GOENKA AND ASSOCIATES EDUCATIONAL TRUST

VASANT VIHAR HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR COLLEGE

GRADE: 10 HISTORY AND CIVICS
CHAPTER 6: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT
EVALUATION

Multiple Choice Questions

[Link] the following historical events in the chronological order of their occurrence.
(i) Non-Cooperation Movement
(ii) Civil Disobedience Movement
(iii) Chauri-Chaura Incident
a) (i), (ii), (iii)
b) (i), (iii), (ii)
c) (ii), (i), (iii)
d) (iii), (ii), (i)
Answer
(i), (iii), (ii)
[Link] the given analogy.
Mahatma Gandhi : ....?.... : : Dadabhai Naoroji : Indian Association.
a) All India Congress
b) Indian Association
c) Indian National Congress
d) Natal Indian Congress
Answer
Natal Indian Congress
[Link] Movement was organised to protest against the injustice done to ............... .
a) Persia
b) Turkey
c) Arabia
d) Egypt
Answer
Turkey
4. The issue on which the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930 was launched was ...............
a) equal employment opportunities for Indians.
b) the proposed execution of Bhagat Singh
c) salt monopoly exercised by the British Government
d) complete freedom.
Answer
salt monopoly exercised by the British Government
[Link] of the following was the achieved milestone of the Non-Cooperation
Movement?
a) It stopped the injustice done to the Caliph
b) Indians obtained some political rights
c) The Hindus and the Muslims came closer in political pursuit
d) It avenged Punjab atrocities.
Answer
The Hindus and the Muslims came closer in political pursuit
[Link] began the Civil Disobedience Movement by breaking the Salt Laws. What did
this signify?
a) Boycott of British goods
b) Defiance of British laws
c) Strikes by mill workers
d) Non-payment of British taxes.
Answer
Defiance of British laws
[Link] of the following summarises the significance of the Second Round Table
Conference held at London?
(i) It was attended by Gandhiji as the sole representative of the Congress.
(ii) The conference was deadlocked on the issue of separate electorates.
(iii) The British agreed to concede to the immediate grant of dominion status.
a)(i) and (ii)
b)(ii) and (iii)
c)(i) and (iii)
d)(ii) and (iii)
Answer
(i) and (ii)
Assertion (A) & Reason (R)
1.(A) Mahatma Gandhi started a non-violent civil disobedience movement in South Africa.
(R) He formed the Indian Congress to protest against the discriminating treatment
meted out to the Indians there.
a)(R) contradicts (A)
b)(R) is the reason for (A)
c)(A) is true but (R) is false
d)(A) and (R) are independent of each other
Answer
(A) is true but (R) is false
Explanation — He formed the Natal Indian Congress and started non-violent Civil
disobedience movement to protest against the discriminating treatment meted out to
the Indians in South Africa.
2.(A) In 1920, Gandhiji started the Non-Cooperation Movement.
(R) Gandhiji believed that non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as cooperation
with good.
(R) contradicts (A)
(R) is the reason for (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
(A) and (R) are independent of each other
Answer
(R) is the reason for (A)
Explanation — Gandhiji’s belief that non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as
cooperation with good is a fundamental principle of his philosophy of Satyagraha. This
belief underpinned his political strategies, including the Non-Cooperation Movement.
3.(A) Rabindranath Tagore expressed the pain and anger of the country by renouncing
the knighthood conferred on him by the British in 1919.
(R) Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest against the Partition of
Bengal.
(R) contradicts (A)
(R) is the reason for (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
(A) and (R) are independent of each other
Answer
(A) is true but (R) is false
Explanation — Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest against the
Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy.
4.(A) The British government took severe steps to suppress the Non-Cooperation
Movement.
(R) All important leaders who took part in the movement including Gandhiji were
arrested.
(R) contradicts (A)
(R) is the reason for (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
(A) and (R) are independent of each other
Answer
(A) is true but (R) is false
Explanation — All important leaders who took part in the movement except Gandhiji
were arrested.
5.(A) Gandhiji withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922.
(R) An unruly crowd burnt down a police station at Chauri-Chaura in 1922.
Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
(A) is false, but (R) is true.
Answer
Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Explanation — The Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, where a mob set a police station on
fire killing 22 policemen, deeply disturbed Gandhiji. As a firm believer in non-violence
(Ahimsa), he immediately called off the Non-Cooperation Movement, fearing it was
drifting into violence.
6.(A) After the violent incident at Chauri Chaura, Gandhiji withdrew the Non-Cooperation
Movement in February 1922.
(R) Gandhiji believed that the cause for the Non-Cooperation Movement will prosper by
this retreat.
(R) contradicts (A)
(R) is the reason for (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
(A) and (R) are independent of each other
Answer
(R) is the reason for (A)
Short Answer Questions
[Link] was the Rowlatt Act of 1919? What was Gandhiji's reaction to the Rowlatt Act of
1919?
Answer
The Rowlatt Act authorised the Government to imprison any person without trial and
convict them in a court. It implied:
a) Arrest of a person without a warrant.
b) In camera trial (trial in seclusion).
c) Restrictions on the movements of individuals.
d) Suspension of the Right of Habeas Corpus.
Gandhiji appealed to the Viceroy to withhold his consent to the Rowlatt Act. However his
appeal was ignored. He started 'Satyagraha' as a challenge to the government.
[Link] the leaders of the Khilafat Movement which was launched in India to
champion the cause of the Caliph of Turkey. How did the Khilafat Movement come to
an end?
Answer
The leaders of the Khilafat Movement launched in India to champion the cause of the
Caliph of Turkey were-
Mohammad Ali
Shaukat Ali
The Khilafat Movement died a natural death when in November 1922 Mustafa Kemal
Pasha deposed the Sultan of Turkey and showed no concern for the holy places of Islam.
He finally abolished the Caliphate and separated the State from religion. Mustafa
modernised education, agriculture and industry. He developed Turkey on secular and
progressive lines.
3. Name three events that disillusioned Gandhiji and turned him into a non-cooperator
from a cooperator with the British government.
Answer
The three events that disillusioned Gandhiji and turned him into a non-cooperator from
a cooperator with the British government were
Passing of the Rowlatt Act, 1919
The Jallianwala Bagh tragedy
The Khilafat wrongs
4. The Manchester Guardian was the first to publish a report on the massacre, eight
months later, on December 13, 1919. The headline of this report read: "An Astonishing
Story From India."
Which massacre is being talked about in the above newspaper report? When and where
did this massacre take place?
Answer
The massacre being talked about is the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy. This massacre took
place at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 13, 1919.
[Link] were the steps taken by the people as a part of the Khilafat Non-Cooperation
Movement?
Answer
The steps taken by the people as a part of the Khilafat Non-Cooperation Movement
were as follows-
a) People resigned from government services
 b) Shops selling foreign goods were picketed
c) Students boycotted schools and colleges
d) 'Hartals' and demonstrations were held.
In 1921, the Khilafat Committee appealed to all the Muslims not to join the police and
armed forces and not to pay taxes.
[Link] was the Simon Commission boycotted everywhere in India? Name the national
leader who succumbed to the lathi charge during the protest movement against the
Simon Commission.
Answer
The Simon Commission was boycotted everywhere in India because the Commission was
composed of seven British members of Parliament. It had no Indian member. This was
seen as a violation of the principle of self-determination and a deliberate insult to the
self-respect of the Indians.
Lala Lajpat Rai succumbed to the lathi charge during the protest movement against the
Simon Commission.
[Link] did the programme of Civil Disobedience Movement consist of?
Answer
The programme of Civil Disobedience Movement involved
a) Defiance of Salt Laws
b) Boycott of liquor
c) Boycott of foreign cloth and British goods of all kinds
d) Non-payment of taxes and revenues
[Link] did Mahatma Gandhi start his historic march to Dandi?
Answer
Mahatma Gandhi started his historic march to Dandi to attack the Salt Law according to
which the government had the monopoly to manufacture and sell salt.
[Link] any two terms (provisions) of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
Answer
According to the terms (provisions) of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the government agreed to:
Withdraw all ordinances and end prosecutions.
Release all political prisoners, except those guilty of violence.
[Link] law was defied by Gandhiji's Dandi March? Why was this law selected to be
defied?
Answer
Salt law was defied by Gandhiji's Dandi March.
This law was selected to be defied because the salt tax affected all sections of the
society, especially the poor.
[Link] did congress decide to resume the Civil Disobedience Movement in January
1932?
Answer
The Congress decided to resume the Civil Disobedience Movement in January 1932 due to
several reasons:
The Second Round Table Conference, which took place in London from September to
December 1931, did not yield any significant outcomes.
The British government did not fully honour the terms of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
After the failure of the Second Round Table Conference, the Congress discovered that
the British government had begun a new cycle of repression. A series of measures had
been imposed to prevent meetings and boycotts.
Indian farmers were affected by the Great Depression of 1930s for which Gandhiji sought
an interview with Viceroy Willingdon. The interview was refused.
Structured Questions
[Link] Simon Commission was appointed in November 1927 by the British Government.
Subsequently the Civil Disobedience Movement began. In this context answer the
following questions:
(a) Why was the Simon Commission appointed by the British Government? Why did the
Congress boycott the Commission?
(b) The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Gandhiji with his famous Dandi
March. Mention the significance of this historic event.
(c) Why did Gandhiji suspend Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931 and later in 1934 call it
off?
(a) In November 1927, the British Government appointed the Indian Statutory
Commission, popularly known as the Simon Commission, to investigate the need for
further constitutional reforms. The Commission was composed of seven British
members of Parliament.
The commission had no Indian member. This was seen as a violation of the principle of
self-determination and a deliberate insult to the self-respect of the Indians. Hence, at its
Madras session in 1927, presided over by Dr. Ansari, the National Congress decided to
boycott the commission 'at every stage and in every form'.
(b) Gandhiji started the Civil Disobedience Movement with his famous Dandi March.
On 12th March, Mahatma Gandhi began the historic march from Sabarmati Ashram to
Dandi, a village on the Gujarat sea coast.
A number of people followed him.
On the morning of 6th April, Gandhiji violated the Salt Law at Dandi by picking up some
salt left by the sea waves.
According to the Salt Law, the government had the monopoly to manufacture and sell
salt.
He had selected to attack the Salt Laws because the salt-tax affected all sections of
society, especially the poor.
Gandhiji's breaking of the Salt Laws marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience
Movement.
(c) Since the satyagraha could not be suppressed, the Government, through Tej Bahadur
Sapru and Jayakar, started negotiations with Gandhiji in jail.
This resulted in the signing of a pact by Gandhiji and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy, in March
1931.
This is known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
According to the terms of the pact, the Congress consented to suspend the Civil
Disobedience Movement in 1931.
The Great Depression of 1930s in the world had hit the farmers in India.
Gandhiji sought an interview with Viceroy Willingdon. The interview was refused.
The Congress passed a resolution for the renewal of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Government resorted to repression, issued Ordinances and assumed special powers.
The Congress was declared illegal.
Congress leaders were arrested and their properties were seized. Communalism was
fanned.
Gradually the Civil Disobedience Movement lost its force and Congress called it off in
1934.
[Link] the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:
“General Dyer’s action at Jallianwala Bagh appears to have been entirely indefensible. He
acted after open disorder had ceased in the city for two days; he gave no warning on the
spot, but began firing within 30 seconds (of arriving); and he was responsible for grave
and unnecessary slaughter. His plea is that he wanted to produce sufficient moral effect
throughout the Punjab. Such was not his duty and the effect he has really produced is to
create, not only in the Punjab, but throughout India, a bitterness that will take years to
eradicate.”
— Lovat Fraser (1871-1926) British journalist
(a) The action of General Dyer mentioned in this article led to the launch of which
movement? State briefly the other causes of the movement.
(b) What was the impact of this movement on the Indian National Movement?
(c) What led to the withdrawal of this movement? What was Gandhiji’s view about the
withdrawal?
Answer
(a) The action of General Dyer mentioned in the article refers to the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre. This brutal incident led to the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Other causes of the movement included the repressive Rowlatt Act, Khilafat movement
and the economic hardships faced by the common people.
(b) The impact of this movement on the Indian National Movement were:
The National Movement Became a Mass Movement — The Indian national movement, for
the first time in history, acquired a real mass base with the participation of different
sections of Indian society such as peasants, workers, students, teachers and women.
Instilled Confidence Among the People — It generated a desire for freedom and inspired
people to challenge the colonial rule.
The Congress Became a Revolutionary Movement — It transformed the Indian National
Congress from a deliberative assembly into an organisation for action. It became the
organiser and leader of the masses in their national struggle.
Fostered Hindu-Muslim Unity — It fostered Hindu-Muslim unity which could be seen in
the merger of the Khilafat issue with this Movement.
Promoted Social Reforms — As a consequence of the Non-Cooperation Movement
several steps were taken in the direction of prohibition and removal of untouchability.
Spread Nationalism to Every Part of the Country — The Movement gave a new boost to
nationalism in India. The Congress organisation was able to reach down to villages.
Popularised the Cult of Swaraj — The goal of the Non-Cooperation Movement was to
attain Swaraj within the British empire, if possible, and outside, if necessary.
(c) The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn by Mahatma Gandhi after the Chauri
Chaura incident, where a violent mob set a police station on fire, leading to the death of
22 policemen. Gandhiji felt that the movement was turning violent in many places. He
believed in peaceful and non-violent protests, and the violent turn of events deeply
distressed him. As per Gandhiji, "If the thing had not been suspended we would have
been leading not a non-violent struggle. The cause will prosper by this retreat."
[Link] Study
[Link] 1930 Mahatma Gandhi's demands were rejected by the British, as a result of which
he launched the Civil Disobedience Movement. In this context, explain the following:

(a) Name the famous march undertaken by Gandhiji. Where did he begin this march?
State two of its features.
(b) How was this Movement different from the Non-Cooperation Movement?
(c) Explain briefly how did Mahatma Gandhi try to promote Hindu-Muslim unity from the
Rowlatt Satyagraha to the Third Round Table conference.
Answer
(a) The famous march undertaken by Gandhiji was the Dandi March.
On 12th March, Mahatma Gandhi began the historic march from Sabarmati Ashram to
Dandi, a village on the Gujarat sea coast.
A number of people followed him.
On the morning of 6th April, Gandhiji violated the Salt Law at Dandi by picking up some
salt left by the sea waves.
According to the Salt Law, the government had the monopoly to manufacture and sell
salt.
He had selected to attack the Salt Laws because the salt-tax affected all sections of
society, especially the poor.
Gandhiji's breaking of the Salt Laws marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience
Movement.
(b) Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement as
the former involved non-payment of taxes and land revenue as well as violation of laws
of different kinds in addition to non-cooperation activities.
(c) Mahatma Gandhi tried to promote Hindu-Muslim unity from the Rowlatt Satyagraha
to the Third Round Table conference in the following ways-
Rowlatt Satyagraha — An important feature of the Rowlatt Satyagraha was Hindu-
Muslim unity. This was the call given by Mahatma Gandhi, who always saw a unified India
belonging to the people of all religions. He wanted that Hindus and Muslims should
support each other in any just cause.
Khilafat movement — Gandhiji saw in the Khilafat Movement an opportunity for uniting
Hindus and Muslims. He said that the Congress plea for Hindu-Muslim unity "would be an
empty phrase if the Hindus hold aloof from the Muslims when their vital interests are at
stake".
Non-Cooperation Movement — It fostered Hindu-Muslim unity which could be seen in
the merger of the Khilafat issue with this Movement. It provided an opportunity to the
Congress to bring the urban Muslims into the National Movement by convincing them
that the nation was equally concerned with the problems affecting them.

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