Nationalism in India | Class 10 Social Science Notes

The First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation

The First World War (1914-1918) created new economic and political conditions in India that significantly influenced the nationalist movement. The war led to a massive increase in defense expenditure, financed by war loans and increased taxes, including customs duties and income tax. Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918, causing severe hardship for common people. Forced recruitment of soldiers from villages caused anger, and crop failures in 1918-19 and 1920-21 led to food shortages and an influenza epidemic that killed 12 to 13 million people by the 1921 census. Despite these hardships, hopes for relief after the war were dashed. During this period, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915, bringing with him the concept of satyagraha — a method of non-violent mass agitation based on truth and moral appeal rather than physical force. Gandhi organized successful satyagraha movements in Champaran (1917), Ahmedabad (1918), and Kheda (1918), supporting peasants and workers against oppressive colonial policies. In 1919, Gandhi launched a nationwide satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act, which gave the government sweeping powers to repress political activities and detain prisoners without trial. The movement included hartals (strikes), rallies, and boycotts but was met with brutal repression, culminating in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Gandhi called off the movement due to the violence. To unite Hindus and Muslims, Gandhi supported the Khilafat movement, which sought to protect the Ottoman Caliphate after World War I. This alliance led to the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, aiming for swaraj (self-rule) through non-violent resistance.

📊 Diagram: 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 more joined the satyagraha against racist laws.

🧪 Activity: Read the text carefully. What did Mahatma Gandhi mean when he said satyagraha is active resistance?

🔗 Connection: This section leads to the detailed examination of the Non-Cooperation Movement and the diverse participation of social groups in the nationalist struggle.