Towards Civil Disobedience

2.3 Towards Civil Disobedience

Description

Quick Overview

This section covers the foundational events leading to the Civil Disobedience Movement in India, detailing the emergence of satyagraha, the response to the Rowlatt Act, and the pivotal Salt March.

Standard

The section discusses the significant events leading up to the Civil Disobedience Movement, emphasizing Mahatma Gandhi's concept of satyagraha, the political climate after World War I, and the widespread mobilization against colonial laws like the Rowlatt Act, culminating in the Salt March and the quest for total independence.

Detailed

Detailed Summary

The section 'Towards Civil Disobedience' explores the trajectory of nationalism in India from the aftermath of World War I, illustrating how economic hardships sparked a collective consciousness among Indians against colonial rule.

Key Points:

  • Post-War Discontent: The First World War drastically affected India's economy, leading to increased taxation and soaring prices, triggering widespread discontent among the populace.
  • Emergence of Satyagraha: Mahatma Gandhi's return to India in 1915 marked the introduction of 'satyagraha' — a non-violent resistance rooted in truth. He articulated that true resistance did not require physical force but a moral conscience.
  • Response to Rowlatt Act: The imposition of the Rowlatt Act in 1919, which allowed for the arrest of individuals without trial, galvanized Indians to protest through large scale rallies and strikes, resulting in violent retails from the British, including the infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which ignited nationalist sentiments.
  • Non-Cooperation Movement: The section explains how Gandhi sought to unify various social groups through non-cooperation against oppressive laws and called for a boycott of British institutions. Issues concerning differing aspirations of Hindus and Muslims, as well as the role of peasants and workers, are analyzed.
  • Salt March: Gandhi's Salt March in 1930 symbolizes the Civil Disobedience Movement, aiming to challenge the salt tax. The act of making salt became a rallying point for mass disobedience.
  • Conclusion: The text emphasizes that the movement was not just a reaction against colonial power but also a transformative moment that connected diverse classes and communities in their quest for autonomy and dignity.

Key Concepts

  • Satyagraha: A philosophy of non-violent resistance emphasizing truth as a force for social change.

  • Rowlatt Act: A deeply unpopular law that allowed the government to suppress dissent and angered the Indian populace.

  • Civil Disobedience: The act of refusing to comply with certain laws to protest against governmental policies.

  • Salt March: A major protest led by Gandhi to defy the salt tax, symbolizing Indian unity against British rule.

  • Non-Cooperation Movement: A strategic withdrawal of support from British institutions by diverse Indian groups.

Memory Aids

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • In every heart, the truth should reign, Satyagraha is our non-violent gain.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • A young boy in India hears stories of bravery as people protest against the salt tax, leading him to explore the meaning of freedom.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Use the acronym 'PRICES': Price Rise Induces Collective Economic Struggle to remember post-war economic changes.

🎯 Super Acronyms

Think 'UNITY' - Understanding, New Ideas, Togetherness, Yielding toward national freedom while discussing the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Examples

  • The Jallianwala Bagh massacre served as a turning point that unified various Indian groups against British rule.

  • Gandhi's Salt March demonstrated the power of peaceful protest, leading to widespread participation across social classes.

Glossary of Terms

  • Term: Satyagraha

    Definition:

    A philosophy of non-violent resistance proposed by Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizing the power of truth.

  • Term: Rowlatt Act

    Definition:

    A law that allowed the British government to arrest individuals without trial, leading to public outrage.

  • Term: Civil Disobedience

    Definition:

    A form of protest where individuals refuse to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, typically in a non-violent manner.

  • Term: Salt March

    Definition:

    A major non-violent protest against the British salt tax led by Gandhi in 1930, symbolizing the fight for independence.

  • Term: NonCooperation Movement

    Definition:

    A campaign initiated by Gandhi, encouraging Indians to withdraw their cooperation from British governance and institutions.