Class 10 History

Chapter 2 – Nationalism in India

Important Questions and Answers

A. Very Short Answer Questions

Q1. What is meant by nationalism?
Answer:
Nationalism is a feeling of unity and belonging among people who consider themselves
members of the same nation. In India, nationalism developed mainly through the common
struggle against British colonial rule.
Q2. When did Mahatma Gandhi return to India?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in January 1915.
Q3. What is Satyagraha?
Answer:
Satyagraha is a method of struggle based on truth and non-violence. Gandhiji believed that
a just cause could be achieved by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor rather than
using physical force.
Q4. Where did Gandhiji organise his first Satyagraha movements in India?
Answer:
Gandhiji organised Satyagraha movements at:
 Champaran, Bihar – 1917
 Kheda, Gujarat – 1917
 Ahmedabad – 1918
Q5. What was the Rowlatt Act?
Answer:
The Rowlatt Act of 1919 gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities
and allowed political prisoners to be detained without trial for two years.
Q6. When did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place?
Answer:
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 at Amritsar.
Q7. Who was General Dyer?
Answer:
General Dyer was the British officer who ordered his troops to fire on the crowd gathered at
Jallianwala Bagh.
Q8. What was the Khilafat Movement?
Answer:
The Khilafat Movement was organised to defend the temporal powers of the Khalifa, the
spiritual head of the Islamic world, after the First World War.
Q9. When did the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement begin?
Answer:
The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement began in January 1921.
Q10. What is meant by boycott?
Answer:
Boycott means refusing to deal with, participate in, buy or use something as a form of protest.
Q11. What is meant by begar?
Answer:
Begar means forced labour without payment.
Q12. Who led the peasant movement in Awadh?
Answer:
The peasant movement in Awadh was led by Baba Ramchandra.
Q13. Who led the tribal movement in the Gudem Hills?
Answer:
The tribal movement in the Gudem Hills was led by Alluri Sitaram Raju.
Q14. Why did Gandhiji withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer:
Gandhiji withdrew the movement in February 1922 because it was becoming violent and he
believed that satyagrahis needed proper training in non-violence.
Q15. Who formed the Swaraj Party?
Answer:
C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress.
Q16. What was the slogan against the Simon Commission?
Answer:
The slogan was “Go Back Simon!”
Q17. What is meant by Purna Swaraj?
Answer:
Purna Swaraj means complete independence from British rule.
Q18. When was Purna Swaraj formally adopted by the Congress?
Answer:
The demand for Purna Swaraj was formally adopted at the Lahore Congress in December
1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Q19. Why was salt chosen as a symbol of resistance?
Answer:
Salt was chosen because it was an essential item consumed by both rich and poor. The British
salt tax and monopoly over salt production represented the oppressive nature of colonial rule.
Q20. When did the Salt March begin?
Answer:
The Salt March began on 12 March 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram.

B. Short Answer Questions

Q21. Explain the effects of the First World War on India.
Answer:
The First World War created serious economic and political problems in India:
1. Defence expenditure increased greatly.
2. The government raised taxes and introduced income tax.
3. Prices almost doubled between 1913 and 1918.
4. Villagers were forced to supply soldiers.
5. Crops failed in many parts of India in 1918–19 and 1920–21.
6. Food shortages became severe.
7. The influenza epidemic caused enormous loss of life.
According to the 1921 Census, about 12–13 million people died due to famines and the
epidemic. These hardships increased anger against British rule.

Q22. Explain the main features of Satyagraha.

Answer:
The main features of Satyagraha were:
1. It was based on truth.
2. It opposed injustice through non-violence.
3. It did not seek revenge against the opponent.
4. It appealed to the conscience of the oppressor.
 5. It believed that truth would ultimately triumph.
6. Gandhiji believed that non-violence could unite Indians.
Thus, Satyagraha was a method of active resistance without the use of physical force.

Q23. Why was the Rowlatt Act opposed by Indians?

Answer:
The Rowlatt Act was opposed because:
 It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities.
 Political prisoners could be detained without trial for two years.
 It was passed despite the united opposition of Indian members of the Imperial
Legislative Council.
 Gandhiji considered it an unjust law.
Therefore, Gandhiji launched a nationwide Satyagraha against the Act in 1919.

Q24. Describe the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Answer:
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar.
 A large crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh.
 Some people had come to protest against repressive government measures.
 Others had come to attend the Baisakhi fair.
 General Dyer entered the enclosed ground.
 He blocked the exits.
 He ordered his troops to fire on the crowd.
 Hundreds of people were killed.
The incident created widespread anger against British rule.

Q25. Why did Gandhiji support the Khilafat Movement?

Answer:
Gandhiji supported the Khilafat Movement because he wanted to bring Hindus and Muslims
closer together.
The defeat of Ottoman Turkey after the First World War created concern among Muslims
about the future of the Khalifa. Gandhiji saw the Khilafat issue as an opportunity to unite
Muslims with the broader national movement.
He therefore supported a united movement for Khilafat as well as Swaraj.

Q26. Why did Gandhiji launch the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer:
Gandhiji believed that British rule survived in India because Indians cooperated with the
British.
He argued that if Indians refused to cooperate:
 British rule would weaken.
 Colonial institutions would become ineffective.
 Swaraj could be achieved.
The movement therefore proposed the boycott of British institutions and foreign goods.

Q27. What were the main programmes of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer:
The main programmes included:
1. Surrender of government-awarded titles.
2. Boycott of civil services.
3. Boycott of the army and police.
4. Boycott of courts.
5. Boycott of legislative councils.
6. Boycott of government schools.
7. Boycott of foreign goods.
8. If repression increased, civil disobedience was to be launched.
The programme was finally adopted at the Nagpur Congress session in December 1920.

Q28. Describe the participation of the middle class in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer:
The movement began with strong middle-class participation in cities.
  Thousands of students left government schools and colleges.
 Teachers and headmasters resigned.
 Lawyers gave up their practices.
 Council elections were boycotted in most provinces.
 Foreign goods were boycotted.
 Liquor shops were picketed.
 Foreign cloth was burnt.
 Indian textile mills and handlooms benefited.
However, the movement later slowed because khadi was expensive and alternative Indian
institutions were slow to develop.

Q29. Explain the peasant movement in Awadh.

Answer:
The peasant movement in Awadh was led by Baba Ramchandra.
The peasants suffered because landlords and talukdars:
 Demanded high rents.
 Imposed various cesses.
 Forced peasants to perform begar.
 Evicted tenants regularly.
The peasants demanded:
 Reduction of revenue.
 Abolition of begar.
 Social boycott of oppressive landlords.
The Oudh Kisan Sabha was formed in October 1920 under Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba
Ramchandra and others.

Q30. Explain the tribal movement in the Gudem Hills.

Answer:
The tribal movement in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh was led by Alluri Sitaram Raju.
The tribals were angry because:
 The colonial government restricted access to forests.
  They could not graze cattle freely.
 They could not collect fuelwood and fruits.
 Their traditional rights were denied.
 They were forced to perform begar for road construction.
Raju supported khadi and admired Gandhiji but believed that freedom could be achieved
through force. His followers attacked police stations and used guerrilla warfare.
Raju was captured and executed in 1924.

Q31. What did Swaraj mean to plantation workers in Assam?

Answer:
For plantation workers in Assam, Swaraj meant:
 Freedom to move in and out of tea plantations.
 The right to maintain contact with their villages.
The Inland Emigration Act of 1859 restricted their movement. When they heard about the
Non-Cooperation Movement, thousands left plantations because they believed that Gandhi
Raj was coming and they would receive land in their villages.

Q32. Why was the Non-Cooperation Movement withdrawn?

Answer:
The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn in February 1922 because the movement
was becoming violent.
The Chauri Chaura incident was particularly important. A peaceful demonstration turned
into a violent clash with the police.
Gandhiji believed that satyagrahis were not yet properly trained in non-violence and therefore
stopped the movement.

Q33. Why was the Simon Commission opposed?

Answer:
The Simon Commission was opposed because it had no Indian member. All its members
were British.
When it arrived in India in 1928, people demonstrated against it with the slogan:
“Go Back Simon!”
The Congress and Muslim League participated in the protests.
Q34. Explain the significance of the Lahore Congress of 1929.
Answer:
The Lahore Congress was held in December 1929 under the presidency of Jawaharlal
Nehru.
Its main significance was:
1. The Congress formally adopted the demand for Purna Swaraj.
2. 26 January 1930 was declared Independence Day.
3. Indians were asked to take a pledge to struggle for complete independence.
Thus, the Lahore Congress marked an important shift from dominion status to complete
independence.

Q35. Why did Gandhiji choose salt as a symbol of resistance?

Answer:
Gandhiji chose salt because:
1. Salt was consumed by everyone.
2. It was essential for daily life.
3. The British imposed a tax on salt.
4. The British government had a monopoly over its production.
5. The salt tax affected both rich and poor.
Therefore, salt provided a simple and powerful symbol through which different sections of
Indian society could unite against colonial rule.

C. Long Answer Questions

Q36. Explain the Salt March and its importance in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Answer:
The Salt March was one of the most important events of India's national movement.
On 31 January 1930, Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin containing eleven demands. The
most important demand was the abolition of the salt tax.
When the government did not accept the demands, Gandhiji began the Salt March from
Sabarmati Ashram.
 He was accompanied by 78 volunteers.
  The march covered more than 240 miles.
 It lasted 24 days.
 Thousands joined or listened to Gandhiji along the route.
 On 6 April 1930, Gandhiji reached Dandi.
 He broke the salt law by manufacturing salt from seawater.
This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
The Salt March was effective because salt was an essential item used by rich and poor alike.
It therefore provided a common symbol against colonial exploitation.

Q37. How was the Civil Disobedience Movement different from the Non-Cooperation
Movement?
Answer:
Non-Cooperation Movement Civil Disobedience Movement

Began in 1921 Began in 1930

People refused to cooperate with British People refused to cooperate and broke colonial
institutions laws

Salt laws, forest laws and tax laws were

Schools, courts and councils were boycotted
violated

Foreign goods were boycotted Foreign goods were boycotted

It was relaunched in 1932 and lost momentum

Gandhiji withdrew it in 1922
by 1934

Chauri Chaura was a major turning point Dandi March was the major beginning
During Civil Disobedience, peasants refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes, village
officials resigned, and forest people violated forest laws.

Q38. Explain the participation of rich and poor peasants in the Civil Disobedience
Movement.
Answer:
Rich Peasants
Rich peasants such as the Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar Pradesh participated
actively.
They were affected by:
 Falling agricultural prices.
  Declining cash income.
 Difficulty in paying government revenue.
For them, Swaraj meant relief from high revenue demands.
Poor Peasants
Poor peasants were generally small tenants who rented land from landlords.
They suffered because:
 Agricultural incomes declined.
 They found it difficult to pay rent.
 They wanted remission of unpaid rent.
Many joined radical movements led by Socialists and Communists.
However, the Congress was reluctant to support no-rent campaigns because it feared
upsetting rich peasants and landlords.

Q39. Explain the role of business groups in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Answer:
Indian merchants and industrialists became powerful during the First World War.
They opposed colonial policies because they wanted:
 Protection against foreign imports.
 A favourable rupee-sterling exchange ratio.
 Freedom from colonial restrictions.
They formed organisations such as:
 Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in 1920.
 FICCI in 1927.
Industrialists such as Purshottamdas Thakurdas and G. D. Birla supported the Civil
Disobedience Movement initially.
They:
 Gave financial assistance.
 Refused to buy or sell imported goods.
 Supported the demand for economic freedom.
Later, many business groups became less enthusiastic because they feared prolonged
disruption and militant activities.
Q40. Explain the role of women in the national movement.
Answer:
Women participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement on a large scale.
They:
 Joined protest marches.
 Manufactured salt.
 Picketed foreign cloth shops.
 Picketed liquor shops.
 Went to jail.
Many women came from high-caste urban families and rich peasant households.
Gandhiji's call encouraged women to regard service to the nation as a sacred duty.
However, participation did not immediately bring equality. Gandhiji still believed that women
had important responsibilities in the home, and the Congress was initially reluctant to give
women positions of authority within the organisation.

Q41. Why did the participation of Dalits in the Civil Disobedience Movement remain
limited?
Answer:
The participation of Dalits remained limited because they had their own political and social
demands.
Gandhiji opposed untouchability and worked for:
 Temple entry.
 Access to public wells, roads and schools.
 Improvement in the status of Dalits.
However, many Dalit leaders wanted:
 Political empowerment.
 Reserved seats.
 Separate electorates.
Dr B. R. Ambedkar organised the Depressed Classes Association in 1930 and demanded
separate electorates.
Gandhiji opposed separate electorates and began a fast when the British accepted Ambedkar's
demand.
The disagreement resulted in the Poona Pact of September 1932, which provided reserved
seats for the Depressed Classes in provincial and central legislative councils, elected by the
general electorate.

Q42. Why did many Muslims remain distant from the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer:
Several factors contributed to Muslim political distance from the movement:
1. The decline of the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement created alienation from the
Congress.
2. Hindu-Muslim relations deteriorated during the 1920s.
3. Communal clashes and riots increased.
4. Some Muslims feared Hindu majority domination.
5. Many Muslim leaders were concerned about protecting Muslim political
representation and identity.
In 1930, Sir Muhammad Iqbal supported separate electorates as a safeguard for Muslim
political interests.

D. Nationalism and the Sense of Collective Belonging

Q43. How did people develop a sense of collective belonging in India?
Answer:
A sense of collective belonging developed through:
1. United struggles against British rule.
2. History and fiction.
3. Folklore and songs.
4. Popular prints and symbols.
5. Images such as Bharat Mata.
6. Nationalist flags.
7. Reinterpretation of Indian history.
These cultural processes helped people imagine themselves as members of one nation.
Q44. Explain the importance of Bharat Mata in the growth of nationalism.
Answer:
The image of Bharat Mata helped create a visual representation of India as a motherland.
 Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Vande Mataram in the 1870s.
 The song was later included in Anandamath.
 Abanindranath Tagore painted his famous Bharat Mata in 1905.
 Bharat Mata was shown as calm, spiritual and divine.
 The image became popular through prints and paintings.
Devotion to Bharat Mata became associated with patriotic and nationalist feelings.

Q45. How did folklore contribute to the growth of nationalism?

Answer:
Nationalists believed that traditional folk culture represented the real identity of Indian
people.
They:
 Collected folk songs.
 Recorded folk tales.
 Collected legends.
 Preserved traditional stories.
Rabindranath Tagore collected ballads, nursery rhymes and myths in Bengal.
Natesa Sastri published The Folklore of Southern India and considered folklore a form of
national literature.
The revival of folklore helped Indians develop pride in their traditional culture and past.

Q46. Explain the importance of flags and symbols in the national movement.
Answer:
Flags and symbols helped create a feeling of national unity.
During the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal, a tricolour flag of red, green and yellow was
designed. It contained eight lotuses representing the eight provinces of British India and a
crescent moon representing Hindus and Muslims.
In 1921, Gandhiji designed the Swaraj flag. It was a tricolour of red, green and white with a
spinning wheel in the centre.
The spinning wheel represented the Gandhian ideal of self-help.
Carrying the flag during marches became a symbol of resistance to British rule.

Q47. How did reinterpretation of history help develop nationalism?

Answer:
British writers often described Indians as backward and incapable of governing themselves.
Indian nationalists responded by studying India's past and highlighting its achievements in:
 Art and architecture.
 Science and mathematics.
 Religion and culture.
 Law and philosophy.
 Crafts and trade.
They presented ancient India as a period of great achievements followed by decline under
colonial rule.
These nationalist histories encouraged Indians to take pride in their past and struggle against
British rule.

E. Important Comparison Questions

Q48. Differentiate between Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience.
Answer:
Non-Cooperation meant refusing to cooperate with British institutions.
Civil Disobedience went a step further by refusing to cooperate and deliberately breaking
colonial laws.
Examples:
 Non-Cooperation → boycott of schools, courts and foreign goods.
 Civil Disobedience → breaking the salt law, refusing taxes and violating forest laws.

Q49. Differentiate between the ideas of Swaraj of rich and poor peasants.
Answer:
Rich peasants:
 Wanted reduction of government revenue.
  Were affected by falling agricultural prices.
 Saw Swaraj as freedom from high revenue demands.
Poor peasants:
 Wanted remission of unpaid rent.
 Were affected by declining incomes.
 Often supported radical movements led by Socialists and Communists.
Thus, the meaning of Swaraj differed according to the economic position of the peasants.

F. Important Source-Based Questions

Q50. What did Gandhiji mean by saying that Satyagraha was active resistance?
Answer:
Gandhiji meant that Satyagraha was not passive weakness. It required active resistance to
injustice through truth, courage and non-violence. A Satyagrahi did not physically attack the
opponent but tried to change the opponent's conscience through moral force.

Q51. Why did Gandhiji consider non-violence important?

Answer:
Gandhiji believed that non-violence was a moral force that could unite Indians. It allowed
people to resist injustice without hatred, revenge or physical violence.

Q52. What did the Independence Day pledge of 26 January 1930 emphasise?
Answer:
The pledge emphasised that Indians had the right to:
 Freedom.
 Enjoy the fruits of their labour.
 Have the necessities of life.
 Develop fully.
It declared that British rule had deprived Indians of freedom and exploited the masses.
Therefore, India should achieve Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence.

G. Textbook Exercise – Model Answers

Q53. List the different social groups that joined the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer:
The major social groups included:
1. Middle-class people in towns.
2. Students.
3. Teachers.
4. Lawyers.
5. Merchants and traders.
6. Peasants of Awadh.
7. Tribal communities.
8. Plantation workers.
Different groups joined because they had different grievances and different ideas about
Swaraj.

Q54. Why did different social groups join the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer:
Different groups joined for different reasons:
 Middle classes: Wanted to oppose British institutions and foreign goods.
 Peasants of Awadh: Wanted lower revenue, abolition of begar and relief from
oppressive landlords.
 Tribals: Wanted restoration of traditional forest rights.
 Plantation workers: Wanted freedom to leave plantations and return to their villages.
Thus, although everyone responded to the call for Swaraj, Swaraj meant different things to
different groups.

Q55. Why was the Salt March an effective symbol of resistance?

Answer:
The Salt March was effective because:
1. Salt was essential for everyone.
2. Both rich and poor consumed salt.
3. The British imposed a tax on salt.
4. The government had a monopoly over salt production.
 5. Breaking the salt law was a simple but powerful act of defiance.
6. It allowed people from different social groups to participate in the same movement.
The Dandi March therefore transformed an everyday item into a powerful symbol of
resistance against colonialism.

Q56. Why did political leaders differ sharply over separate electorates?
Answer:
Political leaders differed because they had different views about political representation.
Dr B. R. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for Dalits because he believed that
political empowerment was necessary to protect their interests.
Mahatma Gandhi opposed separate electorates for Dalits because he feared that this would
divide Hindu society and slow their integration.
The disagreement eventually resulted in the Poona Pact of September 1932, which provided
reserved seats for the Depressed Classes but allowed them to be elected by the general
electorate.

H. Important 5-Mark Questions

Q57. “Nationalism in India brought different social groups together, but they had
different ideas of Swaraj.” Explain.
Answer:
Nationalism brought different groups together because they shared opposition to British
colonial rule. However, their experiences and expectations were different.
 Middle classes wanted to boycott British institutions and foreign goods.
 Rich peasants wanted reduction in land revenue.
 Poor peasants wanted remission of unpaid rent.
 Tribals wanted restoration of traditional forest rights.
 Plantation workers wanted freedom to leave plantations.
 Business groups wanted freedom from colonial economic restrictions.
 Women participated in the movement as a national duty.
 Dalits demanded political safeguards and representation.
 Muslim political groups were concerned about minority rights and representation.
Therefore, nationalism created a common struggle, but Swaraj had different meanings for
different social groups.
Q58. Explain the major events from the Rowlatt Satyagraha to the Civil Disobedience
Movement.
Answer:
The major developments were:
1. 1919 – Rowlatt Act: The government gained powers to detain political prisoners
without trial.
2. 6 April 1919: Gandhiji organised a nationwide hartal.
3. 13 April 1919: Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place.
4. 1920–21: Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement developed.
5. February 1922: Chauri Chaura incident led Gandhiji to withdraw Non-Cooperation.
6. 1928: Simon Commission was opposed with the slogan “Go Back Simon”.
7. December 1929: Lahore Congress adopted Purna Swaraj.
8. 26 January 1930: Independence Day was observed.
9. March–April 1930: Gandhiji led the Salt March.
10. 6 April 1930: Salt law was broken at Dandi.
11. Civil Disobedience spread throughout India.
12. 5 March 1931: Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed.
13. 1932: Civil Disobedience was relaunched.
14. 1934: The movement lost its momentum.

Q59. “The sense of collective belonging came partly through the experience of united
struggles and partly through cultural processes.” Explain.
Answer:
The experience of united struggles against British rule helped Indians develop a common
identity. At the same time, several cultural processes strengthened nationalism.
These included:
 Creation of the image of Bharat Mata.
 Popularity of Vande Mataram.
 Revival of folklore and folk songs.
 Collection of folk tales and legends.
 Use of nationalist flags and symbols.
  Reinterpretation of Indian history.
 Celebration of India's cultural achievements.
These cultural processes helped people from different regions and communities imagine
themselves as part of one nation.

Must-Remember Personalities
Personality Contribution

Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience

Muhammad Ali & Shaukat Ali Khilafat Movement

Baba Ramchandra Awadh Peasant Movement

Jawaharlal Nehru Awadh peasant movement; Purna Swaraj

Alluri Sitaram Raju Gudem Hills tribal movement

C. R. Das Swaraj Party

Motilal Nehru Swaraj Party

Subhas Chandra Bose Radical nationalist politics

Lala Lajpat Rai Protest against Simon Commission

Abdul Ghaffar Khan Civil Disobedience in North-West Frontier Province

Dr B. R. Ambedkar Dalit political rights; Depressed Classes Association

Muhammad Iqbal Separate electorates for Muslims

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay Vande Mataram

Abanindranath Tagore Bharat Mata painting

Rabindranath Tagore Revival and collection of folklore

Natesa Sastri The Folklore of Southern India