Chapter 8 - Civil Disobedience Movement
1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options.
(Mahatma Gandhi, Khuda-i-Khidmatgar, Ramsay Mac Donald, Sarojini Naidu)
(1) …………. organised the Round Table Conference in London.
Ans: Ramsay Mac Donald
(2) Khan Abdul Gafar Khan established the organisation named …………..
Ans: Khuda-i-Khidmatgar
(3) ………… led the Dharasana Satyagraha.
Ans: Sarojini Naidu
(4) In the Second Round Table Conference ………… participated as a representative of Indian National Congress.
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi
2. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(i) Chandrasingh Thakur was court martialled and severely punished.
Ans:
(ii) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan began the Satyagraha at Peshawar on April 23, 1930. His organization, Khuda-i Khidmatgar, led the satyagraha.
(iii) They kept Peshawar under their control for a week.
(iv) The British government ordered the Garhwal Regiment to fire on the Satyagrahis.
(v) Chandrasing Thakur, an officer of the Garhwal Regiment, refused to fire on the Satyagrahis.
(vi) Therefore, he was court-martialed and severely punished.
(2) The Government declared Martial Law at Solapur.
Ans:
(i) After the Salt Satyagraha, many movements that were integral to the Civil Disobedience Movement started.
(ii) The mill workers in Solapur observed hartal and organised a huge procession on May 6, 1930.
(iii) The district collector ordered firing on the procession. Many volunteers, including Shankar Shivdare, died in the firing.
(iv) People got enraged and attacked railway stations, police stations, courts, municipal buildings, etc.
(v) Therefore, martial law was imposed in Solapur by the government.
(3) The deliberations in the First Round Table Conference proved to be meaningless.
Ans:
(i) The civil disobedience movement intensified in India in 1930.
(ii) The British Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, organised a Round Table Conference in London to discuss constitutional issues related to India.
(iii) The representatives of many political parties and princely states participated in the conference. The Indian National Congress did not participate in it.
(iv) Without the participation of the Congress, which was a body that represented the country, the deliberations were meaningless.
(v) Thus, the deliberations at the First Round Table Conference proved to be meaningless.
(4) Gandhiji began fast unto death in the Yerwada jail.
Ans:
(i) The Communal Award declared by the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald provided separate electorates for the Dalits.
(ii) This division of society on the basis of caste was not acceptable to Gandhiji.
(iii) Therefore, to protest against the award, Gandhiji began to fast unto death in the Yerawada jail.
3. Answer the following questions in 25 to 30 words.
(1) Why did Gandhiji decide to break the Salt Act to begin the satyagraha all over the country?
Ans:
(i) Before launching the Civil Disobedience Movement, Gandhiji demanded the cancellation of the salt tax and the end of the monopoly of the British government to manufacture it.
(ii) Being an important ingredient in the food of the common people, it was unjust to impose a tax on salt.
(iii) Gandhiji’s decision to launch the Salt Satyagraha by violating the Salt Act was symbolic of breaking all unjust and oppressive laws of the British.
(2) Why did the Indian National Congress withdraw the Civil Disobedience Movement ?
Ans:
(i) After the failure of the First Round Table Conference, Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald hoped that the Indian National Congress would participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
(ii) In order to create a conducive atmosphere, Gandhiji and other political leaders were released from jail.
(iii) A pact was signed after discussion between Gandhiji and Viceroy Irwin.
(iv) According to the pact, the British Government gave an assurance of providing responsible government in the proposed Indian Constitution.
(v) So, the Congress agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
4. Complete the following timeline of Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ans:
