Mass Nationalism: 1930-35
Mass Nationalism: 1930-35
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35)
Why did Gandhiji launched the salt Satyagraha in 1930 and with what results? [Upsc 2001] Write a short note on: Dandi March [Upsc 2002] In what way did the civil Disobedience Movement affect the different provinces of India? How did it foster peasant Movement in India? [Upsc 1995] Why did Mahatma Gandhi launch civil Disobedience movement? Analyse the intensity of the movement in different parts of India. [Upsc 1992]
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Civil Disobedience Movement ❑ It means to disobey a law with great civility & humility ❑ It was Gandhi’s movement.
❑ Satyagraha was used as a means of protest as Gandhi said if we believe something is wrong we have every right to oppose it.
❑ This shows opposing was equally important to Gandhi
❑ He believed it would test the courage, patience & sacrifice of the satyagrahi
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Causes ❑ British passed a law forbidding Indians to manufacture salt which could only be done by English or European manufacturers
❑ There were large scale arrests during the anti-Simon Commission movement.
❑ 1929-33 was the period of Great Depression which affected all capitalist countries including India.
❑ It led to widespread unemployment, poverty & unrest.
❑ Gandhi presented 11 point program to the government.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ❑ 1928: Calcutta session Congress decided if the government didn't accept a constitution based on dominion status by the end of the year, the Congress would launch a civil disobedience movement to attain its goal.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 11 Point Programme ❑ Reduction of rupee sterling ratio. (rupee revaluation).
❑ Reduction of land revenue to at least 50 % & making it subject to Legislative control.
❑ Abolition of the Salt Tax & also government’ monopoly.
❑ Reduction of Military expenditure at least by 50 % to begin with.
❑ Reduction of salaries of the highest grade services by 1/2 or less, so as to suit the reduced revenue.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● Protective tariff on foreign cloth.
● Passage of the Coastal Traffic Reservation Bill.
● Discharge of all political prisoners, save those condemned for murder or attempt to murder .
● Reform of the CID (Criminal Investigation Department)
● To issue licenses to use fire-arms for self-defense, subject to popular control.
● Total prohibition (of alcohol).
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 1988
Analyse Mahatma Gandhi's main demands presented to Irwin. How did salt emerge as the central issue for launching the satyagraha?
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Nature ● Gandhi started Dandi March with only 78 people, from Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram on 12 March, 1930, but was joined by thousands by the time he reached Dandi. ● Bose compared it to Napoleon’s march to Paris. ● It was this event that first brought Mahatma Gandhi to world attention. The march was widely covered by the European & American press. ● The entire distance was covered on foot passing through villages, towns. This enabled Gandhi to connect to the masses with his unique pad-yatra.
● Gandhian politics was not power-centric but focused more on mobilising people for the cause of nation.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2009
Which one of the following began with the Dandi March?
(a) Home Rule Movement
(b) Non –Cooperation Movement
(c)Civil Disobedience Movement
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Peasant ● Peasant movement became more radical in regions where their union was strong like eastern UP & Bihar. ● U.P. was the setting of another kind of movement — a no revenue, no-rent campaign. ● The no-revenue part was a call to the zamindars to refuse to pay revenue to the Government, the no-rent a call to the tenants not to pay rent to the zamindars. ● In effect, since the zamindars were largely loyal to the Government, this became a no-rent struggle. ● After Gandhi’s arrest, the CWC sanctioned 3 significant measures: (i) Non payment of revenue in Ryotwari areas; (ii) No-chowkidari-tax campaign in Zamindari areas; & (iii) Violation of forest laws in the central provinces.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● Lawyers can give up practice.
● Public can boycott law courts by refraining from litigation. ● Government servants can resign from their posts.
● The socialist activist Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay had persuaded Gandhiji not to restrict the protests to men alone. Kamaladevi was herself one of numerous women who courted arrest by breaking the salt or liquor laws. Later she was a part of the 7 member lead team, announced by Gandhiji, to prepare Salt at the Bombay beachfront, the only other woman volunteer of the team was Avantikabai Gokhale.
● Swadeshi goods became popular again & foreign goods were boycotted.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) National flag ● Attempts to defend the honor of the national flag in the face of severe brutalities often turned into heroism of the most spectacular variety.
● At Bundur, on the Andhra Coast, Tota Narasaiah Naidu preferred to be beaten unconscious by a 15 member police force rather than give up the national flag.
● Surat: a group of children used their ingenuity to defy the police.
● National flag, the symbol of the new spirit, now became a common sight even in remote villages.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● Prabhat pheris, in which bands of men, women & children went around at dawn singing nationalist songs, became the rule in villages & towns.
● Children were organized into vanar senas or monkey armies & at least at one place the girls decided they wanted their own separate manjari sena.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Spread of the Movement ● Bhagalpur: The peasants stopped paying Chowkidari Tax to Zamindars. R Prasad & Abdul Bari emerged as main leaders. ● Bihar: Champaran & Saran were the first 2 districts to start salt satyagraha. ● North West Frontier Province: Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan
● Tamil Nadu: In April 1930, C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Thiruchirapalli to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law.
● Malabar: K. Kelappan Nair,a Congress leader famed for the Vaikom Satyagraha, organised salt marches.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● P. Krishna Pillai, the future founder of the Kerala Communist movement, heroically defended the national flag in the face of police lathi-charge on Calicut beach in November 1930.
● Orissa: Under Gopabandhu Chaudhuri, salt satyagraha proved effective in the coastal regions of Balasore, Cuttack & Puri districts.
● Bengal: The Bengal Congress was involved in the Calcutta Corporation election. ● Dharasana: On May 21, 1930, Sarojini Naidu, Imam Sahib & Manilal Gandhi took up the unfinished task of leading a raid on the Dharasana Salt Works. ● Webb Miller
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) • Assam: A powerful agitation led by students was launched against the infamous ‘Cunningham circular’ which forced students & their guardians to furnish assurances of good behavior.
• Nagaland: Rani Gaidinliu ( member of Heraka religious movement). Nehru gave her the title of Rani when he met her in 1937 Shillong jail.
• Andhra Region District: Salt marches were organised in east & west Godavari, Krishna & Guntur.
• Sholapur: Textile workers went on a strike from May 7 & along with other residents burnt liquor shops & other symbols of government.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Tiruppur Kumaran ❑ Kumaran also known as Tiruppur Kumaran (4 October 1904 – 11 January 1932) was an Indian revolutionary who participated in the Indian independence movement. ❑ He founded Desa Bandhu Youth Association & led protests against the British. ❑ He died from injuries sustained from a police assault on the banks of Noyyal River in Tiruppur during a protest march against the British government on 11 January 1932.
❑ At the time of his death, he was holding the flag of the Indian Nationalists, which had been banned by the British giving rise to the epithet Kodi Kaatha Kumaran in Tamil which means 'Kumaran who protected the flag'.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2015 Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
A. V.O. Chidambaram Pillai
B. C. Rajagopalachari
C. K. Kamaraj
D. Annie Besant
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Features ● It was an all India mass movement.
● It was more popular among the peasants & in rural areas.
● The unity among Hindus & Muslims was missing. This was due to Jinnah’s demands & differences between Congress & Muslim League.
● The kind of resilience shown by Gandhian Satyagrahis was very unique.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Round Table Conference ❑ Round Table conference signifies that all the participants are equal. ❑ It is symbolic that every group will be treated equally ❑ Participants of these conferences were – All political parties of India, Representatives of India Princely states
❑ It was held in Buckingham Palace in London
❑ Purpose of this meeting according to British was that they wanted to understand demands & grievances of Indian Leadership from different social backgrounds
❑ Nationalist interpreted it as a mere eyewash
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 1st Round Table Conference ● 12th November 1930-19th January 1931
● 1st ever conference arranged between the British & Indians as equals.
● It was held during the civil disobedience movement. ● Congress did not participate in the conference. ● Most business leader’s boycotted it.
● League, Hindu Mahasabha, the Liberals & princes attended it.
● Purpose : To discuss Simon commission reports.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● Virtually every delegate reiterated that a constitutional discussion to which the Congress was not a party was meaningless.
● Also, at the conference, the British PM hinted at an olive branch to the Congress & expressed the hope that the Congress would attend the next RTC.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) First Round Table Conference ❑ 89 people were invited . Of these 16 represented British Political parties.
❑ Muslims: Agha Khan III (leader of British Indian delegation) Jinnah, Fazlul Haq, Muhammed Ali, Muhammed Shafi
❑ Princely states: Alwar, Baroda, Bhopal, Patiala, J&K , Mysore , Gwalior
❑ Sikhs: Sardar Sampuran Singh, Sardar Ujjal Singh
❑ Sindh: Shah Nawaz Bhutto, Ghulam Hussain Hidyatullah
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) First Round Table Conference ❑ Hindu Mahasabha: MR Jaykar, BS Moonje ❑ Depressed classes: BR Ambedkar
❑ Christians: KT Paul ❑ Parsis: Homi Mody ❑ Liberals: Sapru, Chintamani, Srinivas Shastri, JN Basu, Chimanlal Sitalvad ❑ Labor: NM Joshi, ❑ Justice Party: Ramasamy Mudaliar ❑ Women: Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz ❑ Landlords: Maharaja Kameswar Singh
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Gandhi-Irwin Pact- 5th March 1931 ● It had been almost a year since the movement began which forced the British to initiate a dialogue with Gandhi.
● January 25, 1931: Gandhi & all other members of the CWC were released unconditionally.
● 1st time that an Indian leader was invited by the British for a dialogue at almost equal footing.
● The CWC authorized Gandhi to initiate discussions with the viceroy.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● As a result of these discussions, a pact was signed between the viceroy, representing the British Indian Government, & Gandhi, representing the Indian people, in Delhi.
● This Delhi Pact, also known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, placed the Congress on an equal footing with the Government.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Irwin on behalf of the Government agreed ● immediate release of all political prisoners not convicted of violence; ● remission of all fines not yet collected; ● return of all lands not yet sold to third parties; ● lenient treatment to those government servants who had resigned; ● right to peaceful & non-aggressive picketing; ● withdrawal of emergency ordinances. ● The salt law was amended & people living in coastal areas were allowed to manufacture salt for personal consumption. ● Peaceful agitation against liquor was allowed & confiscated property was returned sentence.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) The viceroy, however, turned down 2 of Gandhi's demands —
● public inquiry into police excesses
● commutation of Bhagat Singh & his comrades' death sentence to life sentence.
Gandhi on behalf of the Congress agreed —
● to suspend the civil disobedience movement,
● Gandhi agreed to participate in 2nd Round Table Conference on the constitutional question.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2020 The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following? 1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference 2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement. 3. Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses. 4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence. Select the correct answer using the code given below (a) 1 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 3 only (d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 1988
What was the Gandhi Irwin pact? Why was it signed and what were its consequences?
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 1997
What were the salient features of Gandhi Irwin pact?
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Evaluation of Civil Disobedience Movement Was Gandhi-Irwin Pact a Retreat? ● Gandhi's decision to suspend the movement as agreed under the Pact was, not a retreat, because: ○ mass movements are necessarily short-lived; ○ capacity of the masses to make sacrifices, unlike that of the activists, is limited;
○ there were signs of exhaustion after September 1930, especially among shopkeepers & merchants, who had participated so enthusiastically.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● No doubt, youth were disappointed: They had participated enthusiastically & wanted the world to end with a bang & not with a whimper.
● Peasants of Gujarat were disappointed because their lands were not restored immediately (indeed, were restored only during the rule of the Congress ministry in the province).
● But, vast masses of people were jubilant that the Government had to regard their movement as significant & treat their leader as an equal, & sign a pact with him.
● The political prisoners when released from jails were given a hero's welcome.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Compared to Non Cooperation Movement ● The stated objective this time was complete independence & not just a vaguely-worded ‘swaraj’.
● The methods involved violation of law from the very beginning & not just non-cooperation with foreign rule.
● Decline in forms of protests involving the intelligentsia, such as lawyers giving up practice, students giving up government schools to join national schools & colleges.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● Muslim participation was nowhere near the Non Cooperation level.
● No major labor upsurge coincided with the movement.
● But massive participation of peasants & business groups compensated for decline of other features.
● The number of those imprisoned was about 3 times more this time.
● The Congress was organizationally stronger.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Karachi Congress Session ● 1931: a special session of the Congress was held.
● 6 days before the session Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev & Rajguru had been executed.
● Throughout Gandhi's route to Karachi, he was greeted with black flag demonstrations by the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha, in protest against his failure to secure commutation of the death sentence for Bhagat & his comrades.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Congress Resolutions ● While disapproving of & dissociating itself from political violence, the Congress admired the "bravery" & "sacrifice" of the 3 martyrs.
● The Delhi Pact was endorsed.
● The goal of ‘purna swaraj’ was reiterated.
● 2 resolutions were adopted— ● one on Fundamental Rights &
● the other on National Economic Programme.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Congress Resolutions The resolution on Fundamental Rights guaranteed— ● free speech & free press ● right to form associations; ● right to assemble ● universal adult franchise
● equal legal rights irrespective of caste, creed & sex ● neutrality of state in religious matters ● free and compulsory primary education
● protection to culture, language, script of minorities & linguistic groups
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Resolution on National Economic Programme ○ substantial reduction in rent & revenue ○ exemption from rent for uneconomic holdings ○ relief from agricultural indebtedness ○ control of usury
○ better conditions of work including a living wage, limited hours of work & ○ protection of women workers
○ right to workers & peasants to form unions
○ state ownership & control of key industries, mines & means of transport.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● This was the 1st time the Congress spelt out what swaraj would mean for the masses—"in order to end exploitation of masses, political freedom must include economic freedom of starving millions".
● The Karachi Resolution was to remain, in essence, the basic political & economic programme of the Congress in after years.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2005 Who among the following drafted the resolution on Fundamental Rights for the Karachi session of congress in 1931?
(a) Dr BR Ambedkar
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c)Dr . Rajendra Prasad
(d)Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2010 For the Karachi session of Indian National congress in 1931 presided over by Sardar Patel , who drafted the resolution on fundamental Rights and Economic programme? (a)Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(c)Dr Rajendra Prasad
(d) Dr B.R Ambedkar
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2nd Round Table Conference ● Held in London from September 7, 1931 to December 1, 1931.
● By this time, Lord Irwin had been replaced by Lord Willingdon as viceroy. ● The conference saw an overwhelming number of Indian delegates including included loyalists, communalists, careerists, big landlords, representatives of the princes & others. ● This conference turned aggressive between Gandhi & rival nationalist group leaders. ● The government refused to concede the basic Indian demand of freedom.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Congress & 2nd Round Table conference • Congress participated in this conference as it was a part of pact • Gandhi represented Congress in this conference. • Sarojini Nayudu represented Indian women. In this conference, Gandhi iterated the need of partnership between Britain & India as between 2 equal nations.
The main points put forward by Gandhi included:
• A responsible government must be established immediately & in full, both at the center & in the provinces. • Congress alone represented political India • Untouchables were Hindus & should not be treated as a “minority”, • There should be no separate electorates or special safeguards for Muslims or other minorities.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2nd Round Table conference • Government of India: C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, Narendra Nath Law, M. Ramachandra Rao • Congress: Mahatma Gandhi. • Muslims: Aga Khan III, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Jinnah, A. K. Fazlul Huq, Sir Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Shafi, Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, Sir Syed Ali Imam, Maulvi Muhammad Shafi Daudi, Raja Sher Muhammad Khan of Domeli, A. H. Ghuznavi, Hafiz Hidayat Hussain, Sayed Muhammad Padshah Saheb Bahadur, Dr. Shafa'at Ahmad Khan, Jamal Muhammad, khaja Mian Rowther, Nawab Sahibzada Sayed Muhammad Mehr Shah • Hindus: M. R. Jayakar, B. S. Moonje, Diwan Bahadur Raja Narendra Nath
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2nd Round Table conference • Liberals: J. N. Basu, C. Y. Chintamani, Tej Bahadur Sapru, V. S. Srinivasa Sastri, Chimanlal Harilal Setalvad • Justice Party: Raja of Bobbili, Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar, Sir A. P. Patro, Bhaskarrao Vithojirao Jadhav
• Depressed Classes: B. R. Ambedkar, Rettamalai Srinivasan, • Sikhs: Sardar Ujjal Singh, Sardar Sampuran Singh. • Burma: Sir Padamji Ginwala
• Sindh: Shah Nawaz Bhutto, Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah
• Other Provinces: Chandradhar Barua (Assam), Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum (NWFP), S. B. Tambe (Central Provinces)
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Congress & 2nd Round Table conference • Indian Christians: Surendra Kumar Datta, A. T. Pannirselvam. • Europeans: E. C. Benthall, Sir Hubert Carr, T. F. Gavin Jones, C. E. Wood (Madras) • Anglo-Indians: Henry Gidney • Women: Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India; Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz, Radhabai Subbarayan • Landlords: Muhammad Ahmad Said Khan Chhatari (UP), Kameshwar Singh of Darbhanga , Raja of Parlakimedi (Orissa), Sir Provash Chandra Mitter • Industry: Ghanshyam Das Birla, Sir Purshottamdas Thakurdas, Maneckji Dadabhoy
• Labour: N. M. Joshi, B. Shiva Rao, V. V. Giri • Universities: Syed Sultan Ahmed, Bisheshwar Dayal Seth
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Why it failed? ● However, government said that Congress did not represent the interests of all India. The communal issue was also not solved as points raised by Gandhi were rejected by other communities of India. ● Right Wing in Britain led by Churchill strongly objected to the British Government negotiating with the Congress on an equal basis. They demanded a strong government in India. ● Labour PM Ramsay MacDonald headed a conservative-dominated cabinet with a weak & reactionary secretary of state, Samuel Hoare. ● Overwhelming majority of RTC delegates were conservative, loyalist, reactionary & communal, men who had been used by the colonial government to assert that the Congress did not represent all Indians & to neutralize Gandhi & his efforts.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Why it failed? ● The session soon got deadlocked on the question of the minorities.
● Separate electorates were being demanded by the Muslims, depressed classes, Christians, Europeans & Anglo-Indians. All these came together in a "Minorities' Pact".
● Gandhi fought desperately against this concerted move to make all constitutional progress conditional on the solving of this issue.
● Princes were also not as enthusiastic about a federation
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Outcome ● The session ended with MacDonald's announcement of:
○ 2 Muslim majority provinces— NWFP & Sindh;
○ the setting up of Indian Consultative Committee;
○ 3 expert committees —finance, franchise & states;
○ the prospect of a unilateral British Communal Award if Indians failed to agree.
● The Government failed to concede the basic Indian demand of freedom.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Changed Govt Attitude ● The higher British officials had drawn their own lessons from the Delhi Pact which had raised the political prestige of the Congress & the political morale of the people & had undermined British prestige. They were now determined to reverse this trend.
There were 3 main considerations in British policy: ○ Gandhi wont be permitted to build up the tempo for a mass movement again. ○ Goodwill of the Congress was not required, but the confidence of those who supported the British against the Congress—government functionaries, loyalists, etc.—was very essential. ○ The national movement would not be allowed to consolidate itself in rural areas.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Civil Disobedience Movement – 2nd Phase 1931-1934 • Meanwhile, the political turmoil worsened in India & there was a general disturbance in Bengal, UP & Punjab. The Viceroy had issued a number of ordinances virtually imposing “Civil Martial Law”.
● December 28, 1931 : Gandhi returned to India .
● December 29 : Congress decided to resume the Civil Disobedience Movement On.
● December 31 : Willingdon refused a meeting with Gandhi.
● January 4, 1932: Gandhi was arrested.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Government Action
● Congress organisations at all levels were banned; ● Offices & funds of the parties were seized.
● arrests were made of activists, leaders, sympathisers; ● properties were confiscated;
● Gandhi ashrams were occupied.
● repression was particularly harsh on women.
● press was gagged & nationalist literature, banned.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Popular Response ● People responded with anger.
● In the first 4 months alone, about 80,000 satyagrahis, mostly urban & rural poor, were jailed.
● Other forms of protest, included picketing of shops selling liquor & foreign cloth, illegal gatherings, non-violent demonstrations, celebrations of national days, symbolic hoisting of national flag, non-payment of chowkidari tax, salt satyagraha, forest law violations & installation of a secret radio transmitter near Bombay.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● This phase of the civil disobedience movement coincided with upsurges in 2 princely states—Kashmir & Alwar. ● Alwar : Mevs rose against the local raja {thus called Mev Uprising} against his revenue enhancement measures. The Raja was sent to Europe & his administration came under central government for many years. Some other areas also saw similar uprisings. ● But this phase of the movement could not be sustained for long because Gandhi & other leaders had no time to build up the tempo & the masses were not prepared.
● It was suspended in May 1933 ● April 1934: Gandhi decided to withdraw the movement.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Criticism ● Earlier, when Gandhiji had withdrawn the movement, Jawaharlal had felt ‘with a stab of pain’ that his long association with Gandhiji was about to come to an end.
● S C Bose & Vithalbhai Patel had been much more critical of Gandhiji’s leadership. In a strong statement from Europe they had said in 1933 that ‘Mr. Gandhi as a political leader has failed’ & called for ‘a radical reorganization of the Congress on a new principle with a new method, for which a new leader is essential’.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) McDonald Award or Communal Award ● British PM Ramsay Macdonald announced in 1932 that depressed class is a minority & will get separate electorate.
● This was a long demand of B.R. Ambedkar as the depressed classes had no chance of entering the assembly as election was based on limited franchise.
● The reasons for this opposition was:
○ British government was dividing Indians
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ○ This would lead to great damage to community
● Congress leadership was not happy.
● Though opposed to separate electorates, the Congress was not in favor of changing the Communal Award without the consent of the minorities.
● Thus, while strongly disagreeing with the Communal Award, the Congress decided neither to accept it nor to reject it.
● The effort to separate the depressed classes from the rest of the Hindus by treating them as separate political entities was vehemently opposed by all the nationalists.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Gandhi’s Response ● Gandhi was in deep shock & opposed separate electorate. ● He saw the Communal Award as an attack on Indian unity & nationalism.
● He thought it was harmful to both Hinduism & to the depressed classes since it provided no answer to the socially degraded position of the depressed classes.
● Once the depressed classes were treated as a separate political entity, the question of abolishing untouchability would get undermined, while separate electorates would ensure that the untouchables remained untouchables in perpetuity.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● He said that what was required was not protection of the so called interests of the depressed classes but eradication of untouchability.
● Gandhi demanded that the depressed classes be elected through joint & if possible a wider electorate through universal franchise, while expressing no objection to the demand for a larger number of reserved seats.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Poona Pact 1932 ● Gandhi was lodged in the Yerwada Jail. He went on fast unto death in opposition of Macdonald Award on September 20, 1932.
● Due to Gandhi’s fast unto death, there was huge pressure on Ambedkar
● Now leaders of various persuasions, including Ambedkar, MC Rajah & Malaviya got together to hammer out a compromise.
● Ambedkar agreed to meet Gandhi for negotiations.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 25 September, 1932:there was a pact between Gandhi & Ambedkar, which was called Poona Pact. After the meeting pact was signed, & its features were:- ○ No Separate electorate for depressed classes ○ Instead of separate electorate reservation of seats would be given
○ But the seats reserved for the depressed classes were increased from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures & 18 percent of the total in the central legislature.
○ Adequate representation of Dalits in civil services. ○ Pact was accepted by the Government as an amendment to Communal Award.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2012 Why did Mahatma Gandhi Undertake the fast unto death in 1932.
(a) Round table conference failed to satisfy Indian political aspirations
(b) Congress and Muslim League had differences of opinion
(c) Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal Award
(d) None of the statements(a),(b) and (c) given above is correct in this context
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 1993 What was the McDonald Award? How was it modified and with what results?
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 1998 Write a short note on: Communal Award
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 1997 The Poona pact which was signed between the British government and Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 provide for
(a) The creation of Dominion status for India
(b) Separate electorates for the Muslim
(c) Separate electorates for the Harijans
(d) Joint electorates with reservation of Harijans
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Gandhiji’s Harijan Campaign ● Determined to undo the divisive intentions of the Government's divide and rule policy,Gandhi gave up all his other pre-occupations & launched a whirlwind campaign against untouchability — 1st from jail & after his release in August 1933 from outside. ● In jail, he had set up the All India Anti Untouchability League in September 1932 & had started the weekly ‘Harijan’ in January 1933. ● After his release, he shifted to the Satyagraha Ashram in Wardha as he had vowed in 1930 not to return to Sabarmati Ashram unless swaraj was won.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● Starting from Wardha, he conducted a Harijan tour of the country in the period from November 1933 to July 1934, covering 20,000 km, collecting money for his newly set up Harijan Sevak Sangh, & propagating removal of untouchability in all its forms.
● He urged political workers to go to villages & work for social, economic, political & cultural upliftment of the Harijan.
● He undertook 2 fasts— on May 8 & August 16, 1934—to convince his followers of the seriousness of his effort & the importance of the issue.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) ● Throughout his campaign, Gandhi was attacked by orthodox & reactionary elements.
● These elements disrupted his meetings, held black flag demonstrations against him & accused him of attacking Hinduism.
● They also offered support to the Government against the Congress & the Civil Disobedience Movement.
● The Government obliged them by defeating the Temple Entry Bill in August 1934.
● Orthodox Hindu opinion in Bengal was against the acceptance of permanent caste Hindu minority status by the Poona Pact.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2019
Consider the following pairs:
Movement/Organization Leader 1. All India Anti-Untouchability League Mahatma Gandhi 2. All India Kisan Sabha Swami Sahajanand Saraswati 3. Self-Respect Movement E. V. Ramaswami Naicker
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Gandhi's Thoughts on Caste ❑ He put forward a damning indictment of Hindu society for the kind of oppression practiced on Harijans.
❑ He called for the root & branch eradication of untouchability symbolised by his plea to throw open temples to the untouchables.
❑ He stressed the need for caste Hindus to do "penance" for untold miseries inflicted on Harijans. For this reason he was not hostile to his critics such as Ambedkar
❑ He said, "Hinduism dies if untouchability lives, untouchability has to die if Hinduism is to live.“
❑ His entire campaign was based on principles of humanism & reason. He said that the shastras do not sanction untouchability & if they did, they should be ignored as it was against human dignity.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Impact of the Campaign
❑ Gandhi repeatedly described the campaign as not a political movement but as being primarily meant to purify Hinduism & Hindu society.
❑ Gradually, the campaign carried the message of nationalism to Harijans who also happened to be the agricultural laborers in most parts of the country, leading to their increasing participation in the national & peasant movements.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 3rd Round Table Conference
● Held in 1932 (17th November-24th December) ● Congress boycotted this conference ● Labour Party of Britain also boycotted it. ● Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha & Princely states participated ● There were no significant outcomes of this conference unlike the other two.
● Joint Select Committee under Marquess of Lilingthow was appointed.
● British government prepared a White paper on the new constitution of India.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) Continued ❑ In this, college student Chaudhary Rahmat Ali proposed the name of Pakistan, the new “holy land” specially carved out from India for the Muslims.
❑ However, Congress insisted that only satisfactory alternative was a constitution drawn up by the Constituent Assembly which should be elected as far as possible on the basis of Adult Suffrage.
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 3rd Round Table Conference ❑ Attended by only 46 delegates.
❑ Muslims: Agha Khan III
❑ Hindu Mahasabha: MR Jaykar, BS Moonje
❑ Depressed classes: BR Ambedkar
❑ Liberals: Sapru ❑ Labor: NM Joshi
❑ Justice Party: Ramasamy Mudaliar ❑ Women: Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35) 2005 Consider the following statements:
1.In the first Round Table conference ,Dr Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for the depressed classes. 2.In the Poona pact, special provisions for representation of the depressed class people in the local bodies and civil services were made. 3. The Indian National Congress did not take part in the Third Round conference Which of the statements given above are correct? Choose the correct answer from the following options.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c ) 1 and 3 (d) 1,2 and 3
Modern History: Module XVII - (Mass Nationalism: 1930-35)