In what way did Mahatma Gandhi transform the nature of the national movement?
Gandhiji came to India back from South Africa in 1915. In 1917 he went to Champaran in Bihar to fight for the cause of farmers who were forced to grow indigo by the British government. The farmers movement proved successful as the British government accepted the demands of the farmers. Since that time to 1943 when he was assassinated, he occupied the central place in the politics of India. The fact is Mahatma Gandhi is the chief protagonist of the Indian Freedom Struggle. Mahatma Gandhi changed the nature of freedom movement and this can be elaborated by the following points:
1.When Gandhiji joined Indian politics, the freedom movement was limited to the middle class. Everybody who participated in the political movements was educated and product of the English education. Gandhiji made it all pervasive, now people from villages, poor people, labours, workers, and students all became part of the freedom struggle. However, there are people who find fault with the act of Gandhiji. They point out that Mahatma Gandhi used religious symbols to popularise the freedom movement that in long term gave fillip to communal politics. It is notable that the Age of Gan-lhi is also the age of the Rise of Moslem League in Indian politics. Eminent author Nirad C Choudhary has also criticised Mahatma Gandhi for making the freedom movement a mass movement by short cuts.
2.Mahatma Gandhi has to be credited with emancipation of women and their participation in the public life at a scale not known in Indian history. Women were very prominent in picketing activities against shops selling foreign goods. The freedom movement gave some prominent woman leaders viz. Sarojini Naidu, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and many more.
3.For Mahatma Gandhi freedom movement was also a platform for social reforms. He spoke in favour of place of dignity and respects for depressed classes. He made end to untouchability a fundamental objective of his political philosophy. Thus Mahatma Gandhi made freedom movement a mass movement and a movement much beyond politics.
Why was the charkha chosen as a symbol of nationalism?
How was non-cooperation a form of protest?
Find out about the route of the Dandi March. On a map of Gujarat plot the line of the march and mark the major towns and villages that it passed along the route.Find out about the route of the Dandi March. On a map of Gujarat plot the line of the march and mark the major towns and villages that it passed along the route.
How was Mahatma Gandhi perceived by the peasants?
How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
Why did the salt laws become an important issue of struggle?
Why were the dialogues at the Round Table Conference inconclusive?
What do private letters and autobiographies tell us about an individual? How are these sources different from official accounts?
Why are newspapers an important source for the study of the national movement?
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanisation in the colonial context?
What did the Muslim League demand through its resolution of 1940?
What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution?
How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
What do the terms “White” and “Black” Town signify?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?
How was the term minority defined by different groups?
Examine the strengths and limitations of oral history. How have oral-history techniques furthered our understanding of Partition?
What do visual representations tell us about the revolt of 1857? How do historians analyse these representations?
On an outline map of India, trace the major rivers and hill ranges. Plot ten cities mentionedin the chapter, including Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, and prepare a brief note on why the importance of any two cities that you have marked (one colonial and one pre-colonial) changed in the nineteenth century.
Discuss the extent to which religious beliefs shaped the events of 1857.
Why was the revolt particularly widespread in Awadh? What prompted the peasants, taluqdars and zamindars to join the revolt?
What were the arguments in favour of greater power to the provinces?
What connection did some of the members of the Constituent Assembly make between the political situation of the time and the need for a strong Centre?
In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?
How was the term minority defined by different groups?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?