Chapter 7 Nationalist Ideas And Their Evolution Salient Points Introduction
1. Satyagraha:
The term Satyagraha is a combination of two words ‘Satya’ and ‘Agraha’. It was a new strategy introduced by Gandhiji in Indian politics. The gist of this ideal was to win over the adversary through non-violence and self-suffering and to obtain the faith of the opponent by conquering fear.
WBBSE Class 8 Nationalist Ideas Notes
2. Lahore Session of Congress:
The Lahore session of Congress held in 1929 was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru. The working committee of the Congress decided that until India became independent 26th January would be celebrated as the symbolic independence day. Moreover, a strategy for launching a civil disobedience movement under the leadership of Gandhiji was also adopted in this session.
Read and Learn More WBBSE Class 8 History Notes
3. Gandhi Irwin Pact:
After the first Round Table Conference the British became interested in signing a pact with the Congress. On noticing such a change in the attitude of the government Gandhiji agreed to enter into a discussion with Viceroy Lord Irwin. After a long discussion of fifteen days the Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed on March 5, 1931. Since it was signed in Delhi it was also called the Delhi Pact.
Short Notes on Evolution of Nationalist Thought
The terms of the pact were
- All the repressive acts and ordinances would be withdrawn
- All prisoners except those who were involved in acts of violence would be released.
4. Tinkathia System:
- The ‘Tinkathia’ system was a system by which the cultivators of Champaran were compelled to grow indigo by the indigo planters in 3 katas of every 20 katas of land.
- Moreover, the cultivators were compelled to sell the produce to the planters at the rate determined by the latter.
5. National Government of Tamralipta:
Tamralipta National Government was formed in 1942 in the Tamluk sub-division of Medinipur under the leadership of Satish Chandra Samanta. When the agricultural system of Medinipur collapsed in a cyclone this government extended a helping hand towards the sufferers.
The British government had not sent enough relief materials to the affected areas. The Tamralipta National Government took the initiative of distributing the surplus paddy of the rich persons among the poor. This government existed till September 1944.
Important Definitions Related to Nationalism
6. Nehru Report:
When the Simon Commission arrived in India on February 3, 1928, the Indian leaders expressed intense grudge against the commission and announced that they would formulate the future constitution of India by themselves. So in the all-party conference in Delhi in February 1928, a committee headed by Motilal Nehru (an ex-leader of the Swaraj Party) was entrusted with the responsibility of drafting the main policies to be included in the new Indian constitution.
This committee is known as the Nehru Committee. The reports submitted by the Nehru committee at the all-party conference in the Lucknow session of Congress in August 1928 are known as the ‘Nehru Report’ in history.
7. Kakori Conspiracy Case:
The members of the Hindustan Republican Association robbed a train at Kakori station near Lucknow on August 9, 1925, under the leadership of Ram Prasad Bismil and Chandrashekhar Azad.
They amassed huge government wealth to raise funds for their revolutionary activities. Forty-four revolutionists were arrested and the case which started against them came to be known as the Kakori conspiracy case. Ram Prasad Bismil, Rajendranath Lahiri, Sachindranath Sanyal, and three others departed for life and some others were sentenced to long-term imprisonment.
Key Features of Nationalism in India Notes
8. Corridor Warfare:
On December 8, 1930, Binoy Bose, Badal Gupta, and Dinesh Gupta attacked the Writer’s Building and killed Colonel Simpson (the notorious prison authority) and some other high officials.
Then a huge police force arrived from Lalbazar and firing and counter-firing continued for some time. This incident is known as Corridor Warfare.
9. Kabul Thesis:
Subhas Chandra left India and absconded to Kabul for a while. At that time he published a document containing an Eight-point agenda concerning his plans and objectives of the Forward Bloc. This document is known as the Kabul thesis. Some of the items on the agenda were
- Uncompromising struggles against imperialism to win complete national liberty.
- Construction of a completely modern and socialistic state.
- Manufacturing of industrial products in a scientific process for the sake of economic revival.
- Equal rights for all. He said, “Our revolution will not end only by driving away the British, another revolution is required in India after this to build up a new social system”.