Mass Nationalism: 1930-35
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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 (d) Quit India 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