Mahatma Gandhi and the National Movement Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Questions

1. Which period of Indian history is known as the Gandhian era and why?

Ans: The period from 1919 to 1948 is known as the Gandhian Era in Indian history because Mahatma Gandhi dominated and guided the Indian National Movement during this period.

2. Define Satyagraha. How does it differ from Passive Resistance?

Ans: Satyagraha means holding fast to truth. According to Gandhiji, it was a moral force based on truth and non-violence to resist evil and injustice.
Difference from Passive Resistance:

• Passive Resistance does not exclude the use of physical force to achieve one's end.
• Satyagraha completely rejects violence and is based on truth, love and non-violence.

3. How did Gandhiji involve Indian masses in the National Movement?

Ans: 

• Gandhiji transformed the National Movement into a mass movement by involving peasants, workers, students, women and the common people.
• He adopted simple methods such as Satyagraha, Non-Cooperation, Swadeshi and Civil Disobedience, which enabled ordinary people to participate in the freedom struggle.

4. Where did Mahatma Gandhi use his first experiment in Satyagraha? Why did he do so?

Ans: Mahatma Gandhi used his first experiment in Satyagraha in Champaran (Bihar) in 1917. He did so to help the indigo cultivators, who were being oppressed by the European planters under the Tinkathia system and were forced to grow indigo on a part of their land.

5. Why did Gandhiji launch satyagraha at Ahmedabad in 1918? What was the outcome of Gandhiji's satyagraha at Ahmedabad?

Ans: Gandhiji launched the Ahmedabad Satyagraha (1918) to support the mill workers, who demanded a 35% wage increase due to rising prices. He organised a strike and undertook a fast to strengthen the workers' cause.
Outcome:

• The dispute was referred to a tribunal.
• The mill owners agreed to grant the workers a 35% wage increase.

6. What was the Rowlatt Act of 1919?

Ans: 

• The Rowlatt Act (1919) empowered the Government to arrest and detain any person without trial on suspicion of revolutionary activities.
• It also allowed in-camera trials and imposed restrictions on personal liberty, thereby curtailing civil rights.

7. What was Gandhiji's reaction to the Rowlatt Act of 1919?

Ans: 

• Gandhiji strongly opposed the Rowlatt Act and described it as a "Black Act."
• He launched a nationwide Satyagraha and called for a hartal (strike) on 6 April 1919 to protest against the Act.

8. Name the leaders of the Khilafat Movement launched in India to champion the cause of the Caliph of Turkey.

Ans: 

• Maulana Muhammad Ali
• Maulana Shaukat Ali

These leaders were popularly known as the Ali Brothers.

9. How did the Khilafat Movement come to an end?

Ans: 

• The Khilafat Movement came to an end when Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Kemal Atatürk) abolished the Caliphate in Turkey in 1924.
• With the abolition of the Caliph's office, the movement's main objective ceased to exist.

10. Name three events which disillusioned Gandhiji and turned him into a non-cooperator from a cooperator with the British government.

Ans: 

1. The passing of the Rowlatt Act (1919).
2. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919).
3. The British Government's unjust treatment of Turkey and the Caliph, which led to the Khilafat issue.

11. What were the steps taken by the people as a part of the Khilafat Non-Cooperation Movement?

Ans: 

• People surrendered titles and honours bestowed by the British Government.
• They boycotted government schools, colleges, courts and elections.
• They boycotted foreign goods and promoted the use of Swadeshi and Khadi.
• Many government servants resigned from their posts, and people refused to attend official functions.

12. Name the three components of the constructive programme adopted by Gandhiji after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Ans: 

• Promotion of Khadi and other village industries.
• Removal of untouchability.
• Promotion of Hindu-Muslim unity.

13. Why was the Simon Commission boycotted everywhere in India? Name the national leader who succumbed to the lathi charge during the protest movement against the Simon Commission.

Ans: 

• The Simon Commission was boycotted because it had no Indian members; all its members were British.
• Indians felt insulted that constitutional reforms for India were being discussed without Indian representation.

National leader:

• Lala Lajpat Rai succumbed to the injuries caused by the lathi charge during the protest against the Simon Commission.

14. Why is the Congress Session held at Lahore in 1929 significant in India's Freedom Movement?

Ans: 

• At the Lahore Session (1929), under the presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress adopted the goal of Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) as its objective.
• The tricolour flag was unfurled on 31 December 1929.
• The Congress declared 26 January 1930 as Independence Day and called upon Indians to celebrate it throughout the country.

15. What did the programme of Civil Disobedience Movement consist of?

Ans: 

• Violation of the Salt Laws by making and selling salt.
• Boycott of foreign goods and promotion of Swadeshi.
• Boycott of liquor shops.
• Non-payment of taxes and land revenue wherever possible.

16. Why did Mahatma Gandhi start his historic march to Dandi?

Ans: Mahatma Gandhi started the Dandi March to protest against the Salt Tax imposed by the British Government. He wanted to break the Salt Law and launch the Civil Disobedience Movement against British rule.

17. How was the Civil Disobedience Movement different from the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Ans: 

• In the Non-Cooperation Movement, people refused to cooperate with the British Government by boycotting schools, courts, elections and foreign goods.
• In the Civil Disobedience Movement, people went a step further and openly violated unjust laws, such as the Salt Law, and refused to pay certain taxes.

18. Who took the leadership of the Civil Disobedience Movement in the extreme north-western part of the country? What was he popularly known as and what was the name of the organisation formed by him?

Ans: 

• Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan took the leadership of the Civil Disobedience Movement in the extreme north-western part of India.
• He was popularly known as the Frontier Gandhi.
• He formed an organisation called Khudai Khidmatgars (Servants of God), also known as the Red Shirts.

19. Why did Mahatma Gandhi suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931?

Ans: 

• Mahatma Gandhi suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement after signing the Gandhi-Irwin Pact with Lord Irwin on 5 March 1931.
• Under the pact, the Government agreed to release political prisoners and make certain concessions, while Gandhiji agreed to suspend the movement and attend the Second Round Table Conference.

20. Mention any two terms (provisions) of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.

Ans: 

• The Government agreed to release all political prisoners who had not been convicted of violence.
• The Government permitted people living near the coast to manufacture salt for their personal use. 
• Gandhiji agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Gandhiji agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference in London.

21. What made Gandhiji withdraw the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1934?

Ans: 

• The Civil Disobedience Movement failed to achieve its immediate objective of securing constitutional reforms from the British Government.
• The movement had lost much of its momentum because of severe government repression, arrests of leaders, and lack of mass enthusiasm.
• Therefore, Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1934.

II. Structured Questions

1. Gandhiji introduced new ideas in politics and adopted new methods to give a new direction to the political movement. In this context, answer the following questions:

(a) What was Gandhiji's doctrine of Satyagraha?

Ans: 

• Satyagraha means holding fast to truth.
• It was a method of fighting injustice through truth, love and non-violence.
• A Satyagrahi should oppose evil without using force and should be willing to suffer for the sake of truth.
• Gandhiji believed that Satyagraha could transform the opponent's heart through moral force rather than physical force.

(b) Explain Gandhiji's Social Ideals briefly.

Ans: 

• Gandhiji believed in the equality of all human beings and opposed all forms of discrimination.
• He worked for the removal of untouchability and called the untouchables Harijans (Children of God).
• He advocated Hindu-Muslim unity and communal harmony.
• He supported the upliftment of women and promoted Khadi and village industries for the welfare of society.

(c) Which mass struggle was launched by him on non-violent lines in 1920? Explain in brief the programmes of such a campaign.

Ans: Gandhiji launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 on non-violent lines.
Programme of the Movement:

• Surrender of titles and honours given by the British Government.
• Boycott of government schools, colleges, courts, elections and official functions.
• Boycott of foreign goods and promotion of Swadeshi and Khadi.
• Promotion of national educational institutions, Hindu-Muslim unity and removal of untouchability.

2. The Simon Commission was appointed in November 1927 by the British Government. Subsequently the Civil Disobedience Movement began. In this context answer the following questions:

(a) Why was the Simon Commission appointed by the British Government? Why did the Congress boycott the Commission?

Ans: The British Government appointed the Simon Commission (1927) to review the working of the Government of India Act, 1919 and to suggest further constitutional reforms for India.
Why did the Congress boycott it?

• The Congress boycotted the Commission because all its members were British and there was not a single Indian member.
• Indians considered it an insult that constitutional reforms for India were being discussed without Indian representation.

(b) The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Gandhiji with his famous Dandi March on March 12, 1930. Mention the significance of this historic event.

Ans: 

• The Dandi March marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Gandhiji openly violated the Salt Law by making salt at Dandi on 6 April 1930.
• It inspired millions of Indians to participate in the freedom struggle and challenge British authority.
• The movement spread throughout the country and transformed the National Movement into a mass movement.

(c) Why did Gandhiji suspend Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931 and later called it off?

Ans: Suspended in 1931:

• Gandhiji suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement after signing the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931).
• Under the pact, he agreed to suspend the movement and attend the Second Round Table Conference.

Called off in 1934:

• The movement failed to achieve its immediate objective of securing constitutional reforms.
• Due to severe government repression and loss of momentum, Gandhiji finally withdrew the movement in 1934.