Nationalism in India — Question Bank
A. MCQs — Choose the Correct Answer
1.
What was the major factor that helped different Indian groups develop a sense of unity?
A. Similar economic conditions
B. Common experience of colonial oppression
C. Common religious beliefs
D. Complete agreement among political leaders
Answer: B
2.
Gandhiji’s method of fighting injustice through truth and non-violence was known as:
A. Swaraj
B. Boycott
C. Satyagraha
D. Swadeshi
Answer: C
3.
Which movement was organised in Kheda in 1918?
A. Movement against the salt tax
B. Peasant satyagraha for revenue relief
C. Movement against the Simon Commission
D. Khilafat Movement
Answer: B
4.
The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was opposed because it:
A. increased agricultural taxes
B. restricted the use of Indian languages
C. gave the government extensive powers to repress political activities
D. abolished legislative councils
Answer: C
5.
The Jallianwala Bagh incident took place in:
A. Delhi
B. Lahore
C. Amritsar
D. Ahmedabad
Answer: C
6.
Why did Gandhiji withdraw the Rowlatt Satyagraha?
A. The British accepted all demands.
B. The movement became violent in several places.
C. Congress leaders opposed it.
D. The Khilafat leaders withdrew support.
Answer: B
7.
Gandhiji associated himself with the Khilafat issue mainly to:
A. establish Muslim political dominance
B. strengthen Hindu-Muslim unity
C. oppose Indian industrialists
D. support British policy towards Turkey
Answer: B
8.
The Non-Cooperation Movement was formally adopted by Congress at:
A. Lahore
B. Calcutta
C. Nagpur
D. Bombay
Answer: C
9.
Which of the following was NOT part of the Non-Cooperation programme?
A. Boycott of foreign goods
B. Boycott of government schools
C. Boycott of courts
D. Armed attacks on government offices
Answer: D
10.
The Non-Cooperation Movement began in:
A. 1919
B. 1920
C. 1921
D. 1922
Answer: C
11.
The peasant movement in Awadh was associated particularly with:
A. Baba Ramchandra
B. Alluri Sitaram Raju
C. C. R. Das
D. B. R. Ambedkar
Answer: A
12.
What did begar mean?
A. A tax on salt
B. Forced unpaid labour
C. A boycott of foreign cloth
D. A form of political imprisonment
Answer: B
13.
The tribal movement in the Gudem Hills was led by:
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Vallabhbhai Patel
C. Alluri Sitaram Raju
D. Baba Ramchandra
Answer: C
14.
Why did the tribal people of the Gudem Hills oppose colonial forest laws?
A. They were prevented from using forests for traditional needs.
B. They were forced to grow commercial crops.
C. They were prohibited from joining Congress.
D. They had to pay salt tax.
Answer: A
15.
For plantation workers in Assam, swaraj largely meant:
A. industrial development
B. freedom to leave plantations and return to their villages
C. reduction of salt tax
D. representation in legislative councils
Answer: B
16.
Why was the Non-Cooperation Movement withdrawn in 1922?
A. Simon Commission arrived.
B. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed.
C. The movement became associated with violence at Chauri Chaura.
D. Congress adopted Purna Swaraj.
Answer: C
17.
Who formed the Swaraj Party?
A. Gandhi and Nehru
B. C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru
C. Bose and Patel
D. Ambedkar and Jinnah
Answer: B
18.
The Simon Commission was opposed mainly because:
A. it demanded higher taxes
B. it contained no Indian member
C. it supported Purna Swaraj
D. it abolished provincial councils
Answer: B
19.
The Lahore Congress of 1929 adopted the demand for:
A. Dominion Status
B. separate electorates
C. Purna Swaraj
D. provincial autonomy
Answer: C
20.
Why did Gandhiji choose salt as a symbol of resistance?
A. Salt was mainly used by rich people.
B. Salt was an essential item consumed by everyone.
C. Salt production was controlled by Indian merchants.
D. Salt was connected only with agriculture.
Answer: B
21.
The Civil Disobedience Movement began with:
A. the boycott of schools
B. the Dandi March
C. the Simon Commission protest
D. the formation of the Swaraj Party
Answer: B
22.
The most important difference between Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience was that Civil Disobedience:
A. involved only peasants
B. included participation by women
C. involved breaking colonial laws
D. rejected the idea of swaraj
Answer: C
23.
Which group was particularly affected by falling agricultural prices during the Great Depression?
A. Rich peasants producing commercial crops
B. British officials
C. Plantation owners
D. Urban lawyers
Answer: A
24.
Why did many business groups initially support the Civil Disobedience Movement?
A. They wanted stronger British control.
B. They wanted protection from foreign imports and greater economic freedom.
C. They wanted separate electorates.
D. They opposed Indian industries.
Answer: B
25.
Why was participation of industrial workers in the Civil Disobedience Movement limited?
A. Workers completely supported colonial rule.
B. Congress was cautious about alienating industrialists.
C. Workers were prohibited from joining political movements.
D. Workers had no economic grievances.
Answer: B
26.
Dr B. R. Ambedkar mainly emphasised which issue in relation to Dalits?
A. Salt production
B. Political representation and safeguards
C. Foreign trade
D. Forest rights
Answer: B
27.
The Poona Pact of 1932 was related to:
A. the salt tax
B. representation of the Depressed Classes
C. the Simon Commission
D. the Khilafat issue
Answer: B
28.
Which symbol became associated with the idea of India as a motherland?
A. Swaraj flag
B. Bharat Mata
C. Spinning wheel alone
D. Simon Commission
Answer: B
29.
The spinning wheel on Gandhiji’s Swaraj flag represented:
A. industrialisation
B. self-help
C. military power
D. religious unity
Answer: B
30.
Nationalist interest in folklore was intended partly to:
A. replace political movements
B. recover and celebrate traditional cultural identity
C. promote British culture
D. weaken regional cultures
Answer: B
B. Assertion–Reason Questions
Choose:
A. Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
31.
Assertion: Gandhiji considered satyagraha a powerful method of resistance.
Reason: It relied on truth and non-violence rather than physical force.
Answer: A
32.
Assertion: Gandhiji withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922.
Reason: He believed that violence was spreading and people needed better preparation for non-violent struggle.
Answer: A
33.
Assertion: The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Reason: Civil Disobedience included deliberate violation of colonial laws.
Answer: A
34.
Assertion: Rich peasants strongly supported the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Reason: Falling agricultural prices made it difficult for them to meet revenue demands.
Answer: A
35.
Assertion: The participation of all social groups in the national movement was uniform.
Reason: Different groups had different economic and political interests.
Answer: D
36.
Assertion: The Salt March became an effective nationalist symbol.
Reason: Salt was an essential commodity used by both rich and poor.
Answer: A
C. Fill in the Blanks
37.
Gandhiji returned to India from South Africa in ______.
Answer: 1915
38.
The method of non-violent resistance based on truth was called ______.
Answer: Satyagraha
39.
The Rowlatt Act was passed in ______.
Answer: 1919
40.
The Jallianwala Bagh incident took place in ______.
Answer: Amritsar
41.
The Khilafat leaders ______ and ______ worked with Gandhiji.
Answer: Muhammad Ali; Shaukat Ali
42.
The Non-Cooperation Movement began in ______.
Answer: 1921
43.
Forced unpaid labour was known as ______.
Answer: begar
44.
The tribal movement in the Gudem Hills was led by ______.
Answer: Alluri Sitaram Raju
45.
The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn after the incident at ______.
Answer: Chauri Chaura
46.
The Lahore Congress of 1929 adopted the demand for ______.
Answer: Purna Swaraj
47.
Gandhiji began the Salt March from ______ Ashram.
Answer: Sabarmati
48.
The Salt March ended at ______.
Answer: Dandi
49.
The agreement between Gandhiji and Lord Irwin was called the ______.
Answer: Gandhi-Irwin Pact
50.
The agreement concerning representation of the Depressed Classes in 1932 was the ______.
Answer: Poona Pact
D. True or False
51.
Satyagraha was based on the use of physical force against the oppressor.
Answer: False
52.
The Rowlatt Act allowed political prisoners to be detained without trial.
Answer: True
53.
The Khilafat issue helped Gandhiji seek Hindu-Muslim unity.
Answer: True
54.
The Non-Cooperation Movement began after the Dandi March.
Answer: False
55.
Peasants in Awadh opposed high rents and begar.
Answer: True
56.
Alluri Sitaram Raju completely followed Gandhiji’s principle of non-violence.
Answer: False
57.
The Simon Commission had several Indian members.
Answer: False
58.
Salt was chosen because it was an everyday necessity for both rich and poor.
Answer: True
59.
Dr B. R. Ambedkar supported separate electorates for Dalits.
Answer: True
60.
Nationalist symbols always appealed equally to every community.
Answer: False
E. Match the Following
61.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Champaran | a. Salt March |
| 2. Dandi | b. Plantation system |
| 3. Awadh | c. Peasant struggle |
| 4. Gudem Hills | d. Tribal movement |
Answer:
1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-d
62.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Baba Ramchandra | a. Dalit political rights |
| 2. Alluri Sitaram Raju | b. Awadh peasants |
| 3. B. R. Ambedkar | c. Gudem tribal movement |
| 4. C. R. Das | d. Swaraj Party |
Answer:
1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d
63.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. 1919 | a. Purna Swaraj |
| 2. 1922 | b. Jallianwala Bagh |
| 3. 1929 | c. Chauri Chaura |
| 4. 1930 | d. Civil Disobedience |
Answer:
1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d
F. Very Short Answer Questions
64.
What is meant by satyagraha?
Answer: It is a method of resisting injustice through truth, non-violence and moral persuasion.
65.
Why was the Rowlatt Act unpopular?
Answer: It gave the colonial government wide powers to suppress political activity and detain people without trial.
66.
What was the main objective of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: To weaken colonial rule by withdrawing Indian cooperation from British institutions and goods.
67.
What was begar?
Answer: Forced labour performed without payment.
68.
Why did the people of the Gudem Hills revolt?
Answer: Colonial forest restrictions harmed their traditional livelihoods, and they were also forced to provide unpaid labour.
69.
Why was the Simon Commission boycotted?
Answer: It had no Indian member.
70.
What did Purna Swaraj mean?
Answer: Complete independence from British rule.
71.
Why did Gandhiji select salt as an issue?
Answer: Salt was essential to everyone, and the colonial tax and monopoly over it affected both rich and poor.
72.
What did the Swaraj flag’s spinning wheel represent?
Answer: The ideal of self-help.
73.
Why did some Dalit leaders remain cautious about the Congress-led movement?
Answer: They wanted stronger political safeguards and representation to address social discrimination and inequality.
G. Short Answer Questions
74.
How did the First World War contribute to the growth of nationalism in India?
Answer points:
- Taxes and government expenditure increased.
- Prices rose sharply.
- Villages faced forced recruitment.
- Crop failures created food shortages.
- The influenza epidemic caused further suffering.
- These hardships increased resentment against colonial rule.
75.
Explain the main features of Gandhiji’s idea of satyagraha.
Answer points:
- Truth was central.
- Resistance had to be non-violent.
- The opponent was not to be physically harmed.
- The aim was to appeal to the opponent’s conscience.
- It sought to defeat injustice without hatred or revenge.
76.
Why did Gandhiji support the Khilafat issue?
Answer points:
- He wanted to address Muslim concerns after the First World War.
- He saw the issue as an opportunity for Hindu-Muslim unity.
- He believed united action could create a stronger national movement.
77.
Explain why different groups interpreted swaraj differently.
Answer points:
- Peasants wanted relief from revenue and rent.
- Tribal communities wanted restoration of traditional forest rights.
- Plantation workers wanted freedom of movement and connection with their villages.
- Business groups wanted fewer colonial restrictions.
- Dalits demanded social equality and political safeguards.
78.
Why did the Non-Cooperation Movement lose momentum in towns?
Answer points:
- Alternative Indian educational and legal institutions developed slowly.
- Khadi was often expensive for poorer people.
- Students and teachers gradually returned to government institutions.
- Lawyers resumed work in government courts.
79.
Why did the Civil Disobedience Movement attract rich peasants?
Answer points:
- Agricultural prices had fallen.
- Commercial farmers experienced a decline in income.
- They struggled to pay land revenue.
- They wanted the government to reduce revenue demands.
80.
Why did the participation of women not automatically result in gender equality?
Answer points:
- Women participated widely in marches, salt-making and picketing.
- Yet Gandhiji continued to associate women strongly with domestic responsibilities.
- Congress was reluctant to give women positions of authority.
- Thus, public participation increased without completely changing traditional gender expectations.
81.
Why did many Muslim groups participate less actively in the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer points:
- The earlier Hindu-Muslim unity associated with the Khilafat movement had weakened.
- Communal tensions had increased.
- Some Muslims feared domination by a Hindu majority.
- Concerns about political representation and minority safeguards remained unresolved.
H. Long Answer Questions
82.
“The national movement brought different groups together, but their objectives were not identical.” Explain.
Answer framework:
- Explain common opposition to colonial rule.
- Discuss urban middle classes.
- Discuss Awadh peasants.
- Discuss tribal communities.
- Discuss plantation workers.
- Discuss rich and poor peasants during Civil Disobedience.
- Explain business and industrial workers.
- Discuss Dalit and Muslim concerns.
- Conclude that nationalism united different groups temporarily despite their different expectations.
83.
Explain the development of the national movement from the Rowlatt Satyagraha to the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Answer framework:
1919: Rowlatt Satyagraha → Jallianwala Bagh
↓
1920–21: Khilafat + Non-Cooperation
↓
1922: Chauri Chaura → withdrawal
↓
Late 1920s: Simon Commission protests
↓
1929: Purna Swaraj
↓
1930: Dandi March → Civil Disobedience
↓
1931: Gandhi-Irwin Pact
↓
1932: Movement relaunched
84.
Why was the Salt March an effective symbol of resistance to colonialism?
Key points:
- Salt was essential for daily life.
- Both rich and poor used it.
- The British imposed a tax on it.
- The government controlled its production.
- Breaking the salt law was simple enough for ordinary people to participate.
- It converted the abstract demand for freedom into an issue connected with everyday life.
85.
Explain the limits of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Answer points:
- Different social groups had different objectives.
- Poor peasants wanted rent relief.
- Congress hesitated to support radical no-rent campaigns.
- Dalit leaders wanted political safeguards.
- Many Muslims remained distant because of communal tensions and representation concerns.
- Industrial workers participated only selectively.
- Business groups eventually became less enthusiastic.
I. Case-Based Questions
Case 1
A national leader argues that an unjust government can be challenged without physical violence. The aim is to make the opponent recognise the truth rather than destroy the opponent.
86.
Which method is being described?
A. Boycott
B. Satyagraha
C. Communalism
D. Swaraj Party politics
Answer: B
87.
Which principle is central to this method?
A. Armed struggle
B. Non-violence
C. Economic isolation alone
D. Electoral politics
Answer: B
88.
What was the intended role of the conscience of the opponent?
Answer: It was to be appealed to so that the opponent recognised the injustice and accepted the truth rather than being forced through violence.
Case 2
A movement asks people to stop buying foreign cloth, leave government institutions and withdraw cooperation from colonial authorities. Different communities join it, but each hopes that freedom will solve its own particular problems.
89.
Which movement is described?
Answer: Non-Cooperation Movement.
90.
Why did different groups give different meanings to swaraj?
Answer: Their economic, social and political experiences under colonial rule were different.
91.
Give one example of a group and its specific expectation.
Answer: Awadh peasants wanted reduction of revenue and an end to begar.
Other valid examples from the chapter are also acceptable.
Case 3
A movement begins with the violation of a law governing an everyday necessity. Participants then boycott foreign goods, refuse certain taxes and challenge other colonial regulations.
92.
Which movement is being described?
Answer: Civil Disobedience Movement.
93.
Which everyday necessity was used as the main symbol?
Answer: Salt.
94.
How was this movement different from Non-Cooperation?
Answer: It went beyond withdrawing cooperation and involved deliberate violation of colonial laws.
J. Source/Interpretation-Type Questions
95.
Why did nationalist leaders use symbols, folklore and history to promote nationalism?
Answer: These cultural forms helped people imagine themselves as members of a shared national community and encouraged pride in India’s cultural past.
96.
Why could the image of Bharat Mata sometimes create exclusion rather than unity?
Answer: When nationalist imagery relied heavily on Hindu religious symbols, members of other communities could feel that the national identity did not fully represent them.
97.
Why did nationalist reinterpretation of Indian history become important?
Answer: It challenged colonial claims that Indians were backward and incapable of governing themselves by highlighting India’s achievements in areas such as science, mathematics, art, architecture, trade and culture.
K. Higher-Order Thinking Questions
98.
“A common enemy can unite people, but it cannot make their interests identical.” How does this idea apply to Indian nationalism?
Expected direction: Discuss the common opposition to British rule alongside the different demands of peasants, workers, business groups, Dalits, Muslims, tribals and women.
99.
Why was Gandhi’s strategy of non-violence both a strength and a challenge for the national movement?
Expected direction: Non-violence allowed participation by large numbers of people and provided a common method of struggle, but maintaining non-violence became difficult when local movements developed their own grievances and sometimes turned violent.
100.
Which was more important in creating nationalism: political movements or cultural symbols? Give a balanced answer.
Expected direction: Neither worked alone. United political struggles created shared experiences, while symbols, folklore, history, flags and images helped people imagine and emotionally connect with a common nation.
Most Important Questions for Exams
If a student has limited time, these are the highest-priority questions to prepare:
- What is Satyagraha? Explain its main principles.
- How did the First World War contribute to Indian nationalism?
- Why was the Rowlatt Act opposed?
- Why did Gandhiji withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement?
- Explain the participation of different social groups in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
- Why did different groups interpret swaraj differently?
- Why was the Simon Commission opposed?
- Explain the significance of Purna Swaraj.
- Why was salt chosen as a symbol of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
- Distinguish between Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience.
- Explain the participation of peasants, business groups, workers and women in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Explain the limits of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Explain the disagreement between Gandhiji and Ambedkar over separate electorates.
- How did cultural symbols and folklore contribute to nationalism?
- “The Indian national movement was a movement with many voices.” Explain.