question_answer

  Explain                                                                               (a) Why the growth of nationalism in colonies is linked to an Anti-Colonial Movement? (b) How the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India? (c) Why Indian were outraged by the Rowlatt Act? (d) Why did Gandhiji decide to withdraw Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer:

   (a) Nationalism is a strong feeling of oneness which the people feel when they live under the same political, social and economic system. The growth of nationalism is intimately connected to the Anti-Colonial Movement. The colonial powers exploit the people of their colonies, so much that all sections of the people decide to throw off the foreign rulers. In India, the growing anger against the colonial government brought together various groups and classes into a common struggle for freedom. Moreover the oppressed people realised that it was necessary to fight colonial rules to restore their glorious past and their freedom. Thus, what started as Anti-Colonial Movement, turned into Nationalist Movement. Everybody had his own interpretation of anti-colonialism, but the ultimate aim was to get rid of them. This single point was the unifying factor for diverse mass of India. Finally, the idea of India as a nation started to emerge. (b) The First World War created a new economic and political situation which led to increase in defence expenditure. This expenditure increase was financed by war loans and by increasing taxes. Moreover, ·         Price hike during the war years (1914-1918) led to extreme hardship for the commoners. ·         Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers and the forced recruitment caused widespread anger. ·         Incidents such as implementation of Rowlatt Act, Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre, marital law in Punjab, disintegration of the Ottoman empire, further aggravated the situation, resulting in the emergence of the National Movement. (c) Rowlatt Act was introduced in 1919. This act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the opposition from Indian members. Under this act, the police could arrest anybody without trial for two years. Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, condemned it as a black legislation and strongly opposed this act. The provisions of this act outraged Indians. Meetings were held everywhere and processions taken out. It was the first time when the Indian unitedly opposed the Britishers. (d) Gandhiji decided to withdraw Non-Cooperation Movement because the movement took a violent turn at Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh where the people set on fire a Police Station in which 22 policemen were burnt alive in 1922. Gandhiji wanted to stop violence at any cost. Note In the examination this type of question will not be asked completely, only its one or two sub-parts will be asked.