THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE

Notes and Solved Textbook Questions

 INDEX

Page
Sr. No. Contents
Number

1. Revision Notes 2-5

2. Textbook Exercise Questions Solved 6-13

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 Revision Notes
The context:
• Protests and wars against the british rule in india.

After 1857:
• Improvements:
• Transport and communication
• Journalism,
• Establishment of organizations,
• Changes in administration
Lord Lytton
• ‘Domestic papers control act’ 1878

Lord Rippon:
• ‘Ilbert bill’ to bring uniformity to the judicial system.

Divide and the policy

• Separated Hindus and Muslims

First phase: moderates (1885 - 1906)

• Age of generous nationalism.

The moderate approach

• Trusted the british
• Requests and appeals
• Within the constitutional framework.
• Created political awareness
The moderates request
• Development of industries
• Reduction of military expenses
• Improvement in education
• Study poverty in the country
Dadabhai Naroji’s drain theory
• Encouraging imports and reducing exports

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 Promised
Better
Provisions for
Indians: 1. The Hindu
Mela
1858 – Indians Political
were British Awakening:
Citizens 2. The East
India
Association
Local
Organizations
3. Poona
Sarvajanik
A.O. Hume: National Sabha
Indian National political
Congress expression
4. The Indian
Association.

1885, the Indian

National
Congress.

Aim: Action: Result:

Creating
political Struggled The people
awareness became
politically aware.
A
nationalist Published
attitude.

Debates

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Divide and the policy
• Separated Hindus and Muslims

First phase: moderates (1885 - 1906)

• Age of generous nationalism.

The moderate approach

• Trusted the british
• Requests and appeals
• Within the constitutional framework.
• Created political awareness
The moderates request
• Development of industries
• Reduction of military expenses
• Improvement in education
• Study poverty in the country
Dadabhai Naroji’s drain theory
• Encouraging imports and reducing exports

M.G.Ranade Surendranath Dadabhai Gopalakrishna

Bannerjee Naoroji Gokhale

Second Phase: Extremists (1906 - 1920)

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Second Phase: Extremists (1906 - 1920)

Partition of Bengal 1905:

• Viceroy Lord Curzon
• To reduce the intensity of freedom struggle.
• Bengal presidency was divided into East and West Bengal based
on Muslim and Hindu populations.
Swadeshi Movement:
• Ban on Western goods in 1911
• British government withdrew the Declaration of Partition of
Bengal.
The Extremist Approach:
• Good administration not a substitute for independence.
• Aim of extremists - independent india
• Prepared the common people for the freedom struggle.
• Through religious functions they started organizing people for a
freedom movement.
Lokmanya Tilak

“Swaraj is my birthright, and I will get it at any cost”.

‘Kesari’ in Marathi and ‘Maratha’ newspaper in English

imprisoned for his revolutionary articles

Nationalism through the Ganesha festival and Shivaji birthday

celebrations.
He wrote Geetha Rahasya in the jail.

Aurobindo Ghosh Lala Lajpat Rai Bipin Chandra Pal BalgangadharTilak

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 Textbook Exercises
I Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
1. The Indian National Congress was established in the
year 1885.
2. The person who talked about the ‘Drain theory’ was
Dadabhai Naoroji.
3. ‘Swarajya is my birthright’ was declared by
Balagangadhar Tilak.
4. The Ali brothers started the Khilafat movement.
5. Separate nation for Muslims was proposed by
Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
6. The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress that
took place in 1929 was presided by Jawaharlal Nehru.
7. Mahad tank and Kalaram temple movement was
organised by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• The Jhansi regiment of the Indian National Army was
headed by Captain Lakshmi.
• The place where Gandhiji carried out the Salt
Satyagraha was Dandi.
• Quit India movement was carried out in the year 1942.

II Fill in the blanks with given alternatives:

1. Founder of the Indian National Congress was b)
A.O.Hume.
2. Publisher of ‘Maratha’ Paper was c) Balagangadhara
Tilak.
3. Swaraj Party was established in the year b) 1923.

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 4. President of Indian National Congress of Haripura
session was d) Subhashchandra Bose.
5. Iron man of India was d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

III Answers to Discuss and Answer (3rd Main)

16. Which were the organizations in India before the
establishment of the Indian National Congress?

Ans:

• The Hindu Mela

• The East India Association
• Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
• The Indian Association

17. What were the demands put forward by moderates to

the British?

Ans:

• Promotion of Indian industries.

• Improvement in education.
• Study of poverty and its causes.
• Representation in legislative bodies.
• Reduction of military expenses.

18. Analyse the drain theory.

Ans:

• Explained by Dadabhai Naoroji.

• Highlighted wealth transfer from India to England.
• Described India's unfavourable trade balance.

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 • He maintained that encouraging imports and reducing
exports created a situation unfavorable to India, leading
to drain of wealth.
• Since India had to bear the burden of paying wages,
pension and administrative expenses of British officials, a
lot of wealth was flowing into England.

19. Name the revolutionaries in the freedom movement.

Ans:

• Bhagat Singh
• Chandrashekar Azad
• Subhash Chandra Bose
• V.D. Savarkar
• Khudiram Bose

20. Explain the role of Balagangadhar Tilak in the

freedom struggle.

Ans:

• Declared "Swaraj is my birthright."

• Started Ganapati and Shivaji festivals to unite people.
• Used newspapers like Kesari and Maratha to promote
freedom.
• Opposed the partition of Bengal.
• Tilak was arrested for galvanized, writings
• ‘Geetarahasya’ fuelled the freedom struggle
• Complete freedom was the aim
• Gave a call to boycott foreign goods and supporting
institutions

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21.What were the reasons for withdrawing of partition of
Bengal?

Ans:
Reasons for withdrawing the Partition of Bengal:
• Bengal became the center of protests and anti-British
sentiments.
• Viceroy Lord Curzon divided Bengal based on
administrative problems, creating East and West Bengal.
• Partition was seen as an example of the British ‘Divide
and Rule’ policy.
• Nationwide protests emerged, with the Swadeshi
Movement advocating for the boycott of British goods
and promotion of Indian goods.
• The protests gained intensity, forcing the British to
withdraw the partition in 1911.

22. Describe Chowri-Chowra incident.

Ans:
Chowri-Chowra Incident:
• Occurred in 1922 in Uttar Pradesh during the Non-
Cooperation Movement.
• Police fired on peaceful protestors, leading to public
outrage.
• Protestors set a police station on fire, killing 22 policemen
inside.
• The incident saddened Gandhiji, who withdrew the Non-
Cooperation Movement due to its violent nature.

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23. Describe the Salt Satyagraha.
Ans:
Salt Satyagraha:
• Initiated by Gandhiji in 1930 as part of the Civil
Disobedience Movement.
• Charter of 11 demands was submitted to Viceroy Irwin,
including the abolition of salt tax.
• When demands were ignored, Gandhiji marched from
Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, covering 240 miles.
• At Dandi, salt was made, breaking British salt laws.
• Thousands, including prominent leaders like Kamala
Nehru and Rajagopalachari, were arrested.

24.What were the reasons for the failure of the Quit India
movement?
Ans:
Reasons for the failure of the Quit India Movement:
• British responded with severe repression, arresting top
leaders like Gandhiji, Nehru, and Patel.
• Lack of organized leadership due to widespread
imprisonments.
• Emergence of other organizations that diluted the
movement's unity.
• Violence erupted in some parts, deviating from Gandhiji’s
principle of non-violence.
• Muslim League did not participate, focusing on their
demand for Pakistan instead

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25. Name the revolutionaries who took part in the Indian
freedom struggle.
Ans:
Same as question no. 19.

26.What was the result of the second Round Table

Conference?
Ans:
• In 2nd Round Table Conference, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar
asked for separate constituencies for the depressed
classes during elections.
• This was not acceptable to Gandhiji.
• Hence, even the II Round Table Conference ended
without any conclusions.
• The British Government recognized the depressed
classes’ request for separate constituency.
• Gandhiji began up a fast unto death agitation.
• Attempts were made to placate Ambedkar.
• Poona Agreement was reached.
• As per this agreement, out of the existing
constituencies, some were reserved for depressed
classes. Where, only depressed classes leaders could
have filed nomination as representatives of all
people. Instead of a separate constituency, some
areas were reserved for the depressed classes.

27. Give an account of the achievements of Subhash

Chandra Bose in the independence struggle.

Ans:
• Refused posting and participated in Freedom
Struggle
• Popular as ‘Netaji’
• Engaged in organising Indians from outside India

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 • Toured many countries / Requested to support
freedom struggle
• Congress Socialist Party
• Haripur Convention
• Difference of opinion —Clash between Gandhi-Bose
• Derailed his fight within INC
• Quit Congress
• Forward Bloc
• Opposed British for war preparation
• Arrest by British
• Reached Germany
• Hitler agreed to extend help
• Organised Indian war prisoners in Germany
• Speeches over Azad Hind Radio
• Joined with Rasbihari Bose
• Called for Delhi Chalo
• Give me your blood, I’ll get you freedom
• Planned to attack India through Rangoon
• Fierce battle between British / INA — Bose died in
airplane crash

28. Describe the tribal revolts in the Indian freedom

struggle.
Ans:
• The tax and forest policies of the British
• Santala, Halagali and Munda revolts
• Santala tribals-hilly regions of Bengal and Odisha
• Permanent Zamindari System – landless
• Exploitation by the Zamindars, money lenders, and
Company
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• Secret meetings
• Severe revolt in Barahat, Bhagatpur and Rajmahal
areas
• Killing of enemies
• Fled of Zamindars and moneylenders
• Became an inspiration for many revolts.

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