Important Questions of'Nationalism in India'

                         Very Short Answer Type Questions  ( 1 Marks )

1.     What was the most important feature of the satyagraha movement advocated by Gandhiji ?

Ans. Gandhiji,s advocacy of truth and non-violence was the most important feature of satyagrah.

2.     Why was satyagraha organised in Champaran in 1916?

Ans. A satyagraha was organised in Champaran to oppose the oppressive plantation system.

3.     Why did Gandhiji organise satyagraha in 1917 in Kheda district of Gujarat?

Ans.  Gandhiji organise satyagraha in 1917 in Kheda district of Gujarat to protect against high                      revenue demand from the peasants even after crop failure and crop epidemic.

4.     What does the Khalifa refer to?

Ans. The term Khalifa refers to the spiritual leader of the Muslim community.

5.     Who led the Khilafat movement in Bombay?

Ans. Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali led the Khilafat movement in Bombay.

 6.    Who wrote Hind Swaraj?

Ans. Hind Swaraj was written by Mahatma Gandhi.

7.     What is meant by begar?

Ans. Forced labour without payment is called begar.

8.     Why did Gandhiji oppose the Salt Law?

Ans. The British government acquired monopoly rights over manufacture of salt and sale of salt. It              led to increase in the price of salt. Therefore, Gandhiji opposed the Salt Law.

9.     Who wrote Vande Mataram ?

Ans. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Vande Mataram.

10.    Why did the nationalists in India tour villages?

Ans. Nationalists in India toured villages to gather folk songs and legends so as to produce a true                  picture of traditional indian culture to discover one's identity and restore a sense of pride in                  one's past.

                  Short Answer Type Questions [3 Marks ]

1.     Explain the idea of Satyagraha according to Gandhiji.

Ans. According to Gandhiji, satyagraha stressed on the power of truth and the need to search for the           truth. It advocated that for the struggle against injustice and right cause, the use of physical                 force cannot be the right way. One can win the oppressor even by appealing to his conscience.             Rather than using violence against him, it is important that the oppressor is made to see the truth.         According to Gandhiji, Satyagraha is most effective method of protest.It is certain that the truth           always wins. 

2.     How did Mahatma Gandhi successfully organize Satyagraha movements in various places just             after arriving in India? Explain by giving three examples.

Ans. After returning from South Africa, Gandhiji undertook his experiments with satyagraha in India.

        (a) In 1916, he inspired the peasants of Champaran in Bihar against the Oppressive plantation                   system.

        (b) In 1917, in support of the peasants of Kheda district in Gujarat, he organised a satyagraha                     against revenue payment at the time of crop failure and plague epidemic. He demanded                       relaxation from revenue collection.

        (c) In 1918, in Ahmedabad, he organised satyagraha favouring the demands of the cotton mill                   workers.
3.     How was the movement against the landlords and talukdars led by Baba Ramchandra?
Ans. Baba Ramchandra led the movement against the landlords and the talukdars in Awadh in the               following ways.  

        (a) Panchayats organised nai-dhobi bandhs to deprive the landlords of the basic services of                        barbers and washermen.
        (b) Oudh Kisan Sabha was set up and several of its branches were organised in the villages and                 around the region.
        (c) In some places, houses of talukdars and merchants were attacked, bazars were looted and                     grain hoards were taken over.
4.     Why did some leaders of the Congress oppose the idea of a Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans. Some leaders of the congress opposed the idea of Non-Cooperation Movement because of the             following reasons.
        (a) They did not want to boycott the council elections of November 1920.
        (b) They thought that the movement would become violent.
        (c) They wanted to oppose the government policies by participating in legislative councils.
5.     What was the Gandhi-Irwin pact ?
Ans. The Civil Disobedience Movement started by Gandhiji faced brutal response from the British.             There were large scale attacks on the satyagrahis. Even women and children were not spared and         beaten badly. Thousands of the protesters arrested.
        The situation forces Gandhiji to call off the movement and sign a pact with Lord Irwin. The pact          came to be called as Gandhi-Irwin Pact. According to the pact, Gandhiji agreed to take part in              the second Round Table Conference in London. In turn, the government agreed to release all                political prisoners imprisoned during the movement.