Notes- Nationalism in India

Introduction:
o Effects of First World War: Defense spending significantly increased as a result of
the War. Loans for the war and an increase in taxes were used to pay for it. In order to
generate more money, customs taxes were increased and income tax was implemented.
During the years of the conflict, prices rose. Between 1913 and 1918, the prices doubled.
The average person suffered the most as a result of the price increase. Another thing
that made people quite angry was the army’s forced enlistment of rural residents.
o There was a severe food scarcity in several areas of India due to crop failure. The flu
outbreak made the situation worse. According to the census taken in 1921, famines and
epidemics claimed the lives of between 12 and 13 million people.

The Idea of Satyagraha

Satyagraha, a novel kind of public agitation that Mahatma Gandhi supported. Based on the
notion that using physical force to resist the oppressor is not necessary if one is fighting for a
worthy cause, Delhi adopted this strategy. Gandhiji held that a satyagrahi may prevail in a
conflict without resorting to violence, that is, without being hostile or spiteful.

Several early Satyagraha campaigns Gandhiji spearheaded include:

The Rowlatt Act (1919):

The Imperial Legislative Council passed the Rowlatt Act in 1919. The Indian members were
against
the Act, yet it was nonetheless approved. The Act granted the government broad authority to
stifle political opposition activities. It permitted the two-year incarceration of political
detainees without charge or trial.

On 6th April, 1919:

Gandhiji started a massive Satyagraha across the country to protest the planned Rowlatt Act.
Huge support was shown for the call to strike on April 6. Numerous cities had large turnouts of
supporters, stores were closed, and workers at railway workshops went on strike. The British
government made the decision to crack down on nationalists. A number of municipal authorities
were detained. Entry into Delhi was prohibited for Mahatma Gandhi.

Jallianwala Bagh incident:

A peaceful procession was shot at by the police in Amritsar on April 10, 1919. Widespread
attacks on government buildings resulted from this. In Amritsar, martial law was enacted, and
the locality’s command was transferred to Colonel Dyer
The horrific Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurred on April 13, which is also Baisakhi Day in
Punjab. Villagers from all around gathered to Jallianwala Bagh to take part in a fair. There were
little entryways and it was completely enclosed on all sides. General Dyer closed down the exits
and started shooting at the throng. There were hundreds of fatalities in the incident.

In several north Indian towns, the public’s response to the tragedy descended into violence. The
response from the authorities was fairly harsh. Things suddenly turned violently. Because he did
not want the bloodshed to continue, Mahatma Gandhi put an end to the movement.

Khilafat Movement:

Mahatma Gandhi had the chance to unite Hindus and Muslims over the Khilafat controversy.
During the First World War, Ottoman Turkey suffered a terrible defeat. Rumors circulated
that the Ottoman ruler, the Khalifa, the spiritual leader of the Islamic world, would be
subjected to a terrible peace pact. In March 1919, a Khilafat committee was established in
Bombay to support the Khalifa. Leaders on this committee included the Ali brothers, Muhammad
and Shaukat.

In order to organise a cohesive mass action, they also wanted Mahatma Gandhi to take up the
cause. The resolution to start a Non-Cooperation movement in support of Khilafat and also for
swaraj was approved at the Congress’ Calcutta session in September 1920.

Non-Cooperation Movement:

Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his well-known book Hind Swaraj (1909) that Indian cooperation was
essential in the establishment of British authority in India and was the only reason it had
endured. British rule in India would end in a year if Indians failed to cooperate, and swaraj
would then take over. Gandhiji thought that the British rulers would have no choice but to leave
India if Indians started to refuse to cooperate.

Some of the proposals of Non-Cooperation Movement:

o Relinquish any titles granted by the British government.

Simon Commission

A Statutory Commission was established by the British government and headed by Sir John
Simon. The Commission was tasked with investigating how India’s constitutional system operates
and making recommendations for improvements. But because the Commission’s members were all
British, the Indian leaders opposed it.

In 1928, the Simon Commission arrived in India. “Go back Simon” was shouted in response. The
demonstration was joined by all parties. Lord Irwin announced an ambiguous promise of
“dominion status” for India in October 1929, but the timing was not made clear. Additionally, he
volunteered to host a roundtable conference to talk about the proposed Constitution.

Salt March (Starting of Civil Disobedience Movement)

According to Mahatma Gandhi, salt might serve as a potent symbol for bringing the entire
country together. The majority of people, especially the British, laughed at the concept. One of
Gandhiji’s many demands in a letter to Viceroy Irwin was the repeal of the salt tax

Gandhiji began the Salt March, also known as the Dandi March, on March 12, 1930. He had 78
volunteers with him. From Sabarmati to Dandi, a distance of 240 miles, they covered on foot
over the course of 24 days. They were soon joined by numerous others. Gandhiji ceremonially
broke the rule on April 6th, 1930, by grabbing a handful of salt.

Beginning with the Salt March, the Civil Disobedience Movement was born. The ban on salt was
broken by thousands of people across the nation. In front of government salt factories, there
were protests. One boycotted foreign clothing. Farmers refused to pay taxes. Village
representatives resigned. Forest regulations were broken by tribal members.

Response of British government on Civil Disobedience Movement

The leaders of the Congress were first detained by the colonial authorities. As a result, there
were violent fights everywhere. A month later, Mahatma Gandhi was taken into custody. The
emblems of British control, including police stations, city halls, courthouses, and railroad
stations, started to come under attack. The repression by the government was very severe
Children and women were also beaten. There were almost 100,000 arrests.

Round Table Conference

Mahatma Gandhi stopped the movement as things started to get violent. On March 5, 1931, he
and Irwin inked a contract. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was the name given to this. Gandhiji
committed to attend the Round Table Conference in London in accordance with the Pact. In
exchange, the administration consented to free the political detainees. In December 1931,
Gandhiji travelled to London.

As a result of the failed negotiations, Gandhiji was forced to leave in disappointment. When
Gandhiji returned to India, he saw that the majority of the leaders had been imprisoned. It had
been ruled illegal to hold Congress. Numerous steps were taken to stop gatherings, protests, and
boycotts. Relaunching the Civil Disobedience Movement was Mahatma Gandhi’s idea. The
movement had lost steam by 1934.

o Farmers: The Battle for Swaraj Was a Battle for the Farmers Against Exorbitant
Profits. The Farmers Were Extremely Dissatisfied When the Initiative Was Abandoned
in 1931 Without the Revenue Rates Being Altered. When the Movement Was Revived in
1932, a Large Number of Them Declined to Take Part. The Unpaid Rent Owed by the
Minor Renters to the Landlord Was All They Asked for. They Frequently Became
Members of Radical Movements Led by Socialists and Communists. The Relationship
Between the Poor Peasants and Congress Was Unsure Because Congress Did Not Want
to Anger the Wealthy Landlords.
o Businessmen: During the First World War, Indian Entrepreneurs and Merchants Were
Able to Expand Their Businesses. They Opposed the Colonial Regulations That Limited
Their Ability to Conduct Business. They Desired Import Protection as Well as a Rupee-
to-sterling Exchange Rate That Would Deter Imports. Both the Federation of the
Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) and the Indian Industrial and
Commercial Congress Were Established in 1920 and 1927, Respectively. These Were the
Outcomes of Efforts to Unite the Related Commercial Interests Under One Roof.
Swaraj Signalled the End of Repressive Colonial Policies for the Merchants. They
Desired a Setting That Would Promote Business Growth. They Were Concerned About
Militant Activity and the Growing Socialism Influence Among the Younger Congress
Members.
o Industrial Workers: The Civil Disobedience Movement Received a Cool Reception from
the Industrial Workers. Workers Stayed Away from the Movement Since Industrialists
Were Closer to the Congress. But Several Employees Only Occasionally Joined the
Movement. Congress Chose to Ignore the Demands of the Workers Rather Than
Antagonise the Industrialists.
o Women’s Participation: Large Numbers of Women Also Took Part in the Civil
Disobedience Movement. However, the Majority of the Ladies Were from Wealthy
Peasant Families in the Rural Areas and High-caste Families in the Cities. However, the
Congress Resisted Giving Any Positions of Authority to Women for a Very Long Period.
The Mere Symbolic Presence of Women Was All That the Congress Cared About.