Please refer to Nationalism in India Class 10 Social Science Important Questions with answers below. These solved questions for Chapter 2 Nationalism in India in NCERT Book for Class 10 Social Science have been prepared based on the latest syllabus and examination guidelines issued by CBSE, NCERT, and KVS. Students should learn these solved problems properly as these will help them to get better marks in your class tests and examinations. You will also be able to understand how to write answers properly. Revise these questions and answers regularly. We have provided Notes for Class 10 Social Science for all chapters in your textbooks.

Important Questions Class 10 Social Science Chapter 2 Nationalism in India

All Nationalism in India Class 10 Social Science Important Questions provided below have been prepared by expert teachers of Standard 10 Social Science. Please learn them and let us know if you have any questions.

Objective Type Questions 

Question. When was the Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) set up?
(a) In 1926
(b) In 1927
(c) In 1928
(d) In 1929
Answer : (b) In 1927

Question. Which one of the following statements is false about Alluri Sitarama Raju?
(a) He claimed he had special powers.
(b) He was inspired by the Non-Cooperation Movement
(c) He believed in the principle of non-violence advocated by Gandhiji
(d) He persuaded people to give up drinking.
Answer : (c) He believed in the principle of non-violence advocated by Gandhiji

Question. By whom was the Swaraj Party formed?
(a) Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Patel
(b) Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajendra Prasad
(d) Motilal Nehru and Rajendra Prasad
Answer : (b) Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das

Question. Which one of the following statements is not related to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?
(a) Gandhiji agreed to participate in the Round Table Conference
(b) Gandhiji agreed not to launch any further mass agitations against the British
(c) Gandhiji decided to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) The British agreed to release the political prisoners.
Answer : (b) Gandhiji agreed not to launch any further mass agitations against the British

Question. Who among the following wrote ‘Vande Mataram’?
(a) Abanindranath Tagore
(b) Rabindranath Tagore
(c) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
(d) Natesa shastri
Answer : (c) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Question. Who organized the Dalits into the Depressed classes Association in 1930?
(a) Alluri Sitaram Raju
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(d) Sardar Patel
Answer : (c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Question. Who among the following led the Civil Disobedience Movement in Peshawar?
(a) Lala Lajpat Rai
(b) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(c) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer : (c) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

Question. Which of the following agreements gave seats to the depressed classes Councils in Provincial and Central Legislative
(a) Lucknow Pact
(b) Gandhi-Irwin Pact
(c) Poona Pact
(d) None of the above
Answer : (c) Poona Pact

Question. What kind of movement was launched by the tribal peasants of Gudem Hills in Andhra Pradesh?
(a) Satyagraha Movement
(b) Militant Guerrilla Movement
(c) Non-Violent Movement
(d) None of the above
Answer : (b) Militant Guerrilla Movement

Question. Which one of the following Viceroys announced a vague offer of dominion status for India in October 1929?
(a) Lord Mount Batten
(b) Lord Dalhousie
(c) Lord Irwin
(d) None of the above
Answer : (c) Lord Irwin

Question. Which of the following Acts did not permit plantation workers to leave the tea gardens without permission?
(a) Indian Independence Act
(b) Inland Emigration Act of 1859
(c) Impaired Legislature Council Act
(d) Inland Immigration Act
Answer : (b) Inland Emigration Act of 1859

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. What is meant by Satyagraha ? 
Answer : Satyagraha is the non-violent way of mass agitation against the oppressor. The notion of Satyagraha underscored the power of truth.

Question. When was the Gandhi Irwin Pact signed ?
Answer : The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed between Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Lord Irwin on March 5, 1931.

Question. Why did Nationalists in India tour villages to gather folk songs and legends? 
Answer : In late-nineteenth-century India, nationalists began recording folk tales sung by bards and they toured villages to gather folk songs and legends as it was essential to preserve one’s folk tradition in order to discover his national identity and restore a sense of pride in his past.

Question. For which reasons was the Simon Commission boycotted? 
Answer : The Simon Commission was boycotted because there was no Indian in the Commission

Question. Who composed the song ‘Vande Mataram’? 
Answer : The song ‘Vande Mataram’ is composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

Question. When was police fired in united province at peasants near Rae Bareli? 
Answer : On 6 January 1921

Question. The resolution of Poorna Swaraj was adopted at which session of the Congress? 
Answer : The resolution of Poorna Swaraj was adopted at Lahore Session of 1929.

Question. Who was the writer of ‘Vande Mataram’? 
Answer : The writer of ‘Vande Mataram’ is Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

Question. What is Begar?
Answer : Begar is a type of labour that villagers were forced to contribute without any payment.

Question. Why did people gather in Jallianwala Bagh on 13th April, 1919 ?
Answer : In order to attend Baisakhi festival, a crowd of villagers assembled at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on 13th April, 1919.

Question. Unfold the stages of Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer : (i) Started with the surrender of titles that government awarded.
(ii) Boycott of civil services, army, police, courts,legislative councils, schools and foreign goods.

Question. Name two prominent industrialists of the earlytwentieth century.
Answer : Purshottamdas Thakurdas and G.D. Birla were the two prominent industrialists of the earlytwentieth century.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act ?
Answer : The Rowlatt Act was initiated in 1919. The Imperial Legislative Council passed the act despite the opposition from Indian members. Under this act, the police could arrest anybody without trial for two years. Under the aegis of Mahatma Gandhi, Congress condemned the act as Black Act. The provisions of the act outraged Indians. Meetings were conducted and processions adopted. It was the first time when the Indian jointly opposed the British men.

Question. Describe the role of poor peasantry in the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement.’
Answer : The role of poor peasantry in the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement’ is discussed below :
(i) The poor peasantry was consists of small tenants cultivating land they had rented from landlords.
(ii) As the Depression continued and cash incomes diminish, the small tenants found it difficult to pay their rent and wanted to remitted it.
(iii) Apart, they were asked to pay more taxes when they could hardly afford to meet their ends.
(iv) This all infuriated the poor peasants and they came in large numbers to support the Civil Disobedience Movement as ‘no rent campaign’.
(v) It was because of them that Civil Disobedience Movement could become a mass movement.

Question. Why was Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhiji ? Explain any three reasons.
Answer : Gandhiji launched the Non-Cooperation Movement for several reasons. Three crucial reasons were:
(i) Rowlatt Act (1919): This Act hurriedly passed by the Imperial Legislative Council, gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. Mahatma Gandhi objected to such unjust laws and wanted non-violent civil disobedience against it.
(ii) To address the wrong-doing at Jallianwala Bagh incident: On 13 April 1919, General Dyer blocked the exit points and opened fire, killing thousands of innocent men, women and children who had gathered for the annual Baisakhi fair and a peaceful protest against government’s new repressive measures. The satyagrahis and various protesters were humiliated and treated badly by the Britishers.
(iii) To support the Khilafat Movement: Gandhi ji saw the opportunity of uniting the Muslims and Hindus through the Non-Cooperation Movement by taking up the Khilafat issue. Ottoman Turkey was defeated in the First World War and there were rumours of harsh peace treaty. A Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay by brothers like Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali and Gandhiji discussed with them about a united mass action in support of Khilafat and swaraj.

Question. Why did Gandhiji take up the Khilafat issue?
Answer : i. While the Rowlatt satyagraha had been a widespread movement, it was still limited mostly to cities and towns.
ii. Mahatma Gandhi now felt the need to launch a more broad-based movement in India.
iii. But he was certain that no such movement could be organised without bringing the Hindus and Muslims closer together. One way of doing this, he felt, was to take up the Khilafat issue.

Question. Which leaders pressed for more radical action?
Answer : Younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose pressed for more radical mass agitation and for full independence.

Question. How was the feeling of Nationalism created through reinterpretation of History?
Answer : ➢ A means of creating felling of nationalism
➢ British saw Indians – backwards/ primitive, incapable of governing themselves
➢ In response Indians began looking into the past to discover Indians great achievement – art, architecture, science, mathematics, religions, culture, law, philosophy and crafts, trade.
➢ This glorious past was followed by decline when India – colonized.
➢ Nationalist histories urged readers to take pride in India’s achievement and struggle to change miserable conditions of life – British rule.

Question. Why was the Khilafat committee formed, who were its leaders?
Answer : – The first world was had ended with the defeat – ottoman empire
– There was a rumour – harsh treaty was going to be imposed on the ottoman emperor (khalifa), the spiritual head of Islamic world.
– To defend khalifa’s temporal powers a khilafat committee was formed by leaders – Muhammed ali and Shaukat Ali.

Question. What was decided at the Calcutta session of the Congress?
Answer : At the Calcutta session of the Congress in September 1920, he convinced other leaders of the need to start a noncooperation movement in support of Khilafat as well as for Swaraj.

Question. Why did the people of other communities feel left out?
Answer : These efforts to unify people were not without problems. When the past being glorified was Hindu, when the images celebrated were drawn from Hindu iconography, then people of other communities felt left out

Question. Simon Commission – 1927- Why it was appointed and why did the Indians oppose it?
Answer : • The new Tory Govt. in Britain set up a statutory commission under Sir John Simon.
• The commission was the Look into the functioning of the constitutional sys in India and suggest changes.
• The commission did not have a single Indian member. They were all British.
• When the Simon commission arrived in India – greeted with the slogan “go back simon”. All parties including the congress and the Muslim league participated in demonstrations.

Question. What proposal was put forward by Jinnah? Why did the negotiations fail?
Answer : • From the mid 1920’s congress was visible associated with hindu religious nationalist groups like Hindu Maha Sabha. Thus muslime felt alienated from the congress.
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah willing to give up the demand for separate electorates of
QuestionMuslims assured of reserved seats in the central assembly and
o Representation in proportion to population in the muslim dominated provinces (Bengal and Punjab)
• M.R. Jayakar of the Hindu Maha Sabha strongly opposed efforts at compromise.

Question. Describe the main features of ‘Poona Pact‘.
Answer : The main features of ‘Poona Pact’ were :
(i) The Poona Pact (September 1932) gave Depressed Classes (later to be known as Scheduled Caste) reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils.
(ii) They were to be voted in by the general electorate.
(iii) The Act came into force due to Gandhiji’s fast unto death.
(iv) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhiji’s stand. 

Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act? Explain any three reasons.
Answer : (i) The Rowlatt Act was hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council.
(ii) Indian members unitedly opposed it.
(iii) It gave government enormous powers to repress political activities.

Question. What were the demands of the Peasant Movement? Explain any two.
What contribution did Jawaharlal Nehru make to this movement?
Answer : (i) Demands of the Peasant Movement were :
(a) Reduction of revenue.
(b) Abolition of begar.
(c) Social boycott of oppressive landlords.
(ii) Jawaharlal Nehru’s contribution: He went around villages to understand the grievances of the villagers. Oudh Kisan Sabha was set up and within a month 300 branches were set up.

Question. What type of flag was designed during the ‘Swadeshi Movement’ in Bengal? Explain its main features.
Answer : During the “Swadeshi Movement” in Bengal the flag designed was a Tricolour Flag.
The two features of the flag were :
(i) The colour of the flag was Red, Green and Yellow.
(ii) It had eight lotuses representing eight provinces in British India.
(iii) It had a crescent moon representing Hindus and Muslims.

Question. “The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement.” Support the statement with examples.
OR
How was the Civil Disobedience Movement different from the Non-Cooperation Movement? State any three points of difference.
Answer : The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement :
Non-Cooperation Movement :
(i) The people were asked not to cooperate with the government.
(ii) Foreign goods were boycotted.
(iii) Liquor shops were picketed.
(iv) Foreign clothes were burnt in heap.
(v) In many places merchants and traders refused to trade on foreign goods or finance foreign traders.
(vi) Students left the government – owned schools and colleges.
(vii) Lawyers gave up legal practices.
Civil Disobedience Movement :
(i) People were asked to break colonial laws.
(ii) The countrymen broke the salt law.
(iii) Peasants refused to pay revenue and chaukidari tax.
(iv) Village officials resigned from their jobs.
(v) Forest people violated forest rules and laws.

Question. “The Congress was reluctant to include the demands of industrial workers in its programme of struggle.“ Analyse the reasons.
Answer : The Congress was reluctant to include the demands of industrial workers in its programme of struggle:
(i) The industrialists came closer to the Congress, but the workers stayed aloof.
(ii) Congress felt this would alienate industrialists.
(iii) It would divide its anti-imperial forces.
(iv) Civil Disobedience Movement would be weakened.

Question. Explain the efforts made by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar for the political empowerment of the Dalits or Depressed Classes.
Answer : (i) Dr. B.R.Ambedkar organised the ‘Dalits’ into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930.
(ii) He clashed with Mahatma Gandhi at the Second Round Table Conference by demanding separate electorates for Dalits.
(iii) In 1932, he signed Poona Pact which gave the depressed classes reserved seats in the provincial and central legislative councils.

Question. What were Mahatma Gandhi‘s views on women‘s participation in the national movements?
Answer : (i) According to Gandhiji, the woman is the companion of man and gifted with equal rights of freedom and liberty.
(ii) The woman is more fit than a man to take exploration and bolder action in non-violence.
(iii) The woman is the better half of humanity, not the weaker sex.

Question. “The plantation workers in Assam had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj”. Support the statement with arguments.
Answer : “The plantation workers in Assam had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj” :
(i) For plantation workers in Assam, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of the confined space in which they were enclosed.
(ii) Swaraj meant retaining a link to the village from which they had come.
(iii) Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859 plantation workers were not permitted to leave the tea gardens without permission.
(iv) When they heard of the Non-Cooperation Movement, thousands of workers defied the authorities, left the plantations and headed home.
(v) They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming and everyone would be given land in their own village.

Question. What was the objective of Simon Commission? Why was it opposed in India?
Answer : Simon Commission was set up to look into the functioning of the Constitutional System in India and suggest changes.
It was opposed because :
(i) It had all the members from the white community.
(ii) It had not even a single Indian as its member. Indians took it as their insult.

Question. Why did the Non-Cooperation Movement gradually slow down in the cities? Explain.
Answer : The Non-Cooperation Movement gradually slow down the cities because:-
(i) Khadi clothes were more expensive than mill clothes.
(ii) Poor people could not afford to buy it.
(iii) The boycott of British institutions posed a problem.
(iv) Students and teachers began trickling back to government schools.
(v) Lawyers joined back work in government courts.

Question. Describe the spread of Non-Cooperation Movement in the countryside.
Answer : Non-Cooperation Movement spread in the countryside :
(i) In Awadh, peasants were led by Baba Ramchandra. Here the movement was against talukdars and landlords who demanded from peasants exorbitantly high rents and a variety of other cesses.
(ii) Peasants had to do begar and work at landlords’ farms without any payments.
As tenants, they had no security of tenure and were regularly evicted so that they have no right over the leased land.
(iii) The peasant movement demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of begar and social boycott of oppressive landlords. In the meantime, Jawaharlal Nehru began going around the villages in Awadh.
(iv) The Awadh Kisan Sabha was set up in the villages. The peasant movement, however, developed in forms that the Congress leadership was unhappy with.
(v) As the movement spread, the houses of talukdars and merchants were attacked: bazaars were looted and grain hoards were taken over.

Question. Declaration of Purna Swaraj- 1929
Answer : • In Dec 1929 under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore congress formalized the demand of ‘Purna Swaraj’ or full independence for India.
• It was declared that 26 January 1930, would be celebrated as the Independence Day.

Question. What were the main provision of the Rowlatt act?
Answer : i. Gave the govt enormous powers – repress political activities.
ii. Allowed detention of political prisoners without trail for two years.

Question. What was the response of the people towards the Rowlatt Act? How did the Govt suppress the movement?
Answer : i. Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal on 6 April.
ii. Rallies were organised in various cities, workers went on strike in railway workshops, and shops closed down.
iii. Alarmed by the popular upsurge, and scared that lines of communication such as the railways and telegraph would be disrupted, the British administration decided to clamp down on nationalists.
➢ Local leaders were picked up from Amritsar,
➢ Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.
➢ On 10 April, the police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession, provoking widespread attacks on banks, post offices and railway stations.
➢ Martial law was imposed and General Dyer took command.

Question. How did people belonging to different communities’ regions or language groups develop a sense of collective belonging?
Answer : ➢ It came through the experience of united struggles
➢ History, fiction, folklore, songs, popular prints, symbols all played a part in the making of nationalism
➢ Re interpretation of History.

Question. Discuss the development of the national flag
Answer : ➢ During swadeeshi movement – Bengal, A tricolor flag (red, green and yellow) designed. It had 8 lotuses representing 8 provinces – British India crescent moon – representing Hindus and Muslims.
➢ By 1921 – gandhiji had designed – Swaraj flag. It was tri colour (red, green, white) had a spinning wheal – centre – representing gandhian idea of self help.

Question. Describe the different stages in the Non cooperation movement.
Answer : i. Gandhiji proposed that the movement should unfold in stages.
ii. It should begin with the surrender of titles that the government awarded, and a boycott of civil services, army, police, courts and legislative councils, schools, and foreign goods.
iii. Then, in case the government used repression, a full civil disobedience campaign would be launched.

Question. Which two leaders toured extensively mobilizing support for the movement?
Answer : Through the summer of 1920 Mahatma Gandhi and Shaukat Ali toured extensively, mobilising popular support for the movement.

Question. Describe the implications of First World War on the economic and political situation of India.
Answer : The implications of First World War on the economic and political situation of India are discussed below : Economic
(i) It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes: customs duties were raised and income tax introduced.
(ii) Through the war years prices increased—doubled between 1913 and 1918—leading to extreme hardship for the common people.
(iii) Villages were called upon to supply soldiers, and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger. Political
(i) Forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger.
(ii) The failure of the crops in many parts of India had created food shortages, leading to the added misery of the people.
(iii) There was the outbreak of the great influenza epidemic. Millions of people perished due to influenza and starvation. Conclusion : As a result nationalist movements grew in the country.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. How did Non-Cooperation movement start with participation of middle class people in the cities? Explain its impact on the economic front.
Answer : Introduction the non cooperation movement started in January 1921.Each group took it in its way. In the cities middle class group participated.
(a) student left jonta school headmaster and teachers resign lawyers gave up their practice. 
(b) everyone join the movement by boycotting a European goods using Swades product dealers refused to trade in a European product.
(C) economic front :- foreign cloth burn in a hug bonfires basic refused to trade in improved gold shop foreign boy.cotted.
(d) forever poor people couldn’t afford to wear rich khadi instead of cheap mill made cloth.
(e) people begin tickling back to gont institution as a Indian institution where slow to come up.

Conclusion:- does non cooperation movement of cities was organised.

Question. Why was the ‘Salt March‘ considered an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism ? Explain. 
Answer : The tax on salt and the government‘s monopoly over its production, according to Mahatma Gandhi, its the most repressive face of the British rule. (i) Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation.
(ii) On 31 January 1930, he sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands. The demands were wideranging, so that all classes within Indian society could identify with them and everyone could be brought together in a united campaign.
(iii) The most vital demand was to abolish salt tax.
(iv) Salt was an essential ingredient for food items and consumed by the rich and poor alike.
(v) If the demands were not fulfilled by 11 March, 1930 the letter stated that the Congress would launch a civil disobedience campaign.

Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi launch the ‘Non- Cooperation Movement’ ? How did this movement unite the country ? Explain.
Answer : Gandhiji launched the Non-Cooperation Movement because : (i) He decided to launch a satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act which allows detention of Indians without trial for two years. (ii) He was against the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. (iii) He wanted to launch a broad-based movement for bringing the Hindus and Muslims closer together through the Khilafat issue. (iv) In the Congress session at Colcutta and Nagpur, he convinced other congress leaders to start a non-cooperation movement in support of Khilafat as well as for swaraj.

Unification of the country by the Non-Cooperation Movement :
(i) Various social groups joined this movement, each with its own specific objective.
(ii) People surrendered titles and awards and boycotted civil services, police, courts, legislative councils and foreign goods.
(iii) Thousands of students left their schools and colleges.
(iv) Merchants, teachers, lawyers, peasants, tribal peasants and plantation workers also joined the movement.

Question. Critically examine any four features of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Answer : Four features of the Civil Disobedience Movement :
(i) The most widespread non-violent mass movement led by Gandhiji.
(ii) Large scale participation of women.
(iii) Support given by commercial classes.
(iv) Workers’ participation in the movement, selectively adopting some of the ideas of Gandhian programme strikes of railways and dock workers.

Question. Describe the composition of tricolour flag designed during the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal.
Answer : (i) It was designed in Bengal.
(ii) It was tricolour flag.
(iii) Having red, yellow and green colours.
(iv) It had eight lotuses representing our eight provinces.
(v) A crescent moon representing Hindus and Muslims.

Question. How did Gandhiji convert the National Movement into a Mass Movement?
Answer : Gandhiji converted the National Movement into a Mass Movement by :
(i) His simple and saintly life and style of convincing the masses made him popular.
(ii) His undisputed leadership and magnetic personality.
(iii) His policy of non-violent Satyagraha.
(iv) His programmes of social reforms like fighting against untouchability.
(v) His commitment to Hindu-Muslim unity.

Question. Why did Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act of 1919? How was it organised? Explain.
Answer : Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919 :
(i) The Rowlatt Act was hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council.
(ii) Indian members unitedly opposed it.
(iii) It gave government enormous powers to repress political activities.
(iv) It allowed detention of political prisoners without trials for two years.
Organisation of Satyagraha :
(i) Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws.
(ii) It was started with a ‘Hartal’ on 6th April.
(iii) Rallies were organised in various cities.
(iv) Workers went on strike in railway workshops.
(v) Shops were closed down.

Question. “Some of the Muslim political organizations in India, were lukewarm in their response to the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement’.” Examine the statement.
Answer : Large sections of Muslims were lukewarm in their response to the Civil Disobedience Movement due to the following factors :
(i) Association of Congress with Hindu Mahasabha: After the decline of the Non-Cooperation – Khilafat Movement, a large section of Muslims felt alienated from the Congress. From the mid-1920s, the Congress came to be more visibly associated with openly Hindu religious nationalist groups like the Hindu Mahasabha.
(ii) Communal Clashes : As relations between the Hindus and the Muslims worsened, each community organised religious processions with militant fervour, provoking Hindu- Muslim communal clashes and riots in various cities. Every riot deepened the distance between the two communities.
(iii) Issue of demand for separate electorates: Some of the Muslim leaders demanded a separate electorate for the Muslims which was not supported by the Congress leaders.
(iv) Status of Muslims in Hindu majority state: Many Muslim leaders and intellectuals expressed their concern about the status of Muslims as a minority within India. They feared that the culture and identity of minorities would be submerged under the domination of a Hindu majority.
(v) Issue of reserved seats in the Central Assembly: Muslim League leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah demanded reservation of seats for the Muslims in the Central Assembly but this was not acceptable to the Congress leaders. So, Muslims could not respond to the call for a united struggle.

Question. Explain with examples the role of Industrialists in the freedom struggle of India.
Answer : (i) They lent their support to the Congress in protest against the colonial policies that restricted indigenous business enterprises.
(ii) They also gave financial assistance and refused to buy or sell foreign goods. They formed associations like the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in 1920 and FICCI in 1927.
(iii) They viewed Swaraj as freedom from the domination of market by foreign goods but withdrew their support when the Second Round Table Congress failed.
(iv) They were also concerned about the rise of the socialist ideology in the Congress.
(v) Purshottamdas Thakurdas and G.D. Birla attacked the colonial control over Indian economy.

Question. The middle classes played an important role in the Non- Cooperation Movement in the cities. Explain. Why do you think that the movement slowed down in the cities? 
Answer : Middle classes played an important role in the Non- Cooperation Movement in the cities:
(i) Thousands of students left the government- controlled schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned, and lawyers gave up their legal practices.
(ii) The council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras.
(iii) Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed, and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires.
The movement in the cities gradually slowed down for a variety of reasons.
(i) Khadi cloth was more expensive than mass-produced mill cloth and poor people could not afford it and therefore, could not boycott mill cloth for very long.
(ii) Similarly, boycotting British institutions also posed a problem as there were no alternative national institutions to fulfil educational needs.
(iii) As a result students and teachers began trickling back to government schools and lawyers joined back work in government courts.

Question. Why was the ‘Salt March’ considered an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism? Explain.
Answer : Salt March :
(i) Salt was consumed by all the sections of the society.
(ii) It was the most essential item of food.
(iii) The tax on salt and the government monopoly over production.
(iv) Gandhiji found salt as a powerful symbol that could unite the nation.
(v) On 31st January 1930, he sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands.
(vi) The idea was to make the demands wide ranging, so that all classes within Indian society could identify with them and everyone could be brought together in a united campaign.
(vii) The most stirring of all was the demand to abolish the salt tax.

Question. Explain Gandhiji’s view on Satyagraha. Which quality of Mahatma Gandhi turned the freedom struggle into a mass movement?
OR
Explain the ideas of Gandhiji regarding ‘Satyagraha’ in five points.
Answer : Five points about Gandhiji’s idea of ‘Satyagraha’:
(i) The idea of Satyagraha emphasized the power of truth and the need to search for truth.
(ii) It suggested that if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.
(iv) This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor.
(iii) Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence.
(v) People including the oppressors had to be persuaded to see the truth, instead of being forced to accept truth through the use of violence.
(vi) Gandhiji believed that truth was bound to ultimately triumph.
(vii) He believed that the dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians.

Question. What was the impact of the First World War on the economic conditions in India.
Answer : (i) It created new economic and political problems. The war had led to huge expenditure which was financed by heavy loans and an increase in taxes. Customs duties were raised and income tax was introduced.
(ii) The prices had doubled between 1913 and 1918 and the common people underwent great hardships.
(iii) Crops had failed between 1918-19 and 1920-21 leading to famine and disease. There were epidemics killing between 12-13 million people (Census, 1921).
(iv) People’s hope that the end of the war would bring an end to their misery and near to their goals goals and this led to their support to the National Movement.
(v) The Muslims were antagonised by the British ill- treatment of the Khalifa, after the First World War.
(vi) Indian villagers were also incensed by the British Government’s forced recruitment of men in the army.
(vii) The Congress and other parties were angry with the British for not consulting them before making India a party on their side against Germany.
(viii) Taking advantage of the First World War, many revolutionary parties cropped up and they incited the people to join the anti-Colonial Movement in India (i.e. the National Movement).

Question. Why did Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide ‘Satyagraha’ against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919) ? How was it opposed ? Explain.
Answer : Gandhi ji decided to launch a nation-wide Satyagraha:
(i) This Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council.
(ii) Indian members opposed the Act.
(iii) It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities.
(iv) It allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
It opposed in the following ways:
(i) Rallies were organised in various cities. (ii) Workers went on strike.
(iii) Shops were closed.
(iv) Communication, railway, telegraphs lines were disrupted.

Question. Why did Mahatma Gandhi find in ‘Salt’ a powerful symbol that could unite the nation? Explain.
Answer : Mahatma Gandhi found ‘Salt’ a powerful symbol :
Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands on 31st January, 1930. The most stirring of all was to abolish the salt tax. Salt was one of the most essential items of foods. It was consumed both by rich and poor alike. He urged them to peacefully defy the tax imposed on salt. On 6th April he reached Dandi and violated the law.

Question. Define Rowlatt Act. Why did Indians react against Rowlatt Act? 
Answer : A. This Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of Indian Members.
B. It gave the government enormous power to repress political activities, and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
C. The Rowlett Act acted as an instrument of suppression of civil rights of the Indians hence produced widespread discontent among masses.
The reactions of people against the Rowlatt Act passed through the Imperial Legislative Council 1919 were as follows:
1. Rallies were organised in various cities.
2. Workers went on strike in railway workshops.
3. Shops closed down.
4. Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws, for which a day of hartal was fixed on 6 April,1919.

Question. i. Two features A and B are marked in the given political map of India. Identify these features with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines marked on the map.
a. The place of Peasants Satyagraha.
b. The place associated with the Civil Disobedience Movement
ii. Locate and Label Madras-the place where the Indian National Congress session held in 1927 with appropriate symbols on the same map given for identification
Answer :

Question. How did a variety of cultural processes play an important role in the making of nationalism in India? Explain with examples. 
Answer : Variety of cultural processes played an important role in the making of nationalism, in India in the following ways:
a. This sense of collective belonging came partly through the experience of united struggles and growing anger among people against the colonial government.
b. The sense of collective belonging inculcated the spirit of nationalism among the people. History and fiction, folklore and songs and popular prints and symbols played an important part in the making of nationalism.
c. The identity of the nation symbolized in a figure or image of Bharat Mata created through literature, songs, paintings etc.
d. The movement to revive Indian folklore to enhance nationalist sentiments.
e. Role of icons and symbols in unifying people and inspiring in them a feeling of nationalism.
f. Creating a feeling of nationalism was through a reinterpretation of history.

Question. Explain the effects of First World War on India. 
Answer : The First World War created a new economic and political situation and posed the following problems in India:
i. It led to a huge increase in defense expenditure which was financed by increasing taxes on Indians.
ii. Custom duties were raised and income tax was introduced.
iii. Prices increased, doubling between 1913 and 1918. Continuous price rise caused extreme hardship to the common people.
iv. Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers by forced recruitment in rural areas which caused widespread anger.
v. During 1918-19, crops failed in many parts of India which created a shortage of food.
vi. Spread of influenza epidemic and death of 12 to 13 million people.

Question. How did the Salt March become an effective tool of resistance against colonialism? Explain. 
Answer : The ‘Salt March’ acted as an effective tool of resistance against colonialism because of the following reasons:
i. Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation.
ii. Salt was something consumed by the rich and the by the rich and the poor alike.
The tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production revealed the most oppressive face of British rule.
iii. Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands. The most stirring of all was the demand to abolish the salt tax. But Irwin was unwilling to negotiate, so to peacefully defy the British, Mahatma Gandhi started his famous salt march accompanied by 78 of his trusted volunteers.
iv. On 6 April he reached Dandi, and ceremonially violated the law, manufacturing salt by boiling sea water.
This march developed the feeling of nationalism, people in different parts of the country broke the salt law and manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories.

Question. How did different social groups participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain with examples. 
Answer : The different social groups which participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement were:
a. In the countryside, the rich peasant communities like Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar Pradesh took an active part in the movement. They were hard hit by trade depression and falling prices and were unable to pay the government’s revenue demand. For them, Swaraj meant to struggle against high revenue.
b. As the depression continued poor peasantry found it difficult to pay the rent. They joined a variety of radical movements often led by socialists and communists.
c. Indian merchants and industrialists resented colonial policies which restricted trade. They were against imports of foreign goods. When the civil disobedience movement was first launched, they gave financial assistance and refused to buy or sell imported cloth. To organise business interests, they formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in 1920 and the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927.
d. Some workers participated in the movement with their selective approach adopted from Gandhian ideas to protest against low wages and poor working conditions. There were strikes by railway workers and dockyard workers.
Thousands of workers in Chotanagpur tin mines wore Gandhi caps and participated in protest rallies and boycott campaigns.
e. Women joined the Civil Disobedience Movement in large number. They participated in protest marches, manufactured salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops.

Question. Which incident marked the beginning of Civil Disobedience Movement? Why did the peasants join the Civil Disobedience Movement? 
Answer : Civil Disobedience Movement: Violation of Salt Law by manufacturing salt from seawater by Gandhiji marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
The peasants joined the Civil Disobedience Movement due to the following reasons:
a. In the countryside, the rich peasant communities like Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar Pradesh took an active part in the movement. They were hard hit by trade depression and falling prices and were unable to pay the government’s revenue demand.
b. For the rich peasants, the fight for Swaraj was a struggle against high revenue.
c. As the depression continued poor peasantry found it difficult to pay the rent. They joined a variety of radical movements often led by socialists and communists.
d. Poor peasants wanted the unpaid rent to the landlord be remitted so they joined the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Question. What was the impact of the First World War on the economic conditions in India.
Answer : The First World War created a new economic and political situation and posed the following problems in India:
i. The war had led to huge expenditure which was financed by heavy loans and an increase in taxes. Customs duties were raised and income tax was introduced.
ii. Between 1913 and 1918, the prices had doubled and the common people underwent great hardships.
iii. Crops had failed between 1918-19 and 1920- 21 leading to famine and disease, There were epidemics killing between 12-13 million people (Census, 1921).
iv. People’s hope that the end of the war would bring an end to their goals were believed, and this led to their support to the national movement.
v. The Muslims were antagonized by the British ill-treatment of the Khalifa, after the First World War.
vi. Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers by forced recruitment in rural areas which caused widespread anger. All this was aggravated by the failure of crop and famine.
vii. Shortage of essential commodities was the natural outcome of war as industries were geared to produce goods to fulfil war needs.
viii. The Congress and other parties were angry with the British for not consulting them before making India a party on their side against Germany.
ix. Taking advantage of the First World War, many revolutionary parties cropped up and they incited the people to join the anti-colonial movement in India (i.e. the National Movement).

Question. How did the revival of Indians folklore develop the ideas of Nationalism among Indians? Explain. 
Answer : The spirit of nationalism could be fostered only when people were aware of the concept of one single nation by breaking the divisions of region and communities. The folklore and paintings helped to achieve the same.
The image of Bharat mata with the tri-colour in her hand helped the people of the nation to look up to a image or a figure they were fighting for. The native folk songs inspired all to look up to the cultural achievements of one’s country and use it as a weapon to encourage all.
A. Idea of nationalism also developed through a movement to revive Indian folklore.
B. In late nineteenth century India, nationalists began recording folk tales sung by bards and they toured villages to gather folk songs and legends.
C. These tales they believed gave a true picture of traditional culture that had been corrupted and damaged by outside forces.
D. It was essential to preserve this folk tradition in order to discover one’s national identity and restore a sense of pride in one’s past.
E. In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore himself began collecting ballades, nursery rhymes and myths and the movement for folk revival.

Question. Two items A and B are shown in the given political outline map of India. Identify these items with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines marked on the map.
a. The place which is known for Cotton Mill Workers Satyagraha.
b. The place where Congress Session was held in September 1920. On the same political outline map of India, locate and label the following items with appropriate symbols: 
Answer : The correct information has been provided and location and labelling of the given items have also been marked on the map.
a. The place which is known for Cotton Mill Workers Satyagraha is Ahmedabad.
b. The place where Congress Session was held in September 1920 is Calcutta.

Question. Define the term ‘Civil Disobedience Movement.‘ Describe the participation of rich and poor peasant communities in the ‘Civil Disobedience Movement.‘ 
Answer : The term ‘Civil Disobedience’ meant “Refusal by a large group of people to obey particular laws or pay taxes, usually as a form of peaceful political protest‘‘. In the countryside, rich peasant communities – like the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh – were active in the movement. Being producers of commerical crops, they were very hard hit by the trade depression and falling prices. These rich peasants became enthusiastic supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement, organizing their communities, and at times forcing reluctant members, to participate in the boycott programmes. For them, the fight for Swaraj was a struggle against high revenues. Poor peasants wanted the unpaid rent to the landlord to be remitted. They joined a variety of radical movements, often led by Socialists and Communists. Apprehensive of raising issues that might upset the rich peasants and landlords, the Congress was unwilling to support ‘no rent‘ campaigns in most places. So, the relationship between the poor peasants and the Congress remained uncertain.

Question. How did the ‘ First World War ‘ create a new economic and political situations in India ? Explain with example. 
Answer : New Economic and political situation created by the First World War: The First World War created a new economic and political situations in India. The war led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes. Customs duties were raised and income tax introduced. Through the war years prices increased doubling between 1913 and 1918 leading to extreme hardship for the common people. Villages were called upon to supply soldiers, and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger. Then in 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India, resulting in acute shortages of food. This was accompanied by an influenza epidemic. According to the census of 1921, 12 to 13 million people perished as a result of famines and the epidemic. People hoped that their hardships would end after the war was over. But that did not happen. Mahatma Gandhi who returned to India in January 1915 appeared as a new leader appeared and suggested a new mode of struggle. He had come from South Africa where he had successfully fought the racist regime with a novel method of mass agitation, which he called satyagraha.