TEXT QUESTIONS :
1. Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870’s and 1880’s ?
Ans: The people were dissatisfied with the British rule because the Arms Act was passed in 1878 disallowing Indians from possessing arms . The vernacular Press Act was also enacted in an effort to silence those who were critical of the government . The Act allowed the government to confiscate the assets of newspapers including their printing presses if the newspapers published anything that was found objectionable .
2. Who did the Indian National Congress wish to speak for ?
Ans: Badruddin Tyabji addressed the Congress, saying that the congress is composed of representatives, who did not want to speak for any class or community of India, but wished to speak for all the different communities in India .
3. What economic impact did the First World War have on India ?
Ans: The First World War altered the economic and political situation in India . It led to a huge rise in the defense expenditure of the government of India . The government increased taxes on individual incomes and business profits.
Increased military expenditure and the demands for war supplies led to a sharp rise in prices which created great difficulties for the common people. The business groups reaped fabulous profits from the war . A large number of soldiers were sent to serve abroad .
4. What did the Muslim League resolution of 1940 ask for ?
Ans: In 1940, the Muslim league had moved a resolution demanding “independent states” for Muslims in the north-western and eastern areas of the country. The resolution did not mention partition or Pakistan .
5. Who were the Moderates? How did they propose to struggle against British rule ?
Ans: The congress in the first twenty years was “moderate” in its objectives and methods. The congress demanded a great voice for Indians in the government and in administration. It wanted the legislative councils to be made more representative, given more power and introduced in provinces where none existed.
It demanded that the Indians be placed in high positions in the government. The moderate leaders wanted to develop public awareness about the in just nature of the British rule . They published newspaper, wrote articles and showed how the British rule was leading to the economic ruin of the country .
6. How was the politics of the Radicals within the congress different from that of the moderates ?
Ans: The Radicals criticized the moderates for their “politics of prayers” and emphasized the importance of self-reliance and constructive work. They argued that people must rely on their own strength, not on the “good” intentions of the government, people must fight for swaraj .
The moderates however wanted to develop public awareness about the unjust nature of the British rule. They published newspaper, wrote articles and showed how the British rule was leading to the economic ruin of the country. They criticized the British rule in their speeches and centre representative to different parts of the country to mobilize public opinion .
7. Discuss the various forms that the Non- cooperation movement took in different parts in India. How did the people understand Gandhiji ?
Ans: After 1919 the struggle against the British rule became a mass movement involving peasants, tribals students , women in large numbers and factory workers Mahatma Gandhi spent his first year in India travelling throughout the country, understanding the people, their needs and the overall situation.
6th April 1919 was observed as a day of non-violent opposition to the Rowlatt Act and Satyagraha sabhas were set up to launch the movement. During the Rowlatt Satyagraha the participants tried to ensure that Hindus and Muslims were united.
8. Why did Gandhiji choose to break the salt law ?
Ans: Gandhiji chose to break the salt law because the state government had a monopoly on the manufacture and sale of salt. Mahatma Gandhi and other nationalists reasoned that it was sinful to tax salt since it is an essential item of our food.
The salt march related the general desire of freedom to a specific grievances shared by everybody . Gandhiji and his followers broke the government law by gathering natural salt .
9. Discuss those developments of the 1937-47 periods that led to the creation of Pakistan .
Ans: The combined struggles of the Indian people bore fruit when the government of India Act of 1935 prescribed Provincial Autonomy and the government announced elections to the provincial legislatures in 1937. In 1940, the Muslim league had moved a resolution demanding “Independent states” for Muslims in the north western and eastern areas of the country.
The Congress rejection of the league’s desire to form a joint congress league government in the united provinces were annoyed. Elections to the provinces were held in 1946 . After the failure of the cabinet mission the Muslim league decided on mass agitation for winning its Pakistan demand. By 1947 , violence spread in different parts of north and Pakistan was created .
10. Find out how the national movement was organized in your city, district, area or state. Who participated in it and who led it? What did the movement in your area achieve ?
Ans: Our state, Bihar was an important part of India’s struggle for independence . In particular , wealthy and educated people organized the national movement. Generally, all sections of the society participated in the movement.
Even in the beginning of the movement, Babu Kunwar Singh of Rajput Royal house of Jagdishpur and his army as well as countless other persons from Bihar contributed to the India’s first war of Independence .
The movement was led by many outstanding leaders like Babu Kunwar Singh , Swami Saraswati , Desh Ratana Dr. Rajendra Prasad , Bihar Kesari Sinha, Mulana Haque , Jayprakash Narayan, and many others . Khudiram Bose, Upendra Narayan Jha “Azad” and Prafulla Chaki were also active in revolutionary movement in Bihar .
In India’s struggle for independence, the “Champaran Satyagraha” marks a very important stage . This marked Gandhiji’s entry into the India’s struggle for freedom . Local leader. Raj Kumar Shulkia drew the attention of Mahatma Gandhi to the plight of the peasants suffering under an oppressive system established by European indigo planters . Ultimately, the system was abolished . Gandhi became the mass leader only after the Champaran Satyagraha .
11. Find out more about the life and work of any two participants or leaders of the national movement and write a short essay about them. You may choose a person not mentioned in this chapter.
Ans:
i) Kunwar Singh: Babu Veer Kunwar Singh (1777-1858) was a zamindar of Jagdishpur near Arrah in the state of Bihar . At the age of 80 years, during India’s First War of Independence (1857-58), he assumed command of the soldiers who had revolted at Danapur on 5 July 1857 . He recorded victories in many battles. In his last battle which was fought on 23 April 1858 near Jagdishpur, Kunwar Singh had a victory over the force led by Captain Le Grand . On 26 April 1858, he died in his village .
ii) Sarojini Naidu: (February 13, 1879—March 2, 1949), “the Nightingale of India was a distinguished poet, renowned freedom fighter and one of the great orators of her time. In 1898, she got married to Govindarajulu Naidu, a doctor by profession. She presided over the annual session of Indian National Congress at Kanpur (1925) . She had a leading role in Salt Satyagraha and consecutive struggles. She was President of National Women’s Conference for many years and trained many volunteers who took up women’s cause . She was the first woman to be appointed in 1947 as the Governor of the United Province (Presently—Uttar Pradesh) .
12. Imagine that you are involved in the Indian national movement . Based on your reading of this chapter; briefly discuss your preferred methods of struggle and your vision of a free India .
Ans: The following points may help you :
i) You may prefer Gandhian methods of struggle against the British rule based on non-violence, Satyagarha , truth .
ii) Such methods infused new energy in the freedom struggle .
iii) These methods were based on mass mobilization and participation and relied on the strength of common people .
iv) Like Gandhi, you would prefer the use Swadeshi , symbolic of India’s unique identity .
v) Your vision of free India would be based on the principles of liberty, equality and justice .
vi) India which is based on democracy that allows for participation of the people in the political process .
vii) India based on gender equality, no caste based discrimination, and where all religions are respected .
viii) India of your dreams would be based on peace and harmony with all countries .
ix) Where poverty is eliminated, society which is characterized by growth and prosperity .