CBSE Class 8 Social Science: The Making of the National Movement (1870s-1947) NCERT Solutions

In the 1870s and 1880s, several policies enacted by the British government led to widespread dissatisfaction among the Indian populace. Key reasons include:

1. The Arms Act of 1878: This law was particularly resented as it disallowed Indians from possessing arms, while Europeans were permitted to do so. It was seen as a measure to disarm the native population and maintain British control.
2. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878: This act severely curtailed the freedom of the Indian press. It allowed the government to confiscate newspapers, including their printing presses, if they published content deemed critical of the government. This was a direct attack on the freedom of speech and expression.
3. The Ilbert Bill Controversy of 1883: This bill aimed to grant Indian judges the authority to try European offenders. It sought to establish equality between Indian and British judges. However, strong opposition from Europeans forced the government to withdraw the bill, highlighting the racial discrimination prevalent in the British administration and disappointing Indian aspirations for equality.

The Indian National Congress, established in 1885, aimed to represent the interests and aspirations of all the people of India, irrespective of their community, religion, or region. Its objective was to articulate the collective voice of the entire Indian nation in its dealings with the British government, striving for greater rights and self-governance.

The First World War (1914-1918) had significant and mixed economic impacts on India:

Negative Impacts:

• Increased Defence Expenditure: The Government of India had to significantly increase its spending on defence to support the British war effort.
• Higher Taxes: To meet the increased expenditure, the government raised taxes on individual incomes and business profits.
• Price Rise: The heavy military expenditure and the demand for war supplies led to a sharp increase in the prices of essential commodities. This made it difficult for common people to meet their basic needs.

Positive Impacts (for some):

• Profits for Business Groups: Certain business groups, particularly those involved in industries producing war supplies, earned huge profits.
• Expansion of Indian Industries: The war disrupted imports from other countries, creating a demand for Indian industrial goods like jute bags, cloth, and rails. This led to the expansion of Indian industries during the war period.

The resolution passed by the All-India Muslim League in Lahore in 1940, often referred to as the "Lahore Resolution", demanded the creation of separate, independent states for Muslims. Specifically, it asked for the 'grouping of the geographically contiguous units' in the north-western and eastern parts of the country where Muslims were in a majority, to be constituted into 'Independent States' in which the constituent units would be autonomous and sovereign.

It is important to note that the resolution did not explicitly mention the partition of India or use the term 'Pakistan' at that stage.

The Moderates were an early group of leaders within the Indian National Congress who believed in a gradual and constitutional approach to achieving political reforms and eventual self-rule. Their key characteristics and methods included:

• Faith in British Intentions: They had a strong belief in the fairness and good intentions of the British government and its institutions.
• Gradualism: They were against taking extreme actions or resorting to violence. They believed that through persistent persuasion and constitutional means, they could gradually convince the British to grant more rights and eventually self-governance to India.
• Methods of Struggle: Their approach involved:
  • Developing Public Awareness: They worked to educate the Indian public about the unjust nature of British rule and its detrimental economic impact on the country through newspapers, articles, and speeches.
  • Mobilizing Public Opinion: They sent representatives across the country to gather support and mobilize public opinion in favour of their demands.
  • Submitting Petitions and Appeals: They believed that by presenting their demands respectfully and logically, appealing to the British ideals of freedom, justice, and fair play, they could achieve their goals. They aimed to bring the just demands of the Indian people to the attention of the British government.

In essence, the Moderates sought to work within the existing British framework, using reasoned arguments and public advocacy to achieve political progress.

The Radicals, also known as the Extremists, within the Indian National Congress held significantly different views and advocated for distinct methods compared to the Moderates. Their approach was characterized by:

• Emphasis on Action and Self-Reliance: Unlike the Moderates, the Radicals believed in more assertive and direct action. They stressed the importance of self-reliance and urged people to fight for their rights rather than merely appealing to the British.
• Critique of Moderate Methods: They criticized the Moderates' 'politics of prayers' and petitions as ineffective and too passive. They felt that relying on British goodwill was futile.
• Demand for Swaraj: The Radicals strongly advocated for 'Swaraj' (self-rule) and believed that independence could only be achieved through a united struggle against British rule. They argued that passive resistance and appeals would not suffice.
• Urgency: They felt a greater sense of urgency to drive out the foreign rulers as soon as possible, believing that the British would not relinquish power willingly without a strong, unified national movement.

In essence, while Moderates sought reforms within the British system, Radicals aimed for complete independence through more direct and forceful means.

The Non-Cooperation Movement, launched in 1920, was a nationwide campaign that manifested in diverse ways across India, reflecting the specific grievances and contexts of different regions. The people's understanding of Gandhiji's role was also varied, often seeing him as a liberator.

Forms of the Movement:

1. Peasant Movements: In Kheda, Gujarat, Patidar peasants organized non-violent campaigns against high land revenue demands.
2. Protests Against Alcohol: In coastal Andhra and interior Tamil Nadu, liquor shops were picketed as part of the boycott of foreign goods.
3. Forest Satyagrahas: In the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, tribals and poor peasants protested against restrictive forest regulations imposed by the British. They participated in forest satyagrahas, sometimes by letting their cattle graze in forests without paying the required tax, seeking the abolition of these rules.
4. Khilafat and Communal Unity: Muslim traders and peasants in Sind (now in Pakistan) and Bengal showed great enthusiasm for the Khilafat call, which merged with the Non-Cooperation Movement. This alliance fostered significant communal unity and strengthened the national movement in Bengal.
5. Gurudwara Reform Movement: In Punjab, the Akali agitation aimed to remove corrupt priests ('mahants') from gurudwaras, who were often supported by the British. This movement became closely associated with the broader Non-Cooperation Movement.
6. Labour Movements: In Assam, tea garden labourers left British-owned plantations, aligning themselves with the national cause and becoming followers of Gandhiji.

People's Understanding of Gandhiji:

Across various regions, people often perceived Gandhiji as a 'messiah' or a divine figure. They believed he possessed the power to help them overcome their immense suffering, poverty, and oppression under British rule. This deep faith and hope motivated them to participate actively in the movements he led, seeing him as a symbol of hope and a path to liberation.

Mahatma Gandhi chose to break the salt law as a central act of civil disobedience for several profound reasons:

• Injustice of the Salt Monopoly: The British government maintained a state monopoly over the manufacture and sale of salt. This meant they controlled its production and distribution, and levied taxes on it.
• Salt as an Essential Commodity: Gandhiji believed that salt is a fundamental necessity for life, required equally by the rich and the poor. Taxing such an essential item was considered immoral and sinful by him.
• Symbol of Oppression: The salt tax and the government's control over it served as a potent symbol of British economic exploitation and oppression. It disproportionately affected the poor who could barely afford basic necessities.
• Unifying Cause: By challenging the salt law, Gandhiji aimed to unite people from all walks of life – rich and poor, across different communities – in a common cause against British injustice. He anticipated widespread support for this particular protest.

Gandhiji's decision to break the salt law led to the famous Salt March and the subsequent Salt Satyagraha, which became a pivotal moment in the Indian freedom struggle, galvanizing national resistance against British rule.