GENDER

To explain “The Making of the National Movement: 1870s–1947” easily in the classroom, teach it like a story of India’s journey from British rule to independence.
Below are complete, point-by-point teaching notes in simple English. You can explain each heading to students one by one.
 THE MAKING OF THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT (1870s–1947)
1. Introduction – What was the National Movement?
Explain to students:
The British ruled India for a long time.
They controlled India’s economy, administration and resources.
Indians were unhappy with British policies.
Slowly, people began to realise that they needed to unite against British rule.
This feeling of unity and love for the country gave rise to Nationalism.
The struggle to free India from British rule became known as the National Movement.
Remember: National Movement means the united struggle of Indians for freedom.
2. Factors Responsible for the Rise of Nationalism
There were several reasons why nationalism developed in India.
A. Economic Exploitation
The British exploited India’s wealth and natural resources.
Indian raw materials were taken to Britain.
British manufactured goods were sold in India.
Indian handicraft industries and local businesses suffered.
Heavy taxes made the lives of farmers difficult.
India’s wealth was gradually transferred to Britain.
Important term:
Drain of Wealth – The transfer of India’s wealth to Britain.
Important leader: Dadabhai Naoroji explained the Drain Theory.
B. Political Causes
Indians were not given equal opportunities in administration.
Important government positions were mostly controlled by British officials.
Indians had very little participation in making government decisions.
British policies created dissatisfaction among Indians.
The Revolt of 1857 showed that Indians could unite against British rule.
C. Social and Religious Reforms
Several Indian reformers worked to remove social evils and spread education.
Important reformers:
1. Raja Rammohun Roy
Opposed the practice of Sati.
Supported women’s education.
Worked for social reform.
2. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Supported widow remarriage.
Promoted women’s education.
Worked to improve society.
3. Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Founded Arya Samaj in 1875.
Supported education and social reform.
Gave the message of returning to the Vedas.
4. Swami Vivekananda
Founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
Spread the message of service, education and spiritual development.
Inspired Indians with confidence and pride in their culture.
D. Western Education
Western education introduced Indians to new ideas.
People learned about liberty, equality and democracy.
Educated Indians began demanding their rights.
They understood the importance of freedom and self-government.
E. Growth of Newspapers and Press
Newspapers spread awareness among Indians.
They exposed the unfair policies of British rule.
They helped people understand political and social issues.
Newspapers encouraged national unity.
Remember: Education, newspapers and social reforms helped develop national awareness.
3. Early Nationalist Phase (1885–1905)
Formation of the Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC) was established in 1885.
It was founded with the help of A.O. Hume.
The first session was held in Bombay (now Mumbai).
W.C. Bonnerjee was its first president.
It became an important organisation for expressing Indian demands.
Important Leaders
Dadabhai Naoroji
Known as the Grand Old Man of India.
Explained the Drain of Wealth Theory.
Demanded greater Indian participation in administration.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Believed in peaceful and constitutional methods.
Wanted political and administrative reforms.
4. Moderate Leaders (1885–1905)
The early Congress leaders were known as Moderates.
Their Methods
They believed in peaceful methods.
They submitted petitions to the British government.
They held public meetings.
They presented their demands through speeches and discussions.
They believed that the British government could be persuaded to introduce reforms.
Their Main Demands
More Indians in government services.
Reduction of heavy taxes.
Greater Indian representation in legislative councils.
Protection of Indian industries.
Better educational opportunities.
Remember: Moderates believed in petitions, meetings and peaceful discussions.
5. Extremist Phase (1905–1919)
Some Indian leaders became dissatisfied with the slow progress of the Moderates.
They believed that stronger methods were needed to achieve freedom.
Important Leaders – Lal-Bal-Pal
1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Popularly known as Lokmanya Tilak.
Gave the famous slogan: “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.”
Encouraged people to fight for self-rule.
2. Lala Lajpat Rai
Known as the Punjab Kesari.
Played an important role in the freedom movement.
Supported national education and Swadeshi.
3. Bipin Chandra Pal
Promoted Swadeshi and the boycott of British goods.
Encouraged national awareness.
Methods of Extremists
Boycott of British goods.
Promotion of Swadeshi goods.
National education.
Public protests.
Demand for Swaraj (self-rule).
Difference between Moderates and Extremists:
Moderates
Extremists
Peaceful petitions
Stronger political action
Meetings and discussions
Boycott and Swadeshi
Gradual reforms
Swaraj
Constitutional methods
Mass participation and protests
6. Partition of Bengal and Swadeshi Movement (1905)
Partition of Bengal
In 1905, Lord Curzon divided Bengal into two parts.
The British government said it was done for administrative convenience.
Indians believed that the real intention was to divide people and weaken nationalism.
People strongly opposed the partition.
Swadeshi Movement
The Swadeshi Movement began as a protest against the partition of Bengal.
Main features:
Boycott of British goods.
Use of Indian-made products.
Promotion of Indian industries.
Establishment of national schools.
Public meetings and demonstrations.
Result:
The partition of Bengal was cancelled in 1911.
7. Formation of the Muslim League (1906)
The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906 at Dhaka.
Its initial aim was to represent the political interests of Muslims.
It later became an important political organisation in India.
Lucknow Pact (1916)
The Congress and Muslim League reached an agreement in 1916.
Both organisations agreed to work together on certain political demands.
It showed a period of cooperation between the two organisations.
8. Home Rule Movement (1916)
The Home Rule Movement demanded self-government for India.
Important leaders:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Annie Besant.
Main objectives:
To demand self-government.
To create political awareness.
To unite Indians.
To encourage people to participate in the national movement.
9. Gandhian Era (1919–1947)
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915.
He introduced two important methods:
Satyagraha: Fighting injustice through truth and non-violence.
Ahimsa: Following the path of non-violence.
Early Satyagraha Movements
1. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
Gandhi supported indigo farmers in Bihar.
Farmers were being forced to grow indigo under unfair conditions.
Gandhi helped them fight for justice.
2. Kheda Satyagraha (1918)
Farmers in Gujarat were suffering because of crop failure.
Gandhi supported their demand for tax relief.
3. Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)
Gandhi supported textile mill workers demanding better wages.
10. Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
Rowlatt Act
The British passed the Rowlatt Act in 1919.
It allowed the government to arrest people without trial.
Indians strongly opposed this unfair law.
Gandhi organised protests against it.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
On 13 April 1919, thousands of people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.
General Dyer ordered British troops to fire on the crowd.
Many innocent people lost their lives.
This incident shocked the entire country.
It increased anger against British rule.
11. Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)
Khilafat Movement
It was started by Indian Muslim leaders to protect the position of the Ottoman Caliph after World War I.
The Ali brothers, Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, were important leaders.
Gandhi supported the movement to encourage Hindu-Muslim unity.
Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
Gandhi started the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.
Main objectives:
To oppose British rule.
To achieve Swaraj.
To encourage people to stop cooperating with the British government.
Methods:
Boycott of British schools and colleges.
Boycott of foreign clothes.
Boycott of government institutions.
Giving up certain government titles.
Promotion of Khadi and Swadeshi goods.
Withdrawal of the Movement (1922)
In February 1922, violence broke out at Chauri Chaura in Uttar Pradesh.
Gandhi believed that the movement should remain non-violent.
Therefore, he withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement.
12. Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1934)
Why did Gandhi start it?
The British government imposed a tax on salt.
Salt was an essential item used by everyone.
Gandhi decided to oppose the salt tax.
Dandi March (1930)
Gandhi started the march from Sabarmati Ashram on 12 March 1930.
He walked with his followers towards Dandi in Gujarat.
On 6 April 1930, he broke the salt law by making salt.
This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Main Features
Breaking unfair British laws.
Refusing to pay certain taxes.
Boycotting foreign goods.
Making salt in violation of the British law.
Organising peaceful demonstrations.
Result: Thousands of Indians participated in the movement.
13. Quit India Movement (1942)
During World War II, the British involved India in the war without consulting Indian leaders.
Indians became increasingly dissatisfied.
Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement on 8 August 1942.
He gave the famous slogan “Do or Die.”
Indians demanded an immediate end to British rule.
Many national leaders were arrested.
The movement spread across different parts of India.
Remember: Quit India Movement = British, leave India!
14. Revolutionary Activities
Some freedom fighters believed in revolutionary methods to oppose British rule.
Important revolutionaries:
1. Bhagat Singh
He was a famous revolutionary.
He fought against British rule.
He was executed in 1931.
He became a symbol of courage and sacrifice.
2. Chandra Shekhar Azad
He was a revolutionary freedom fighter.
He played an important role in revolutionary organisations.
He inspired young Indians.
3. Subhas Chandra Bose
Popularly known as Netaji.
He formed the Indian National Army (INA) with the aim of liberating India.
He gave the slogan “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom.”
15. The Final Stage of the Freedom Struggle (1945–1947)
After World War II, British power became weaker.
Indians continued demanding independence.
The Indian National Army trials created widespread public interest.
The Cabinet Mission came to India in 1946 to discuss the transfer of power.
Political differences between the Congress and Muslim League increased.
The Mountbatten Plan was announced in June 1947.
India was divided into India and Pakistan.
Independence of India – 15 August 1947
India became independent on 15 August 1947.
British rule came to an end.
Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of independent India.
However, independence also came with the painful Partition of India.
16. Important Timeline – Remember the Dates
Year
Important Event
1875
Arya Samaj founded
1885
Indian National Congress formed
1905
Partition of Bengal
1905
Swadeshi Movement
1906
Muslim League formed
1911
Partition of Bengal cancelled
1915
Gandhi returned to India
1916
Home Rule Movement
1917
Champaran Satyagraha
1919
Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh
1920
Non-Cooperation Movement
1922
Non-Cooperation Movement withdrawn
1929
Demand for Purna Swaraj
1930
Dandi March
1930–34
Civil Disobedience Movement
1942
Quit India Movement
1947
Indian Independence
17. Important Words and Their Meanings
Word
Easy Meaning
Nationalism
Love and unity for one’s nation
Exploitation
Unfair use of someone or something
Colonial Rule
Rule by a foreign country
Moderates
Leaders who believed in peaceful methods
Extremists
Leaders who wanted stronger political action
Swadeshi
Use of goods made in one’s own country
Boycott
Refusal to use or support something
Swaraj
Self-rule
Satyagraha
Peaceful struggle based on truth
Ahimsa
Non-violence
Revolutionaries
People who fought against British rule through revolutionary methods
Independence
Freedom from foreign rule
18. Final Explanation for Students
The National Movement was a long struggle for India’s freedom. It started with the growth of nationalism in the 1870s. Economic exploitation, political injustice, social reforms, Western education and newspapers helped unite Indians.
The Moderates first demanded reforms through peaceful methods. Later, the Extremists demanded Swaraj through stronger methods. Gandhi introduced mass movements based on truth and non-violence. Revolutionaries also contributed to the freedom struggle.
Finally, after many years of struggle and sacrifice, India became independent on 15 August 1947.
⭐ Five Things Students Must Remember
1885 – Indian National Congress was formed.
1905 – Partition of Bengal and Swadeshi Movement.
1920 – Non-Cooperation Movement.
1930 – Civil Disobedience Movement and Dandi March.
1942 – Quit India Movement.
Final classroom message: India’s freedom was achieved through the united efforts of millions of Indians, including farmers, workers, students, women and great national leaders.
This can be used as a complete classroom teaching guide, with the headings explained in the order of the chapter.