Class 10 History Chapter 2 Case Based Questions - India and the Contemporary World - II

In 1919, Mahatma Gandhi launched a nationwide satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act, which gave the British government excessive powers to suppress political activities and detain political prisoners without trial. The act was passed despite strong opposition from Indian leaders. Protests erupted across the country. In Amritsar, on 13 April 1919, a large crowd gathered in Jallianwala Bagh to protest against these repressive laws. General Dyer ordered his troops to fire at the unarmed crowd, killing hundreds of people. The massacre caused outrage across India, leading to strikes, protests, and violent clashes.

i. Why did the British introduce the Rowlatt Act? (1 mark)
ii. Examine the effects of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on the Indian nationalist movement. (2 marks)
iii. How did Mahatma Gandhi react to the violence following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre? Provide a reason for his decision. (1 mark)

Ans:
i. The British introduced the Rowlatt Act to suppress political activities and detain political prisoners without trial, aiming to curb revolutionary movements post-World War I.
ii. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre caused widespread outrage, leading to strikes, protests, and violent clashes across India. It united Indians against British rule, strengthened the nationalist movement, and paved the way for the Non-Cooperation Movement.
iii. Gandhi called off the movement as he believed in non-violence and felt that the movement was becoming too violent.

The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 to protest British rule. It was linked to the Khilafat Movement, which aimed to protect the Khalifa’s position after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I. Gandhi urged people to boycott British goods, schools, courts, and services. The movement gained massive support, with students leaving schools, lawyers giving up their practices, and traders boycotting foreign goods. However, it was later withdrawn in 1922 after the violent Chauri Chaura incident.

i. What were the main objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement? (1 mark)
ii. How was the Khilafat Movement linked to the Non-Cooperation Movement? (1 mark)
iii. Why did Mahatma Gandhi withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. The main objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement were to attain Swaraj by boycotting British institutions and goods and promoting self-reliance.
ii. The Khilafat Movement was linked to the Non-Cooperation Movement to gain Muslim support for the national movement, as both aimed to oppose British policies.
iii. Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 after the violent Chauri Chaura incident, where protesters burned a police station, killing officers. As a firm believer in non-violence, Gandhi halted the movement to prevent further violence and maintain its peaceful nature.

In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement with the Salt March (Dandi March). The British had imposed a heavy tax on salt, which was a necessity for all Indians. Gandhi and his followers walked 240 miles from Sabarmati to Dandi, where he made salt by breaking the salt laws. This act inspired millions to break colonial laws, boycott foreign goods, refuse to pay taxes, and picket liquor shops. The British responded with brutal repression, arresting 100,000 people, including Gandhi.

i. Why was salt chosen as the symbol of protest during the Civil Disobedience Movement? (1 mark)
ii. Describe any two ways in which Indians participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement. (2 marks)
iii. What was the British government's reaction to the Civil Disobedience Movement? (1 mark)

Ans: 
i. Salt was a basic necessity and taxed heavily by the British, making it a perfect symbol of oppression.
ii. Indians participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement by:

• Breaking salt laws by making and selling salt illegally.
• Boycotting foreign goods and promoting indigenous products.

iii. The British responded with mass arrests, violence, and repression, imprisoning over 100,000 protesters.

Different sections of society had their own reasons for participating in the nationalist movement. In the countryside, rich peasants such as the Jats of Uttar Pradesh and Patidars of Gujarat supported the Civil Disobedience Movement to demand a reduction in land revenue. However, they withdrew their support when the movement was called off without any concessions. The poorer peasants, who were tenants, wanted the Congress to support their struggle for reduced rent payments to landlords, but the Congress was hesitant. The business community, led by the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry), initially supported the movement but later withdrew due to fears of disruption in trade.

i. Why did rich peasants support the Civil Disobedience Movement? (1 mark)
ii. What were the demands of the poorer peasants? Why was the Congress hesitant to support them? (2 marks)
iii. Why did industrialists initially support but later withdraw from the Civil Disobedience Movement? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. They wanted the government to reduce revenue taxes, which were high during the economic depression.
ii. Poor peasants demanded reduced rent payments to landlords. The Congress was hesitant to support them because it did not want to alienate the landlords, who were also an important part of the nationalist movement.
iii. Industrialists feared prolonged strikes and the rise of socialism, which could affect their businesses.

Women played a crucial role in the nationalist movement, especially during the Civil Disobedience Movement. Thousands of women from high-caste families in urban areas and rich peasant households in rural areas participated in protests, picketed liquor shops, and joined the Salt March. Despite their active participation, women were not given leadership positions in the Congress, as Gandhi believed their main role was to manage homes and families.

i. How did women contribute to the Civil Disobedience Movement? (1 mark)
ii. Why did women join the nationalist movement despite social restrictions? (1 mark)
iii. What was Gandhi’s view on the role of women in society? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Women participated in marches, picketed liquor shops, and joined the Salt March.
ii. Women saw participation as a duty towards the nation and were inspired by Gandhi’s call for Swaraj.
iii. Gandhi believed that women should serve the nation but also emphasized their traditional role as caregivers and homemakers. This view limited their leadership roles in politics, as he felt their primary responsibility was to manage homes and families.

In 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement in response to the failure of the Cripps Mission and the increasing hardship faced by Indians during World War II. The movement called for the immediate withdrawal of the British from India. Gandhi’s famous slogan "Do or Die" inspired thousands of people across the country. Protests erupted in many cities, with people holding demonstrations, strikes, and processions. The British responded with severe repression, arresting top Congress leaders, including Gandhi, Nehru, and Patel. The movement was crushed, but it marked the final phase of India’s struggle for independence.

i. What was the main reason behind the launch of the Quit India Movement? (1 mark)
ii. How did the British government react to the Quit India Movement? (1 mark)
iii. What was the significance of the Quit India Movement in India’s struggle for independence? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. The failure of the Cripps Mission and growing frustration due to British rule led to the movement.
ii. The British government reacted by arresting top Congress leaders, including Gandhi, Nehru, and Patel, and used force to suppress protests.
iii. The Quit India Movement marked the final phase of India’s struggle for independence. It created strong pressure on the British to leave India and demonstrated the widespread demand for freedom, weakening British authority further.

In 1927, the British government set up the Simon Commission to review the working of the Indian Constitution. However, it had no Indian members, which angered Indian nationalists. The Congress and the Muslim League opposed the commission and launched protests. When the commission arrived in 1928, it was greeted with black flags and the slogan "Simon Go Back." In one such protest in Lahore, British police lathi-charged demonstrators, and Lala Lajpat Rai was severely injured. He later succumbed to his injuries, which further fueled nationalist sentiments.

i. Why did Indians oppose the Simon Commission? (1 mark)
ii. How did Lala Lajpat Rai contribute to the protest against the Simon Commission? (1 mark)
iii. What impact did the protest against the Simon Commission have on the Indian nationalist movement? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Indians opposed the Simon Commission because it had no Indian representatives, which was seen as a deliberate exclusion of Indians from decisions affecting their own country.
ii. He led a protest in Lahore and was injured in a police lathi charge, later succumbing to his injuries.
iii. The protests against the Simon Commission intensified nationalist sentiments, as Lala Lajpat Rai’s death became a rallying point for the freedom struggle. It also inspired revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, who sought revenge by attacking British officials, further radicalizing the movement.

The peasant movements were an important part of India's nationalist struggle. In Awadh, the movement was led by Baba Ramchandra, demanding reduced revenue, abolition of begar (forced labor), and fair treatment for peasants. The Oudh Kisan Sabha was formed to organize these demands. Similarly, in Bardoli (Gujarat), Vallabhbhai Patel led the Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) against increased land revenue. The British were forced to cancel the tax hikes, making it a successful peasant movement.

i. What were the major demands of the peasants in Awadh? (1 mark)
ii. Who led the Bardoli Satyagraha, and what was its main objective? (1 mark)
iii. How did peasant movements contribute to the broader nationalist movement? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. The major demands of the peasants in Awadh were reduced revenue, the abolition of begaar (forced labor), and fair treatment for peasants.
ii. Vallabhbhai Patel led the Bardoli Satyagraha, and its main objective was to protest against increased land revenue imposed by the British.
iii. Peasant movements played a crucial role in strengthening the national movement in India by:

• Mobilising rural communities: They engaged large numbers of peasants, uniting them for a common cause.
• Applying economic pressure: By resisting British policies, they created significant economic challenges for colonial authorities.
• Fostering a sense of unity: These movements brought together diverse groups, enhancing collective identity against colonial rule.

While Mahatma Gandhi led the non-violent national movement, several young revolutionaries believed in armed struggle to overthrow British rule. Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Batukeshwar Dutt were key members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA). In 1929, Bhagat Singh and Dutt threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly to protest British rule. Bhagat Singh later wrote that the goal was not to kill but to "make the deaf hear". He was arrested and executed in 1931, becoming a martyr and an inspiration for future generations.

i. What was the objective of Bhagat Singh’s bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly? (1 mark)
ii. How did the British respond to revolutionary activities? (1 mark)
iii. What was the impact of revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh on the Indian National Movement? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. The objective of Bhagat Singh's bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly was to:

• Protest against British rule.
• Draw attention to the cause of Indian independence.

ii. The British responded to revolutionary activities with severe measures, including:

• Arrests of key revolutionaries.
• Executions of those deemed a threat.
• Imposition of harsh punishments to deter further actions.

iii. Bhagat Singh had a profound impact on the Indian National Movement through his actions and beliefs:

• His martyrdom inspired many young Indians to join the struggle for independence.
• Bhagat Singh's ideology of socialism influenced future movements, encouraging a focus on equality and justice.
• He advocated for a revolution in society, emphasising that freedom is the birthright of all.

Women played an important role in India's freedom struggle. Leaders like Sarojini Naidu, Kamala Nehru, and Aruna Asaf Ali were actively involved in protests, picketing liquor shops, and leading marches. During the Quit India Movement (1942), many women took leadership roles when male leaders were arrested. In Bengal, Matangini Hazra led protests at the age of 73, and in Assam, Kanaklata Barua died while holding the national flag. Women saw participation in the struggle as a duty towards the nation, but despite their contributions, they were not given leadership roles in the Congress.

i. Name any two women who actively participated in the freedom struggle. (1 mark)
ii. How did women contribute to the Quit India Movement? (1 mark)
iii. Despite their active role, why were women not given leadership positions in the Congress? (2 marks)

Ans:
i. Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Barua were two notable women who played significant roles in the freedom struggle.
ii. Women contributed significantly to the Quit India Movement in various ways:

• They led protests against British rule.
• Women picketed liquor shops and foreign cloth stores.
• They continued the movement even when male leaders were arrested.

iii. Gandhi and other leaders viewed women's primary role as being in the home. Consequently:

• The Congress party was hesitant to appoint women to significant political positions.
• Despite their active participation in movements, women were often seen as symbols rather than leaders.
• Gandhi believed that women should focus on their duties as mothers and wives.