12.

National Movement – Fulfillment (History Sample answers 8)

A. Answer the following questions orally.

1. When did Gandhiji establish the Sabarmati Ashram?

Gandhiji established the Sabarmati Ashram in 1916.

2. Name two nationalists who joined Gandhiji in his satyagraha campaigns.

Two nationalists who joined Gandhiji in his satyagraha campaigns were Rajendra Prasad and
Vallabhbhai Patel.

3. Name two leaders of the Khilafat Movement.

Two leaders of the Khilafat Movement were Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali (Ali brothers).

4. Name two leaders who wanted the Congress programme to include socialist goals.

Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose wanted the Congress programme to include socialist
goals.

5. Which organisation was established in 1920 to protect workers’ rights?

The All India Trade Union Congress was established in 1920 to protect workers’ rights.

6. What was the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association? Name three famous members of this
organisation.

• The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) was an organisation formed by Indian
revolutionaries who wanted an armed socialist revolution in India since they were frustrated
with the abrupt withdrawal of the Noncooperation Movement.
• Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan and Chandrashekhar Azad were famous revolutionaries
of this organisation.

7. Which event marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)?

The breaking of salt law at Dandi started the CDM.

8. Who were called Khudai Khidmatgar?

Khudai Khidmatgar (servants of God) were volunteers in the North-West Frontier Province led by
Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan who participated actively in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

9. Name two leaders of the Quit India Movement.

Sucheta Kripalani and Jaiprakash Narayan were two leaders of the Quit India Movement.

B. Answer the following questions in not more than 20 words.

1. What does the term ‘satyagraha’ mean? What is its basic principle?

• Satyagraha means holding fast/ being firm to the truth—satya (truth) and agraha (holding
fast).
• It was based on the principle of nonviolent noncooperation, or passive resistance.

2. For whose benefit did Gandhiji launch satyagraha at Champaran, Ahmadabad and Kheda?
Gandhiji launched satyagraha for the cause of the indigo cultivators of Champaran, the cotton mill
workers of Ahmadabad and the peasants of Kheda.

3. Why was the Rowlatt Act branded the Black Act?

The Rowlatt Act was branded the ‘Black Act’ since it empowered the government to arrest without
warrant and imprison without trial for 2 years, thus restricting people’s freedom.

4. State the purpose of the Khilafat Movement.

The Khilafat Movement protested against the British for imposing humiliating terms on the ruler of
Turkey (also caliph of Islam) after the First World War.

5. What was the objective of the Simon Commission?

The objective of the Simon Commission, appointed in 1927and headed by Sir John Simon, was to
recommend constitutional changes in India.

6. Why were Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru hanged?

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru had killed the british officer (John Saunders) who was responsible
for Lala Lajpat Rai’s death and so they were hanged.

7. Why was Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan called Frontier Gandhi?

• Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan joined the Civil Disobedience movement in the North-West Frontier
Province.
• His commitment to nonviolence just like Mahatma Gandhi earned him the title ‘Frontier
Gandhi’.

C. Answer the following questions in not more than 40 words.

1. Write a note on the Jallianwala Bagh incident.

• Unaware of a ban, people held a meeting at Jallianwala Bagh on 13 April 1919 (Baisakhi day)
to protest against the arrest of Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr Satya Pal.
• General Dyer blocked the park’s narrow exit and ordered indiscriminate shooting, killing
hundreds of people. This stunned the nation.
• Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest.
• The British declared martial law in Punjab and protesters were publicly humiliated.

2. When and why was the Noncooperation Movement launched? Why was it abruptly suspended?

• The Noncooperation Movement (NCM)was launched on 1 August 1920 to redress the

wrongs done in Punjab and Turkey.
• On 4 February 1922, police fired on the torchlight procession of NCM activists at Chauri
Chaura in Gorakhpur, UP. This resulted in more violence as the protesters set the police
station on fire, killing 22 policemen.
• Convinced that people were not ready for mass civil disobedience, Gandhiji abruptly
suspended the movement.

3. What were the decisions taken at the Lahore session of the Congress in 1929?

• The Lahore session adopted the resolution for poorna swaraj.

• The Congress flag was unfurled; 26 January 1930 was fixed as Poorna Swaraj Day.
 • As dominion status had not been granted, the Congress decided to launch civil disobedience
by boycotting elections and resigning from legislatures.

D. Answer the following questions in not more than 100 words.

1. Describe the programme of the Noncooperation Movement.

Under the noncooperation movement the Congress appointed an all-India working committee to
enroll people aged above 21and reduced the membership fee to 25 paise so that more people can
participate.

Its goal was swaraj, to be achieved through boycott combined with a constructive programme.

Boycott:

➢ British titles and honours were renounced.

➢ Foreign goods were burnt in public. Leaders gave up their careers to join the movement.
➢ The Congress boycotted the council elections.

Constructive programmes:

➢ The Congress promoted cottage industries and national education, setting up the Kashi
Vidyapeeth, Bihar Vidyapeeth and Jamia Millia.

Socialism:

➢ The Congress programme included socialist goals like removing social oppression and
improving conditions of workers and peasants.
➢ It encouraged peasants to stop paying rents and workers to demand higher wages and lesser
hours of work.
➢ Kisan sabhas were organised and All India Trade Union Congress was established to protect
peasants’ and workers’ rights respectively.

E. Think and answer.

1. Why did Gandhiji produce khadi at the Sabarmati Ashram?

• Gandhiji produced khadi to promote self-reliance.

• It encouraged the domestic industry of spinning and weaving as against purchase of
imported, foreign-produced cloth.

2. Why did the Congress boycott the Simon Commission?

• The Simon Commission was appointed to recommend constitutional changes in India.

• There were altogether 7 members in it and the British did not include any Indian member in
the commission on the excuse that the various Indian groups had major differences, and
could never come to any agreement over constitutional changes.
• Hence, the Congress boycotted the commission.

3. Why did Gandhiji choose to break the salt law?

• Under the salt law, nobody could manufacture salt in India without government permission.
• Gandhiji chose to break this law since salt was used by everybody and breaking this law
would unite all sections of the people cutting across barriers of class, caste and religion.