The nationalist movement

Q1) Define nationalism

Ans: nationalism is a feeling of pride in one’s country. It also refers to the desire for freedom, felt by people under foreign domination, as in the case of pre-independent India.

Q2) Write a short note on the boycott and Swadeshi movement.

Ans: To let the British know how unhappy the Indians were at the partition of  Bengal, leader of the anti-partition movement decided to use only Indian goods and to boycott British goods.

People gathered at crossroad s and burnt the improved cloths that they had. People picketed shop selling foreign goods( ie, stood outside such shops and persuaded customers not to enter and buy goods ) .Even  imported sugar was boycotted. This is called the boycott movement.

People resolved to use only things made in India. This was called the swadeshi movement. Swadeshi  means “ of one’s own country “ . people began wearing cotton cloths made in India . this was a two prorogued attack on the British. The boycott affected the British trade and industry, while Swadeshi movement helped local Indians industry to prosper . the congress leaders supported the Swadeshi and boycott movements and hoped that this would bring the British on their knees.

Q3) Write a short note on the partition of  Bengal.

Ans: Lord Curzon did his best to suppress the movement of extremist nationalism. In 1905, he partitioned Bengal. Bengal was the strong hold of the congress. Curzon’s real reason was to separate East Bengal, with the majority Muslims population from the rest of Bengal and thus to weaken the congress. It also served to divide the Hindus and Muslims.

Q4) what was the reason for the split in the congress in 1907?

Ans: there were many differences in opinions between moderates and extremists.

The extremists took Swaraj to mean total freedom from British domination , while for the moderates it just mean an increased role for Indians in British administration . the moderates accepted the Swadeshi movement but refused to boycott  British goods, feeling it would embitter relations between the British and Indians. Also the extremists wanted to stop Western education and follow Indian education which the moderates were against.

The differences brought about a split in the congress in 1907.

Q5) Who were the moderates and the extremists of the congress.

Ans: Most of the congress members were educated Indians who had faith in the British and believed in submitting petitions to have their grievances redressed. They come to be called the moderates.

The moderates leaders were Surendranath Banerjee, PherozShah Mehta and Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

Some Indian leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Maharashtra and Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab realized the futility of petitioning the British. They demand Swaraj or self rule.

These leaders came to be called the extremists.

Q6) Explain the policy of divide and rule.

Ans: The policy of divide and rule was a strategy used effectively by the British to sow the seed of dissention between Hindus and Muslims. They weakened the Indian nationalist movement by pitting people of different castes, religions and regions on one another. The partition of Bengal is one example. It also sowed the seeds of division between Hindus and Muslims.

Q7) Which were the parties that signed the Luck now pact?

Ans: The Muslim league and the congress were the parties that signed the Luck now pact.

Q8) Mention any two factors that led to growth of nationalism amongst Indians.

Ans: The British introduced western and English education to Indians. They exposed the Indian leaders to western ideas of democracy and nationalism.

They were inspired by the freedom struggles that had taken place in countries like America and France.

Another reason was growth of the region press and regional literature.

Q9) Who were the leaders in the congress when it was started ? what were its aims?

Ans: Surendranath Banerjee, PherozShah Mehta, WC Bonnerjee and Dinshaw wadia in 1885.

Its aims were:

  -      To seek the cooperation of all Indians.

  -      To eradicate prejudices of race, religion , caste, etc.

  -      To discuss the major problems of India and come out

 with suggestions to solve the.

- To request the British to involve Indians while taking administrative decisions concerning India

Q10) write a short note on a) the home role league b) the Muslim league

Ans : a) some of the Indian leaders realized that unless popular pressure was brought to bear upon the government, they would never have self-rule or home rule. Therefore between 1915 and 1916, two home rule league were started- one under the leadership of Lokmanya Tilak in Poona and the other under Annie Besant in Madras. These two home rule league carried out intense propaganda all over the country in favor of the demand for self-rule in India after the First World War. The Muslim league joined the congress in this demand for home rule.

b) The Muslim league started the formation of the Muslim league which was instigated by the British as part of their police of divide and rule. Muslim leaders like the Aga khan were summoned to Simla and made to believe that they should do something to safeguard their interests as the congress was dominated by Hindus. The Muslim leaders feared that if the British did leave India , Muslim would have no share in the Indian government. As a result of this feeling, some Muslim leaders set up a separate political organization in the form of the Muslim league