Chapter 8. Indian National Movement Textbook Solutions

NIOS Social Science Class 10 Chapter 8 Solutions

INTEXT QUESTIONS 8.1

1. Explain three causes which led to national consciousness among Indians during the British regime.

Ans: Anti-colonial movement, political and administrative unity under British rule, revival of ancient India’s glory.

2. Why was the British government interested in the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885?

Ans: To give a safe and constitutional outlet to Indians, so that their anger would not develop into agitation against the British.

3. What were the differences between the Moderates and the Radicals?

Ans: Moderates believed in petitioning and requesting the British government to solve the grievances, whereas Radicals believed in organizing mass protests, criticizing government policies, boycotting foreign goods, and using Swadeshi goods.

4. Why did the Indian leaders support the British during the First World War?

Ans: In the hope that the British government would provide Constitutional powers to the Indians after winning the war.

5. Why was the Khilafat movement against British rule?

Ans: Because of the division of the Ottoman Empire and the insult to the Khalifa.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 8.2

1. How was Satyagraha different from the other protests?

Ans: Satyagraha means a non-violent insistence for truth and justice. Other protests were violent and aggressive in nature.

2. Why was the Simon Commission boycotted by Indians? Give two reasons.

Ans: The Commission had no Indian members.

3. Why did Gandhi withdraw from the non-cooperation movement?

Ans: Outbreaks of violence during the movement caused its suspension.

4. How was the approach of revolutionaries different from the others?

Ans: They chose the path of armed movement against the Britishers. Others were not in favour of this.

5. What do you understand about Purna-Swaraj?

Ans: Purna-Swaraj means complete independence and sovereignty.

6. How was communal divide in India promoted by the British?

Ans: By promoting separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, etc., and encouraging the Muslim League to raise communal demands.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 8.3

1. Write two basic features of the Act of 1935.

Ans: Princely States and the British Provinces all had to come under the All India Federation. It restricted the power of the legislature, i.e., no control over defense and foreign relations.

2. What was the demand of Muslim League?

Ans: The Muslim League demanded a separate nation for Muslims, i.e., Pakistan.

3. What led to the participation of Congress in the elections after 1935?

Ans: To gain constitutional power and change the British laws, Congress decided to participate in the elections.

4. Why were the Indian leaders concerned about the British presence in India during the Second World War?

Ans: Because the British presence in India could lead to Japanese invasion during the Second World War.

5. What were the major causes of the partition of India?

Ans: The communal divide, the demand of the Muslim League, and the lack of consensus between the political parties.

TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1. In the initial years of its existence, what types of demands were put by the Indian National Congress before the British government?

Ans: They asked for:

(a) representative legislatures
(b) Indianization of services
(c) reduction of military expenditure
(d) education, employment, and holding of the ICS (Indian Civil Services) examination in India
(e) decrease in the burden of the cultivators
(f) defense of civil rights
(g) separation of the judiciary from the executive
(h) change in the tenancy laws
(i) reduction in land revenue and salt duty
(j) policies to help in the growth of Indian industries and handicrafts
(k) introduction of welfare programmes for the people.

2. Why was Lord Curzon interested in the partition of Bengal?

Ans: The reason for the partition was given as an attempt to improve administration. But the real aim was to ‘Divide and Rule’. The partition was done to create a separate State for Muslims and so introduce the poison of communalism in the country.

3. What was the significance of the Satyagrah of Gandhi in Africa? What was the nature of his Satyagraha in India?

Ans: The treatment of the Indians in South Africa by the British provoked his conscience. He decided to fight against the policy of racial discrimination of the South African Government. During the course of his struggle against the government, he evolved the technique of Satyagraha (non-violent insistence for truth and justice). Gandhi succeeded in this struggle in South Africa.

His first experiment in Satyagraha began at Champaran in Bihar in 1917, when he inspired the peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system. He also organised a satyagraha to support the peasants of the Kheda districts of Gujarat. These peasants were not able to pay their revenue because of crop failure and epidemics. In Ahmedabad, he organized a movement amongst cotton mill workers.

4. Do you think that the Non-Cooperation movement was successful in its goal? Give two reasons in support of your argument.

Ans: The non-violent Non-Cooperation Movement, which started auspiciously, was marked by violence in August 1921. The government started taking serious action. Prominent leaders were arrested. In two months, nearly 30,000 people were imprisoned. Gandhi suspended his non-cooperation on February 14, 1922. The non-cooperation movement failed to achieve success, yet it succeeded in preparing a platform for future movements. After taking back the Non-Cooperation movement, Gandhiji and his followers were busy in creative activities in village areas. By this, he gave the message to the people to remove the caste-based animosity.

5. Why was the Simon Commission asked to leave India?

Ans: The Simon Commission had no Indian member in it. The Indians boycotted this all-White commission. Therefore, when this Commission arrived in India, it faced protests all over the country. Black flags were shown and Hartals took place all over the country, and the cry of ‘Simon go back’ was heard.

6. Why did the Dandi March lead to the arrest of Gandhi?

Ans: The government made a new law. They imposed taxes on the use of salt. During March-April 1930, Gandhi marched from his Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi on the Gujarat coast for the purpose of raiding the Government Salt. The violation of the salt law was his first challenge to the government. It was a peaceful march. Gandhi committed a technical breach of the Salt Law on 6th April, 1930, when he picked up the scattered sea salt from the coast to break this Law. This was why he was arrested.

7. What made the revolutionaries throw a bomb in the Legislative Assembly?

Ans: Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb inside the Central Legislative Assembly on 8th April, 1929, protesting against the passage of the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Disputes Bill while raising slogans of Inquilab Zindabad (long live the revolution), though no one was killed or injured in the bomb incident.

8. Discuss the role of Azad Hind Fauled by Subhash Chandra Bose in the Indian National Movement.

Ans: He tried to raise an Indian army and urged his country’s people to rise in arms against the British. He was made president of the Indian Independence League and the leader of the INA, popularly called ‘Azad Hind Fauj’. He gave the famous battle cry ‘Chalo Dilli’. He promised independence to Indians, saying, ‘tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe Azadi dunga’ (You give me blood, I will give you freedom). In March 1944, the Indian flag was hoisted at Kohima. The INA continued to occupy an honored place in India’s

freedom struggle. The intense patriotism of Bose and the soldiers of the INA proved a tremendous source of inspiration for the Indian people.

9. How did the ‘Quit India’ Movement contribute to the independence of India?

Ans: The Quit India Movement became one of the greatest mass movements of historical significance. It demonstrated the depth of national sentiments and indicated the capacity of the Indian people for sacrifice and determined struggle. After this movement, there was no retreat. Independence of India was no longer a matter of bargaining. It was to be a reality.

10. Mention three causes that forced the Britishers to give India independence in the twentieth century.

Ans:

National Movement during the Second World War: The Congress demanded that “India must be declared an independent union, and present application must be given to this status to the largest possible extent”. The British did not agree, and as a result, all the ministries resigned in protest in 1939.
The Quit India Movement became one of the greatest mass movements of historical significance. It demonstrated the depth of national sentiments and indicated the capacity of the Indian people for sacrifice and determined struggle. After this movement, there was no retreat. Independence of India was no longer a matter of bargaining. It was to be a reality.
World War I and its economic impact also played a crucial role in forcing the British to give independence to India.