Chapter Introduction
In India, the growth of modern nationalism is intimately connected to the anti-colonial movement. People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle against British colonialism.
1. The First World War and its Impact on India
The First World War (1914–1918) created a new economic and political situation in India:
- Huge increase in defence expenditure led to increased taxes and custom duties.
- Income tax was introduced for the first time.
- Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918, leading to extreme hardship for common people.
- Forced recruitment (begar) in rural areas caused widespread anger.
- In 1918–19 and 1920–21, crops failed across India, leading to acute food shortages followed by an influenza epidemic (12 to 13 million perished).
2. Mahatma Gandhi and the Idea of Satyagraha
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915 from South Africa.
- Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth without physical force or violence.
Early Satyagraha Movements:
- Champaran (Bihar, 1917): Against the oppressive plantation system (Indigo planters).
- Kheda (Gujarat, 1917): Demanding relaxation of revenue collection due to crop failure and plague.
- Ahmedabad (Gujarat, 1918): In support of cotton mill workers demanding wage hikes.
3. The Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh (1919)
Rowlatt Act (1919):
Passed hurriedly by the Imperial Legislative Council despite united Indian opposition. It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for up to two years.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April 1919):
- A large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar to attend the annual Baisakhi fair and protest against government repression.
- General Dyer blocked the exit points and opened fire on the unarmed crowd, killing hundreds.
4. The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)
In his book Hind Swaraj (1909), Mahatma Gandhi declared that British rule was established in India with the cooperation of Indians and would collapse if Indians refused to cooperate.
Stages of the Movement:
- Surrender of government titles and honours.
- Boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools, and foreign goods.
- Picketing of liquor shops and burning of foreign cloth.
Why was it withdrawn?
In February 1922 at Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur, UP), a peaceful demonstration turned into a violent clash where protestors set fire to a police station, killing 22 policemen. Gandhi immediately called off the movement, stating satyagrahis needed further training in non-violence.
5. Towards Civil Disobedience — The Salt March (1930)
On 31 January 1930, Gandhi sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating 11 demands, the most stirring being the abolition of the salt tax.
- The Dandi March: Started on 12 March 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal town of Dandi (240 miles, 24 days).
- On 6 April 1930, Gandhi reached Dandi and broke the salt law by manufacturing salt from seawater.
- This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
6. The Sense of Collective Belonging
Nationalism spreads when people begin to believe they are all part of the same nation:
- Images and Allegories: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay created the image of Bharat Mata and wrote Vande Mataram in the 1870s. Abanindranath Tagore painted the famous portrait of Bharat Mata as an ascetic, calm, and spiritual figure.
- Revival of Indian Folklore: Folk songs, legends, and ballads were collected by Rabindranath Tagore in Bengal and Natesa Sastri in Madras (The Folklore of Southern India).
- Icons and Flags: During the Swadeshi movement, a tricolour flag (red, green, yellow) with eight lotuses and a crescent moon was designed. Gandhi later designed the Swaraj flag (red, green, white) with a spinning wheel in the centre.
- Reinterpretation of History: Indians wrote about great achievements in ancient times in art, architecture, science, mathematics, and philosophy to instill national pride.
Board Exam MCQs
1. When did Mahatma Gandhi return to India from South Africa?
a) 1914 b) 1915 ✅ c) 1916 d) 1917
2. Who wrote the book Hind Swaraj?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru b) Subhas Chandra Bose c) Mahatma Gandhi ✅ d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
3. In which year did the Jallianwala Bagh incident take place?
a) 1918 b) 1919 ✅ c) 1920 d) 1921
4. The Dandi March covered a distance of:
a) 200 miles b) 240 miles ✅ c) 300 miles d) 150 miles
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