Role of Different Groups MCQs Quiz | Class 10
This quiz is designed for Class X students studying History, specifically Unit: Nationalism in India. It focuses on the Role of Different Groups, covering topics such as peasants, tribals, and women. Test your understanding by submitting the quiz, and remember you can download an answer PDF for review.
Understanding the Role of Different Groups in Nationalism in India
The struggle for Indian independence was not just a movement led by urban elites but involved the active participation and unique contributions of various social groups. Peasants, tribals, and women, each with their distinct grievances and aspirations, played crucial roles in shaping the nationalist narrative, often interpreting “Swaraj” in ways that resonated with their immediate concerns. Their participation broadened the base of the movement and brought diverse perspectives to the forefront.
1. The Role of Peasants
Peasants across India suffered from high land revenue demands, exploitative landlord systems, forced labour (begar), and exorbitant interest rates from moneylenders. Their participation was often driven by economic hardship rather than abstract nationalism initially.
Key Movements and Grievances:
- Awadh Kisan Sabha: Led by Baba Ramchandra in the 1920s, it focused on reducing revenue, abolishing begar, and social boycotts of oppressive landlords. Jawaharlal Nehru also became involved, linking their struggles to the broader national movement.
- Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, it was a successful movement against the oppressive enhancement of land revenue in Bardoli, Gujarat.
- Champaran Satyagraha (1917): Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha in India, supporting indigo cultivators against exploitative practices.
- Impact of World War I: Increased taxes and forced recruitment further aggravated their condition, leading to widespread discontent.
For many peasants, Swaraj meant reduction of taxes, abolition of begar, and redistribution of land, rather than simply political independence.
2. The Role of Tribals
Tribal communities were severely affected by colonial forest laws that restricted their access to forests (for grazing, fuelwood, fruits, hunting), which were integral to their livelihoods and traditional way of life. They also faced exploitation by moneylenders and traders.
Key Movements and Grievances:
- Gudem Hills Rebellion (Andhra Pradesh): Led by Alluri Sitaram Raju in the early 1920s, this was a militant guerrilla movement. Raju claimed special powers and advocated for non-cooperation, but used force to resist British rule, viewing Gandhi’s ideas through his own revolutionary lens.
- Forest Satyagrahas: In various regions, tribals organized protests against restrictive forest laws, which prevented them from using forest resources.
- Plantation Workers: Though not exclusively tribal, plantation workers in Assam (many of whom were tribal migrants) also had distinct interpretations of Swaraj. For them, it meant the freedom to move in and out of the enclosed plantations and connect with their villages, a right denied under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859.
Swaraj for tribals meant the restoration of their traditional rights over forests, freedom from exploitation, and self-governance in their areas.
3. The Role of Women
Women’s participation in the national movement was significant and visible, particularly during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Participation and Impact:
- Salt March & Civil Disobedience: Thousands of women, from various backgrounds, came out of their homes to listen to Gandhi, participate in protest marches, manufacture salt, and picket foreign cloth and liquor shops. They often faced arrests and imprisonment.
- Leadership: Women like Sarojini Naidu, Kamala Nehru, and Latika Ghosh played prominent roles, often leading processions and addressing public gatherings.
- Symbolic Role: Mahatma Gandhi himself believed that women’s participation, particularly in activities like picketing liquor shops, brought a sense of purity and moral authority to the nationalist struggle.
Their public presence challenged traditional gender roles to some extent and boosted the moral strength of the movement, symbolizing the entire nation’s commitment to freedom, even though their role was often confined to symbolic or domestic spheres by many leaders.
Quick Revision Points:
| Group | Key Grievances | Notable Movements/Leaders | Interpretation of Swaraj |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peasants | High revenue, begar, landlord exploitation | Awadh Kisan Sabha (Baba Ramchandra), Bardoli Satyagraha (Sardar Patel) | Reduction of taxes, abolition of begar, land redistribution |
| Tribals | Restrictive forest laws, moneylender exploitation | Gudem Hills Rebellion (Alluri Sitaram Raju), Forest Satyagrahas | Restoration of forest rights, freedom from exploitation, self-governance |
| Women | (Less about distinct grievances, more about participation) | Civil Disobedience Movement, Salt March, Picketed shops | National freedom, symbolic representation of nation’s resolve |
Practice Questions:
- Explain how the forest laws of the colonial government impacted the lives of tribal communities in India.
- What were the main demands of the peasant movements in Awadh during the early 1920s?
- Discuss the significance of women’s participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Who was Alluri Sitaram Raju, and what was his contribution to tribal resistance in the Gudem Hills?
- How did Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Swaraj differ from the understanding of Swaraj among plantation workers in Assam?
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