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In this post, we bring you Class 10 History Chapter 2 – Nationalism in India detailed notes in simple English. This chapter explains how nationalism emerged in India during the colonial period and how the Indian freedom struggle took shape under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership.

๐ŸŒ The First World War, Khilafat, and Non-Cooperation Movement

๐Ÿ”ธ Impact of World War I on India:

  • India supported the British in WWI.

  • The war led to:

    • Increased taxes and prices

    • Forced recruitment of Indian soldiers

    • Shortage of food and inflation

  • Indian people expected political reforms after the war but were disappointed.

๐Ÿ”ธ The Idea of Satyagraha:

  • Introduced by Mahatma Gandhi:

    • Satyagraha = Truth + Non-violence

    • Aim: Win over the opponent with truth and peaceful protest

  • Gandhi organized:

    • Champaran Satyagraha (1917) – For indigo farmers in Bihar

    • Kheda Satyagraha (1918) – For peasants suffering crop failure in Gujarat

    • Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) – For cotton mill workers

✊ The Rowlatt Act (1919) and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

๐Ÿ”ธ Rowlatt Act, 1919:

  • Passed by the British to control nationalists

  • Gave power to arrest anyone without trial

  • Led to widespread protests and strikes

๐Ÿ”ธ Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919):

  • General Dyer fired on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar

  • Hundreds were killed and injured

  • It shocked the entire country and strengthened the nationalist movement

๐Ÿ•Œ The Khilafat Movement

  • Muslims in India were upset over the harsh treatment of Turkey after WWI.

  • Khilafat Movement (1919) started to protect the Caliph (Khalifa) of Turkey.

  • Leaders: Shaukat Ali and Mohammad Ali

  • Mahatma Gandhi supported it to unite Hindus and Muslims under a common cause

๐Ÿ›‘ The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)

๐Ÿ”ธ Gandhi’s Aim:

  • Achieve Swaraj (self-rule) through non-cooperation with the British

๐Ÿ”ธ Program of Non-Cooperation:

  • Boycott:

    • British schools and colleges

    • Law courts

    • Foreign goods

  • Promote:

    • Use of Khadi

    • National schools and institutions

  • Resignation from government jobs and titles

๐Ÿ”ธ Participation by Various Groups:

  • Middle Class: Students, teachers, lawyers

  • Peasants: Wanted reduction in taxes and rent (especially in Awadh)

  • Tribal People: Fought against British forest laws (e.g., Gudem Hills in Andhra Pradesh – led by Alluri Sitaram Raju)

  • Workers: Involved in strikes in cities

๐Ÿ”ฅ The Movement Slows Down – Chauri Chaura Incident (1922)

  • In Chauri Chaura (Uttar Pradesh), a violent mob burned a police station, killing policemen.

  • Gandhi believed the movement was turning violent.

  • He called off the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922.

๐Ÿ“ธ Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34)

๐Ÿ”ธ The Simon Commission (1928):

  • Sent by the British to suggest reforms

  • No Indian member included

  • Protested by Indians with slogans like “Simon Go Back”

๐Ÿ”ธ Lahore Session of Congress (1929):

  • Presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru

  • Declared Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) as the goal

๐Ÿ”ธ Salt March / Dandi March (1930):

  • Gandhi marched 240 km from Sabarmati to Dandi with followers

  • Broke the Salt Law by making salt from seawater

  • It became a symbol of defiance against British rule

⚖️ Gandhi’s Eleven Demands

  • Gandhi gave the British a list of 11 demands, including:

    • Abolition of salt tax

    • Reduction of land revenue

    • Release of political prisoners

  • When the British did not respond, Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement

๐Ÿ“Œ Features of Civil Disobedience Movement

  • People refused to pay taxes

  • Boycott of foreign goods

  • Women participated by picketing liquor shops and spinning Khadi

  • Muslims, Dalits, peasants, and workers had varied responses

๐Ÿงต Participation of Different Social Groups

  • Rich Peasants: Participated actively; withdrew when revenue demands weren’t lowered

  • Poor Peasants: Wanted rent reduction; disappointed with Congress

  • Business Class: Supported initially but later distanced

  • Women: Participated in large numbers

  • Dalits: Wanted separate political representation

    • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar demanded Separate Electorates for Dalits

    • Gandhi opposed this, leading to the Poona Pact (1932)

๐Ÿงญ Limits of the Movement

  • Some groups did not participate fully:

    • Muslims felt Congress was not inclusive enough

    • Dalits demanded more representation

  • The movement had a strong emotional impact but did not achieve immediate freedom

๐Ÿงพ Conclusion

  • Nationalism in India grew through mass movements led by Gandhi.

  • The struggle united people across regions, classes, and religions — though not always smoothly.

  • Movements like Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience laid the foundation for India’s final freedom struggle.

๐Ÿ—‚️ Important Terms

  • Satyagraha – Non-violent resistance

  • Khilafat Movement – Movement to support Turkish Caliphate

  • Non-Cooperation – Refusing to obey colonial laws

  • Civil Disobedience – Breaking British laws in a non-violent way

  • Poona Pact (1932) – Agreement between Gandhi and Ambedkar on Dalit representation