Class 10 History Chapter 2 Question Answers - India and the Contemporary World - II

Q1: Who was the writer of the book, ‘Hind Swaraj’. What was the theme of the book?
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Explain the ideas of Gandhiji as he expressed in the famous book ‘Hind Swaraj’ regarding Non-cooperation.
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi wrote Hind Swaraj (also called Indian Home Rule). In this book he criticised modern Western civilisation and industrialisation and argued that true freedom (Swaraj) required moral and social self-rule as well as political independence. Concerning non-cooperation, Gandhiji maintained that British rule in India survived largely because Indians cooperated with it. He argued that if Indians refused to cooperate with British institutions and administration, the British rule in India would collapse within a year, and Swaraj would be established.

Q2: What was the impact of the First World War on India [CBSE 2015]
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Explain new economic and political situations created in India during the First World War. 
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What was the impact of the First World War on the economic conditions in India?
Ans: The War created a new economic and political situation in India, with the following important effects:
(i) It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes, customs duties were raised, and income tax introduced.
(ii) Through the war years, prices increased – doubling between 1913 and 1918 – leading to extreme hardships for the common people.
(iii) Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers, and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger.

Q3: What were the three local issues in which Gandhiji experimented his technique of Satyagraha during the years 1917-1918 How were these issues resolved.
Ans: The three local experiments were the Champaran, Kheda and Ahmedabad satyagrahas. Briefly:
(i) Champaran Satyagraha. In the first experiment indigo farmers were encouraged to raise their voice against the oppressive policies of the British. Their demands were sanctioned.
(ii) Kheda Satyagraha: The second experiment was for the farmers who were unable to pay the revenue because of famine and plague epidemic. The recovery was waived off.
(iii) Ahmedabad Satyagraha: The third was for the mill workers who were protesting for better wages. The British had to increase the wages along with reforms in working conditions.

Q4: Who launched the Khilafat Movement Why was the Movement launched.
Ans: The Khilafat Movement was launched by the brothers Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali with the cooperation of Mahatma Gandhi and other Indian leaders. It began after the First World War because of widespread concern among Indian Muslims about the future of the Ottoman Caliph (Khalifa), who was regarded as the spiritual head of the Muslim world. There were fears that the defeated Ottoman Empire would be harshly treated in the peace settlements and that the Caliph’s authority would be severely weakened. To defend the Caliphate and to oppose any punitive measures, the Khilafat Committees were formed (from 1919 onwards), which then allied with the broader national movement led by Gandhi.

Q5: How was the Non-Cooperation Movement converted into a national movement by Gandhiji?
Ans: (i) Hindu-Muslim Unity: Gandhiji believed a broad-based national movement required unity between Hindus and Muslims. He actively sought to bridge communal divisions so the struggle could include large sections of society.
(ii) Merging Khilafat issue with the movement: To attract Muslim support and create a common platform, Gandhi decided to take up the Khilafat issue alongside the demand for Swaraj. This alliance expanded the movement’s reach.
(iii) Talking to Muslim leaders: Gandhi negotiated and cooperated with leaders such as Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali to plan united mass action. At the Calcutta Congress session in September 1920 he convinced Congress leaders to launch non-cooperation in support of both Khilafat and Swaraj.
These steps transformed non-cooperation from a mainly middle-class affair into a large national movement involving students, lawyers, peasants, workers and many other sections.

Q6: Who formed the Swaraj Party Why was the party formed
Ans: The Swaraj Party was formed by C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru. They formed it because, after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement, some Congress leaders were tired of mass agitation and preferred to fight British rule from within the legislative councils established under the Government of India Act (1919). Their aim was to enter the councils, obstruct government business, argue for reforms from inside and expose the limits of British‑controlled institutions, while continuing the struggle for greater self-government.

Q7: Describe briefly any three economic effects of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Ans: (i) Boycott of foreign goods: People decided to boycott foreign goods and adopt Swadeshi cloth and products to weaken British economic control.
(ii) Impact on imports: Demand for imported cloth fell sharply. Between 1921 and 1922 the value of imported foreign clothes fell from Rs 102 crore to Rs 57 crore, showing a significant decline in imports.
(iii) Impact on Indian industry: As people adopted Indian textiles and goods, production in Indian textile mills and handloom sectors increased, providing relief to local industry and artisans.

Q8: “Plantation workers too had their own understanding of Gandhiji’s notion of Swaraj.” Explain.
Ans: (i) For plantation workers in Assam, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of the confined spaces of the estates and to maintain a link with the villages from which they had come.

(ii) The government had passed the Inland Emigration Act of 1859 which restricted the movement of plantation labourers; workers were rarely allowed to leave the tea estates without permission.

(iii) When the Non-Cooperation Movement spread, thousands of plantation workers defied estate rules, left the plantations and tried to return to their native villages as an assertion of freedom.

(iv) Many workers believed that a future Gandhi Raj would bring land reforms and provide land to villages, so they joined the movement hoping for better economic and social rights.

Q9: Explain the circumstances under which Non-cooperation Movement was withdrawn.
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Why was the Non-Cooperation Movement withdrawn by Gandhiji in February 1922. Explain the reasons.
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Explain the conditions of the plantation workers during the colonial rule in India.
Ans: In February 1922 Gandhiji withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement for several reasons:
(i) The movement was turning violent in some places. The incident at Chauri-Chaura (Gorakhpur), where a peaceful protest resulted in the burning of a police station and the killing of more than 20 policemen, convinced Gandhi that the movement had lost its discipline.
(ii) Gandhi believed that the volunteers (Satyagrahis) needed better training in non‑violent methods before engaging in larger struggles.
(iii) There were differences within the Congress: some leaders grew weary of mass agitation and preferred to enter legislative councils and pursue change from within.
(iv) Various groups interpreted ‘Swaraj’ differently - some, like Alluri Sitarama Raju in parts of Andhra, believed in armed struggle - approaches that Gandhi and the Congress leadership did not accept. These divisions weakened unified non‑violent resistance and contributed to the decision to suspend the movement.

Q10: Why was the Swaraj Party formed? By whom was the party formed.
Ans: There were some Congress leaders who argued for fighting the British from within the legislative councils rather than only by street agitations. They wanted to challenge British policies, press for reforms and show that these councils were not genuinely democratic. To pursue this strategy, C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party in 1922–23 as a group within the Congress committed to contesting council elections and obstructing colonial administration from inside.

Q11: What were the circumstances which led to the Khilafat and the Non-Cooperation Movement.
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Why did Mahatma Gandhi feel the need to launch a broad-based movement in 1920 Give any three reasons.
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Explain any three causes that led to the  Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. 
Ans:  (i) Conditions Created by the First World War: The First World War (1914–18) produced hardship in India: defence expenditure rose and was financed by taxes, prices increased causing severe difficulties for common people, crops failed in 1918–19 leading to food shortages, many lives were lost to war and epidemics, and forced recruitment fuelled anger.
(ii) Gandhiji’s Return and Satyagraha: Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915 with his method of non‑violent mass agitation (satyagraha). His earlier local campaigns showed that non‑cooperation could be an effective means of political mobilisation.
(iii) The Rowlatt Act: The Rowlatt Act (1919) gave the government sweeping powers to arrest and detain people without trial. This repressive measure sparked widespread protest.
(iv) Jallianwalla Bagh: The massacre at Jallianwalla Bagh (1919) shocked the nation and intensified demands for strong action against colonial rule.
(v) United Struggle: Fears about a harsh settlement for the Ottoman Caliph brought many Indian Muslims close to Gandhi’s leadership. Leaders like Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali supported a united mass action with the Congress, making it possible to launch a broad-based Non‑Cooperation Movement.

Q12: Explain the course of the Non- Cooperation Movement in the towns.
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Describe the extent of peoples participation in the Non-cooperation Movement in the towns. What were its economic effects.
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How did ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’ spread in cities across the country Explain its effects on the economic front.

Ans: (i) The movement in the cities: The movement began in the towns with major participation from the middle classes. Thousands of students left government schools and colleges; many teachers and headmasters resigned; lawyers gave up legal practice; and professionals joined protests.

(ii) Boycott of council elections: Most provinces boycotted the legislative council elections to show rejection of colonial institutions. Madras was an exception where the Justice Party contested councils to gain influence.

(iii) Swadeshi: The movement gave fresh impetus to Swadeshi. Foreign cloth was boycotted, liquor shops were picketed and public bonfires of foreign goods took place, encouraging Indians to use locally produced goods.

(iv) Impact on industry: Many merchants refused to deal in imported goods or finance foreign trade. Demand for Indian textile mill products and handloom cloth rose, giving relief to the struggling Indian textile industry.

(v) Movement in the countryside: Large numbers in the countryside also joined. Peasants in Awadh rose against taluqdars and unfair agrarian practices, while plantation workers protested against estate conditions - showing that the movement had both urban and rural reach.

Q13: Under what circumstances the Civil Disobedience or the Salt Movement was launched? Explain.
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Describe the main events leading to Salt March and Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.
Ans:  (i) Failure of the Simon Commission: The Simon Commission (1928) was widely rejected in India because it had no Indian members. Mass demonstrations followed. To placate nationalists, the Viceroy Lord Irwin made a vague offer of dominion status in October 1929, but that failed to satisfy leaders.
(ii) Purna (Purna) Swaraj: At the Lahore Congress (December 1929), under Jawaharlal Nehru’s presidency, the Congress declared Purna Swaraj (complete independence) and set 26 January 1930 as Independence Day when people would pledge to struggle for full freedom.
(iii) Rejection of Gandhi’s Eleven Demands: On 31 January 1930 Gandhi presented a list of Eleven Demands to the Viceroy and offered to suspend civil disobedience if they were accepted. The Viceroy rejected these demands as unrealistic.
(iv) Economic Causes: The Great Depression (from 1929) badly affected India’s economy. Agricultural prices and exports fell after 1926–30, causing distress among peasants who could not pay taxes. The government refused to lower land revenue, worsening rural poverty by 1930.
(v) Support from business class: Segments of the business class opposed restrictive colonial policies and decided to support the Civil Disobedience Movement financially and politically when it began. These conditions together prompted Gandhi to launch the Salt March and the wider Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.

Q14: ‘Large sections of Muslims did not respond to the call for a united struggle during the Civil Disobedience Movement.’ Explain.
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“Some of the Muslim political organisations in India, were lukewarm in their response to the ‘Civil Disobedient Movement’.” Examine the statement.
Answer:(i) Association of Congress with Hindu Mahasabha: After the decline of the Non‑Cooperation–Khilafat alliance, many Muslims felt alienated from the Congress. During the mid‑1920s the Congress appeared more closely associated with Hindu religious nationalist groups like the Hindu Mahasabha, which alarmed some Muslim opinion.

(ii) Communal Clashes: Frequent communal clashes and riots deepened mistrust between communities. Each riot further widened communal distance and reduced the willingness to join joint actions.

(iii) Issue of separate electorates: Some Muslim leaders demanded separate electorates and safeguards for Muslim political representation - demands not accepted by many Congress leaders - which made many Muslims cautious about joining a Congress‑led civil disobedience.

(iv) Status of Muslims as a minority: Concern about the future status of Muslims within a Hindu‑majority India - cultural and political fears - made some leaders reluctant to fully commit to a united nationalist campaign.

(v) Reserved seats in the Central Assembly: Leaders such as Jinnah demanded reservations for Muslims in central institutions; disagreements over such constitutional safeguards weakened a united response to civil disobedience.

Q15: Why for a long time, the Congress had ignored the daiits What role did Gandhiji play in uplifting them?
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How did Gandhiji view the Dalits What did he do for them.
Answer: For a long time the Congress avoided taking firm action on the issue of the untouchables (Dalits) for fear of upsetting conservative high‑caste Hindus (Sanatanis). Mahatma Gandhi, however, insisted that Swaraj would be incomplete so long as untouchability persisted. His contributions included:
- He placed the removal of untouchability at the centre of his constructive programme and publicly called for its abolition.
- He used the term Harijans (children of God) to raise awareness and dignity for the untouchables and organised satyagrahas to secure their entry into temples and access to public wells, tanks, roads and schools.
- He personally visited Harijan colonies, lived among them at times and took symbolic actions (such as cleaning latrines) to dignify sweeping work and challenge caste prejudices.
- He negotiated with Dr B. R. Ambedkar leading to the Poona Pact (1932), which provided reserved seats for Dalits in provincial legislatures and the central assembly as a political safeguard.

Q16: “Ideas of nationalism also developed through a movement to revive Indian folklore’. Explain.
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How did the idea of nationalism develop a movement to revive Indian folklore Give three points.
Ans:(i) History, fiction, folklore, songs, popular prints and symbols all contributed to the making of nationalism by giving people shared stories, heroes and cultural references.

(ii) From the late nineteenth century nationalists began to record folk tales and songs: they toured villages to collect ballads, legends and oral traditions so that popular culture would be recognised as part of national heritage.

(iii)This work aimed to revive and celebrate indigenous culture that many believed had been weakened by colonial influence; making folk culture visible helped build a sense of shared national identity.

(iv) Leaders and intellectuals played an active role: Rabindranath Tagore collected ballads and nursery rhymes and promoted folk revival, while Natesa Sastri compiled a four-volume collection, The Folklore of Southern India, arguing that folk literature reflected the real thoughts and character of the people.

Q17: Describe any three suppressive measures taken by the British administration to clampdown on nationalists.
Ans: (i) Rowlatt Act: The Rowlatt Act (1919) gave the British government wide powers to repress political activity, including detention without trial for up to two years.
(ii) Imposing martial law: The government frequently resorted to martial law and brutal repression to crush movements - using lathi charge, flogging and even aerial bombardment of villages on occasions; such measures aimed to intimidate and humiliate protestors.
(iii) Jailing nationalists: Leaders and local activists were routinely arrested and imprisoned during every major movement. Arrests of leaders during Rowlatt Satyagraha and the Civil Disobedience Movement weakened organisation and hampered mobilisation.

Q18: Mention any three efforts made by Gandhiji to get Harijans their rights.

Ans: (i) He declared that Swaraj would not be complete until untouchability was eliminated and made its removal a key part of his constructive programme.

(ii) He organised satyagrahas to secure Harijans’ entry into temples and to gain them access to public wells, tanks, roads and schools, challenging social exclusion.

(iii) He negotiated with Dr B. R. Ambedkar leading to the Poona Pact, which provided reserved seats for Dalits in provincial and central legislatures and improved political representation.

Q19: Explain the contribution of the various social groups in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
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Various classes and groups of Indians participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement for different reasons. Choose any four classes and explain their reason to participate in the movement.
Ans: Following are the contributions of various social groups in the Civil Disobedience Movement:
(i) Rich peasants: Producers of commercial crops were hit hard by falling prices and trade depression. As the government refused to lower revenue demands, many joined boycotts and protests; for them Swaraj meant relief from heavy revenues and better economic conditions.
(ii) Women: Women actively participated in marches, produced salt, picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops, and many accepted imprisonment. Their participation broadened the social base of the movement and changed views of women’s national role.
(iii) Business class: Many merchants and industrialists supported the movement to challenge colonial policies that restricted trade, protect domestic industry from imports and seek favourable economic conditions.
(iv) Industrial working class: Workers did not join in very large numbers nationwide, except in some centres (e.g. Nagpur). They did, however, adopt aspects of Gandhian programmes like boycotting foreign cloth as part of their own struggles for better wages and improved working conditions.

Q20: ‘Some icons and symbols were used for unifying the people and sparking in them the feeling of nationalism.’ Give two evidences to support above statement.
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State the icons and symbols that advocated nationalism in India.
Ans: (i) The image of Bharat Mata (Mother India) became a powerful national symbol. First painted by Abanindranath Tagore as a calm, spiritual mother figure, later images showed varied forms (sometimes with a trishul or a lion) that evoked devotion to the nation and a sense of unity.

(ii) The national flag acted as a unifying symbol. During the Swadeshi movement a tricolour with lotus motifs and a crescent symbolised unity of different communities; later Gandhiji helped popularise and redesign the Swaraj flag, which became a rallying emblem for the freedom movement.