📖 Chapter Introduction
In Europe, the growth of modern nationalism was closely connected to the formation of nation-states. It changed people’s understanding of who they were and defined their identity and sense of belonging. New symbols, icons, songs, and ideas forged new links and redefined the boundaries of communities.
As in Vietnam and many other colonies, the growth of modern nationalism in India is strongly associated with the anti-colonial movement. People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism.
However, 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 the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi attempted to forge these groups together within one movement.
🏛️ What is Nationalism?
Nationalism is a belief, creed, or political ideology where the individual’s loyalty and devotion to the nation-state supersedes other individual or group interests. It is a feeling of oneness and common consciousness that emerges when people living in a common geographical territory share historical, political, social, and cultural bonds.
🔑 Key Factors for the Growth of Indian Nationalism
Anti-Colonial Struggle
The collective fight against British colonial rule brought different social groups together.
Economic Exploitation
British policies hurt all sections — peasants, artisans, merchants, and industrialists.
Administrative Unification
Railways, telegraph, and uniform administration connected Indians across regions.
Western Education
Exposed Indians to modern ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity, and democracy.
🌍 The First World War, Khilafat, and Non-Cooperation
The First World War (1914–1918) created a completely new economic and political situation in India.
📊 Economic and Political Impact of WWI on India
- Increase in Defense Expenditure: British government financed war by raising taxes, introducing income tax, and increasing customs duties.
- Price Rise: Prices of essential commodities doubled between 1913 and 1918, causing extreme hardship for common people.
- Forced Recruitment: British colonial administration forcibly recruited young men from rural areas into the imperial army.
- Crop Failure (1918–19 and 1920–21): Crops failed in many parts of India, resulting in acute food shortages.
- Influenza Epidemic: According to Census of 1921, 12 to 13 million people perished due to famines and epidemic.
Questions about “How did the First World War help in the growth of the National Movement in India?” are highly common. Focus on four pillars: increased taxation, price inflation, forced military recruitment, and the food crisis/epidemic.
Economic: Doubled prices, higher taxes, higher customs duties, introduction of income tax.
- Social: Forced recruitment in villages, crop failure, famine, influenza epidemic killing 12–13 million people.
- Political: Anger against British colonial rule increased, leading to mass movement.
✊ The Idea of Satyagraha
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in January 1915. In South Africa, he had successfully fought the racist regime with a novel method of mass agitation, which he called Satyagraha.
The idea of Satyagraha stressed the power of truth and the need to search for truth. A satyagrahi could win the battle without vengeance or aggression, and only through non-violence, by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor. Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians.
📍 Gandhi’s Satyagraha Movements in India
| Year | Place | Cause / Issue | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Champaran (Bihar) | To combat repressive system of indigo plantations | Inspired peasants; first successful local satyagraha |
| 1917 | Kheda (Gujarat) | Peasants unable to pay revenue due to crop failure and plague epidemic | Government relaxed revenue demands for that year |
| 1918 | Ahmedabad (Gujarat) | Cotton mill workers demanded a wage hike (35% plague bonus) | Led to compromise and successful settlement for workers |
Remember the order of early Satyagrahas using the word “CAK”:
- C — Champaran (1917)
- A — Ahmedabad (1918)
- K — Kheda (1917)
Definition: Pure soul-force, appeal to the oppressor’s conscience using non-violence and truth.
- Launchpad: January 1915 (Gandhi returns to India)
- Early Targets: Champaran → Kheda → Ahmedabad
⚖️ Rowlatt Act (1919)
📌 Features of the Rowlatt Act
- Passed hurriedly through the Imperial Legislative Council despite united opposition of the Indian members.
- Gave the British government enormous powers to suppress political activity.
- Allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
📣 Indian Response — Satyagraha Against Rowlatt Act
- Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience starting with a hartal (strike) on 6 April 1919.
- Rallies in different cities; workers walked out of railway workshops; shops were shut down.
- Local leaders picked up from Amritsar; Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.
- On 10 April, police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession, provoking widespread attacks.
- Martial Law was imposed, and General Dyer took command.
🔴 Jallianwala Bagh Incident
The infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab.
📋 Sequence of Events
The Gathering
Large crowd gathered in the enclosed Jallianwala Bagh — some to protest arrests of Dr. Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal, others for Baisakhi fair.
Ignorance of Martial Law
Many villagers from outside the city were unaware of the Martial Law that had been imposed.
The Brutal Action
General Dyer entered with troops, blocked exit points, and ordered men to open fire on the unarmed crowd.
Casualties
Hundreds of men, women, and children were killed on the spot.
Dyer’s Stated Objective
To “produce a moral effect” and create a feeling of terror and awe in the minds of satyagrahis.
📢 Reaction and Aftermath
- Crowds took to streets in many north Indian towns — strikes, clashes with police, attacks on government buildings.
- Satyagrahis were forced to rub their noses on the ground and crawl on the streets.
- Villages around Gujranwala in Punjab were bombed and people were flogged.
- Mahatma Gandhi immediately called off the Rowlatt Satyagraha movement.
- Rabindranath Tagore renounced his Knighthood in protest against the massacre.
☪️ The Khilafat Movement
The Rowlatt Satyagraha was still limited mostly to cities and towns. Mahatma Gandhi felt the need to launch a more broad-based movement and wanted to bring Hindus and Muslims closer together.