Nationalism Begins (1919-1939)
● Emergence of Gandhi
● Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat Aandolan
● Emergence of Swarajists, Socialist Ideas, Revolutionary Activities and Other New Forces
● Simon Commission and the Nehru Report
● Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences
● Debates on the Future Strategy after Civil Disobedience Movement
● Congress Rule in Provinces
Chapter 15
Emergence of Gandhi
Towards the end of the First World War, various forces were at work in India and on the international scene. After the end of the war, there was a resurgence of nationalist activity in India and in many other colonies in Asia and Africa. The Indian struggle against imperialism took a decisive turn
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towards a broad-based popular struggle with the emergence of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on the Indian political scene.
Why Nationalist Resurgence Now
After the war, the conditions in India and influences from abroad created a situation that was ready for a national upsurge against foreign rule.
Post-War Economic HardshipsExpectations of Political Gains for Cooperation in the WarNationalist Disillusionment with Imperialism WorldwideImpact of Russian Revolution (November 7, 1917)Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and Government of India Act, 1919Main Features● Provincial Government—Introduction of Dyarchy● Central Government—Still Without Responsible GovernmentDrawbacksCongress’s ReactionMaking of GandhiEarly Career and Experiments with Truth in South AfricaModerate Phase of Struggle (1894-1906)Phase of Passive Resistance or Satyagraha (1906-1914)Gandhi’s Experience in South AfricaGandhi’s Technique of SatyagrahaGandhi in IndiaChamparan Satyagraha (1917)—First Civil DisobedienceAhmedabad Mill Strike (1918)— First Hunger StrikeKheda Satyagraha (1918)—First Non-CooperationGains from Champaran, Ahmedabad and KhedaRowlatt Act, Satyagraha, Jallianwala Bagh MassacreThe Rowlatt ActSatyagraha Against the Rowlatt Act— First Mass StrikeThe Hunter Committee of InquiryCongress ViewSummaryBackgroundThe Khilafat IssueDevelopment of the Khalifat-Non- Cooperation ProgrammeCongress Stand on Khilafat QuestionMuslim League Support to CongressThe Non-Cooperation Khilafat MovementSpread of the MovementPeople’s ResponseMiddle ClassBusiness ClassPeasantsStudentsWomenHindu-Muslim UnityGovernment ResponseThe Last Phase of the MovementChauri Chaura IncidentWhy Gandhi Withdrew the MovementEvaluation of KhilafatSummaryGenesis of Congress-Khilafat Swarajya PartySwarajists’ ArgumentsNo-Changers’ ArgumentsAgree to DisagreeGandhi’s AttitudeSwarajist Activity in CouncilsAchievementsDrawbacksConstructive Work by No-ChangersA Critique of Constructive WorkEmergence of New Forces: Socialistic Ideas, Youth Power, Trade UnionismSpread of Marxist and Socialist IdeasActivism of Indian YouthPeasants’ AgitationsGrowth of Trade UnionismCaste MovementsRevolutionary Activity with a Turn towards SocialismRevolutionary Activity During the 1920sWhy Attraction for Revolutionary Activity after Non-Cooperation MovementMajor InfluencesIn Punjab-United Provinces-BiharKakori Robbery (August 1925)The HSRASaunders’ Murder (Lahore, December 1928)Bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly (April 1929)Action against the RevolutionariesIn BengalChittagong Armoury Raid (April 1930)Aspects of the New Phase of Revolutionary Movement in BengalOfficial ReactionIdeological RethinkingRedefining RevolutionSummaryIndian ResponseCongress ResponseOther GroupsPublic ResponsePolice RepressionImpact of Appointment of Simon Commission on the National MovementNehru ReportMain RecommendationsThe Muslim and Hindu Communal ResponsesDelhi Proposals of Muslim LeagueHindu Mahasabha DemandsCompromisesAmendments Proposed by JinnahJinnah’s Fourteen PointsNehru Report Found UnsatisfactorySummaryCalcutta Session of CongressPolitical Activity during 1929Irwin’s Declaration (October 31, 1929)Delhi ManifestoDecember 31, 1929January 26, 1930: the Independence PledgeCivil Disobedience Movement— the Salt Satyagraha and Other UpsurgesGandhi’s Eleven DemandsIssues of General InterestSpecific Bourgeois DemandsSpecific Peasant DemandsWhy Salt was Chosen as the Important ThemeDandi March (March 12-April 6, 1930)Spread of Salt Law DisobedienceSatyagraha at Different PlacesForms of MobilisationImpact of AgitationExtent of Mass ParticipationGandhi-Irwin PactEvaluation of Civil Disobedience MovementWas Gandhi-Irwin Pact a Retreat?Comparison to Non-Cooperation MovementKarachi Congress Session—1931Congress Resolutions at KarachiThe Resolution on National Economic ProgrammeThe Round Table ConferencesFirst Round Table ConferenceSecond Round Table ConferenceThird Round Table ConferenceCivil Disobedience ResumedDuring Truce Period (March-December 1931)Changed Government Attitude After Second RTCGovernment ActionPopular ResponseCommunal Award and Poona PactMain Provisions of the Communal AwardCongress StandGandhi’s ResponsePoona PactImpact of Poona Pact on DalitsJoint Electorates and Its Impact on Depressed ClassesGandhi’s Harijan Campaign and thoughts on CasteIdeological Differences and Similarities between Gandhi and AmbedkarSummaryThe First Stage DebateNehru’s VisionNehru’s Opposition to Struggle- Truce-Struggle StrategyFinally, Yes to Council EntryGovernment of India Act, 1935Main FeaturesEvaluation of the ActNationalists’ ResponseThe Second Stage DebateDivided OpinionGandhi’s PositionCongress Manifesto for ElectionsCongress’ PerformanceSummaryGandhi’s AdviceWork under Congress MinistriesCivil LibertiesAgrarian ReformsAttitude Towards LabourSocial Welfare ReformsExtra-Parliamentary Mass Activity of CongressEvaluationSummary
