NCERT Solutions: Nationalism in India
Below are detailed solutions to all exercises from the NCERT textbook. Answers are structured according to mark distribution: 1-mark (brief and direct), 3-mark (intro + 3 points + conclusion), and 5-mark (intro + 5+ points + conclusion). Map-based questions include location and significance.
๐ 1-MARK QUESTIONS (Write in Brief)
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Q1. Why growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement?
Ans1. People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism. The sense of being oppressed under colonialism provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together. Each class and group felt the effects of colonialism differently, but the common experience of oppression forged nationalist consciousness.
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Q2. How the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India?
Ans2. The war created a new economic and political situation. It led to huge increase in defence expenditure, rising taxes, price doubling (1913-18), forced recruitment in villages, and crop failures (1918-21) resulting in acute food shortages and influenza epidemic killing 12-13 million people. People hoped hardships would end after war – but that did not happen, leading to anger and nationalist upsurge.
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Q3. Why Indians were outraged by the Rowlatt Act?
Ans3. The Rowlatt Act (1919) was hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite united opposition of Indian members. It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. This was seen as unjust and oppressive.
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Q4. Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Ans4. In February 1922, at Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur), a peaceful demonstration turned violent – protesters attacked and burnt a police station, killing 22 policemen. Mahatma Gandhi felt the movement was turning violent in many places and satyagrahis needed proper training before mass struggles. He withdrew the movement.
๐ 3-MARK QUESTIONS
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Q5. What is meant by the idea of satyagraha?
Ans5.
Intro: The idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth.
1. It suggested that if the cause was true and struggle against injustice, physical force was not necessary – a satyagrahi could win through non-violence.
2. This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor – people had to be persuaded to see the truth, not forced through violence.
3. Mahatma Gandhi believed this dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians because India could never match Britain in force of arms.
Conclusion: Satyagraha was not passive resistance but active, soul-force based on truth and non-violence.
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Q6. Write a newspaper report on: The Jallianwalla Bagh massacre
Ans6.
Intro: AMRITSAR, 13 APRIL 1919 – A large crowd gathered at Jallianwalla Bagh to protest against government's repressive measures and attend the annual Baisakhi fair.
1. Many villagers were unaware of martial law imposed. General Dyer entered the enclosed ground with soldiers, blocked the exit points, and opened fire on the unarmed crowd.
2. Hundreds were killed. Dyer declared his object was to produce a "moral effect" – to create in the minds of satyagrahis a feeling of terror and awe.
3. Following this, brutal repression followed – satyagrahis were forced to rub noses on ground, crawl on streets, do salaam to sahibs; villages were bombed.
Conclusion: The massacre shocked the nation and widened the gulf between Indians and British.
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Q7. Write a newspaper report on: The Simon Commission
Ans7.
Intro: NEW DELHI, 1928 – The Simon Commission arrived in India amidst widespread protests and the slogan "Go back Simon".
1. The commission was constituted by the new Tory government in Britain to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes.
2. The problem was that the commission did not have a single Indian member – they were all British. This was seen as an insult to Indian self-respect.
3. All parties, including the Congress and the Muslim League, participated in demonstrations. Lala Lajpat Rai was assaulted during a peaceful protest and succumbed to his injuries.
Conclusion: The commission's arrival united Indians across political lines against British arrogance.
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Q8. Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter 1.
Ans8.
Intro: Both Bharat Mata and Germania are female allegories representing the nation, but they differ in origin, symbols, and context.
1. Bharat Mata was first created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (Vande Mataram, 1870s) and painted by Abanindranath Tagore (1905) as an ascetic, calm, divine figure dispensing learning, food, clothing.
2. Germania was painted by Philip Veit (1848) as an allegory of German nation – she wears crown of oak leaves (heroism), holds sword (readiness to fight) and olive branch (willingness to make peace).
3. Bharat Mata's later images showed her with trishul, lion, elephant – symbols of power; Germania had black-red-gold tricolour representing liberal-nationalist hopes in 1848.
Conclusion: Both served to give abstract idea of nation a concrete form, helping citizens identify emotionally with their country.
๐ Continue Your Journey: Explore Chapter 3 – The Making of a Global World – to understand how global connections shaped modern history.
๐บ️ MAP-BASED QUESTIONS
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Q9. On the outline map of India, locate and label the following with significance:
Ans9. (a) Champaran (Bihar) – Where Gandhi organized satyagraha (1917) against oppressive plantation system.
(b) Kheda (Gujarat) – Where Gandhi supported peasants (1917) demanding revenue relaxation after crop failure.
(c) Ahmedabad (Gujarat) – Where Gandhi organized satyagraha among cotton mill workers (1918).
(d) Amritsar (Punjab) – Site of Jallianwala Bagh massacre (13 April 1919).
(e) Chauri Chaura (Uttar Pradesh) – Where violent incident (1922) led Gandhi to withdraw Non-Cooperation Movement.
(f) Dandi (Gujarat) – Where Gandhi broke salt law (6 April 1930) starting Civil Disobedience Movement.
(g) Bardoli (Gujarat) – Where Vallabhbhai Patel led successful peasant satyagraha (1928) against enhanced land revenue.
(h) Poona (Maharashtra) – Where Poona Pact was signed (1932) between Gandhi and Ambedkar.
(i) Calcutta (West Bengal) – Where Congress session (1920) adopted Non-Cooperation programme.
(j) Lahore (Punjab, now Pakistan) – Where Congress session (1929) formalized Purna Swaraj demand. -
Q10. On the map, mark the centres of the following movements with year and significance:
Ans10. (a) Khilafat Movement (1919) – Bombay (now Mumbai) – Khilafat Committee formed.
(b) Simon Commission protest (1928) – Lahore, where Lala Lajpat Rai was assaulted.
(c) Quit India Movement (1942) – Bombay – where Congress passed Quit India resolution (8 August 1942).
These solutions cover all NCERT exercise questions. For map work, practice locating each place on a blank map and memorise one key fact about its significance.
