Chapter 2: Nationalism in India

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2: Nationalism in India

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 History Chapter 2, Nationalism in India, examines how a collective national consciousness emerged in colonial India through a combination of mass political movements, economic grievances, and cultural symbols. The chapter begins by linking the growth of Indian nationalism to the broader experience of colonialism and the shared experience of subjugation that brought diverse groups together under common leadership. It then details the First World War period, when rising prices, forced recruitment into the British army, and wartime hardships created widespread resentment that Mahatma Gandhi channelled through the technique of Satyagraha. Must check NCERT solutions prepared by Myclass24 Experts for NCERT Solutions for Class 10 and NCERT Solutions for Class 10 History. 

Students study the Non-Cooperation Movement launched in 1920 in response to the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and how it merged with the Khilafat issue to bring Hindus and Muslims onto a shared platform. The chapter explains why the movement was withdrawn after the Chauri Chaura incident, and how different social groups, including peasants, tribals, and plantation workers, interpreted Swaraj according to their own local concerns. Later sections cover the Civil Disobedience Movement that began with the Salt March in 1930, the differing positions of business groups, industrial workers, and women within the nationalist movement, and the limits of unity exposed by the demands of Dalit leaders such as B.R. Ambedkar. The chapter closes by exploring how a sense of collective belonging was created through history, fiction, folklore, and the image of Bharat Mata.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2: Nationalism in India

Below are simplified explanations of the chapter's textbook exercises and source-based questions, structured for quick revision before exams.

Key Points of the Chapter

• The First World War increased defence expenditure and was financed through war loans and increased taxes, leading to a sharp rise in prices that caused hardship for the common people.
• The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was passed despite strong opposition, giving the government enormous powers to repress political activities and curtail civil liberties.
• The Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in April 1919 led to widespread outrage and was a major trigger for the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• Mahatma Gandhi's idea of Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need for non-violent resistance against injustice without seeking vengeance.
• The Khilafat Movement and Non-Cooperation Movement merged in 1920 to bring together Hindu and Muslim grievances against British rule.
• Peasants in Awadh fought against high rents and unfair levies imposed by landlords, while plantation workers in Assam interpreted freedom as the right to move freely.
• The Salt March from Sabarmati to Dandi in March 1930 became a powerful symbol of resistance against the British monopoly on salt production.
• The Civil Disobedience Movement saw active participation by business groups through organisations such as the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
• Dalit leaders, especially B.R. Ambedkar, demanded separate electorates for depressed classes, leading to the Poona Pact of 1932 between Ambedkar and Gandhi.
• A collective identity was built through icons like Bharat Mata, the tricolour flag, the revival of folklore and the writing of nationalist history.

Comparative Tables: Chapter 2 Summary

These tables organise the major movements and key social groups discussed in the chapter for easy comparison.