Nationalism In India PDF

NATIONALISM IN INDIA  INTRODUCTION Nationalism means loyalty and devotion towards nation In India the growth of nationalist movement is connected to anti colonial movements like non-cooperation movement and civil disobedience movement. It will help us to know how differ...

NATIONALISM IN INDIA  INTRODUCTION Nationalism means loyalty and devotion towards nation In India the growth of nationalist movement is connected to anti colonial movements like non-cooperation movement and civil disobedience movement. It will help us to know how different social groups participated in the movements.  THE FIRST WORLD WAR The first world war played an important role in shaping indias freedom struggle and developing new modes of struggle. Increase in Defense expenditure due to war led to the increase in taxes,custom duties,prices and introduction to war loan. Through the war years prices increased-doubling between 1913and 1918,leading to extreme hardships for the common people. In 1918-19 and 1920-21,crops failed in many parts of India, resulting in acute food storage. It took a heavy toll on life, created resentment amond the people of India against the foreign rule.  THE IDEA OF SATYAGRAHA 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 physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor. Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi believed this dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians.  SATYAGRAH MOVEMENTS BY GANGHI JI In 1917,Gandhi ji organised satyagrah movements against the oppressive plantation system in Champaran in Bihar. Then in 1917, he organised a satyagraha to support the peasants of kheda district of Gujarat. He demanded relaxtion of the revenue tax owning to the poverty experienced by the farmers because of the outbreak of plague and crop failure. In 1918, Gandhiji organised a satyagraha against the cotton mill workers in Ahmedabad.  THE ROWLATT ACT Gandhiji in 1919 decided to launch a nation wide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt act. This act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition by Indian memebers. This act gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities, and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.  OPPOSITION AGAINST ROWLATT ACT On 6 april,1919 Gandhiji started the non-violent civil disobedience movement against such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal. Rallies were organised in various cities, workers went on strike in railway workshops, and shops were closed down. On 10 April, 1919 in Amritsar widespread attacks on banks, post offices and railway stations took place after police fired upon a peaceful procession.  JALLIANWALLA BAGH MASSACRE o A large crowd had assembled at the Jallianwalla Bagh in Amritsar for attending the Baisakhi fair. General Dyer surrounded the ground and opened the fire on the crowd, killing hundreds of people. ▪ As a result crowds took to the streets in many places, strike, clashes with the police and attacks on government buildings were extensively witnessed. ▪ Gandhiji called off the movement after seeing this violence. THE NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT Non-cooperation movement was launched under Gandhijis leadership in 1920. He proposed that the movement should unfold in stages. Educated middle class led the movement in towns and cities. Educational institutions, Law courts and foreign goods were boycotted. Peasants organised movements against Taulakdars and Landlords in villages under the leadership of Baba Ramchandra. Chauri-chaura incident forced Gandhiji to call off the movement.  DIFFERING STRANDS WITHIN THE NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENTS IN TOWNS AND CITIES The movement started with middle class participation. Educational institutions, law courts and the council elections were boycotted. Foreign clothes and other goods were brunt in bonefires. Khadi was promoted. Liquor shops were picketed. The effects of non-cooperation movement on the economy were dramatic.  REBELLION IN COUNTRYSIDE From the cities the non cooperation movement spread to the country side. It drew into its fold the struggles of peasants and tribals which were developing in different parts of India. The movement was against Talukdars and landlords who demanded exhorbitantly high rents from the peasants.  SIMON COMMISSION It was constituted by the Tory government under pressure of mass movements in India. Sir John Simon was the chairperson of Simon Commission. It looked into the demands of the nationalists and suggests changes in the constitutional structure of India. Congress and Muslim League along with other parties received the commission with Black Flag and Slogans such as ‘’ GO BACK SIMON’’  LAHORE CONGRESS OF 1929 The congress session was held at Lahore in 1929 under the Presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru. The congress declared Poorna Swaraj as its aim. It was decided to celebrate 26 January every year as Independence Day. It was decided to start the Civil Disobedience movement to win Poorna Swaraj. CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation He sent a letter to viceroy Irwin stating his 11 demands. Great Depression made the life of the people highly miserable. Lahore Conspiracy case and Meerut Conspiracy case created discontent among the Indians. Gandhiji inaugurated the movement by breaking the salt law at Dandi.  SALT MARCH The government imposed heavy tax on salt. Moreover. The production of salt was the monopoly of the government. So the price of salt was very high. Therefore, Gandhiji opposed the salt law. Gandhiji decided inaugurate the Salt march. Gandhiji and 78 of his trusted volunteers started a march on foot from Sabarmati ashram to Dandi. On 6 April 1919, they reached costal town of Dandi. Gandhiji prepared salt by using sea water, broke the salt law and inaugurated the Movement.  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NON- COOPERATION AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT People Refused to co-operate with the government during the non- cooperation movement. People broke the laws during the civil disobedience movement. Muslims participated in large numbers in the non-cooperation movement. Muslim participation was less in the civil disobedience movement. No tax campaign was not there in the non-cooperation movement. People refused to pay taxes in civil disobedience movement.  LIMITATIONS OF THE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT Dalits did not participated in the civil disobedience movement, because they were not moved by the abstract concept of swaraj. Many Muslims did not participate in it. They thought that the congress was moving close to the Hindu Maha Sabha. Communal Riots occurred in many places. Industrial workers participation was minimum. Gandhi declared that swaraj will not come for 100 years if untouchability was not eliminated. EFFORTS MADE BY GANDHIJI FOR THE UPLIFTMENT OF DALITS He called the Untouchables, Harijans or Children of Gods. He organised Satyagraha to secure them temple entry and access to public wells, tanks, roads and schools. He cleaned harijan, colonies and in his ashram there was no caste feelings. He himself cleaned the toilets to dignify the work of sweepers and persuaded the upper caste people to give up the practice of untouchability.  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. For a long time, the Congress was reluctant to give any position of authority to women within the organisation. The congress was keen on the symbolic presence of women.  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. This sense of collective belonging came partially through experience of unnited struggles. Additionally, a variety of cultural process also captured the spirit of nationalism.  IDENTITY OF THE NATION 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 Motherland. ‘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- A tricolour flag was used during the Swadeshi movement. There were eight loutses on it which depicted the eight provinces of British India. There was crescent moon on the flag which represented Hindus and Muslims. It was designed in 1921.  CONCLUSION The congress under the leadership of Mahatama Gandhi tried to channel peoples grievances into organised movements for independence. Through such movements the nationalists tried to forge national unity and many diverse groups and classes participated in these movements with various aspirations. In other words what was emerging was a nation with many voices wanting freedom from colonial rule. THANK YOU