Congress was just keen on the symbolic presence of women. The Limits of Civil Disobedience Participation of Dalits  Initially Congress used to ignore the dalits; because it did not want to alienate the conservative high-caste Hindus.  Mahatma Gandhi declared that without removing the practice of untouchability, swaraj could not be achieved.  He called the ‘untouchables’ harijan or the children of God, organised satyagraha to secure them entry into temples, and access to public wells, tanks, roads and schools.  Many dalit leaders wanted a different political solution to the problems of the dalit community.  They demanded reserved seats in educational institutions and separate electorate for dalits. Dalit participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement was limited.  Dr. B R Ambedkar organized the dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930. He clashed with Mahatma Gandhi; during the second Round Table Conference; on the issue of separate electorate for dalits.  When the British government conceded Ambedkar’s demand, Gandhji began a fast unto death. Finally Ambedkar had to accept Gandhiji’s position. This resulted in signing of the Poona Pact of 25 September 1932.  It made the provision for reserved seats for the Depressed Classes (later to be known as the Schedule Castes) in provincial and central legislative councils. But the voting was to be done by the general electorate. Participation of Muslims  Large sections of Muslims did not participate in the Civil disobedience movement.  The leader of the Muslim League M.A. Jinnah wanted reserved seats for Muslims in Central Assembly.  At the All Parties Conference in 1928, M R Jayakar of the Hindu Mahasabha strongly opposed the efforts at compromise. This further alienated the Muslims from the Congress. The Sense of Collective Belonging Nationalism spreads when people begin to believe that they are all part of the same nation, when they discover some unity that binds them together. The united struggles for independence helped in building the sense of collective belonging. Nation Depicted in Images: The identity of the nation is most often symbolised in a figure or image; with which people can identify the nation. The image of Bharat Mata was the pictorial representation of the mother land. ‘Vande Mataram’ the national song was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1870s. This was sung during the Swadeshi movement in Bengal. Different artists projected their own version of Bharat Mata. Folklores: Many nationalist leaders took help of folk tales to spread the idea of nationalism. It was believed that the folk tales revealed the true picture of traditional culture. National Flag: The national flag which we see today has evolved through various stages. A tricolor (red, green and yellow) was used during the Swadeshi movement. There were eight lotuses on it which depicted the eight provinces of British India. There was a crescent moon on the flag which represented Hindus and Muslims. Gandhji had designed the Swaraj flag by 1921. It was also a tricolor (red, green and white) and there was a spinning wheel in the centre. Reinterpretation of History: Many Indians felt that the British had given a different interpretation of the Indian history. They felt that it was important to interpret the history from an Indian perspective. They wanted to glorify the rich past of India so that the Indians could feel proud of their history.