Case study-based questions on the chapter ‘Nationalism in India’ are given here for class 10 History students. these questions would help students get practice in case study-based questions.
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Case Study-Based Questions
Q. Read the given case and answer the questions that follow: [OD, 2022]
Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts on Satyagraha
‘It is said of “passive resistance” that it is the weapon of the weak, but the power which is the subject of this article can be used only by the strong. This power is not passive resistance; indeed it calls for intense activity. The movement in South Africa was not passive but active …’
‘Satyagraha is not physical force. A satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does not seek his destruction … In the use of satyagraha, there is no ill-will whatever.’
‘Satyagraha is pure soul-force. Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why this force is called satyagraha. The soul is informed with knowledge. In it burns the flame of love… Non-violence is the supreme dharma …’
‘It is certain that India cannot rival Britain or Europe in force of arms. The British worship the war-god and they can all of them become, as they are becoming, bearers of arms. The hundreds of millions in India can never carry arms. They have made the religion of non-violence their own …’ (NCERT Textbook Page 31)
(1) What type of movement Gandhiji organised in South Africa? [1 mark]
(2) Why is satyagraha considered as pure soul-force? [1 mark]
(3) How has Gandhiji described passive resistance? [2 marks]
(4). What did the idea of satyagraha mean? [1 mark]
- A. Power to awaken the conscience of the oppressor
- B. Power to defeat falsehood
- C. Power of fasting and praying
- D. Power of truth and the need to search for it
Answers:
(1) Gandhiji successfully fought against the racist regime with a novel method of mass agitation, which he called satyagraha.
(2) Satyagraha is considered as a pure soul-force because the idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth. Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why this force is called satyagraha. The soul is informed with knowledge.
(3) Satyagraha is said of “passive resistance”, that is it is the weapon of the weak, but the power which is the subject of this article can be used only by the strong. This power is not passive resistance; indeed, it calls for intense activity. Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence. This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor.
Q. Read the extract and answer the questions given below:
The Congress Working Committee, in its meeting in Wardha on 14 July 1942, passed the historic Quit India resolution demanding that the British immediately transfer power to Indians and leave India. On 8 August 1942 in Mumbai, the All India Congress Committee endorsed the resolution which called for a non-violent mass struggle on the widest possible scale throughout the country. It was on this occasion that Gandhiji delivered the famous ‘Do or Die’ speech. The call for ‘Quit India’ almost brought the state machinery to a standstill in large parts of the country as people voluntarily threw themselves into the movement. People observed hartals, and demonstrations and processions were accompanied by national songs and slogans. The movement was truly a mass movement which brought into its ambit thousands of ordinary people, namely students, workers and peasants. It also saw the active participation of leaders, namely, Jayprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali and Ram Manohar Lohia and many women leaders such as Matangini Hazra in Bengal, Kanaklata Barua in Assam and Rama Devi in Odisha. The British responded with force, yet it took more than a year to suppress the movement. (NCERT Textbook Page 49)
1. Where did Gandhiji give his famous do or die speech?
- A. Wardha
- B. Surat
- C. Lahore
- D. Mumbai
2. Which of the following was a demand of the ‘Quit India’ resolution?
- A. Separate nation for Hindus
- B. Freedom of Speech
- C. Freedom to observe hartals and demonstrations
- D. Immediate transfer of power to Indians
3. Name the famous female leader from Odisha who participated in the Quit India Movement
- A. Kanaklata Barua
- B. Aruna Asaf Ali
- C. Rama Devi
- D. Matangini Hazra
Answers:
1. D. Mumbai
On 8 August 1942 in Mumbai, the All India Congress Committee endorsed the resolution that called for a non-violent mass struggle on the widest possible scale throughout the country. It was on this occasion that Gandhiji delivered the famous Do or Die speech.
2. D. Immediate transfer of power to Indians
The main demand of the Quit India movement was the immediate transfer of power to Indians and the British leaving India. The demand was accompanied by non-violent mass protest. In his speeches, M K Gandhi asked people to participate in the movement and fight for the freedom of the country.
3. C. Rama Devi
Rama Devi was a famous revolutionary leader from Odisha who participated in the Quit India Movement, in 1942.
Q. Read the extract and answer the questions given below.
On 6 January 1921, the police in United Provinces fired at peasants near Rae Bareli. Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to go to the place of firing but was stopped by the police. Agitated and angry, Nehru addressed the peasants who gathered around him. This is how he later described the meeting:
‘They behaved as brave men, calm and unruffled in the face of danger. I do not know how they felt, but I know what my feelings were. For a moment, my blood was up, non-violence was almost forgotten – but for a moment only. The thought of the great leader, who by God’s goodness has been sent to lead us to victory, came to me, and I saw the kisans seated and standing near me, less excited, more peaceful than I was – and the moment of weakness passed, I spoke to them in all humility on non-violence – I needed the lesson more than they – and they heeded me and peacefully dispersed.’
Quoted in Sarvapalli Gopal, Jawaharlal Nehru: A Biography, Vol. I. (NCERT Textbook Page 35)
1. “The thought of the great leader, who by God’s goodness has been sent to lead us to victory, came to me, …” Jawaharlal Nehru is referring to which great leader?
- A. Baba Ramchandra
- B. Sarvapalli Gopal
- C. Alluri Sitaram Raju
- D. MahatmaGandhi
2. Who behaved as brave men?
3. ‘and the moment of weakness passed,‘ What was the moment of weakness?
4. Jawahar Lal Nehru felt angry at the action of the police. State True or false:
5. I needed the lesson more than they – and they heeded me and peacefully dispersed.’ What lesson is talked about here?
Answers:
1. D. Mahatma Gandhi
2. the farmers
3. the moment when Jawahar Lal Nehru felt angry and agitated almost forgetting the lesson the non-violence.
4. True
5. The lesson of non-violence that emphasised on passive resistance
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