Towards Civil Disobedience, Class10 History Notes, Unit3 Chapter1, Nationalism in India.
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Table of Contents
Overview
This post titled “Towards Civil Disobedience” takes view of political scene in India during late 1920s. The two major factors – (1) world wide economic depression, and (2) constitution of a statutory commission under Sir John Simon to look into the functioning of constitutional system in India – reshaped the Indian politics at this time.
After much deliberation, Gandhi on 31 January 1930, sent a letter to viceroy stating 11 demands, which if not fulfilled, will compel the Congress to move towards Civil Disobedience.
Political Activities Between February 1922 to December 1929
Q.1. Why did some leaders in Congress want to participate in elections to the provincial councils to be held during 1920s?
Ans. Within the Congress, some leaders were now tired of mass struggles and wanted to participate in upcoming elections to the Provincial Councils ( setup under Government of India Act, 1919). They felt that entry in Provincial Councils will give them following opportunities.
- Opportunity to oppose British policies within the councils.
- Opportunity to argue for reforms, and
- Opportunity to demonstrate that these Provincial Councils were not truly democratic.
C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to Council politics. But young leaders like J. L. Nehru and Subhash Bose pressed for more radical mass agitation and for full independence.
Q.2. Which two factors did shape the Indian Politics during late 1920s?
Ans. In a situation of internal debate and dissension within the Congress, there emerged two factors which reshaped Indian politics –
- World wide economic depression in late 1920s, and
- Setting up of a statutory commission (Called Simon Commission) by new Tory Government in Britain.
As a result of world wide economic depression, agricultural prices began to fall from 1926 and collapsed after 1930. Thus by 1930, the countryside was in turmoil. (Demands for agricultural goods fell and exports declined. Peasants found it difficult to sell their harvests and pay their revenue.)
In the mean time the new Tory Government in Britain constituted a statutory commission for India under Sir John Simon. It was setup in response to the nationalist movement, and was to look into the functioning of the constitutional system of India and suggest changes.
The problem with the Simon Commission was that it didn’t have any single Indian member in it. This was unacceptable to Indian people and Indian political parties including Congress and Muslim League.
When Simon Commission arrived India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan “Go back Simon”.
Q.3. Write about the purpose of Simon Commission. What was Indian response to it ?
Ans. In response to the nationalist movement (Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement) in India, the new Tory Government in Britain, constituted a statutory commission under Sir John Simon.
The commission was to look into the functioning of constitutional system in India and suggest changes. The problem was that all its members were British and there was no single Indian member. This badly hurt India’s national sentiment.
When Simon Commission arrived India in 1928, it was greeted with slogan “Go back Simon”. All parties including Congress and Muslim League participated in the demonstrations.
In an effort to win the confidence of Indian parties, viceroy Lord Irvin announced in October,1929 –
- a vague offer of dominion status for India in an unspecified future.
- a Round Table Conference to discuss a future constitution for India.
This didn’t satisfy the Congress. The Radicals within the Congress led by J.L.Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose became more assertive within the Congress. On the other hand, the Liberals and Moderates within the Congress who were proposing a constitutional system within the framework of British dominion, gradually lost their influence.
Q.4. What was the demand of Purna Swaraj or full independence for India ?
Ans. The Radicals like J.L. Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose had become more assertive within the Congress.
In December 1929, under the presidency of J.L. Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalised the demand of Purna Swaraj or full independence for India.
It was also declared that 26 January 1930, would be celebrated as Independence Day. On this day, people were supposed to take a pledge to struggle for complete independence. But the celebrations attracted little attention.
In such a scenario, Mahatma Gandhi tried to find a way to relate this abstract idea of complete independence to more concrete issues of everyday life.
The Salt March and the Civil disobedience Movement, Gandhi – Irvin Pact (1931)
Q.5. How was the Civil Disobedience Movement launched in March 1930 ? How was it different from Non – Cooperation Movement of 1921-22 ?
Ans. On 31January 1930, Gandhi sent a letter to viceroy Irvin stating eleven demands. It was also said that if these demands were not fulfilled by 11 March, the Congress would launch a civil disobedience campaign.
The idea behind these wide ranging demands was to bring all classes within Indian society for a united campaign.
The most important of all these 11 demands was to abolish the salt tax. The tax on the salt, and the government monopoly over its production, was declared as an oppressive act by the British government.
As viceroy Irvin was unwilling to accept these demands, Gandhi started his famous Salt March (also Dandi March) from Sabarmati to Dandi along with 78 volunteers. The March continued for 24 days in which in which 240 miles distance was covered.
On 6th April 1930, Gandhi reached Dandi and ceremoniously violated the law by making salt by boiling sea water. This marked the beginning of Civil Disobedience Movement.
This movement was different from Non – Cooperation movement of 1921-22. People were now asked not only to refuse cooperation with the British, but also to break the colonial laws.
Spread of Civil Disobedience Movement :
Thousands, in different parts of country broke the salt law, manufactured the salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories.
As the movement spread, foreign cloth was boycotted, and liquor shops were picketed. Peasants refused to pay revenue and Chaukidari tax. Village officials resigned and in many places forest people violated forest laws.
Government Reaction :
Worried by the developments, the British government took following steps :
- Government began arresting congress leaders one by one. Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi in Peshawar, was arrested in April 1930. Mahatma Gandhi himself was arrested in April 1930.
- Brutal repression took place. Peaceful Satyagrahis were attacked, women and children were beaten and about 100,000 people were arrested.
Congress Response :
In such a situation Mahatma Gandhi once again decided to call off the movement. He entered a pact called Gandhi – Irvin Pact on March 5, 1931.
By this pact, Gandhi consented to participate in a Round Table Conference in London, and government agreed to release political prisoners.
Q.6. What were the outcomes of Second Round Table Conference held in London in December 1931?
Ans. Under Gandhi Irvin Pact on 5 March 1931, it had been agreed by Gandhi to participate in Second Round Table Conference to be organised in London.
In December 1931, Gandhi went to London for Second Round Table Conference but the negotiations broke down and Gandhi returned disappointed. Back in India, Gandhi discovered that –
- Government had begun a new cycle of repression.
- Gaffar Khan and J.L. Nehru were both in Jail.
- Congress had been declared illegal.
- Meetings, demonstrations and boycotts were prohibited.
With great apprehension, Mahatma Gandhi relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement. It somehow continued for over a year, but, by 1934 it lost its momentum.
How Participants Saw The Movement
Q.7. What were expectations of rich peasant communities (Patidars of Gujarat, Jat of U.P.) from Civil Disobedience Movement ?
Ans. Rich peasant communities like Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of U.P. were producers of commercial crops. They were hard hit by the economic depression and falling prices.
As their cash income disappeared, they found it impossible to pay the government’s revenue demand. Government’s refusal to reduce the revenue demand led to widespread resentment among these peasants.
Now these rich peasants became enthusiastic supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. For them the fight for Swaraj and the Civil Disobedience Movement was a struggle against the high revenues.
They became highly disappointed when the movement was called off in 1931 without the revenue rates being revised. So when the Civil Disobedience Movement was restarted in 1932 by Mahatma Gandhi, many of them refused to participate.
Q.8. What were the expectations of poor peasantry from Civil Disobedience Movement ?
Or, Q. Discuss the relationship of the Congress with the poor peasantry in context of Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ans. The poorer peasantry were small tenants. They used to cultivate those lands which they had received from landlords on rent.
As the economic depression continued and cash incomes decreased, these small tenants found it difficult to pay their rent. They wanted the rent due on them to be remitted and for this they had joined a variety of radical movements often led by socialists and communists.
Congress was unwilling to support these “no rent” campaigns in most places. Congress feared that supporting this issue might upset the rich peasants and landlords.
So the relationship between poor peasants and Congress remained uncertain.
Q.9. How did business class relate themselves with Civil Disobedience Movement?
Ans. During the first World War, Indian merchants and industrialists had made huge profits and become powerful. In order to grow further and protect their business, they felt the need for followings :
- Keen on expanding their business, they now reacted against colonial policies that restricted their business activities.
- They wanted protection against imports of foreign goods.
- They also wanted a rupee sterling foreign exchange ratio that would discourage imports.
To organise business interests, they formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress (IICC) in 1920, and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927.
Led by prominent Industrialists like Purushottamdas Thakurdas and G.D.Birla, the industrialists attacked colonial control over the Indian economy, and supported the Civil Disobedience Movement when it was launched. They gave financial assistance and refused to buy or sell imported goods.
Most businessmen came to see Swaraj (and Civil Disobedience Movement) as a time when colonial restriction on business would no longer exist, and industry would flourish without constraints.
But after failure of Second Round Table Conference, business groups were no longer uniformly enthusiastic. They were apprehensive of the spread of militant activities and worried about prolonged disruption of business. They were also concerned about the growing influence of socialism amongst the younger member of the Congress.
Q.10. How was the women’s participation in Civil Disobedience Movement ?
Ans. Large scale participation of women in Civil Disobedience Movement was an important feature.
During Mahatma Gandhi’s salt march, thousands of women came out of their homes to listen to him. They participated in protest marches, manufactured salts, and picketed foreign cloth shops and liquor shops. Many went to jail.
In urban areas, these women were from high caste families, and in rural areas they came from rich peasants households.
Moved by Gandhi’s call, they began to see the service to nation as a sacred duty of women.
However this increased public activity of women didn’t necessarily mean any radical change in their social status.
Gandhi ji was convinced that it was duty of women to look after home and health, be good mothers and good wives. Also, for a long time, the congress was reluctant to allow women to hold any position of authority within the organisation. It wanted only their symbolic presence.
The Limits of Civil Disobedience Movement, Poona Pact (1932), Muslim Participation
Q.11. Social groups like untouchables (dalits / Oppressed) were not moved by abstract concept of Swaraj. What were their issues and problems ?
Ans. Social groups like untouchables had begun to call themselves dalit or oppressed.
For long the congress had ignored the Dalits for fear of offending the conservative high caste Hindus. Mahatma Gandhi felt the need to remove untouchability. He called the untouchables ‘ Harijans’ or ‘the children of God.’
Mahatma Gandhi organised Satyagraha to secure them entry into temples and access to public wells, tanks, roads, and schools. He himself cleaned toilets to dignify the work of sweepers(Bhangis). He also persuaded upper castes to change their heart and give up the sin untouchability.
However many dalit leaders organised themselves and demanded reserved seats in educational institutions and a separate electorate that would choose dalit members for Legislative councils.
They believed that their political empowerment alone, can resolve the problems of their social disabilities.
Dalit participation in Civil Disobedience Movement was therefore limited, particularly in Maharastra, and Nagpur region where their organisation was quite strong.
Q.12. Discuss the Poona Pact of September’ 1932.
Ans. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar organised the dalits (Oppressed and untouchables) into the Depressed Class Association in 1930.
At Second Round Table Conference (December 1931), B.R. Ambedkar clashed with Mahatma Gandhi by demanding separate electorate for Dalits.
When the British Government conceded Ambedkar’s demand, Gandhi Ji began fast unto death. He believed that separate electorate for Dalits would slow down the process of their integration into society.
Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhi’s position and the Poona Pact was signed in September 1932.
Poona Pact of September 1932, gave depressed classes (later came to be known as Scheduled castes) reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils, but they were to be voted in by the general electorate.
(The Dalit Movement, however, continued to be apprehensive of Congress led National Movement.)
Q.13. Why did the Muslim organisations show lukewarm response to the Civil Disobedience Movement ?
Ans. After the decline of Non-cooperation Khilafat Movement, a large section of Muslims felt alienated from Congress.
From the mid 1920s, Congress appeared more visibly associated with Hindu religious nationalist groups like the Hindu Mahasabha.
As relations between Hindus and Muslims worsened, each community organised religious processions with militant fervor, causing communal clashes and riots.
Politically, the Congress and the Muslim League made efforts in 1927 to forge an alliance keeping in view the future assembly elections.
Muslim League leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah was willing to give up the demand for separate electorates if (1) Muslims were assured reserved seats in the Central Assembly, and (2) representation in proportion to population in the Muslim dominated provinces of Bengal and Punjab.
However alliance between Congress and Muslim League couldn’t become possible because at the All Party Conference in 1928, M.R. Jaykar of the Hindu Mahasabha strongly opposed any compromise with the Muslim League at the proposal of representation in proportion to population in the Muslim dominated provinces.
When the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in March- April 1930, there was thus an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust between two communities.
As a result, large sections of Muslims showed lukewarm response towards their participation in Civil Disobedience Movement.
Q.14. What did Muslims fear ?
Ans. Muslims feared that the culture and identity of minorities would be submerged under the domination of a Hindu majority.
Pledge of 26 January1930, Goal of Poorna Swaraj
Q.15. The Pledge of Congress of 26 January 1930 suggests that India must sever its British connection and attain Poorna Swaraj (Complete independence). Why was this said ?
Ans. The Pledge of 26 January,1930 suggests that India must sever its relations with Britain and attain Poorna Swaraj (complete independence). This was because of following reasons :
- the British government in India had deprived the Indian people of their freedom.
- British government in India was mainly based on the exploitation of the masses and had ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually.
H S R A, Thoughts of Bhagat Singh
Q.16. Write a brief note on Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) and thoughts of Bhagat Singh about revolution.
Ans. In 1928, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) was founded by Bhagat Singh, Jatin Das, and Ajay Ghosh at a meeting at Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi.
In a series of dramatic actions in different parts of India, the HSRA targeted some of the symbols of British power.
- In April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta threw bomb in the legislative assembly.
- Again in the same year of 1929, there was an attempt to blow up the train in which Lord Irvin was travelling.
In his trial, Bhagat Singh stated that he didn’t wish to glorify ‘the cult of bomb and pistol’ but wanted a revolution in society.
Bhagat Singh viewed that-
- Revolution is inalienable right of mankind.
- Freedom is the imprescriptible birth right of all.
- The labour is the real sustainer of the society,
He gave the slogan, “Inquilab Zindabad.” Bhagat Singh was tried and executed by the colonial government, at the age of 23.
Miscellaneous
- In 1930, Sir Muhammad Iqbal was the president of Muslim League. He reiterated the importance of separate electorate for Muslims. He supported the demand of Muslim India within India.
- In 1928, Vallabh Ballabh Bhai Patel led the peasant movement in Bardoli (Gujarat) against the enhancement of land revenue. (This was known as Bardoli Satyagraha.)
- On January 6, 1921 the police in United Province fired at peasants near Rae Bareli.
- Lala Lajpat Rai was assaulted by the British police during a peaceful demonstration against the Simon Commission.
Conclusion
Thus we see how Nationalism in India was growing with each new day. Indian leaders during late 1920s, chose to move towards civil disobedience, which in due course culminated in to demand for complete independence from Britain. (poorna Swaraj).
