HISTORY FA

RISE OF NATIONALISM IN INDIA

GROUP MEMBERS

-Bhavi Chawla-Rishabh Bhandari

-Archit Agarwal-Neha Singh

MAHATMA GANDHI • Mahatma Gandhi was the fore front eminent political and ideological leader

during the Indian independence movement. He pioneered satyagraha, resistance to tyranny through mass civil resistance.His philosophy was firmly founded upon truth and ahimsa (nonviolence). His philosophy and leadership helped India gain independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. He inspired many prominent Leaders across the World, who applied his principles in their own countries, in fight against tyranny and for gaining Independence.Gandhiji is referred to as Mahatma or "Great Soul" (magnanimous), an honorific first applied to him by Rabindranath Tagore).In India, he is also called Bapu and officially honored in India as the Father of the Nation. His birthday, 2 October, is commemorated as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence. Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Godse of RSS.

IDEOLOGIES OF MAHATMA GANDHI:SATYAGRAHA

• Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth" or "soul force" or "truth force," is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. 

• Against racialism in south Africa- philosophy action – satyagraha

• 2 major elements-TRUTH and NON VIOLENCE• Passive resistance –weapon of the weak, satyagraha is

the weapon of the strong.• The term "satyagraha" was coined and developed

by Mahatma Gandhi. He deployed satyagraha in the Indian independence movement and also during his earlier struggles in South Africa for Indian rights. 

SWADESHI

The proposal of partition of Bengal became publicly known in 1903, followed by immediate and spontaneous protests all over Bengal. 500 meetings were held in East Bengal alone. 50,000 copies of a pamphlet with a detailed critique of partition were distributed. This phase is marked by moderate techniques of protest such as petitions, public meetings, press campaign, etc. to turn public opinion in India as well as in Britain against partition. This movement also involved the boycott of British products. Western clothes were thrown onto bonfires. To let the British know how unhappy the Indians were at the partition of Bengal, leaders of the anti-partition movement decided to use only Indian goods and to boycott British goods. People gathered at the cross roads and burnt the imported clothes that they had. People picketed the shops selling foreign goods, and imported sugar was boycotted. People also resolved to use things made only in India and this was called the Swadeshi movement.

VALUE BASED POLITICS

Introduced moral values into politics.Used courage ,patience and suffering to achieve higher goals in life.Advocated legal and extra legal methods to achieve freedom.Restored to fast and penance during the communal riots in Kolkata.Was convinced in not using physical brute force.Won international sympathy for his cause because of his peace loving attitude.

MASS MOVEMENT

Before Gandhiji National Movement was confined to cities towns and the intellectuals.He involved mass women, workers, farmers.Masses cooperated with him in the Non – Cooperation Movement and the Quit India Movement.Exploded the myth of the Moderates that India could be freed with the help of foreign rule.He made use of the constitutional and extra constitutional mass action in the freedom struggle.

Concern for the poor and the oppressed

Loved the poor and the oppressed and won their sympathy and support.

Worked for the abolition of untouchability . Setup the Village Industries Association. Advocated the use of khaadi in order to improve the lot

of the villages. 1917 the campaign against the system of ‘indenture’. Fought for the rights of the indigo cultivators in

Champaran in Bihar. Made the British planters refund the illegal collections , succeeded in abolishing illegal practices.

On the day of independence he was busy with riot torn areas in East Bengal.

His greatest movement : Non cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movement.

Circumstances leading to the Non Cooperation

Movement

1. The Rowlatt Act of 19192. The Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy3. The Khilafat Movement

Rowlatt Act was named after the President of the committee.Rowlatt Act passed a set of new repressive measures to counter all

political unrest which manifested itself in many situations

1. Gandhiji in 1917- Champaran Satyagraha in Bihar – to fight against indigo planters.

2. Forced the govt to make investigations into farmers’ grievances and fins a solution.

3. Ahemdabad Mill employees strikes in 1918-1919 against exploitation.

4. With Sardar Patel led a successful Kisan campaign in Khaira (Gujarath)

5. Indian soldiers were disillusioned with the political conditions in India

There was an all round political unrest to counter which the government passed the Rowlatt Act

The Rowlatt Act 1919- ‘BLACK ACT’

According to the Rowlatt Act:1. The Govt could use the extraordinary repressive

powers, it had during the war.2. It could arrest any person without assigning any

reason for the arrest, search any place without a warrant and imprison anyone without trial.

-An all-India hartal was observed on8th April 1919- to show people’s resentment to the inhuman repressive measures. The whole

Indian Press supported it. -Gandhi came to the forefront and took the lead

of the freedom movement in his hands.

On 13th April 1919- people organised a peaceful general meeting in a small garden in Amritsar (enclosed plot of ground known as Jallianwala Bagh)Against the proclamation issued by General Dyer on12th April which forbade public meetingsand processions.-People were not informed of this proclamation. -General Dyer ordered troops to fire without warning the people, closed the only exit.- Thus Martial Law was proclaimed in Punjab.

The Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy

Policy of non violent and non cooperation was used in India for the first time in Khilafat Movement .Khilafat Movemebt adopted Non Cooperation programme to fight against the British.Programme were launched = boycott of Legislative Councils, foreign goods, govt Schools and colleges, govt functions and surrendering of titles and distinctions. In 1921- the KM appealed to all the Muslims not to join the police or armed forces, and not to pay taxes.Vast possibility of Hindu Muslim unity, joint front against BICongress extended its support to KM.Hartals, protests, scenes of Hindu Muslim unity were witnessed in different parts of the country.Ali brothers were arrested and jailed in 1921End of Khilafat movement and then Mustafa Kamal Pasha dethroned the Turkish Sultan and declared Turkey a secular state.

The Khilafat Movement

Non Cooperation Movement involved many conditions which were the following:

1. Surrendering of the titles and offices and resignation from nominated posts in the local bodies.

2. Boycott of Government schools, colleges and law courts.3. Boycott of foreign goods and adoption of Swadeshi.4. Boycott of election and other Govt functions.

Non Cooperation Movement

People began to have strikes everywhereGovt declared the Congress an unlawful organization and arrested many of its members & volunteers.People defied Govt orders and were jailed.Spirit of Sacrifice and Freedom filled the hearts of the Indians On December 1921 in Session of Congress at Ahmadabad it was decided to continue the Non Cooperation Movement with greater vigour.

Repression by the Government

Chauri Chaura IncidentSo far the movement was non violent.In A village near Gorakhpur violent mob stormed and burnt a police station and killed 22 policemen.Gandhiji was visibly moved and greatly disappointedHe Realised that the country was not yet ripe for a non violent struggle and suddenly announced the suspension of the movement.’ He Believed that –”Violence would breed violence.”Congress leaders were shocked at his decision.Gandhiji was arrested and sentenced for 6 years imprisonment and the charge of sedition.

Outcome of the NC Movement• The movement brought Gandhi Ji into close touch with the masses.• Gandhi Ji lived like a simple villager and became the symbol of the poor and

the downtrodden• The movement surpassed all caste and creed distinctions in society• The movement united the Hindus and Muslims• By bringing about sentiments of nationalism, it tried to remove caste

distinctions in matters relating to the national interest.• Congress became a revolutionary organization because it adopted a new and

changed programme• The movement provided a national base to the Congress making it a genuine

revolutionary organization• Indians realized by experience- passive resistance was more powerful than any

weapons used by the British• Indians realized that passive resistance was more powerful than any weapons

used by the British

Events leading to the Civil Disobedience Movement

1. Simon Commission

2. Recommendations of the Commission

3. The Congress Session at Lahore

1. Simon Commission 1927

• A Commission would be set up to assess the merits of the Govt of India Act of 1919 at the end of 10 years, in order to advise the Govt about the next step to be taken.

• After its chairman Sir John Simon.• The Commission was - to tour the country- meet various

political leaders- and tell govt about the next constitutional reforms.

• All white and no Indian.• Self respect of the Indians was

hurt.• All the political leaders decided

to boycott.

Recommendations of the Commission

1. Complete autonomy in the provinces including the department of Law and order, but the governor should be given over- riding powers in certain matters like internal security.

2. There should be a federal Govt at the centre, consisting of British India and the Princely States.

3. British Troops and British Officers should stay on in Indian regiments for many years.

4. Provincial Legislative Councils should be enlarged.5. The Governor- General should be free to select and appoint

members of his cabinet.6. High Courts should be under the administrative control of the

Govt of India.

• Commission submitted its Report on 27th May, 1930.• Indian leaders were unhappy because the Commission

proposed a limited transfer of power in the provinces with many restrictions.

• Commission granted a political revolution.• Turning point in India’s struggle for Freedom.• CD movement began as a protest against the Commission.• The Nehru Report and the Demand for Poorna Swaraj

erealso the offshoots of the political excitement created by protests against this Commission.

3. The Congress Session at Lahore

• Annual Session of Congress as Lahore in December, 1929 under the Chairmanship of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, a resolution for complete independence, ‘Poorna Swaraj’ was passed.

• First Independence Day was celebrated on 26th Jan 1930 in Kolkatta.

• Indian National Flag was hoisted and independence pledge by Congressmen.

• 26th Jan 1950 India became Republic and its Constitution was promulgated.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT• The CWC vested MG with full power to launch the CD

Movement.• CDM was organized to disobey the Laws made by the

British Govt.• Programme- non violent Sathyagraha, boycott of Schools

and Colleges, courts and foreign goods, picketnig of shops, burning of foreign cloth, spinning, large scale fighting against untouchability, breaking the salt laws and ‘no-tax’ campaigns.

Dandi March

• Gandhi ji started the CIVIL DISOBEDEINCE MOVEMENT ON 12th March 1920 with his famous Dandi March.

• Dandi is a village on the sea-cost of Gujarat.• 78 followers walked for 200 miles.• Dandi March violated the Govt laws which forbade anyone

to manufacture salt.• 1st time in the History of India men & women were

mobilized for the national struggle.• Worked together against harassment of the British Govt.• Movement spread rapidly.• RESULT British administration was put out of gear in many places. Midnapur in Bengal went out of the control of the Govt Peasants in United Provinces refused to pay taxes to the

Govt North West Frontier- the Pathans adopted the policy of NC

under the leadership of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Kahn.

Results of Dandi March• Leaders and people were arrested on 5th May

1930,Congress was declared illegal, Hartals all over the country, 60,000 were imprisoned, firing at 29 places, Sholapur at Maharashtra became almost independent.

• British failed to suppress the movement. More the repression greater was the determination of the Congress volunteers. Passive resistance of the Congress volunteers against the lathi charges and firing aroused admiration of non Congressmen.

• Band of Volunteers ‘Red Shirts’ paralysed the Govt, Gharwal Regiment posted at NWFP refused to fire on the RSV also called as Kudhai Khidmatgars

• Disobedience of Govt order was a bad Omen for the Govt and began to think of conciliation.

ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE• Lord Irwin the Viceroy announced that a RTC of British statesmen

and Representatives of British India and Indian States would be held in London in November. 1930.

• To find an acceptable solution to the Indian Leaders for a political settlement.

• The Congress reacted unfavorably.• Congress wanted summoning of a Constituent Assembly to draft a

Constitution for India.• British Government refused and went ahead with its plan of RTC.• Congress decided to Boycott and decided to launch another Civil

Disobedience Movement.

GANDHI - IRWIN PACT• Realization of British Govt.• They felt that they could not underestimate the genuine feelings of

nationalism.• British were eager to compromise.• Sir Tej Bahdur Sapru and D. Jaykar became the mediators.• Leaders were released from jail in Jan 1931. • Understanding between Gandhiji and Irwin- Concluded a pact known as GIP. Gandhi ji called of CDM, Gandhiji agreed to attend II RTC in London, agreed

to stop boycotting British goods, Government : - Viceroy agreed to withdraw ordinances promulgated against

CDM, release people from jail, return the seized property, allowed the peaceful picketing of liquor and opium shops and allow people living within some distance of the seas shore to collect or manufacture salt, free from any tax or duty.

Second Round Table Conference -1931

• Sole representative from m Congress was Mahatma Gandhi.• Representatives of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and princes.• Gandhi ji pressed for immediate and full responsible Govt.• No agreement communal representation.• Disgusted Gandhi ji left England in December 1931.

Renewal of CDM- 1923-34

• Gandhi returned on 28th Dec 1931.• Renewed the Civil Disobedience Movement on 1st Jan

1932.• People picketed British shops and liquor shops, organised

Salt Satyagrahas and violated forest laws, refused to pay rents and revenues, Congress held illegal sessions as it was banned, Land, houses and property were confiscated, national leaders were jailed while the communalists were given a wide scope to inflame communalism.

SUMMARY – ROLE OF MAHATMA GANDHI

• Gandhi first employed civil disobedience while working as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa. He fought for the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915, he organised protests by peasants, farmers, and urban labourers concerning excessive land-tax and discrimination. After assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women's rights, build religious and ethnic amity, end untouchability, and increase economic self-reliance. Above all, he aimed to achieve Swaraj or the independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led his followers in the Non-cooperation movement that protested the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km (240 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930. He launched the Quit India Movement in 1942, demanding immediate independence for India. Gandhi spent a number of years in jail in both South Africa and India.

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