Nationalism in India
Comprehensive Study Notes: 1914 – 1932
1. Impact of the First World War (1914–1918)
The war transformed India from a quiet colony into a hotbed of discontent due to British
imperial needs.
• Economic Strain: Introduction of Income Tax and increased customs duties to fund
defense spending.
• Price Hikes: Prices of essential items doubled between 1913 and 1918, causing
extreme hardship.
• Forced Recruitment: Villagers were forcibly recruited into the British army, fueling
rural anger.
• Crisis: Crop failures led to acute food shortages, compounded by an influenza
epidemic killing ~13 million people.
2. The Idea of Satyagraha & Early Movements
Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915, introducing a new method of mass
agitation based on Truth (Satya) and Non-violence (Ahimsa).
Key Early Struggles:
• Champaran (1917): Against the oppressive indigo plantation system.
• Kheda (1917): Support for peasants affected by crop failure and plague.
• Ahmedabad (1918): Cotton mill workers demanding better wages.
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Comprehensive Study Notes: 1914 – 1932
1. Impact of the First World War (1914–1918)
The war transformed India from a quiet colony into a hotbed of discontent due to British
imperial needs.
• Economic Strain: Introduction of Income Tax and increased customs duties to fund
defense spending.
• Price Hikes: Prices of essential items doubled between 1913 and 1918, causing
extreme hardship.
• Forced Recruitment: Villagers were forcibly recruited into the British army, fueling
rural anger.
• Crisis: Crop failures led to acute food shortages, compounded by an influenza
epidemic killing ~13 million people.
2. The Idea of Satyagraha & Early Movements
Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915, introducing a new method of mass
agitation based on Truth (Satya) and Non-violence (Ahimsa).
Key Early Struggles:
• Champaran (1917): Against the oppressive indigo plantation system.
• Kheda (1917): Support for peasants affected by crop failure and plague.
• Ahmedabad (1918): Cotton mill workers demanding better wages.
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