making of the nation

• • GandhijiGandhiji was 46 years old when he came to India after leading non-violent marches against racist restrictions in South Africa.
• • Indian National CongressThe Indian National Congress was established in December 1885. The first meeting of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay and attended by around 72 delegates.
• • Swadeshi movementThe Swadeshi movement sought to oppose British rule and encourage the ideas of self-help, swadeshi enterprise, national education, and use of Indian languages.
• • The Arms ActThe Arms Act was passed in 1878, disallowing Indians from possessing arms.
• • The Akali (Sikh) agitationThe Akali (Sikh) agitation in Punjab sought to mitigate corrupt Mahants from their gurudwaras.
• • The Akali (Sikh) agitationThe Akali (Sikh) agitation in Punjab sought to mitigate corrupt Mahants from their gurudwaras.
• Indian National Congress: The Indian National Congress was established in December 1885. Around 72 delegates attended the first meeting of the Indian National Congress held in Bombay. The early important leaders were Dadabhai Naoroji, Ferozshah Mehta, Romesh Chandra Dutt, and S. Subramania Iyer.
• Radicals in the Congress: Since the 1890s, the Congress party witnessed the emergence of the trend of radicals. They began to question the nature of the political methods and approach of the moderates in Congress.
• The Swadeshi Movement: The Swadeshi Movement emerged out as a result of many demonstrations and mass protest against the partition of Bengal in 1905. The movement was very strong in Bengal. It encouraged the ideas of self-help, swadeshi enterprise, national education and use of Indian languages.
• The All India Muslim League: The All India Muslim League was formed at Dacca in 1906 by a group of Muslim landlords and Nawabs. It supported the partition of Bengal because of its desire for separate electorates for Muslims.
• The All India Muslim League: The All India Muslim League was formed at Dacca in 1906 by a group of Muslim landlords and Nawabs. It supported the partition of Bengal because of its desire for separate electorates for Muslims.
• Demands of Moderates: The moderates demanded a greater voice for Indians at higher positions in government and administration. They also demanded the legislative councils to increase the number of representatives by including Indians. They demanded the introduction of legislative councils in the provinces.
• The Lucknow Pact: The Lucknow Pact was a historic agreement signed in 1916 between the Congress and the All India Muslim League. Both parties decided to work together for the representative government in the country.
• The Khilafat Agitation: The Indian Muslims Community launched the Khilafat Agitation. Its two important leaders were Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali. It was launched against the Britishers’ imposition of a harsh treaty (Treaty of Sevres) on the Turkish Sultan or Khalifa.
• The Non-Cooperation Movement: The leaders of the Khilafat Agitation, Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, persuaded Gandhiji to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement. Gandhiji accepted it and urged the Congress to protest and demonstrate against the Jallianwala massacre, the Khilafat wrongdoing and in favor of Swaraj.
• The Non-Cooperation Movement: The leaders of the Khilafat Agitation, Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, persuaded Gandhiji to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement. Gandhiji accepted it and urged the Congress to protest and demonstrate against the Jallianwala massacre, the Khilafat wrongdoing and in favor of Swaraj.
• The Rowlatt Satyagraha: In 1919, Gandhiji launched an anti-Rowlatt Satyagraha, which received a countrywide response. April 6, 1919 was observed as the day of “humiliation and prayers” and hartal (strike). Satyagraha Sabhas were held throughout the country.
• The Rowlatt Act: The Britishers passed the Rowlatt Act in India, under which people could be imprisoned without trial. This act was called the ‘Black Act’. This strengthened the power of the police.
• The Simon Commission: In 1927, the British government in England sent a commission headed by Lord Simon to decide India’s political future. The commission did not have any Indian representative, due to which it faced protest by Indians.

  The Salt March: In 1930, Gandhiji decided to lead a march to break the Salt Law. The march began at Sabarmati Ashram and ended at the coastal village of Dandi and Gandhiji broke the Salt Law by gathering salt naturally found on the seashore.
• Quit India Movement: In 1942, Gandhiji launched Quit India Movement against the Britishers. The movement urged the Britishers to quit India and followed a popular slogan “Do or Die”, calling upon the people’s full effort to fight against the Britishers in a non-violent manner.
• League and the Independent States: The All India Muslim League moved a resolution demanding “Independent States” for Muslims in the 1940s. The league located its “Independent States” in the north-western and eastern areas of the country.
• Radical

  A person who welcomes new ideas or opinions
• Sovereign

  Being independent without outside interference
• Moderate

  A person who is against taking extreme action
• Picket

  A person or a group of people protesting outside a building or shop to prevent others from entering
• Council

  An appointed or elected body of people with an administrative advisory or representative function
• Illegal eviction

  Forcible and unlawful throwing out of tenants from the land they rent
• Purna Swaraj

  Complete independence
• The Arms Act was passed


  1878
• General Constituencies

  Election districts with no reservations for any religious or other community
• The Indian National Congress came into existence. Bengal got partitioned

  1905
• Rowlatt Satyagraha started. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place

  1919
• Gandhiji called off the Non-Cooperation Movement


  1922
• Independence Day was observed all over the country

  26 Jan 1930
• The Quit India Movement started


  August 1942
• RSS

  It stands for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
• Sarvajanik

  All the people
• Mahants

  Religious functionaries of Sikh gurudwaras
• Knighthood

  An honor granted by the British crown for exceptional personal achievement or public service
• Revolutionary Violence

  The use of violence to make a radical change within society