Nationalism: Gandhian Phase Exercise Solutions | KalviGavani

(a) 1913 (b) 1915 (c) 1917 (d) 1919

Gandhi returned to India in January 1915 after spending over 20 years in South Africa, where he developed his method of Satyagraha.

(a) Kheda Satyagraha (b) Ahmedabad Mill Strike (c) Champaran Satyagraha (d) Rowlatt Satyagraha

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 in Bihar was Gandhi's first act of civil disobedience in India, fought against the forced indigo cultivation system.

(a) 1917 (b) 1918 (c) 1919 (d) 1920

The Rowlatt Act was passed in March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council despite Indian opposition. It allowed detention without trial for up to two years.

(a) Lord Chelmsford (b) General Reginald Dyer (c) Michael O'Dwyer (d) Lord Irwin

General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to open fire on the unarmed crowd at Jallianwala Bagh on 13 April 1919 without giving any warning to disperse.

(a) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre (b) The failure of the Khilafat Movement (c) The Chauri Chaura incident (d) The arrest of the Ali brothers

The Chauri Chaura incident of February 1922, in which 22 policemen were killed by a violent mob, led Gandhi to suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement on 12 February 1922.

(a) 200 km (b) 300 km (c) 385 km (d) 450 km

Gandhi and his 78 followers walked 385 km from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi over 24 days (12 March to 6 April 1930).

(a) Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru (b) Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das (c) Sardar Patel and Rajendra Prasad (d) Subhas Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru

Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 to work within the legislative councils after the Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn.

(a) 26 January 1942 (b) 14 July 1942 (c) 8 August 1942 (d) 15 August 1942

Gandhi gave the call for "Quit India" on 8 August 1942 at the All-India Congress Committee session in Bombay (now Mumbai) with the slogan "Do or Die."

(a) Lord Chelmsford (b) Lord Irwin (c) Lord Linlithgow (d) Lord Mountbatten

Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India from 1916 to 1921. He was in office during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 13 April 1919.

(a) Mahatma Gandhi (b) Jawaharlal Nehru (c) Captain Mohan Singh (later revived by Subhas Chandra Bose) (d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Captain Mohan Singh formed the INA in 1942 with Japanese support during World War II. Subhas Chandra Bose revived and reorganised it in 1943 as the Azad Hind Fauj.

False. Gandhi developed the concept of Satyagraha in South Africa during his struggle against racial discrimination. He first used the term in 1906 during the protest against the Asiatic Registration Act in the Transvaal.

False. All the Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council opposed the Rowlatt Act. Despite their opposition, the Act was passed by the British majority. Gandhi responded with the Rowlatt Satyagraha on 6 April 1919.

True. Tagore returned the knighthood awarded by the British in 1915 as a protest against the brutal killing of unarmed Indians at Jallianwala Bagh on 13 April 1919.

False. The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn by Gandhi on 12 February 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident. It lasted only from 1920 to 1922.

False. The Simon Commission (1928) consisted entirely of British members with no Indian representation. This was the main reason for its countrywide boycott, captured in the slogan "Simon Go Back."

True. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931) suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement and allowed Gandhi to attend the Second Round Table Conference in London in September 1931 as the sole Congress representative.

False. Subhas Chandra Bose revived the INA in 1943 to fight against the British with the help of Japan. He formed the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) and led the INA with the slogan "Delhi Chalo."

False. While Gandhi intended the Quit India Movement to be non-violent, it turned into one of the most intense and widespread movements with violent incidents including attacks on post offices, police stations, and railway lines after the British arrested almost all Congress leaders on 9 August 1942.

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was Gandhi's first experiment with Satyagraha in India. Farmers in Champaran, Bihar, were forced under the tinkathia system to grow indigo on 3/20th of their land and sell it at fixed, unfair prices to European planters. Rajkumar Shukla, a local farmer, invited Gandhi to investigate. Gandhi arrived in April 1917, faced official resistance, but persisted. An inquiry committee was set up, and the tinkathia system was abolished. Its significance lies in proving that non-violent resistance could achieve concrete results and establishing Gandhi as a national leader.

On 13 April 1919, the day of the Baisakhi festival, a large crowd of men, women, and children gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar for a peaceful meeting. General Reginald Dyer blocked the only exit and ordered his troops to open fire without warning. The firing lasted about 10 minutes. Over 1,000 people were killed and more than 1,500 injured. The dead included women and children. TheHunter Commission was set up to investigate, but Dyer faced no criminal prosecution. The massacre shocked the nation and turned moderate Indians against British rule.

The Khilafat Movement (1919--1924) was launched by the Ali brothers -- Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali -- to protest the harsh terms imposed on Turkey after World War I, especially the threat to the position of the Khalifa (Caliph), the spiritual head of Muslims worldwide. The Central Khilafat Committee was formed in March 1919. Gandhi supported the movement because he saw it as an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims in a common struggle against British rule. He became the president of the All-India Khilafat Committee and linked the Khilafat cause with the Non-Cooperation Movement.

The Simon Commission was appointed in November 1927 under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon to review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and suggest constitutional reforms. It consisted of seven British members and no Indian member. Indians of all parties -- Congress, Muslim League, and others -- felt insulted that a commission deciding India's future had no Indian representation. When the Commission arrived in India on 3 February 1928, it was greeted with black flags and the slogan "Simon Go Back" everywhere. The boycott was countrywide and united different political groups.

The Dandi March (also called the Salt March or Salt Satyagraha) began on 12 March 1930 when Gandhi and 78 volunteers left Sabarmati Ashram and walked 385 km to the coastal village of Dandi, reaching on 6 April 1930. Gandhi picked up a handful of salt from the seashore, breaking the British salt law that gave the government a monopoly over salt production and sale. This act marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. The significance of the Dandi March is that it transformed the freedom struggle into a truly mass movement, drew worldwide attention to India's cause, and showed that an unjust law could be challenged openly and peacefully.

The Swaraj Party was formed in January 1923 by Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das within the Indian National Congress. After Gandhi suspended the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922, many leaders felt that the council boycott strategy was leaving the field open to pro-British groups. The Swaraj Party aimed to enter the legislative councils and obstruct British policies from within -- a strategy called "responsive cooperation." It contested elections to the Central Legislative Assembly and provincial councils and successfully exposed the weaknesses of colonial legislation. The party weakened after the death of C.R. Das in 1925, but it proved that Indians could use constitutional forums effectively.

Background and Launch

The Non-Cooperation Movement emerged from the growing discontent after World War I, the Rowlatt Act (1919), the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 1919), and the Khilafat issue. At the Calcutta Congress session in September 1920, Gandhi moved the resolution for Non-Cooperation. It was ratified at the Nagpur session in December 1920, where the Congress also adopted the goal of Swaraj.

Phases of the Movement

The movement was planned in two stages. The first stage (until February 1922) involved surrendering British titles and honours, boycotting government schools, colleges, courts, and councils, and refusing to buy British goods. The second stage involved resignation from government service and refusal to pay taxes. Thousands of students left government schools and joined national institutions such as the Jamia Millia Islamia (founded 1920), Kashi Vidyapeeth, and Gujarat Vidyapeeth. Lawyers like Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, and Rajendra Prasad gave up their practice. Foreign cloth was burnt publicly. The movement became a mass movement with participation from peasants, workers, students, and women across India.

Regional Variations

In different regions, the movement took on local character. In Awadh, peasants led by Baba Ramchandra demanded reduction of rent and abolition of begar. In the Gudem Hills of Andhra, tribal people under Alluri Sitarama Raju resisted colonial forest laws with armed struggle. In Malabar, the Moplah Rebellion (1921) took a communal turn. In Assam, tea plantation workers went on strike.

Chauri Chaura and Withdrawal

On 5 February 1922, at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, a peaceful demonstration turned violent. A group of protesters clashed with the police and set fire to the police station, killing 22 policemen. Gandhi was deeply troubled because he believed non-violence was the foundation of the movement. On 12 February 1922, he announced the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement. Many leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, were unhappy with the decision, but Gandhi held firm that a movement built on violence would defeat its own purpose.

Background

The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched after the failure of the Simon Commission and the rejection of the Nehru Report. At the Lahore Congress session in December 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru declared Purna Swaraj (complete independence) as the Congress goal, and 26 January 1930 was observed as Independence Day. Gandhi was given the authority to launch the movement.

The Dandi March

Gandhi chose salt as the issue to mobilise the masses because it affected every Indian, rich or poor. On 12 March 1930, accompanied by 78 volunteers from Sabarmati Ashram, Gandhi began the 385-km march to Dandi. Villagers lined the route, and the march grew into a powerful symbol of resistance. On 6 April 1930, Gandhi reached Dandi, picked up salt from the seashore, and broke the British salt law. This act launched the Civil Disobedience Movement nationwide. People made salt, boycotted foreign cloth, picketed liquor shops, and refused to pay taxes.

Spread and Repression

The movement spread rapidly across India. In Tamil Nadu, C. Rajagopalachari led a salt march from Tiruchirappalli to Vedaranyam on the east coast. In Malabar, K. Kelappan led a march from Calicut to Payyanur. Sarojini Naidu led the raid on the Dharsana Salt Works. The British responded with mass arrests -- over 60,000 people were jailed, including Gandhi himself. The government confiscated Congress funds and imposed press censorship.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact

On 5 March 1931, Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. The government agreed to release political prisoners, allow the collection and manufacture of salt by people living near the coast, and permit Gandhi to attend the Second Round Table Conference. In return, Gandhi agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Round Table Conferences

Three Round Table Conferences were held in London (1930, 1931, and 1932) to discuss India's constitutional future. Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference in September 1931 as the sole Congress representative. The conference failed because the British refused to grant dominion status, and communal divisions could not be resolved. Gandhi returned to India disappointed, and the Civil Disobedience Movement was resumed in January 1932, but it gradually lost momentum and was finally withdrawn in 1934.

Background

By 1942, World War II was raging and the situation was desperate for the British. Japan had advanced rapidly in Southeast Asia and was at India's doorstep. The Cripps Mission (March 1942) offered dominion status after the war, but the Congress rejected it because it did not promise immediate self-government. Gandhi now believed that the British must leave India immediately.

Launch of the Movement

On 8 August 1942, at the All-India Congress Committee session in Bombay, Gandhi gave the call for "Quit India." He declared: "I am not going to be satisfied with anything short of complete freedom. We shall do or die." The Congress demanded that the British transfer power to Indians and quit India. The slogan "Do or Die" (Karo ya Maro) became the rallying cry.

British Response

The British government acted swiftly. On 9 August 1942, the very next day, Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and almost all Congress leaders were arrested. The Congress was declared an unlawful organisation. The government imposed strict censorship and cut off communications.

Underground Activity

With the top leadership in jail, the movement became leaderless but continued through underground networks. Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyut Patwardhan, and Aruna Asaf Ali operated secretly. An underground radio station broadcast messages. Usha Mehta ran the Secret Congress Radio. Workers went on strike, students left schools, and peasants refused to pay taxes.

Violent Incidents

Despite Gandhi's call for non-violence, the movement saw widespread violence in many parts of India. Post offices were burnt, railway lines were torn up, telegraph wires were cut, and police stations were attacked. In some areas, parallel governments were set up -- such as the one in Satara (Maharashtra) led by Y.B. Chavan and Nana Patil, and in Ballia (Uttar Pradesh) under Chittu Pandey.

Why It Was the Most Intense Phase

The Quit India Movement was the most intense phase because it saw the highest level of mass participation. Students, workers, peasants, women, and government employees all joined. Over 1,000 people were killed in police and military firing, and more than 60,000 were arrested. The movement spread to every corner of India, including rural areas. It demonstrated that the British could no longer hold India by force. Although the British suppressed the movement by early 1944, it made it clear that India's independence was only a matter of time.

Formation of the INA

The Indian National Army (INA) was originally formed in 1942 by Captain Mohan Singh with the help of the Japanese army from among Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan in Malaya and Singapore. The idea was to use the Japanese advance against the British to liberate India.

Subhas Chandra Bose Takes Charge

Subhas Chandra Bose, popularly known as Netaji, had resigned from the Indian National Congress in 1939 after differences with Gandhi on the issue of non-violence. He escaped house arrest in Calcutta in January 1941, travelled through Afghanistan and the Soviet Union, and reached Germany. In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore at the invitation of Rash Behari Bose and took over the leadership of the INA. He reorganised it and gave it the slogan "Delhi Chalo" (On to Delhi).

Provisional Government of Free India

On 21 October 1943, Bose established the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) in Singapore. It was recognised by nine countries, including Japan, Germany, and Italy. The INA had a women's regiment named the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, commanded by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan (later Lakshmi Sahgal).

Military Campaigns

The INA, along with the Japanese army, advanced through Burma (now Myanmar) and reached Indian soil. In March 1944, they hoisted the Indian tricolour at Moirang in Manipur. However, the combined forces were defeated at the battles of Imphal and Kohima due to the monsoon, supply shortages, and the retreat of the Japanese after the Allied counter-attack. Bose retreated with the INA through Burma.

Impact and Legacy

Subhas Chandra Bose reportedly died in a plane crash on 18 August 1945 in Taipei (then Formosa), though this remains debated. After the war, the British put INA officers -- Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Prem Kumar Sahgal -- on trial at the Red Fort in November 1945. The trials provoked an enormous wave of nationalist sentiment. The Indian Navy mutinied in February 1946. Even though the INA's military campaigns failed, the trials and the popular reaction they generated made the British realise that the Indian armed forces could no longer be relied upon. This was a decisive factor in the British decision to leave India in 1947.