Class 10 Social History Chapter 2 Mahatma Gandhi and India’s Freedom Struggle
Are you searching for SEBA Class 10 Social History Chapter 2 Mahatma Gandhi and India’s Freedom Struggle? If yes, then you are in the right place. This article provides complete notes, textbook solutions, important questions and answers, and exam-focused study materials for Class 10 students.
This chapter discusses the life and contributions of Mahatma Gandhi and his crucial role in India’s struggle for independence. Students will learn about important movements led by Gandhi, such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, and the principles of truth, non-violence, and satyagraha. The chapter also highlights how Gandhi inspired millions of Indians to participate in the freedom movement.
All notes and solutions are written in simple and easy-to-understand English so that students can learn quickly and revise effectively before examinations. These study materials are designed to help students prepare confidently for unit tests, annual examinations, and the HSLC board examination.
Part-I: History
Mahatma Gandhi and India’s Freedom Struggle
Selected Questions &Answers
Very Short Answer Type Questions (Mark-1)
1. How many people died on the spot due to the indiscriminate police firing at Jallianwala Bagh?
Ans: 379 people.
2. On which date did Gandhi start his march to Dandi to break the Salt Law?
Ans: On 12 March 1930.
3. When was Mahatma Gandhi born?
Ans: On 2 October 1869.
4. In which country did Gandhi first apply the method of Satyagraha?
Ans: In South Africa.
5. Who formed the ‘Indian Independence League’ in Tokyo?
Ans: Rash Behari Bose.
6. Who represented in the Second Round Table Conference in 1931?
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi.
7. On which date did Bal Gangadhar Tilak die?
Ans: On 1 August 1920.
8. On which date was a nationwide hartal observed for the first time?
Ans: On 6 April 1919.
9. How many followers accompanied Gandhi on his march to Dandi?
Ans: 78 people.
10. Who was the founder of the Azad Hind Fauj?
Ans: Captain Mohan Singh.
11. In which session of the Congress was the resolution for complete independence adopted?
Ans: At the Lahore Session.
12. What was the name of the military officer responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
Ans: General Dyer.
13. When did Gandhi establish the Sabarmati Ashram?
Ans: In 1915.
14. What was the former name of Myanmar?
Ans: Burma.
15. What was the main objective of the Azad Hind Fauj? HSLC ’15
Ans: To free India from British rule.
16. Why did Rabindranath Tagore renounce the title of ‘Knight’?
Ans: In protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
17. Under whose leadership did the Khilafat Movement begin in India?
Ans: Under the leadership of Mohammad Shaukat Ali and MohammadAli.
18. When did the Chauri Chaura incident take place?
Ans: On 5 February 1922.
19. Gandhi marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi to break the Salt Law. What is the distance between Sabarmati Ashram and Dandi? HSLC ’19
Ans: 385 kilometres.
20. Who is known as the Frontier Gandhi?
Ans: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
21. Who represented the Congress alone at the Second Round Table Conference held in London? HSLC ’23
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi.
22. Who was the British Prime Minister who announced the Communal Award in 1932? HSLC ’19
Ans: Ramsay MacDonald.
23. During which movement did Gandhi give the slogan “Do or Die”? HSLC ’18
Ans: During the Quit India Movement.
24. “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom” — whose famous statement is this?
Ans: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
25. What is the boundary line between India and Pakistan called?
Ans: The Radcliffe Line.
26. The demand for Purna Swaraj was raised in the ______ session ofthe Congress. (Fill in the blank) HSLC ’23
Ans: Lahore.
Short Answer Type Questions (Marks-2)
1. When was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed? What was this pact? HSLC’15
Ans: On 5 March 1931, an agreement was signed between Viceroy LordIrwin and Mahatma Gandhi regarding the release of political prisoners arrested during the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930. This agreement is known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
2. When and in which session of the Indian National Congress was the demand for Purna Swaraj raised as the main demand of Indians?
Ans: In 1929, at the Lahore Session of the Congress held under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the demand for Purna Swaraj was raised as the main demand of Indians.
3. Under what circumstances did Lala Lajpat Rai die?
Ans: In 1928, during a protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore led by Lala Lajpat Rai, the police brutally lathi-charged the demonstrators. He was seriously injured in the attack and later died from those injuries.
Essay-type Question-Answers
1. What is meant by Satyagraha? Briefly describe the three instances where Gandhi first applied Satyagraha. HSLC ’19
Ans: Satyagraha means insistence on truth. The term is derived from the words ‘Satya’ (truth) and ‘Agraha’ (firmness). According to Gandhi, Satyagraha is not a one-sided resistance; it implies active participation of the masses in political activities. Its foundation is non-violence. Gandhi first applied it in South Africa. In India, he first applied Satyagraha in Champaran (Bihar) in1917 against the exploitation of peasants by British planters who forced them to cultivate indigo. He succeeded in resolving the issue. Secondly, in 1919, the British Government enacted the repressive Rowlatt Act, allowing detention without trial. This led to widespread opposition, and Gandhi launched Satyagraha against it. Thirdly, after World War I, economic distress, unemployment, and unfulfilled expectations led Gandhi to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921 against British rule.
2. What was the main objective of the Civil Disobedience Movement? What were its main features?
Or
What were the main causes of the Civil Disobedience Movement? How did Gandhi start this movement? Discuss. HSLC ’18, ’22
Ans: In December 1929, at the Lahore Session of the Congress under Jawaharlal Nehru, the resolution for complete independence was adopted. Following this, the Civil Disobedience Movement was formally launched in March 1930. As part of the movement, Gandhi sent a letter to Viceroy LordIrwin listing several demands, including:
(a) Prohibition of intoxicants,
(b) Reduction of land revenue,
(c) Abolition of the salt tax,
(d) Reduction of military expenditure,
(e) Reduction of administrative expenditure,
(f) Imposition of customs duties on foreign cloth,
(g) Passing of the Coastal Shipping Bill,
(h) Release of political prisoners,
(i) Abolition of the Criminal Investigation Department,
(j) Allowing citizens to possess arms for self-defence,
(k) Change in the rupee-sterling exchange ratio.
Inspired by the call for complete independence, thousands of people joined the movement. In many places, government authority weakened. Hartals, picketing, meetings, and processions became common forms of protest. Thousands suffered police repression. In the North-West Frontier Province, under the leadership of Abdul Ghaffar Khan, volunteer groups known as ‘Red Shirts’emerged. People stopped paying taxes. In Peshawar, police opened fire on protesters. Thus, the movement spread widely across the country.
3. Why was the Khilafat Movement started in India?
Ans: After World War I, the Allied powers had promised to preserve the territorial integrity of Turkey, but they failed to do so. This created widespread resentment among Muslims worldwide, including in India. Under the leadership of leaders like Maulana Shaukat Ali and others, the Khilafat Committee was formed in India to address the issue. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, and Madan Mohan Malaviya supported it. In January 1920, at a meeting in Delhi, the committee adopted Gandhi’s proposal of non-cooperation with the British Government.
4. Why did Gandhi launch the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920–22? What were its programmes? Why did he withdraw it?
Or
Discuss the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and state why it had to be suspended. HSLC ’17
Or
Under what circumstances did Gandhi start the Non-Violent Movement? What were its programmes? Why did he withdraw it? HSLC ’18,’22
Ans: The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched on 1 August 1920 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. It was initiated in protest against the Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and the Turkish issue. Its main programmes included:
(a) Observing hartals,
(b) Boycotting business and trade,
(c) Organizing peaceful protests such as dharnas, demonstrations, and processions.
Many prominent leaders like Motilal Nehru, Chittaranjan Das, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lala Lajpat Rai, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Rajendra Prasad joined the movement, giving up their professions. Students boycotted schools and participated in picketing and anti-liquor campaigns. The Congress also boycotted elections. The government responded with repression, arresting leaders and activists. The movement spread widely but also faced severe police brutality.
On 5 February 1922, in Chauri Chaura (Uttar Pradesh), angry peasants set fire to a police station, killing about 22 policemen. Since Gandhi was committed to non-violence, he called off the movement after it turned violent.
5. Mention any two terms of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. HSLC ’15, ’18,’20
Ans: On 5 March 1931, an agreement was signed between Viceroy LordIrwin and Mahatma Gandhi. Two of its terms were:
(a) Release of those prisoners who were not convicted for violent offences during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
(b) The government permitted people living near the sea to collect salt for their use.
6. Under what political circumstances was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed? Discuss its terms. HSLC ’16
Ans: In protest against the Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and the Turkish issue introduced by the British Government, the Non-Cooperation Movement was launched on 1 August 1920 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. The British Government adopted repressive measures to suppress the movement. Protesters were arrested, and in some regions, no-taxmovements began. Thus, the movement spread throughout the country underGandhi’s leadership, accompanied by police repression. On 5 February 1922, in Chauri Chaura (Uttar Pradesh), agitated peasants set fire to a police station, killing about 22 policemen. Due to this violent incident, Gandhi suspended the movement. Eventually, an agreement was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin. The terms of the pact were:
(a) Release of those not convicted of violent crimes during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
(b) Permission to coastal people to collect salt for their needs.
(c) Reduction of land revenue.
(d) Imposition of customs duties on foreign cloth.
(e) Release of all political prisoners.
(f) Reduction of military expenditure, etc.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
Q. The slogan “Do or Die” is associated with which movement?
(a) Khilafat Movement
(b) Satyagraha Movement
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement
(d) Quit India Movement
Ans: (d)
Q. When did Rabindranath Tagore renounce the title of ‘Knight’ given by the British Government?
(a) During the Satyagraha Movement
(b) During the Quit India Movement
(c) During the Non-Cooperation Movement
(d) In protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Ans: (d)
Q. On whose orders did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place?
(a) Clement
(b) Lord Pethick Lawrence
(c) A.V. Alexander
(d) General Dyer
Ans: (d)
Q. When did the British Parliament pass the Indian Independence Act?
(a) January 1947
(b) July 1947
(c) August 1947
(d) March 1947
Ans: (b)
Q. Who was the founder of the ‘Azad Hind Fauj’?
(a) Captain Mohan Singh
(b) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
(c) Rash Behari Bose
(d) Rabindranath Tagore
Ans: (b)
Note: This answer is debatable. The Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) was first formed by Captain Mohan Singh; later reorganized and led by Subhas Chandra Bose.
Q. In which country did Gandhi first apply the method of Satyagraha?HSLC ’24
(a) India
(b) South Africa
(c) England
(d) Egypt
Ans: (b)
Q. “Give me blood, I will give you freedom” — who said this? HSLC’24
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(c) Dadabhai Naoroji
(d) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Ans: (d)
Q. On which date was Direct Action Day observed? HSLC ’24
(a) 16 August 1946
(b) 16 October 1946
(c) 20 February 1947
(d) 16 July 1946
Ans: (a)
Q. When did the Chauri Chaura incident occur?
(a) 5 February 1922
(b) 11 January 1923
(c) 8 August 1943
(d) 4 April 1919
Ans: (a)
Q. When did the British Government send the Cabinet Mission to India? HSLC ’22
(a) August 1935
(b) July 1945
(c) March 1946
(d) August 1947
Ans: (c)
Q. When did the British Government send the Cabinet Mission to India?
(a) August 1935
(b) July 1945
(c) March 1946
(d) August 1947
Ans: (c)
Q. When was the Rowlatt Act passed? HSLC ’23
(a) 1916
(b) 1917
(c) 1918
(d) 1919
Ans: (d)
Q. When did the British Government approve the Indian Independence Act? HSLC ’22
(a) February 1947
(b) June 1947
(c) July 1947
(d) March 1947
Ans: (c)
