St. Peter’s School. Mazgaon.

Mumbai-10
[Class 10 History]
Ch. 6
Mahatma Gandhi and the National Movement
[Notes to be copied in the Exercise Books]
Section A
Short answer Questions
1. Which period of Indian History is known as Gandhian era and why?
Ans. The period from 1919 to 1948 is known as Gandhian Era because during this period
Mahatma Gandhi completely dominated the Indian National movement by following the
methods of Satyagraha, non-violence, swadeshi and mass movement.
2. What was the Khilafat Movement?
Ans. The Khilafat Movement was an agitation started by the Muslim population in
India to protest against the deprivation of all authority of the sultan of turkey, who
was regarded as the religious head of the Muslims.
3. Why did Mahatma Gandhi participate in the Khilafat Movement?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi participated in the Khilafat Movement to forge Hindu-Muslim
unity.
4. Name three events which disillusioned Mahatma Gandhi and turned him into a
non-cooperator from a cooperator with the British Government.
Ans. (i) The passing of the Rowlatt Act.
(ii) The Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy.
(iii) The Khilafat Wrongs.
5. What was the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy?
Ans. Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy refers to the gruesome tragedy that happened on
April,1919 at the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar when General Dyer after blocking the
only exit of the garden, gave shooting orders at the Indians who had gathered there
to protest against the arrest of leaders like Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlu and Dr. Satya Pal.
6. When and why was the Simon Commission appointed?
Ans. The Simon Commission was appointed in November 1927 for the following reasons:
(i) to enquire into the working of the system of government, the growth of education and the
development of representative institution in India; and
(ii) to report on the extent and desirability of establishing responsible government in India.

7. Why was the Simon Commission boycotted everywhere? Give one reason.
Ans. The Simon Commission was boycotted everywhere in India because it comprised seven British
members of Parliament and no Indian was its members. This was seen as an insult to the self-respect
of the Indians.

8. Why were the proposals of the Simon Commission unacceptable to major political parties in
India?
Ans. The proposals of the Simon Commission were not acceptable to major political parties because
(i) The Commission was composed of seven British members of Parliament and 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.
(ii) The proposals made by the Simon Commission were considered by all the political parties as
partial and inadequate.

9. Why is the Congress Session held at Lahore in 1929 significant in India's Freedom Movement?
Ans. The Congress Session held at Lahore in 1929 is significant for its historic resolution which
declared Puma Swaraj or complete independence as the goal of the Congress and the National
Movement.

10. Mention any two recommendations of the Simon Commission.

Ans. The following were the recommendations of the Simon Commission:
(i) Dyarchy should be abolished and there should be complete autonomy in the Provinces.
(ii) Federal government at the Centre should control not only British India but also the Princely
States.

11. Who was the President of the historic Lahore Session of the Congress of 1929.
Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru.

12. Which day was to be observed every year as the Purna Swaraj Day all over India?
Ans. January 26.

13. When and why did Gandhiji launch the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Ans. Gandhiji launched the Civil Disobedience Movement on March 12, 1930 when the British
government backtracked from its promise of granting Dominion status to India and did not respond
to Gandhiji's 'Eleven Pool Ultimatum'.

14. When did Mahatma Gandhi start his historic march to Dandi?
Ans. On March 12, 1930.

15. When and by whom was the Civil Disobedience Movement launched?
Ans. The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on March 18, 1930.

16. Mention the programme undertaken for the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ans. Civil Disobedience Movement involved:
(i) Defiance of Salt Laws
(ii) Boycott of Liquor
(iii) Boycott of foreign cloth and British goods of all kinds
(iv) Non-payment of taxes and revenues.

17. Who took the leadership of the Civil Disobedience Movement in the extreme north-western
part of the country? What was he popularly known as and what was the name of the organisation
formed by him?
Ans. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. He was popular known as The Frontier Gandhi. He formed the society
of Khudai Khidmatgars, popularly known as Red Shirts.

18. When and where was the First Round Table Conference held?
Ans. The First Round Table Conference was held from November 12, 1930 to January 19, 1931 in
London.
19. In which session of the Round Table Conference did the Congress participate? Who was the
representative of the Congress at this session?
Ans. Second Round Table Conference.
Mahatma Gandhi.

20. Explain briefly the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.

Ans. The pact signed by Gandhiji and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, in March 1931 is known as the
Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Through this Pact, the British agreed to withdraw:
(i) all ordinances and release all political prisoner, except those guilty of violence; and
(ii) permit peaceful picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops.
(iii) the Congress agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the
Second Round Table Conference.

21. Why did Mahatma Gandhi suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931 as agreed by the
Gandhi-Irwin Pact. According to the Pact, the British agreed to withdraw all ordinances and release
all political prisoners, except those guilty of violence and permit peaceful picketing of liquor and
foreign cloth shops on the condition that the Congress would suspend the Civil Disobedience
Movement and participate in the Second Round Table Conference.

22. What was the impact of the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Ans. (i) It shattered people’s faith in the British Government.
(ii) It revived the will to fight the elections.
(iii) It deepened the social roots for the freedom struggle.
(iv) It popularised new methods of propaganda like the Prabhat Pheris, Pamphlets etc.

Section B
Structured Questions

1. In 1920, the Nagpur session of the Congress adopted a resolution for the Non-Cooperation
Movement. In this context, describe briefly.

(a) The objectives of the movement

(b) The methods used for non-cooperation with the British.
(c) Any three far-reaching effects of the moment.

Ans. (a) Objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement

The Non-Cooperation Movement sought to achieve the following objectives:
(i) To attain self-government within the British Empire if possible and outside if necessary.
(ii) Annulment of the Rowlatt Act and remedying the 'Punjab wrong', i.e., the British
Government should express its regret on the happenings in Punjab, particularly the
Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar.
(iii) Remedying the `Khilafat wrong', i.e., the British should adopt a lenient attitude towards
Turkey and restore the old status of the Sultan of Turkey and Caliph.

(b) The methods used for Non-Cooperation

The methods used for Non-Cooperation with the British included the following:
(i) Boycott of government schools, colleges and courts.
(ii) Boycott of foreign goods.
(iii) Boycott of elections to be held for the Councils as suggested by the reforms of 1919.
(iv) Resignation from nominated seats in local bodies.
(v) Surrender of titles and honorary offices.
(vi) Refusal to attend government functions.

(c) Effects of the Non-Cooperation Movement [Any Four Points]

(i) The Indian national movement, acquired a real mass base with the participation of different
sections of Indian society such as peasants, workers, students, teachers and women.
(ii) It generated a desire for freedom and inspired people to challenge the colonial rule.
(iii) 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.
(iv) It fostered Hindu-Muslim unity which could be seen in the merger of the Khilafat issue with
this Movement.
(v) As a consequence of the Non-Cooperation Movement several steps were taken in the direction
of prohibition and removal of untouchability.
(vi) Many national schools and colleges were set up in different parts of the country.
(vii) The boycott of the foreign goods led to the promotion of Indian handicrafts and industries.
'Khadi' became the symbol of the National Movement.
2. Various circumstances were responsible for the Non-Cooperation Movement. In this contest,
explain the following:
(a) Resentment against the Rowlatt Act of 1919.
(b) Widespread agitation against the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy.
(c) The reason for the subsequent withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Ans. (a) Resentment against the Rowlatt Act of 1919

The Rowlatt Act authorised the British government to
(i) Arrest any person without trial and convict him in a Court;
(ii) Put restrictions on movements of individuals; and
(iii) Suspend the Right of Habeas Corpus (a writ which demands a person detained by
somebody illegally to be produced before a Court of Law).
The Act was seen as a blot on the self-respect of the Indians and their national honour. It sent a
wave of anger and unrest throughout the country.

(b) Agitation against the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy

A tragedy occurred at the Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1913 when General Dyer fired at a
peaceful crowd gathered there to demonstrate against the arrest of their leaders, killing and
wounding thousands. This tragedy shook the entire nation and led to widespread agitation.
(i) The Congress boycotted the elections to the legislatures.
(ii) Students left schools and colleges.
(iii) Lawyers like C.R. Dass, Motilal Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad and any others gave up their
legal practice.
(iv) Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi and many other distinguished citizens of India
renounced their titles and awards.

(c) Reason for the Withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement

The Non-Cooperation movement was called off on February 12,1922, at Gandhiji's insistence,
following the violent incident at Chauri Chaura, in which an angry mob set the nearby police station
on fire, killing 22 policemen who were inside the police station. Gandhiji, a believer in 'Ahimsa' was
greatly shocked at these incidents and he withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement.
3. With reference to the significance of the Civil Disobedience Movement write short notes on:
(a) The Dandi March.
(b) The course of the movement till it was suspended.
(c) Gandhi-Irwin Pact, 1931.

Ans. (a) The Dandi March, 1930

(i) Mahatma Gandhi began the historic Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a
village on the Gujarat seacoast on March 12, 1930 with a number of followers.
(ii) On the morning of 6th April, Gandhiji violated the Salt Laws at Dandi by picking up some
salt left by the sea-waves. He had selected to attack the Salt Laws because the salt-tax
affected all sections of society, especially the poor.
(iii) The breaking of the salt law symbolised the defiance of the laws made by the British
government. The defiance of the salt law was followed by boycott of liquor, foreign cloth
and British goods of all kinds and non-payment of taxes and revenues.

(b) The Course of the Movement [Any Three Points]

The Civil Disobedience Movement spread rapidly to all parts of the country.
(i) People violated the forest laws in Maharashtra, Karnataka and the Central Provinces and
refused to pay the rural chaukidari tax in Eastern India.
(ii) Everywhere in the country people joined hartals, demonstrations and the campaign to
boycott foreign goods and refused to pay taxes.
(iii) In north-western corner of India, under the leadership of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan,
popularly known as The Frontier Gandhi', the Pathans organised the society of Khudai
Khidmatgars (or Servants of God), known popularly as Red Shirts.
(iv) In Nagaland, Rani Gaidilieu, at the age of 13 responded to Gandhiji's call and raised the
banner of revolt against the British rule.
(v) Parallel governments were set up in several places in the country.
(vi) The textile and railway workers of Mumbai went on strike.

(c) The Significance of the Civil Disobedience Movement [Any Four Points]

The Civil Disobedience did not succeed immediately in winning freedom. But it played a significant
role by deepening the social roots of the freedom struggle. The importance of the Movement can be
summed up as follows:
(i) The Civil Disobedience Movement caused a tide of patriotic fervour in the country that
did not leave the British Government in peace.
(ii) It widened the base of the freedom struggle with the joining of a large number of social
groups like merchants and shopkeepers, peasants, tribals and workers in different parts
of the country.
(iii) It made people understand the significance of the principles of non-violence. People
could resist violence with tolerance and courage.
(iv) The movement popularised new methods of propaganda like Prabhat Pheris, in which
hundreds of men and women went around singing patriotic songs in the early morning.
(v) Hand-written Patrikas or news-sheets were issued in large numbers. Even children were
organised into Vanara Sena and girls had their own separate Manjari Sena or the cat
army.
(vi) The Movement under the leadership of Birla and the 'Harijan Sevak Sangh' changed the
social conditions. The depressed classes were given entry into temples and access to
wells, which was earlier denied to them.
(vii) It brought women out of their homes to participate in politics and to make them equal
partners in the freedom struggle.