Towards Civil Disobedience| Class 10 History Notes

The Civil Disobedience Movement was a nonviolent resistance campaign launched in India in 1930 in response to British colonial rule. The movement was led by Mahatma Gandhi and aimed to challenge the British salt tax, which he considered exploitative and oppressive. Gandhi and his supporters defied British policy by making salt from seawater. This act of breaking salt law led to the rise of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

In this article, we will look into the section Towards Civil Disobedience – Class 10 Social Science NCERT of Chapter 2 – Nationalism in India in detail. Students can go through this article for comprehensive notes on ‘Towards Civil Disobedience’.

Towards Civil Disobedience| Class 10 History Notes

Background of the Civil Disobedience Movement

In February 1922, Mahatma Gandhi withdrew from the Non-Cooperation Movement due to its violent nature and the need for proper training for Satyagrahis. Some leaders within the Congress wanted to participate in elections to provincial councils, opposing British policies and demonstrating their democratic nature. C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party to advocate for a return to council politics, while younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose pushed for full independence.

The global economic depression in the late 1920s further influenced Indian politics. The new Tory government in Britain established a Statutory Commission under Sir John Simon to investigate the constitutional system in India. However, the commission was all British, and the slogan ‘Go back Simon’ was used to rally support. In October 1929, Lord Irwin offered ‘dominion status’ for India and a Round Table Conference to discuss a future constitution. However, this did not satisfy Congress leaders, leading to more assertive radicals and a loss of influence for liberals and moderates. In December 1929, the Lahore Congress demanded ‘Purna Swaraj’ or full independence, but the celebrations attracted little attention.

The Salt March and the Civil Disobedience Movement

Mahatma Gandhi, a prominent Indian revolutionary, sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin in January 1930 demanding the abolishment of the salt tax. The tax, which was consumed by both the rich and the poor, revealed the oppressive nature of British rule. Gandhi’s letter was an ultimatum, and if not fulfilled, the Congress would launch a civil disobedience campaign.

• Mahatma Gandhi started a salt march, walking over 240 miles from Sabarmati to Dandi. He urged people to peacefully oppose the British and break colonial laws.
• The movement spread, leading to boycotts of foreign cloth, picketing liquor shops, and protests against British rule.
• The colonial government arrested Congress leaders, leading to violent clashes. Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a disciple of Gandhi, was arrested in April 1930, and industrial workers attacked police posts, municipal buildings, lawcourts, and railway stations.
• The government responded with brutal repression, killing peaceful satyagrahis, beating women and children, and arresting around 100,000 people.
• In March 1931, Gandhiji entered into a pact with Irwin, agreeing to participate in a Round Table Conference in London and release political prisoners. However, negotiations broke down, and Gandhi returned disappointed.
• Back in India, he discovered that the government had begun a new cycle of repression, with Ghaffar Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru in jail, the Congress declared illegal, and measures imposed to prevent demonstrations and boycotts.
• With great apprehension, Gandhi relaunched the Civil Disobedience Movement.

How Participants Saw the Movement

The Civil Disobedience Movement in India involved various social groups, including rich peasant communities, small tenants, and business classes. Rich peasants were active in the movement due to the trade depression and falling prices, which led to resentment towards the government’s revenue demands. They organized boycott programs and demanded the remittance of unpaid rent to landlords.

• The poorer peasantry, who were small tenants, joined radical movements led by Socialists and Communists. The Congress was unwilling to support “no rent” campaigns, leaving the relationship between the poor peasants and the Congress uncertain.
• Business classes, led by industrialists like Purshottamdas Thakurdas and G. D. Birla, formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress and the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) to organize their interests.
• They supported the Civil Disobedience Movement and sought protection against imports of foreign goods. However, after the Round Table Conference, business groups became less enthusiastic due to concerns about militant activities and the growing influence of socialism among younger members of the Congress.
• The industrial working classes did not participate in the movement in large numbers, except in the Nagpur region. Some workers did participate, adopting Gandhian ideas as part of their own movements against low wages and poor working conditions.
• However, the Congress was reluctant to include workers’ demands in its struggle, fearing it would irritate industrialists and divide antiimperial forces.
• Women also played a significant role in the Civil Disobedience Movement, participating in protest marches, manufacturing salt, and picketing foreign shops.
• However, this increased public role did not necessarily mean a radical change in women’s roles within the organization.

The Limits of Civil Disobedience

The concept of swaraj, which aimed to eliminate untouchability, was not universally accepted by all social groups, including the ‘untouchables’, who began calling themselves dalit or oppressed in the 1930s. Mahatma Gandhi, who called the ‘untouchables’ harijan or the children of God, urged them to eliminate their social disabilities through satyagraha and organized satyagraha to secure access to public facilities. However, many dalit leaders sought a different political solution, demanding reserved seats in educational institutions and a separate electorate for legislative councils.

Dalit participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement was limited, particularly in the Maharashtra and Nagpur region. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who organized the dalits into the Depressed Classes Association, clashed with Gandhiji at the second Round Table Conference, demanding separate electorates for dalits. The British government eventually accepted Gandhiji’s position, leading to the Poona Pact of September 1932, which granted reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils to the Scheduled Classes.

Muslim political organizations in India were also hesitant to respond to the Civil Disobedience Movement. After the decline of the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat movement, a large section of Muslims felt divided from the Congress. The Congress and the Muslim League attempted to renegotiate an alliance, but the issue of representation remained unresolved at the All Parties Conference in 1928. This created an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust between communities, and many Muslim leaders and intellectuals expressed concerns about the status of Muslims as a minority within India.

Conclusion – Towards Civil Disobedience

The Civil Disobedience Movement in India was an important moment in the country’s history. Led by Mahatma Gandhi, the movement sought to challenge the oppressive British rule through nonviolent resistance. The movement involved a series of protests, boycotts, and marches, and it had a profound impact on the Indian people. The movement was successful in raising awareness of the injustices of British rule, and it helped to unite the Indian people in their struggle for independence. It also forced the British to recognize the demands of the Indian National Congress, and it made the way for future negotiations.

People Also View

• Constructive Programmes of Mahatma Gandhi
• Civil Disobedience Movement
• Difference Between Non Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements

FAQs on Towards Civil Disobedience

What was the Civil Disobedience Movement in India?

It was an important phase of India’s independence struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi, marked by nonviolent resistance against British colonial rule.

When did the Civil Disobedience Movement start?

The Civil Disobedience Movement began with Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March on March 12, 1930.

What was the main aim of the Civil Disobedience Movement?

The main aim of the Civil Disobedience Movement was to challenge unjust British laws, particularly the salt tax, and demand civil liberties for Indians.

What were the key strategies of the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Key strategies of the Civil Disobedience Movement included boycotting British goods, civil disobedience against salt laws, and nonviolent protests.

How did the Civil Disobedience Movement impact India?

Civil Disobedience Movement mobilized millions, highlighting India’s unity and determination for independence while attracting international attention.

Why did the Civil Disobedience Movement eventually wind down?

Civil Disobedience Movement faced harsh repression and arrests by British authorities, leading to its gradual decline.

What was the legacy of the Civil Disobedience Movement?

The movement inspired future struggles for independence and emphasized the power of nonviolent resistance in achieving social and political change.