Indian National Movement (1885-1918) (Longman Pearson)
Review Exercises
I. Fill in the blanks.
1. The Moderate phase of the Indian National Conference lasted until 1905.
2. The demands made by the Moderates remained within the petition and resolutions limits.
3. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a prominent leader of the Extremist group of the INC.
4. In 1905, the state of Bengal was partitioned into two parts.
5. The Muslim League was founded to form a separate electorate for the Muslims.
6. Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat.
7. The split in the INC into Moderates and Extremists took place at the Surat session.
8. Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Dadabhai Naoroji were prominent leaders of the Moderates group of the INC.
9. The Indian National Movement began under the leadership of the INC.
10. The Gandhian phase of the Indian National Movement began in 1918.
11. Ahmedabad mill strike took place in the year 1918.
II. Answer these questions.
1. Write a short note on the Moderates and the Extremists.
= Most of the early congressmen believed in constitutional methods and were humble and modest in their criticism of the British government. Therefore, they were known as Moderates. Some of the important Moderate leaders included Pherozshah Mehta, Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee and Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
A section of the INC, that had lost faith in the British government, began to drift towards radicalism. This radical fraction of the INC came to be known as the Extremists. The prominent extremist leaders, who emerged on the political scene, were Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Maharashtra, Bipin Chandra Pal in Bengal and Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab.
2. What were the primary demands made by the Moderates from the British government?
= The demands of the Moderates included increased participation of Indians in the legislative assembly, 'Indianisation' of the civil services, providing more funds for educating the Indians, reduction of military expenditure and tax burden, and abolition of practices such as sati, untouchability and child marriage.
3. Write about the contributions of the Moderates to the Indian National Movement.
= The contributions of the Moderates to the Indian National Movement are :
❐ The Moderates provided a solid foundation for the radical phase in the later years.
❐ They were able to spread the message of national unity and political awareness among the people.
❐ Under the leadership of the Moderates, Indians became familiar with the political affairs, ideas of freedom and democracy and nationalism. This knowledge helped to organise the Indian National Movement in its next phase.
4. What were the different methods adopted by the Moderates and the Extremists?
= ❐ Methods of Moderates : The Moderates believed in following constitutional and peaceful methods. They used prayers and petitions as their tools of agitation. Their main objective was to promote national unity and build public consciousness. Working within the constitutional limits, they tried to awaken and organise the Indian Public opinion. The Moderates recognised the value of the freedom of press and speech, the right to organise public and political bodies, and, therefore, opposed all attempts to curtail them.
❐ Methods of Extremists : Unlike the Moderates, the Extremists believed that active opposition to the government has to be adopted. After the partition of Bengal in 1905 the Extremists adopted different methods of protest which included Swadeshi, boycott, national education and revivalism. Swadeshi meant promotion of indigenous products and at the same time boycotting British goods. A programme of national education was started which was aimed at providing political and vocational education to the students. In order to install a feeling of pride among the Indians, historical figures were hailed as heroes and old festivals were revived.
5. Name any two Moderate and Extremist leaders.
= The two Moderate leaders are :
Dadabhai Naoroji.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
The two Extremist leaders are :
Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Lala Lajpat Rai.
6. In what ways did the British encourage the Muslims?
= The British were successful in showing the seeds of communalism through the partition of Bengal. They encouraged the Muslims to form a Separate political party and fight through separate electorates. The Muslims were given the impression that they might lose their identity if they joined the congress.
7. How did the Indian Nationalist leaders realise that the British rule was unjust?
= The indifference of the British and the continued economic exploitation and impoverishment of the country made the Indian nationalists realise that the British government was not sincere and committed to the cause of the Indians. Therefore, they gradually lost faith in it, which ultimately resulted in the rise of the Radical Phase.
8. Who was instrumental in transforming the Indian National Movement into a mass movement?
= Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in transforming the Indian National Movement into a mass movement.
9. The Moderates and the Extremists had ideological differences. Explain.
= The Moderate leaders had faith in the British sense of Justice. They believe that the British were unware of the ground realities in India. They had the firm belief that gradually, the British government would concede to their demands. They carried out their agitation through petitions and resolutions.
On the other hand, the Extremists had no faith in the British government. They were also disappointed with the ideology and techniques of the Moderates. They realised the true nature of the British government. They were of the firm opinion that Indian would not make any progress under the British rule. They wanted the INC to adopt aggressive methods against the British Government.
10. Why did Gandhiji encourage swadeshi and boycott?
= Gandhiji encouraged Swadeshi and boycott because :
❐ Gandhiji believed that the principle of Swadeshi would make every village of India a self-supporting unit.
❐ He believed that the revival of the cottage industry would remove the growing poverty.
❐ He used his spinning wheel as a symbol of the regeneration of the villages of India.
11. What were the social reforms advocated by Gandhiji?
= Gandhiji integrated nationalist aspirations within the framework of social reforms :
❐ He campaigned for social acceptance of the untouchables by the community. He called them Harijans which means children of god.
❐ He also championed the cause of women.
❐ He looked upon women as mothers and silent leaders of men.
12. Write a short note about the formation of the Muslim League?
= In 1906, Nawab Salimullah Khan of Decca (Now Dhaka) and Prince Aga Khan founded the Muslim League to protect the interests of the Muslims with an idea of forming a separate electorate for the Muslims. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was one of the most prominent members of the Muslim League.
13. Why were the extremists disillusioned with the Moderate leadership?
= The Extremists had no faith in the British government. They were also disappointed with the ideology and techniques of the Moderates. They realised the true nature of the British government. They were of the firm opinion that India would not make any progress under the British rule. They wanted the INC to adopt aggressive methods against the British Government.
14. List the main objectives of the Muslim League.
= The main objectives of the Muslim League were :
❐ To promote a feeling of loyalty among the Muslims towards the British government.
❐ To promote the political rights of the Muslims in India.
❐ To avoid a feeling of hostility towards other communities.
15. The formation of the Muslim League and their demand for a separate electorate was regarded as a cause of split between the Hindu-Muslim unity. Do you agree?
= The Muslim League, in 1906, appealed to the British government for separate electorate. This meant that the Muslims would elect their representatives and it would weaken the national unity.
III. Write short notes.
1. Satyagraha.
= Gandhiji's technique of satyagraha was based on two elements :
❐ truth; and
❐ non-violence.
Gandhiji described the role and duties of a satyagrahi.
❐ A satyagrahi refuses to accept wrong and remains peaceful.
❐ He/She does not hate an evil-doer; rather he/she hates evil.
❐ For truth, a satyagrahi would accept sufferings himself/herself. By doing so, the satyagrahi would hope to arouse the conscience of the person who have committed a wrong action.
❐ He/She has to give up fear, hatred and falsehood.
2. Early life of Gandhiji.
= Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat. He studied law and practised it in South Africa for about 21 years. The racial discrimination and the humiliating conditions of the Indians living in South Africa shocked Gandhiji. He began a struggle against racial discrimination in South Africa and it was during this struggle that Gandhiji evolved the method of satyagraha. The term satyagraha has been derived from two Sanskrit words satya (truth) and agraha (eagerness). The methods of satyagraha and non-violence became important features of the Indian National Movement.
3. Non-violence ad a method of protest.
= Gandhiji believed that non-violence was needed for individual freedom to succeed and thrive.
❐ Following non-violence does not make person coward. It was the weapon that only a strong person could adopt. It is a positive and active force and infinitely superior to brute force.
❐ Individuals and nations that practice non-violence must be prepared to sacrifice everything except honour.
❐ If non-violence is accepted as the law of life it must encompass the whole being and not be applied to isolated acts.
❐ Non-cooperation methods such as peaceful demonstrations, boycotting British goods and services, use and promotion of khadi, and non-payment of oppressive taxes would hinder the functioning of the British government. These were the non-violent methods of struggle which were include in the Indian National Movement.
4. Champaran Satyagraha.
= Gandhiji led Champaran Satyagraha in 1917. It was the farmers' uprising that took place in the Champaran district of Bihar. The British forced the farmers to grow indigo. The farmers protested against it.
5. Match the columns.
=
|
1. Lala Lajpat Rai |
a. split in the Indian National Congress. [2] |
|
2. 1907 |
b. establishment of the Muslim League. [4] |
|
3. 1905 |
c. Moderate leader. [5] |
|
4. Aga Khan |
d. Extremist leader. [1] |
|
5. Surendranath Banerjee |
e. partition of Bengal. [3] |
V. State whether true or false.
1. The Extremists favoured the policies and techniques of the Moderates. [F]
2. Indian nationalism arose because of the initiative by the British. [F]
3. Gandhiji advocated Hindu-Muslim unity. [T]
4. The Muslim League was formed in 1908. [F]
5. Bipin Chandra Pal was prominent leader of the Extremists in Bengal. [T]