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Introduction
Mahatma Gandhi, often referred to as the “Father of the Indian Nation,” played a pivotal role in India’s struggle for independence. Born in 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat, Gandhi grew up in a deeply religious household, which laid the foundation for his spiritual beliefs. His ideologies were influenced by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Jainism, the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, David Thoreau, and Leo Tolstoy. Gandhi’s commitment to truth, non-violence, and Satyagraha as a means of political change set him apart as a leader. He advocated for democracy, upliftment of the marginalized Harijans, social reforms, and Hindu-Muslim unity. A proponent of Swadeshi, Gandhi emphasized the importance of using indigenous products, promoting Khadi, and using the charkha as a symbol of self-reliance. His unwavering dedication to these principles and his ability to mobilize the masses made him an instrumental figure in India’s fight for freedom.
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Exercise/textual questions and answers
Very Short Answer Type Questions
1. What did Bhagavad Gita teach Gandhiji?
Answer: The Bhagavad Gita teaches that one must remain unconcerned with the outcome of one’s actions and perform one’s duty with devotion.
2. When did Gandhiji start his first Satyagraha in India?
Answer: Gandhiji started his first Satyagraha in India in Champaran in 1917.
3. What was the object of Gandhiji’s Salt March?
Answer: The object of Gandhiji’s Salt March was to break the salt law.
4. What did the poet Rabindranath Tagore call Gandhiji?
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore called Gandhiji ‘Mahatma’.
5. Where did Gandhiji establish his first ashram in India?
Answer: Gandhiji established his first ashram in India at Sabarmati near Ahmedabad in 1915.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. What led Gandhiji to resume Civil Disobedience Movement in 1932?
Answer: The Congress called upon the nation to resume the Civil Disobedience Movement due to the policy of repression by Lord Willington, which included mass arrests, police violence, property confiscation, and press censorship. The movement was officially suspended in May 1934 due to its gradual decay.
2. How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
Answer: Gandhiji visited villages across the country, dressed like a common villager, and spoke in the common Indian language, making the villagers politically conscious and transforming the Congress into a popular movement.
3. What was Communal Award?
Answer: The Communal Award, announced by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, provided separate representation for minorities like Muslims, Indian Christians, and Europeans, and reserved seats for groups like Zamindars, Universities, and Women. It also separated Scheduled Castes from Hindus and gave more seats to Sikhs and Europeans in proportion to their population.
4. Why was the Charkha chosen as a symbol of nationalism?
Answer: Gandhiji promoted Swadeshi and urged followers to wear Khadi. He made the charkha a symbol of the national movement and led the boycott of foreign goods.
5. Briefly describe the reasons for Quit India Movement.
Answer: The Quit India Movement was launched after the failure of the Cripps Mission, leading to widespread anger. The government responded with arrests and violence, but the movement, driven by younger activists and socialists, declared “Independent governments” in some districts before being suppressed.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. Explain how Non-Cooperation Movement made Gandhiji a national leader.
Answer: Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the Congress started the Non-Cooperation Movement against the British Government. It aimed to support the Khilafat Movement and to compel the government to compensate for the atrocities committed at Jallianwala Bagh and during martial law in Punjab.
To achieve the goal of Swaraj, the following programmes were adopted:
- Boycott of elections under the Government of India Act, 1919.
- Boycott of government schools and colleges.
- Boycott of law courts.
- Boycott of foreign goods.
- Surrender of titles and honorary offices.
- Refusal to attend government Darbars.
The constructive side of the programme included:
- Establishment of national schools and colleges.
- Use of private arbitration courts instead of government courts.
- Use of Swadeshi cloth on a large scale.
- Revival of hand-spinning and hand-weaving.
- Removal of untouchability.
The movement captured the imagination of the people from the start. The nation rose as one. Many distinguished lawyers like C.R. Das, Pandit Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lajpat Rai, Vitthalbhai Patel, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad gave up their practice to join the movement. Prominent Muslim leaders like the Ali Brothers, Dr. Ansari, and Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad came forward as non-cooperators. Many students left government schools and colleges. National educational institutions like Gujarat Vidyapith, Bihar Vidyapith, Bengal National University, Jamia Millia of Delhi, and the National College of Lahore were started. Swadeshi cloth became popular, and the Takla and Charkha appeared in every home as symbols of the movement. Liquor and foreign cloth shops were often picketed.
The Non-Cooperation Movement brought common people into the political struggle, creating a spirit of self-confidence and self-reliance. This movement helped Gandhiji emerge as a national leader by uniting diverse sections of the Indian population against British rule and solidifying his reputation as the foremost leader of the Indian independence movement.
2. Analyse the circumstances favouring the adoption of Non-Cooperation movement by Gandhiji.
Answer: Several circumstances favoured the adoption of the Non-Cooperation Movement by Gandhiji:
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: The brutal killing of hundreds of unarmed Indians by British forces in April 1919 at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, created widespread anger and resentment against British rule.
- Rowlatt Act: The enactment of the Rowlatt Act in 1919, which allowed the British government to imprison any person suspected of terrorism without trial, further inflamed Indian public opinion. It was seen as a direct attack on civil liberties.
- Khilafat Movement: The Khilafat Movement aimed to protect the Ottoman Caliphate, which had significant emotional and religious significance for Indian Muslims. Gandhiji saw an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims against British rule by supporting the Khilafat cause.
- Failure of Constitutional Reforms: The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919, which aimed to introduce limited self-government, were deemed inadequate by many Indians, as they did not meet the aspirations for complete self-rule.
- Economic Hardships: Post-World War I economic hardships, including inflation, heavy taxation, and widespread unemployment, caused great distress among Indians. The British policies were seen as exploitative, leading to increased dissatisfaction.
- Growing Nationalist Sentiment: The Indian National Congress, under the influence of leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant, had already mobilised a strong nationalist sentiment. Gandhiji’s leadership further galvanised this sentiment into a mass movement.
- Gandhiji’s Rising Influence: Gandhiji’s successful application of non-violent resistance (Satyagraha) in South Africa and his emerging influence in Indian politics positioned him as a unifying figure capable of leading a nationwide movement.
3. “In the history of nationalism Gandhiji is often identified with the making of a nation.” Describe his role in the freedom struggle of India.
Answer: We have many instances in the history of nationalism when a single individual is identified with the mapping of a nation. For instance, we associate Garibaldi with the unification of Italy, George Washington with the American war of Independence and Ho Chi-Minh with the struggle to free Vietnam from colonial rule. In the same way, Mahatma Gandhi is regarded as the “Father” of the Indian Nation.
Mahatma Gandhi, or Bapuji, was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar in Kathiawar, Gujarat. His early life was marked by ordinary academic ability, and he was married to Kasturba at 13. He went to England for higher education in 1887, becoming a barrister and practicing law in Porbandar and Bombay. Gandhi’s turning point came in South Africa, where he witnessed and fought against the harsh treatment of Indian immigrants, organizing a movement that led to the removal of many restrictions on them.
Gandhi returned to India in 1915 during the First World War and was influenced by political leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and the principles of Jainism, the Bible, and the Gita. His ideology included Truth and Non-violence, Satyagraha, a relationship between ends and means, democracy, upliftment of Harijans, social reforms, Swadeshi, Khadi, and Hindu-Muslim unity.
Gandhi’s role in India’s freedom struggle began with local experiments in Satyagraha, such as the Champaran Satyagraha (1917), supporting Ahmedabad mill workers (1918), and the Kheda struggle (1918). His leadership extended to national movements such as the Rowlatt Act agitation (1919), the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922), and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1931). The Dandi March in 1930 was a significant act of civil disobedience against the salt tax.
Gandhi’s political activities included the Quit India Movement (1942-1944), which called for an end to British rule, and his efforts in communal harmony and negotiations leading up to India’s independence. His influence and leadership were pivotal in unifying the Indian population and steering the country towards independence in 1947.
4. How did the Salt March of 1930 mark a critical important stage in the progress of the anti-imperialist struggle in India? Explain.
Answer: The Salt March of 1930 was a significant event in India’s anti-imperialist struggle for several reasons:
- Mass Mobilization: The Salt March brought Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress to the forefront of the freedom struggle, mobilizing a vast number of Indians across different regions and social strata. The act of marching and making salt symbolized defiance against British laws and rallied widespread support.
- International Attention: The event was widely publicized by European and American press, bringing global attention to India’s plight under British rule. This international recognition put pressure on the British government and garnered sympathy for the Indian cause.
- Involvement of Women: For the first time on a large scale, women actively participated in the movement. Leaders like Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay encouraged women to join the Salt March, breaking the salt and liquor laws alongside their male counterparts.
- Realization of British Vulnerability: The British government realized the extent of Indian resistance and the potential for widespread non-violent non-cooperation. The Salt March demonstrated that the Indian people could challenge British authority effectively and persistently.
- Strengthening the National Movement: The Salt March united various segments of Indian society, fostering a sense of national solidarity and purpose. It reinforced the importance of non-violent resistance and civil disobedience as powerful tools against colonial rule.
These aspects of the Salt March highlighted its critical role in advancing the anti-imperialist struggle in India, making it a pivotal moment in the quest for independence.
5. Describe the sources from which we can reconstruct the political career of Gandhiji and the history of nationalist movement.
Answer: One important source is contemporary newspapers published in English and different Indian languages such as Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Hindi, etc. These newspapers represented what Indians thought of Gandhiji. They were published by those who had their own political opinions and world views, which shaped the opinion of ordinary Indians. However, the accounts published in London newspapers were different from the reports published in Indian national newspapers and magazines.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. When was the announcement of Poorna Swaraj made?
A. 1927
B. 1928
C. 1929
D. 1930
Answer: C. 1929
2. Whom did Gandhiji inform priorly about his ‘Salt March’?
A. Lord Ripon
B. Lord Cunningham
C. Lord Irwin
D. Lord Lytton
Answer: C. Lord Irwin
3. When did Gandhiji begin his ‘Salt March’?
A. 6 March, 1929
B. 12 March, 1930
C. 15 March, 1930
D. 15 March, 1931
Answer: B. 12 March, 1930
4. When was the First Round Table Conference held?
A. November 1930
B. December 1930
C. January 1931
D. January 1930
Answer: A. November 1930
5. The worth mentioning feature of the Salt March was:
A. Due to it, Mahatma Gandhi became famous.
B. It was the first national movement where women participated equally.
C. This march made the Britishers realise that their colonial rule would soon come to an end.
D. All the above
Answer: D. All the above
Competency-Based Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Consider the following events:
1. Cabinet Mission
2. Cripps Mission
3. Khilafat Movement
4. Pakistan Resolution
The correct chronological order of these events is:
A. 4, 3, 2, 1
B. 4, 3, 1, 2
C. 3, 4, 1, 2
D. 3, 4, 2, 1
Answer: C. 3, 4, 1, 2
2. The worth mentioning feature of the Salt March was:
A. Due to it, Mahatma Gandhi became famous.
B. It was the first national movement where women participated equally.
C. This march made the Britishers realise that their colonial rule would soon come to an end.
D. All the above
Answer: D. All the above
3. Which of the following is incorrect regarding the Quit India Movement?
A. This movement began in 1945.
B. Gandhiji was arrested as soon as the movement began.
C. Independent government was established in many districts like Satara in the west and Medinipur in the east.
D. Britishers adopted very strict policy towards the movement.
Answer: A. This movement began in 1945
4. Match the column A with column B:
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Labour Movement in Ahmedabad | (A) 1928 |
| (ii) Khilafat Movement | (B) 1931 |
| (iii) Farmer’s Movement in Bardoli | (C) 1918 |
| (iv) Second Round table Conference | (D) 1921 |
Options:
A. (i) (D), (ii) (C), (iii) (A), (iv) (B)
B. (i) (A), (ii) (B), (iii) (C), (iv) (D)
C. (i) (B), (ii) (C), (iii) (D), (iv) (A)
D. (i) (C), (ii) (D), (iii) (A), (iv) (B)
Answer: D. (i) (C), (ii) (D), (iii) (A), (iv) (B)
5. Which of the following options is correct?
A. Gandhiji started Quit India Mission in 1930.
B. Gandhiji gave his first speech in Champaran.
C. Gandhiji worked as a radical nationalist leader.
D. Gandhi considered G.K. Gokhale as his political mentor.
Answer: D. Gandhi considered G.K. Gokhale as his political mentor
Case-based Questions
1. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow:
On 5 April 1930, Mahatma Gandhi spoke at Dandi:
When I left Sabarmati with my companions for this seaside hamlet of Dandi, I was not certain in my mind that we would be allowed to reach this place. Even while I was at Sabarmati there was a rumour that I might be arrested. I had thought that the Government might perhaps let my party come as far as Dandi, but not me certainly. If someone says that this betrays imperfect faith on my part, I shall not deny the charge. That I have reached here is in no small measure due to the power of peace and non-violence: that power is universally felt. The Government may, if it wishes, congratulate itself on acting as it has done, for it could have arrested every one of us. In saying that it did not have the courage to arrest this army of peace, we praise it. It felt ashamed to arrest such an army. He is a civilised man who feels ashamed to do anything which his neighbours would disapprove. The Government deserves to be congratulated on not arresting us, even if it desisted only from fear of world opinion. Tomorrow we shall break the salt tax law. Whether the Government will tolerate that is a different question. It may not tolerate it, but it deserves congratulation for the patience and forbearance it has displayed in regard to this party. … What if I and all the eminent leaders in Gujarat and in the rest of the country are arrested? This movement is based on the faith that when a whole nation is roused and on the march no leader is necessary.
a) The Dandi March started from:
(i) Delhi (ii) Meerut (iii) Ahmadabad (iv) Bardoli
Answer: (iii) Ahmadabad
b) Why was Gandhiji certain that he would not be allowed to reach Dandi?
(i) British might arrest him on the way (ii) British might impose the Rowlatt Act on him (iii) The British deport him back to South Africa (iv) All of the above
Answer: (i) British might arrest him on the way
c) Choose the correct option.
Assertion(A): Gandhi made Salt a symbol of Protest.
Reason(R): Salt was used by Hindus and Muslims, it was used by rich and poor and the rate of tax was very high on salt.
(i) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A (ii) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A (iii) A is incorrect but R is correct (iv) R is incorrect but A is correct
Answer: (i) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
d) Consider the following statements:
(a) Gandhi declared on 5th April that on 6th April he will break the salt law (b) He chose 6th April, because on this day Poorna Swarajya resolution was passed.
Choose the correct option:
(i) Only (a) is correct (ii) Only (b) is correct (iii) Both (a) and (b) are correct (iv) Neither (a) nor (b) is correct
Answer: (i) Only (a) is correct
2. Read the following case carefully and answer the questions that follow:
On 5 April 1930, Mahatma Gandhi spoke at Dandi:
When I left Sabarmati with my companions for this seaside hamlet of Dandi, I was not certain in my mind that we would be allowed to reach this place. Even while I was at Sabarmati there was a rumour that I might be arrested. I had thought that the Government might perhaps let my party come as far as Dandi, but not me certainly. If someone says that this betrays imperfect faith on my part, I shall not deny the charge. That I have reached here is in no small measure due to the power of peace and non-violence: that power is universally felt. The Government may, if it wishes, congratulate itself on acting as it has done, for it could have arrested every one of us. In saying that it did not have the courage to arrest this army of peace, we praise it. It felt ashamed to arrest such an army. He is a civilised man who feels ashamed to do anything which his neighbours would disapprove. The Government deserves to be congratulated on not arresting us, even if it desisted only from fear of world opinion. Tomorrow we shall break the salt tax law. Whether the Government will tolerate that is a different question. It may not tolerate it, but it deserves congratulation for the patience and forbearance it has displayed in regard to this party. … What if I and all the eminent leaders in Gujarat and in the rest of the country are arrested? This movement is based on the faith that when a whole nation is roused and on the march no leader is necessary.
(i) What were the apprehensions of Mahatma Gandhi when he started his Dandi March?
Answer: When I left Sabarmati with my companions for this seaside hamlet of Dandi, I was not certain in my mind that we would be allowed to reach this place. Even while I was at Sabarmati there was a rumour that I might be arrested. I had thought that the Government might perhaps let my party come as far as Dandi, but not me certainly.
(ii) Why did Gandhiji say that the Government deserved to be congratulated?
Answer: The Government may, if it wishes, congratulate itself on acting as it has done, for it could have arrested every one of us. In saying that it did not have the courage to arrest this army of peace, we praise it. It felt ashamed to arrest such an army. He is a civilised man who feels ashamed to do anything which his neighbours would disapprove.
(iii) Why was the salt march significant?
Answer: Tomorrow we shall break the salt tax law. Whether the Government will tolerate that is a different question. It may not tolerate it, but it deserves congratulation for the patience and forbearance it has displayed in regard to this party.
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. When and where was Mahatma Gandhi born?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869, at Porbandar of Kathiawar in Gujarat.
71. How did Gandhiji’s teachings influence the Indian struggle for independence?
Answer: Gandhiji’s teachings had a significant impact on the Indian struggle for independence. His philosophy of non-violence and peaceful resistance attracted millions of Indians to join the freedom movement. He taught Indians the importance of self-reliance and self-sufficiency, which led to widespread support for the Swadeshi movement. Gandhiji’s emphasis on truth, social justice, and religious tolerance helped create a sense of unity among the diverse Indian population. Although Indians did not fully adopt Gandhian non-violence in all aspects, his teachings served as a guiding force for the independence movement, challenging the British Empire’s authority and eventually leading to India’s freedom.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. When was Mahatma Gandhi born?
A. 1867 B. 1869 C. 1871 D. 1873
Answer: B. 1869
90. What did Dr. Radhakrishnan consider Gandhiji to be?
A. A politician B. A great teacher C. A philosopher D. A religious leader
Answer: B. A great teacher
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