The growth of modern
nationalism is intimately connected to anti-colonial movement.
The congress under the
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi tried to forge groups together within one
movement. However, the unity did not emerge without conflict.
First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation
1.
National Movement was
spreading in New areas in 1919 and incorporating new social groups and
developing new modes of struggle.
2.
Mahatma Gandhi came to
India and The Idea of Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to
search for truth.
3.
He advocated that
physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.
4.
In 1916, He travelled to
Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the oppressive
plantation system.
The Idea of Satyagraha
1.
Mahatma Gandhi returned
to India in January, 1915. His heroic fight for the Indians in South Africa was
well-known. His novel method of mass agitation known as Satyagraha had yielded
good results.
2.
The idea of Satyagraha
emphasized the power of truth and the need to search for truth.
3.
In 1916, Gandhi
travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the
oppressive plantation system.
4.
In 1917,crops field in
Kheda district of Gujrat, but the government refused to remit land revenue and
insisted on its full collection.
5.
In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi
intervened in a dispute between workers and mill owners of Ahmedabad. He
advised to workers to go on strike and to demand a 35% increase in wages.
6.
Satyagraha brought
Gandhiji into close touch with the workers in the urban areas.
The Rawlatt act
1.
When the Rawlatt act
1919, was passed hurriedly through the Imperial Legislative Council inspire of
unanimous opposition of the Indian members, Gandhiji’s patience comes to an
end.
2.
Gandhi wanted
non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws, which would start with
a hartal on 6th April.
3.
6th April 1919 was
observed as Satyagraha Day when people all over the country observed fast and
hartal.
4.
1919, the country
witnessed a remarkable political awakening in India.
5.
Local leaders were
picked up from Amritsar and Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.
6.
On 10th April, the police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful
procession, provoking widespread attacks on banks.
Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre
1.
A large crowd gathered
in the enclosed ground of Jalliawalla Bagh.
2.
People came to protest
against government’s repressive measure while some came to attend the annual
Baisakhi fair.
3.
General Dyer entered the
area. Blocked the exit points and opened fire on the crowd, killing hundreds.
4.
The government responded
with brutal repression seeking to humiliate and terrorise people.
5.
Satyagrahis were forced
to rub their noses on the ground, crawl on the streets and do Salaam (salute)
to all Sahibs.
Khilafat movement
1.
Rowlatt Satyagraha had
been a widespread movement, it was still limited mostly to cities and towns.
2.
Mahatma Gandhi now felt
the need to launch a more broad based movement in India.
3.
But he was certain that
no such movement could be organized without bringing the Hindus and Muslims
closer together.
4.
The First World War had
ended with the defeat of Ottoman Turkey. There were rumors that a harsh peace
treaty was going to be imposed on the Ottoman Emperor, who was the spiritual
head (Khalifa) of the Islamic world.
5.
The Muslims of India
decided to force Britain to change her Turkish policy.
6.
A Khalifa Committee was
formed under the leadership of Maulana Azad, Ajmal Khan and Hasrat Mohani.
7.
A young generation of
Muslim leaders like the brothers Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali began discussing
with Mahatma Gandhi about the possibility of a united mass action on the issue.
Differing strands within the movement:
1.
Rebellion in the
countryside: - From the cities, the noncooperation movement spread to the
countryside. After the war, the struggles of peasants and tribal were
developing in different parts of India.
2.
One movement here war
against talukdars and landlords who demanded from peasant exorbitantly high
rents and a variety of other cesses.
3.
Peasants had to do
begar. The peasant movement demanded reduction of revenue, an abolition of
begar and social boycott of oppressive landlords.
4.
Oudh Kisan Sabha was
setup headed by. Jawaharlal Nehru and other, within a month, over 300 branches
had been set up by the villagers.
5.
Tribal peasants
interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of Swaraj in yet another
way.
6.
The colonial government
had closed large forest areas preventing people from entering the forests to
graze their cattle, or to collect fuel wood and fruits.
7.
Alluri Sitaram Raju
Claimed that he had a variety of special powers. He asserted that India could
be liberated only by the use of force.
Towards Civil Disobedience
1.
Mahatma Gandhi decided
to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922.
2.
The movement was turning
violent in many places and satyagarhis needed properly trained for mass
struggle.
3.
CR Das and Motilal Nehru
formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to council
politics.
4.
Salt was a powerful
symbol that could unite the nation.
5.
Salt march accompanied
by 78 of his trusted volunteers.
6.
Finally, Mahatma Gandhi
once again decided to call off the movement and entered into a pact with Irwin
on 5 March 1931.
7.
Participants saw the
movement in different angle such as Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar
Pradesh.
8.
To organise business
interest, formed the Indian Industrial and commercial congress in 1920 and
Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI).
9.
Gandhi called to
Untouchable that is Harijan, Children of God.
The Sense of Collective Belonging
1.
Nationalist Movement
Spreads when people belonging to different regions and communities begin to
develop a sense of collective belongingness. The identity of a nation is most
often symbolized in a figure or image.
2.
This image of Bharat
Mata was first created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1870 when he wrote
‘Vande Mataram ‘ for our motherland. Indian folk songs and folk sung by bards
played an important role in making the idea of nationalism. In Bengal,
Rabindranath Tagore and in Madras, Natesa, Sastri collection of folk tales and
songs, which led the movement for folk revival.
3.
During the Swadeshi
Movement, a tri-color ( red, green and yellow ) flag was designed in Bengal. It
had eight lotuses representing eight provinces and a crescent moon representing
Hindus and Muslims.
4.
Means of creating a
feeling of nationalism was through reinterpretation of history. The nationalist
writers urged the readers to take pride in India’s great achievements in the
past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British
rule.
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