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The First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation
The First World War (1914–18) changed the political and economic situation in India.
o Defense expenditure increased → more taxes.
o Food prices rose → common people suffered.
o Crop failures and influenza epidemic → huge loss of life.
This created a mood of discontent among people.
Mahatma Gandhi’s Arrival
Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915.
His new method of struggle = Satyagraha (truth + non-violence).
Aim: To fight injustice peacefully, not with violence.
Early Satyagraha Movements
1. Champaran (1917, Bihar):
o Indigo farmers forced to grow indigo → Gandhi led them.
o Planters had to change their system → first success.
2. Kheda (1917–18, Gujarat):
o Crop failure → peasants wanted tax remission.
o Gandhi + Sardar Patel supported → govt relaxed tax collection.
3. Ahmedabad (1918, Gujarat):
o Mill workers demanded better wages.
o Gandhi went on hunger strike → workers got wage increase.
Rowlatt Act (1919)
Allowed British to arrest people without trial for 2 years.
Called the “Black Act”.
Gandhi called for Hartal (strike) on 6 April 1919.
Protests spread everywhere.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April 1919)
People gathered peacefully in Amritsar (Baisakhi festival).
General Dyer ordered firing without warning → hundreds killed.
Shocked the nation → widespread anger.
🤝 2. Khilafat Movement and Non-Cooperation
After WWI, harsh peace treaty on Turkey upset Indian Muslims.
Ali brothers (Shaukat Ali, Mohammad Ali) launched Khilafat Committee (1919).
Gandhi supported it to unite Hindus and Muslims.
Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)
Idea: British rule lasted only because Indians cooperated.
If Indians refused, British rule would collapse.
Programme:
o Boycott schools, law courts, councils, foreign goods.
o Resign govt jobs & titles.
o Promote swadeshi & khadi.
Adopted in Nagpur session (1920) of Congress.
👥 3. Different Social Groups Join the Struggle
The movement reached towns, villages, and plantations.
(a) Towns and Cities
Students left govt schools.
Lawyers gave up practice (Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das).
Foreign cloth boycotted → imports reduced.
Problems: No alternative schools or courts, khadi was expensive → movement slowed in
towns.
(b) Peasants in Awadh
Led by Baba Ramchandra.
Demands: Reduce rent, stop begar (unpaid work), abolish oppressive landlords.
Movement sometimes turned violent against landlords.
(c) Tribal People in Andhra
British stopped tribals from entering forests & collecting fuel, fruits.
Led by Alluri Sitaram Raju.
Inspired by Gandhi but believed in violence.
Used guerrilla warfare against British.
(d) Plantation Workers in Assam
Harsh laws forced workers to stay in tea plantations.
Inspired by Gandhi → left plantations to go home.
Police caught and punished many.
🔥 4. Chauri Chaura and Withdrawal
1922, Gorakhpur (UP):
o Protesters clashed with police → police station burnt → 22 policemen killed.
Gandhi was against violence → suspended Non-Cooperation Movement.
5. Towards Civil Disobedience
Some leaders (Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das) formed Swaraj Party (1923).
Idea: Fight British inside councils.
Simon Commission (1927):
o Sent by British govt to suggest reforms.
o No Indian members → protest: “Simon Go Back”.
🧂 6. The Salt March and Civil Disobedience Movement
(1930–34)
Salt Law: Govt had monopoly; even poor had to pay tax on salt.
Gandhi chose salt as a symbol → affected rich & poor alike.
Dandi March (12 March 1930)
Gandhi walked 240 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi.
Made salt from seawater → broke salt law.
Sparked Civil Disobedience Movement.
Features of Civil Disobedience
Boycott of British goods, schools, jobs, councils.
Refusal to pay taxes.
People broke salt laws across India.
Women picketed liquor shops and foreign cloth.
💬 7. Limits of Civil Disobedience
Rich peasants: Supported (wanted lower revenue).
Poor peasants: Wanted rent reduction.
Business class: Supported at first, later withdrew (worried about trade).
Women: Participated in large numbers.
Dalits: Led by B.R. Ambedkar, wanted separate electorates.
Gandhi opposed → Poona Pact (1932): Dalits got reserved seats but not separate
electorates.
Muslims: Many leaders feared domination by Hindus → did not fully join.
🇮🇳 8. The Idea of Nationalism – A Shared Identity
Nationalism spread not just through protests but also culture and symbols:
History & Folklore: Glorified India’s past to inspire pride.
Songs & Stories: Spread through villages to create unity.
Bharat Mata Image: Painted by Abanindranath Tagore → symbol of nation.
Tricolour Flag: Symbol of unity.
Vande Mataram: Became a song of nationalism.
📝 9. Important Dates / Events (Timeline)
1915 – Gandhi returns to India.
1917 – Champaran Satyagraha.
1918 – Kheda & Ahmedabad Satyagraha.
1919 – Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
1920 – Khilafat & Non-Cooperation Movement.
1922 – Chauri Chaura (Non-Cooperation withdrawn).
1923 – Swaraj Party formed.
1927 – Simon Commission.
1930 – Dandi March, Civil Disobedience begins.
1931 – Gandhi-Irwin Pact; Second Round Table Conference.
1932 – Poona Pact (Ambedkar–Gandhi).
1934 – Civil Disobedience withdrawn.
✅ Summary in Simple Words
WWI caused suffering → people angry at British.
Gandhi introduced non-violent Satyagraha.
Early successes (Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad).
Rowlatt Act & Jallianwala Bagh turned people strongly against British.
Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) united Hindus, Muslims, peasants, tribals,
workers.
Chauri Chaura violence → Gandhi suspended movement.
Later, Civil Disobedience launched with Salt March (1930).
Many groups participated but had different demands.
Differences between Hindus, Muslims, Dalits created challenges.
Nationalism spread not only through protests but also songs, symbols, stories, images
→ Indians started imagining themselves as one nation.
✨ These are complete NCERT-based long notes, written in simple story style.
Would you like me to also make a flowchart / mindmap style summary (with arrows and
boxes) so that you can revise the entire chapter in 5 minutes before the exam?