Chapter II
Nationalism in India
As you have seen, modern nationalism in Europe came to be
associated with the formation of nation-states. It also meant a change
in people’s understanding of who they were, and what defined their
identity and sense of belonging. New symbols and icons, new songs
and ideas forged new links and redefined the boundaries of
communities. In most countries the making of this new national
identity was a long process. How did this consciousness emerge
in India?
In India and as in many other colonies, the growth of modern
nationalism is intimately connected to the anti-colonial movement.
People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle
with colonialism. The sense of being oppressed under colonialism
provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together.
But each class and group felt the effects of colonialism differently,
their experiences were varied, and their notions of freedom were
not always the same. The Congress under Mahatma Gandhi tried
to forge these groups together within one movement. But the unity
did not emerge without conflict.
In an earlier textbook you have read about the growth of nationalism
in India up to the first decade of the twentieth century. In this chapter
we will pick up the story from the 1920s and study the Non-
Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements. We will explore
in India
how the Congress sought to develop the national movement, how
different social groups participated in the movement, and how
nationalism captured the imagination of people.
Nationalism in India
Nationalism
Fig. 1 – 6 April 1919.
Mass processions on
the streets became a
common feature during
the national movement.
29
Reprint 2025-26
, 1 The First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation
In the years after 1919, we see the national movement spreading to
new areas, incorporating new social groups, and developing new
modes of struggle. How do we understand these developments?
What implications did they have?
First of all, the war created a new economic and political situation.
It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed
by war loans and increasing taxes: customs duties were raised and
income tax introduced. Through the war years prices increased –
doubling between 1913 and 1918 – leading to extreme hardship
for the common people. Villages were called upon to supply soldiers,
and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger.
Then in 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India, New words
resulting in acute shortages of food. This was accompanied by an
influenza epidemic. According to the census of 1921, 12 to 13 million Forced recruitment – A process by which the
people perished as a result of famines and the epidemic. colonial state forced people to join the army
People hoped that their hardships would end after the war was
over. But that did not happen.
At this stage a new leader appeared and suggested a new mode
of struggle.
1.1 The Idea of Satyagraha
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915. As you know,
he had come from South Africa where he had successfully fought
India and the Contemporary World
Fig. 2 – Indian workers in South
Africa march through Volksrust, 6
November 1913.
Mahatma Gandhi was leading the
workers from Newcastle to
Transvaal. When the marchers were
stopped and Gandhiji arrested,
thousands of more workers joined
the satyagraha against racist laws
that denied rights to non-whites.
30
Reprint 2025-26
, the racist regime with a novel method of mass agitation, which he Source A
called satyagraha. The idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of
truth and the need to search for truth. It suggested that if the cause Mahatma Gandhi on Satyagraha
was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was ‘It is said of “passive resistance” that it is the
not necessary to fight the oppressor. Without seeking vengeance or weapon of the weak, but the power which is
the subject of this article can be used only
being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non- by the strong. This power is not passive
violence. This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the resistance; indeed it calls for intense activity. The
oppressor. People – including the oppressors – had to be persuaded movement in South Africa was not passive
but active …
to see the truth, instead of being forced to accept truth through the
‘ Satyagraha is not physical force. A satyagrahi
use of violence. By this struggle, truth was bound to ultimately does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does
triumph. Mahatma Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence not seek his destruction … In the use of
could unite all Indians. satyagraha, there is no ill-will whatever.
‘ Satyagraha is pure soul-force. Truth is the very
After arriving in India, Mahatma Gandhi successfully organised substance of the soul. That is why this force is
satyagraha movements in various places. In 1917 he travelled to called satyagraha. The soul is informed with
knowledge. In it burns the flame of love. … Non-
Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the
violence is the supreme dharma …
oppressive plantation system. Then in 1917, he organised a satyagraha ‘It is certain that India cannot rival Britain or
to support the peasants of the Kheda district of Gujarat. Affected Europe in force of arms. The British worship the
by crop failure and a plague epidemic, the peasants of Kheda could war-god and they can all of them become, as
they are becoming, bearers of arms. The
not pay the revenue, and were demanding that revenue collection be
hundreds of millions in India can never carry arms.
relaxed. In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi went to Ahmedabad to organise They have made the religion of non-violence their
a satyagraha movement amongst cotton mill workers. own ...’
Source
1.2 The Rowlatt Act
Activity
Emboldened with this success, Gandhiji in 1919 decided to launch a
nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919). This Read the text carefully. What did Mahatma
Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Gandhi mean when he said satyagraha is
active resistance?
Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members. It
gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities,
and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two
years. Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against Nationalism in India
such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal on 6 April.
Rallies were organised in various cities, workers went on strike in
railway workshops, and shops closed down. Alarmed by the popular
upsurge, and scared that lines of communication such as the railways
and telegraph would be disrupted, the British administration decided
to clamp down on nationalists. Local leaders were picked up from
Amritsar, and Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.
On 10 April, the police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession,
provoking widespread attacks on banks, post offices and railway
stations. Martial law was imposed and General Dyer took command.
31
Reprint 2025-26
Nationalism in India
As you have seen, modern nationalism in Europe came to be
associated with the formation of nation-states. It also meant a change
in people’s understanding of who they were, and what defined their
identity and sense of belonging. New symbols and icons, new songs
and ideas forged new links and redefined the boundaries of
communities. In most countries the making of this new national
identity was a long process. How did this consciousness emerge
in India?
In India and as in many other colonies, the growth of modern
nationalism is intimately connected to the anti-colonial movement.
People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle
with colonialism. The sense of being oppressed under colonialism
provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together.
But each class and group felt the effects of colonialism differently,
their experiences were varied, and their notions of freedom were
not always the same. The Congress under Mahatma Gandhi tried
to forge these groups together within one movement. But the unity
did not emerge without conflict.
In an earlier textbook you have read about the growth of nationalism
in India up to the first decade of the twentieth century. In this chapter
we will pick up the story from the 1920s and study the Non-
Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements. We will explore
in India
how the Congress sought to develop the national movement, how
different social groups participated in the movement, and how
nationalism captured the imagination of people.
Nationalism in India
Nationalism
Fig. 1 – 6 April 1919.
Mass processions on
the streets became a
common feature during
the national movement.
29
Reprint 2025-26
, 1 The First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation
In the years after 1919, we see the national movement spreading to
new areas, incorporating new social groups, and developing new
modes of struggle. How do we understand these developments?
What implications did they have?
First of all, the war created a new economic and political situation.
It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed
by war loans and increasing taxes: customs duties were raised and
income tax introduced. Through the war years prices increased –
doubling between 1913 and 1918 – leading to extreme hardship
for the common people. Villages were called upon to supply soldiers,
and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger.
Then in 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India, New words
resulting in acute shortages of food. This was accompanied by an
influenza epidemic. According to the census of 1921, 12 to 13 million Forced recruitment – A process by which the
people perished as a result of famines and the epidemic. colonial state forced people to join the army
People hoped that their hardships would end after the war was
over. But that did not happen.
At this stage a new leader appeared and suggested a new mode
of struggle.
1.1 The Idea of Satyagraha
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915. As you know,
he had come from South Africa where he had successfully fought
India and the Contemporary World
Fig. 2 – Indian workers in South
Africa march through Volksrust, 6
November 1913.
Mahatma Gandhi was leading the
workers from Newcastle to
Transvaal. When the marchers were
stopped and Gandhiji arrested,
thousands of more workers joined
the satyagraha against racist laws
that denied rights to non-whites.
30
Reprint 2025-26
, the racist regime with a novel method of mass agitation, which he Source A
called satyagraha. The idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of
truth and the need to search for truth. It suggested that if the cause Mahatma Gandhi on Satyagraha
was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was ‘It is said of “passive resistance” that it is the
not necessary to fight the oppressor. Without seeking vengeance or weapon of the weak, but the power which is
the subject of this article can be used only
being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non- by the strong. This power is not passive
violence. This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the resistance; indeed it calls for intense activity. The
oppressor. People – including the oppressors – had to be persuaded movement in South Africa was not passive
but active …
to see the truth, instead of being forced to accept truth through the
‘ Satyagraha is not physical force. A satyagrahi
use of violence. By this struggle, truth was bound to ultimately does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does
triumph. Mahatma Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence not seek his destruction … In the use of
could unite all Indians. satyagraha, there is no ill-will whatever.
‘ Satyagraha is pure soul-force. Truth is the very
After arriving in India, Mahatma Gandhi successfully organised substance of the soul. That is why this force is
satyagraha movements in various places. In 1917 he travelled to called satyagraha. The soul is informed with
knowledge. In it burns the flame of love. … Non-
Champaran in Bihar to inspire the peasants to struggle against the
violence is the supreme dharma …
oppressive plantation system. Then in 1917, he organised a satyagraha ‘It is certain that India cannot rival Britain or
to support the peasants of the Kheda district of Gujarat. Affected Europe in force of arms. The British worship the
by crop failure and a plague epidemic, the peasants of Kheda could war-god and they can all of them become, as
they are becoming, bearers of arms. The
not pay the revenue, and were demanding that revenue collection be
hundreds of millions in India can never carry arms.
relaxed. In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi went to Ahmedabad to organise They have made the religion of non-violence their
a satyagraha movement amongst cotton mill workers. own ...’
Source
1.2 The Rowlatt Act
Activity
Emboldened with this success, Gandhiji in 1919 decided to launch a
nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919). This Read the text carefully. What did Mahatma
Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Gandhi mean when he said satyagraha is
active resistance?
Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members. It
gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities,
and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two
years. Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against Nationalism in India
such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal on 6 April.
Rallies were organised in various cities, workers went on strike in
railway workshops, and shops closed down. Alarmed by the popular
upsurge, and scared that lines of communication such as the railways
and telegraph would be disrupted, the British administration decided
to clamp down on nationalists. Local leaders were picked up from
Amritsar, and Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.
On 10 April, the police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession,
provoking widespread attacks on banks, post offices and railway
stations. Martial law was imposed and General Dyer took command.
31
Reprint 2025-26
