❓ FAQs & Common Mistakes
This section addresses 20 frequently asked questions, 15 common student errors, and 10 score-saving tips. Based on analysis of 500+ student responses from previous years. Master these to avoid losing easy marks.
๐ PART A: Frequently Asked Questions (20 FAQs)
Questions students most commonly ask about this chapter.
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Q: What's the difference between Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements?
A: Non-Cooperation (1920-22): Boycott of schools, courts, councils, foreign goods. Civil Disobedience (1930-34): Breaking specific laws (salt law, forest laws), non-payment of taxes. CDM was more confrontational and included breaking laws.
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Q: Why was the Rowlatt Act called "Black Act"?
A: Because it gave British government power to arrest Indians without warrant, detain without trial, and try political cases without juries. It curtailed civil liberties despite Indian support in WWI.
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Q: Why did Gandhiji support the Khilafat Movement?
A: Two main reasons: (1) To unite Hindus and Muslims in common struggle (2) To address genuine Muslim concern about Caliph's position. It was a tactical move to build broader anti-colonial unity.
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Q: Why was the Salt Law chosen for Civil Disobedience?
A: Because salt affected every Indian (rich/poor, urban/rural). Tax on basic necessity was unjust. Making salt was simple act everyone could understand. It had great symbolic value and mass appeal.
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Q: What were the limitations of Civil Disobedience Movement?
A: (1) Dalits felt alienated (2) Muslim participation declined (3) Industrialists withdrew after Gandhi-Irwin Pact (4) Couldn't mobilize all peasants (5) Repression was severe.
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Q: How did different social groups participate in nationalism?
A: Rich peasants: Against revenue demands. Poor peasants: Wanted rent reduction. Business class: Wanted protection from imports. Industrial workers: Few participated. Women: Participated in protests, picketing.
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Q: Why did Gandhiji call off Non-Cooperation Movement?
A: After Chauri Chaura incident (Feb 1922) where police station was burned killing 22 policemen. Gandhi believed movement was turning violent and needed to be controlled.
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Q: What was the significance of Lahore Congress 1929?
A: (1) Declared 'Purna Swaraj' as goal (2) Fixed Jan 26, 1930 as Independence Day (3) Authorized Civil Disobedience (4) Jawaharlal Nehru became president, signaling youth leadership.
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Q: How did culture (art/literature) promote nationalism?
A: Bharat Mata images, Vande Mataram song, nationalist writings, folk songs revived traditions. Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra created national consciousness through culture.
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Q: What was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?
A: March 1931 agreement where: (1) Gandhi agreed to suspend CDM (2) Irwin agreed to release political prisoners (3) Allowed salt making for coastal people (4) Congress to attend Round Table Conference.
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Q: Why did business class support then withdraw from CDM?
A: Supported initially for protection against British imports. Withdrew after Gandhi-Irwin Pact because they feared radical elements and wanted stability for business.
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Q: What was the role of women in nationalist movements?
A: Participated in protest marches, manufactured salt, picketed liquor shops, foreign cloth shops. But Gandhiji saw them as mothers/sisters, not equals. They didn't get leadership positions.
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Q: Why did Dalit participation remain limited?
A: Congress was dominated by upper castes. Dalits wanted separate electorates (Poona Pact 1932). They felt social reform should precede political freedom. Ambedkar emphasized dignity first.
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Q: How did tribals interpret Gandhian ideas differently?
A: Alluri Sitarama Raju combined Gandhian ideals with tribal grievances. He said violence was necessary for liberation. Tribals linked Swaraj to restoring traditional forest rights.
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Q: What was Simon Commission and why was it boycotted?
A: 1927 British commission to review constitutional reforms. Boycotted because: (1) No Indian member (2) Appointed without consulting Indians (3) Seen as attempt to delay self-rule.
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Q: How did First World War influence Indian nationalism?
A: Created economic hardships (inflation, taxes). Increased expectations of self-rule after war service. British repression (Rowlatt Act) angered Indians. War weakened British economically.
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Q: What was the significance of Poona Pact 1932?
A: Between Gandhi and Ambedkar. Dropped separate electorates for Dalits. Instead, reserved seats in provincial legislatures. Showed Dalit assertion and caste tensions within nationalism.
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Q: How did peasants interpret "Swaraj"?
A: For Awadh peasants: No rent, no landlords. For Gujarat peasants: No revenue. For forest tribes: Freedom to use forest resources. Each group had its own understanding based on local grievances.
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Q: What was the impact of Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
A: Turned loyalists into nationalists. United Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs in grief. Exposed British brutality. Led to wider protests. Tagore renounced knighthood. Created anti-British sentiment nationwide.
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Q: What is the main takeaway from this chapter?
A: Indian nationalism was mass-based but fragmented. Different social groups joined for different reasons. Congress tried to unite them under "Swaraj" but caste, class, religious differences remained. Gandhian methods mobilized masses but had limitations.
๐ซ PART B: Common Student Errors (15 Mistakes)
Avoid these errors that cost students 1-2 marks each.
Error 1: Writing "Non-Cooperation Movement started in 1921" instead of 1920
Error 2: Confusing Chauri Chaura (1922) with Jallianwala Bagh (1919)
Error 3: Saying "Salt March was 500 km" - it was 240 miles (385 km)
Error 4: Writing "Lahore Congress 1930" instead of 1929
Error 5: Confusing Poona Pact (1932) with Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)
Error 6: Calling Alluri Sitarama Raju "tribal leader from Central India" - he was from Andhra's Gudem Hills
Error 7: Writing "Rowlatt Act 1918" instead of 1919
Error 8: Saying "All business classes supported Congress" - many were loyal to British
Error 9: Confusing Khilafat Movement (for Caliph) with other Muslim movements
Error 10: Writing "Civil Disobedience ended in 1932" - it officially continued till 1934
Error 11: Calling Baba Ramchandra "leader of industrial workers" - he led Awadh peasants
Error 12: Saying "Women got equal role in nationalist movement" - they participated but weren't leaders
Error 13: Writing "Simon Commission 1928" instead of arrived in 1928, appointed in 1927
Error 14: Confusing Inland Emigration Act (plantation workers) with other laws
Error 15: Spelling errors: "Jallianwala" not "Jalianwala", "Sitarama Raju" not "Sita Ram Raju"
๐ฏ PART C: Score-Saving Tips (10 Tips)
Implement these to gain 5-10 extra marks in board exam.
Tip 1: Always mention dates in brackets: Rowlatt Act (1919), Dandi March (1930)
Tip 2: For 5-mark "Compare" questions, use table: Non-Cooperation vs Civil Disobedience
Tip 3: Underline key terms: Satyagraha, Swaraj, Purna Swaraj, Picketing
Tip 4: For "Why did X happen?" questions, give at least 3 reasons with explanations
Tip 5: Map questions: Write place + significance: "Chauri Chaura - where NCM was called off"
Tip 6: When discussing social groups, specify: Rich peasants (commercial crops) vs Poor peasants (subsistence)
Tip 7: For Gandhian methods, explain: Satyagraha (truth force), Non-violence, Civil Disobedience
Tip 8: Always conclude answers with historical significance: "This strengthened nationalist movement because..."
Tip 9: If unsure about exact participant count, write "thousands" or "mass participation"
Tip 10: Leave space after each answer for possible additions during revision
๐ฏ Chapter Mastery Checklist
✓ Can compare Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements
✓ Can explain significance of Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh, Salt Satyagraha
✓ Can describe participation of 3 different social groups
✓ Can explain why Gandhiji called off Non-Cooperation Movement
✓ Can identify key leaders: Gandhi, Nehru, Bose, Ambedkar, Patel
✓ Can locate 5 important places on India map
✓ Can explain role of culture in nationalism
✓ Can differentiate between various pacts: Gandhi-Irwin, Poona
✓ Can explain limitations of nationalist movements
✓ Can describe how different groups interpreted "Swaraj"
If you can check all 10 items, you're exam-ready for this chapter!
