Peasant, Working Class and..: WBBSE Class 10 History answers

Summary

During the first half of the 20th century, the British attitude of imperialism had a big effect on peasants. They were taken advantage of and mistreated, which forced the poor peasants to use violence and fight back. A new wave emerged among the working class, similar to the peasant movement.

Workers’ economic distress, poor working conditions in mills and factories, worker retrenchment, and a variety of other factors gave rise to the labour movement. The peasantry played no significant role in the anti-partition movement. The Swadeshi movement did not support land reforms or the protection of peasants from rental demands. In some ways, the anti-partition movement was not focused on the concerns of the peasantry. The non-cooperation movement attracted a large number of peasants.

They stopped paying rent and chowkidari tax in various locations. The peasants had the support Anti-Partition of Indian National Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Vallabhbhai Patel, and others. The peasants joined this movement and spoke out against the oppressive British rule. They became ardent supporters of the civil disobedience movement. Peasants from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, the United Provinces, Mymensingh, and other states joined the movement wholeheartedly. Peasant participation in the Quit India Movement was spontaneous, total, and widespread. The movement was joined by peasants from Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and West Bengal.

Peasants of all classes were at the forefront of the movement, focusing their offensive on symbols of authority. During the movement, the working class was crucial. The workers’ discontent was undoubtedly fueled by material grievances such as rising prices, poor working conditions, and mistreatment by white officers. The Anti-Partition Movement resulted in a large number of industrial strikes, demonstrating the growing political consciousness of the working class. The non-cooperation movement was actively supported by the working class.

Labour unrest erupted in the mills, factories, and engineering workshops. To suppress the moment, the government implemented a number of repressive measures. However, after 1922, the working-class movement slowed under the leadership of nationalist leaders. The working class became involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement. They organised mill and factory strikes and campaigned with the slogan ‘Poorna Swaraj’. The British government implemented a number of repressive measures against workers.

Workers’ participation in the Quit India Movement was spontaneous, total, and widespread. Strikes and lockouts took place in several industrial concerns across India, including Ahmednagar, Ahmedabad, Poona, Bangalore, Bombay, Mysore, Madras, Coimbatore, Madurai, Nagpur, Calcutta, and Central Province. During the 1930s and 1940s, leftist movements were influential. M.N. Roy and SA Dange, Communist Party leaders, organised industrial workers and peasants.

Textual (Oriental)

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The Partition of Bengal was announced in which of the following dates ?

(a) 20 July 1905
(b) 16 October 1905
(c) 1 April 1907
(d) 15 May 1907

Answer: (a) 20 July 1905

2. Of the following who founded the Andhra Provincial Ryot’s Association ?

(a) N.G. Ranga
(b) M.B. Naidu
(c) N.G. Ranga and M.B. Naidu
(d) Muzaffar Ahmed

Answer: (c) N.G. Ranga and M.B. Naidu

3. Which of the following was the first all-India peasant organization ?

(a) Workers’ and Peasants’ Party
(b) Kisan Sabha
(c) All India Kisan Sabha
(d) Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha

Answer: (c) All India Kisan Sabha

4. In which of the following years was the All India Trade union Congress formed?

(a) 1919
(b) 1920
(c) 1921
(d) 1922

Answer: (b) 1920

5. Which of the following did not participate the Quit India Movement following the ‘People’s War’ line ?

(a) The Congress
(b) The Congress Socialist Party
(c) The Workers’ and Peasants’ Party
(d) The Communist Party of India

Answer: (d) The Communist Party of India

True/False

1. The growing discontent against the British rule led to the launching of the Non Co-operation Movement.

Answer: True

2. In the Eka (or Ekta) Movement the peasant activists took vows before a symbolic representation of the river Ganges.

Answer: True

3. The Madras Labour Union set up by B.P. Wadia in 1918 was the first trade union proper in India.

Answer: True

4. In 1920 a good number of student and youth organizations came to be established in different parts of the country.

Answer: True

5. The Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929) gave encouragement to the activities of the communists.

Answer: False

Fill in the blanks

1. During the anti-partition agitation the Muslim peasants of Barisal (now in Bangladesh) were led by______. (Muzaffar Ahmemd/ Aswini Kumar Datta/ Mino Masani/ Fazlul Haq)

Answer: Aswini Kumar Datta

2. The Home Rule League members were really the supporters of______. (CPI/ Workers’ and Peasants’ Party/ Congress/ All India Kisan Sabha)

Answer: Congress

3. By early______the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party came into existence. (1919/ 1920/ 1926/ 1927)

Answer: 1927

4. The______Congress made an emphatic protest against the partition of Bengal as also the repressive measures adopted by the alien government. (Lahore/ Benaras)

Answer: Benaras

Assertion and Reason

1. Which of the following statements about the Indian peasantry are true?

(a) Though limited in scale the participation of peasants in the anti-partition movement was significant.
(b) Towards the close of 1914 the discontent of the peasants surfaced particularly in the districts of Hardoi, Sitapur, etc. in U.P.
(c) Bardoli Satyagraha became the symbol of peasants’ protest in the country.
(d) The first phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement did not impact the peasant masses of the country.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

(i) a, c and d
(ii) a, b and d
(iii) a, b and c
(iv) b, c and d

Answer: (i) a, c and d

2. Which are applicable to the Indian working class?

(a) It was not before the First World Warthat the working class in India was organized.
(b) If not as an organization many Congressleaders enthusiastically supported labour strikes.
(c) The Madras Labour Union set up in 1900 was the first trade union proper in India.
(d) During the Civil Disobedience Movement the labour movement gained a foot-hold in the political thinking of the country.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below :

(i) a, c and d
(ii) a, b and d
(iii) a, b and c
(iv) b, c and d

Answer: (ii) a, b and d

Short-answer Type Questions

1. When was the partition of Bengal was announced and given effect to?

Answer: The decision of the partition of Bengal was announced on 20 July 1905, and the partition was to be effective on and from 16 October 1905.

2. How did the process of organizing the peasants on modern lines begin?

Answer: The members of the Home Rule League, who were really the supporters of the Indian National Congress, initiated the process of organizing the peasants on modern lines. U.P. (United Province) was the province where Kisan Sabha was formed first; the Kisan Sabha came into existence in 1918 by the initiative of Gaurisankar Misra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi, with the support of Madan Mohan Malviya.

3. Why did the Congress as an organization initially did not come in open support of the peasantry?

Answer: The Congress as an organization, till 1929 at least, was not tactically prepared to take the side of the peasants and thereby come into open conflict with the zamindars, even though leaders like Gandhiji were unhappy over the peasants’ plight and protested against the zamindars’ oppressions.

4. How was the first trade union formed?

Answer: The Madras Labour Union, set up by B.P. Wadia in 1918, was the first trade union proper in India. In his effort, Wadia received active support and help from G. Ramanajulu Naidu and Singaravelu Chettier.

Analytical Answer Type Questions

1. Write about the Eka movement of U.P. during the Non Co-operation days.

Answer: Towards the close of the year 1921, the discontent of the peasants of U.P. surfaced, particularly in the districts of Hardoi, Sitapur, etc. The insurgent peasants were active under the name Ekta or Eka (unity movement). The initial thrust of the movement, however, was provided by the Congress. The two most famous leaders of the Eka movement were Passi Madari and Sahreb. Before a symbolic representation of the river Ganges, the rebel peasants took the vow that they would pay only the recorded rent, and it would be paid in time. Under any circumstances, the peasants would not leave the land. Even if ejected, they would abide by the decision of the panchayat. They would refuse to undergo forced labour (bet-begari). The Eka movement died an untimely death because of the severe repression of the colonial British authorities.

2. What was the role of the UP Congress during the Civil Disobedience Movement towards the peasantry?

Answer: During the Civil Disobedience years, the peasants of U.P. began a ‘no-revenue and no-rent’ campaign. According to Bipan Chandra, the no-revenue was a call to the zamindars not to pay revenue to the British Government, and the no-rent was a call to the tenants not to pay rent to the zamindars. Under the initiative of Jawaharlal Nehru, the U.P. Congress Committee lent its full support to the no-rent campaign of the peasants. The U.P. Congress also passed a resolution to the effect that the national programme should include reduction of land tax, as peasants were experiencing a financial crisis due to falling agricultural commodity prices and reduced profits. The All India Congress Working Committee accepted most of the resolutions passed by the U.P. Congress Committee. After March 1931, a Congress committee observed that the tenants of the Oudh region got only nominal relief. Under Nehru’s direction, the U.P. Congress started intensifying its rural campaigning. The second phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement lasted in U.P. until mid-1932, drawing people of the countryside into the Congress agitation. According to one estimate, more than 10,000 Congress volunteers and agitators were convicted in U.P. alone. Dhanagare, based on a Government Report, claimed that the volunteers Congress recruited for the no-rent campaign largely came from colleges and universities in cities, though a great many of them were also the local people themselves.

3. What was the role of the Congress in organizing the working class during the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Answer: During the Civil Disobedience Movement, the labour movement gained a foothold in the political thinking of the country, evident from the fact that workers all over the country participated in the movement. A Communist Party document from 1930 clearly admitted that virtually Congress was the only organization carrying on the fight against British imperialism, and therefore the workers began to follow the lead of the Congress. Indeed, during the Civil Disobedience, the Congress in Bombay raised the slogan that “workers and peasants are the hands and feet of the Congress”. Following Gandhiji’s arrest on 4 May 1930, which intensified labour unrest, Congress volunteers practically set up something like a parallel government at Sholapur in Maharashtra after a textile strike there. In other centres as well, working-class movements took various forms during the Civil Disobedience, with workers becoming very active and even clashing with police after the arrests of national leaders.

Explanatory Answer Type Questions

1. Write in short about the Eka Movement in U.P. Write about the Bardoli Satyagraha?

The first civil disobedience movement of the peasants of Bardoli in the Surat district of Gujarat may be said “in many ways a child of the Non Co-operation days.” In 1926, when the time of revision of land-revenue was due, it was found that the hike was unprecedented. The burden on the peasants was 22% to 60% more than the previous rate of tax. The peasants of Bardoli thereupon began satyagraha under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel, who had the blessings of Gandhiji. The Bardoli Satyagraha was formally launched on 12 February 1928. The satyagraha constituted an important chapter in the freedom movement of India. Bardoli Satyagraha became the symbol of peasants’ protests in the country. The movement united a variety of the Indian people irrespective of their class, creed, caste and religion. As pointed out by Prof Mridula Mukherjee, “Bardoli confirmed the Indian people were indeed on the way to becoming a nation.”

2. Write about the attitude of the Congress towards the peasantry during the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Answer: Though Gandhiji was unhappy over the peasants’ plight and protested against the zamindars’ oppressions on them, the Congress as an organization, till 1929 at least, was not tactically prepared to take the side of the peasants and thereby come into open conflict with the zamindars. However, the Civil Disobedience Movement by Congress, under the leadership of Gandhiji, served as an encouragement to the peasants’ movement. During the Civil Disobedience years, the peasants of U.P. began a new type of movement, a ‘no-revenue and no-rent’ campaign. According to Bipan Chandra, the no-revenue was a call to the zamindars not to pay revenue to the British Government, and the no-rent was a call to the tenants not to pay rent to the zamindars. Under the initiative of Jawaharlal Nehru, the U.P. Congress Committee lent its full support to the no-rent campaign of the peasants. The U.P. Congress also passed a resolution that the national programme should include reduction of land tax. As peasants experienced a financial crisis due to falling agricultural prices, the All India Congress Working Committee accepted most resolutions from the U.P. Congress Committee, satisfying both peasants and zamindars. A Congress committee, after March 1931, observed that the tenants of the Oudh region got only nominal relief. Under Nehru’s direction, the U.P. Congress started intensifying its rural campaigning. During the second phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement, which lasted in U.P. until mid-1932, people of the countryside were drawn into the Congress agitation, with over 10,000 Congress volunteers and agitators convicted in U.P. alone. Volunteers recruited by Congress for the no-rent campaign largely came from colleges and universities in cities, though many were also local people.

3. Write in short about the role of the Congress and the Leftists towards the working class during the anti-partition movement?

Answer: Swadeshi and Boycott, the two weapons of the anti-partition movement, were together a landmark in the history of the labour movement, marked by ‘industrial unrest’ and a sharp increase in strikes. Many Swadeshi leaders encouraged labourers to unite and organize themselves into unions. With the growth of the labour force, some nationalist leaders felt the need to discuss with British authorities measures for protecting labourers’ interests against capitalist exploitation. The Benaras Congress (1905) protested against the partition and repressive measures. Although Congress as an organization did not openly support the workers’ movement, many Congress leaders enthusiastically supported labour strikes and the formation of trade unions. Labour leaders of the Swadeshi movement like Aswinikumar Banerjee, Premtosh Bose, and Apurba Kumar Ghosh were active in numerous strikes. However, there was a slump in nationalist interest in labour movements after 1908. Not many nationalist leaders were involved in the sporadic strikes of 1908-09, and workers could not be mobilized for protest strikes when nationalist leaders were jailed.

The anti-partition movement also saw faint beginnings of socialist leaning among some nationalist leaders, imbued with Marxist ideas from Europe. Some extremist leaders urged following the ‘Russian method’ of political general strike. The newspaper Nabasakti advocated following the Russian working class example. However, this remained mere lip service; there was no real political strike in labour-intensive establishments like plantations and mines, remaining limited to clerks and some Bengali jute mill workers. Left politics did not emerge in India during the anti-Partition movement, so there was no question of Leftist leadership among the workers or peasants at that time.

4. What do you know about the anti-partition movement and the peasants? Write briefly about the non-cooperation Movement and the peasants. What was the role of Mahatma Gandhi at this time? Write about Bardoli Satyagraha and Civil disobedience movement.

Answer: The anti-Partition movement, following the decision to partition Bengal in 1905, was largely confined to the urban middle class, with limited peasant participation. Although Congress called for a no-rent campaign, peasant involvement was not negligible, seen in the Champaran indigo rebellion and disturbances in Assam and Mymensingh. Muslim peasants in Barisal were led by Aswini Kumar Datta. The Boycott movement economically impacted Bengal’s peasants.

Under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership, the Non-violent Non Co-operation Movement was launched to address injustices (Turkey, Punjab wrongs) and attain Swaraj, announced via a manifesto in March 1920. Lakhs joined, including the peasantry protesting high prices and revenue demands post-World War I. Supported by leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vallabhbhai Patel, the peasant movement aligned with the national struggle. Kisan Sabhas were formed (U.P. 1918 by Gaurisankar Misra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi; Oudh 1920 led by Baba Ramchandra against high rents). The Eka Movement (unity movement) emerged in U.P. (Hardoi, Sitapur) led by Passi Madari and Sahreb, where peasants vowed to pay only recorded rent and refuse forced labour, but it was suppressed. Mahatma Gandhi was central, initiating the NCM, calling for mass mobilization, and later blessing the Bardoli Satyagraha and leading the Civil Disobedience Movement.

The Bardoli Satyagraha (Gujarat, 1928) began against a significant land revenue hike (up to 60%) imposed in 1926. Led by Vallabhbhai Patel with Gandhiji’s blessings, it became a symbol of peasant protest and national unity across classes and religions.

The Civil Disobedience Movement started with Gandhiji violating the Salt Law at Dandi (6 April 1930). Peasants joined widely. Despite Gandhiji’s protest against zamindar oppression, Congress was initially hesitant to fully back peasants against them. However, peasant organizations grew, spurred by the Great Depression and Bardoli’s example. The Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (BPKS) formed in 1929 (Sahajanand Saraswati), followed by others in Bengal (Muzaffar Ahmed, Bankim Mukherjee) and Andhra (N.G. Ranga, M.B. Naidu, 1928). The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was established in 1936 (Swami Sahajanand President, N.G. Ranga General Secretary). The movement encouraged ‘no-revenue and no-rent’ campaigns, notably in U.P., supported by the U.P. Congress Committee under Jawaharlal Nehru’s initiative.

5. Write about anti-partition movement and non-partition movement and the working class. What were the activities of the ‘Workers’ and Peasants party’? What do you know about the Civil Disobedience movement and the working class? Who said ‘workers and peasants were the hands and feet of the Congress’? Write about the Quit India Movement and the Working class. Write about M. N. Roy and the Left movement in India.

Answer: The anti-partition movement (1905), with its Swadeshi and Boycott methods, spurred ‘industrial unrest’ and strikes. Swadeshi leaders encouraged union formation, and nationalists urged protection against capitalist exploitation. Though Congress didn’t officially support workers’ movements, leaders like Aswinikumar Banerjee, Premtosh Bose, Apurba Kumar Ghosh, Tilak (Bombay), and Chidambaram Pillai (Tuticorin) actively supported strikes (e.g., East Indian Railway, Clive Jute Mills). The Printer’s Union (Calcutta, 1905) and Railwaymen’s Union (1906) were formed. Nationalist interest declined after 1908. Some extremists suggested the ‘Russian method’ (political general strike), but this remained limited.

Nationalist interest revived during the Non Co-operation Movement (1919-1920), leading to a resurgence in working-class activity (1919-1922). The first proper trade union, the Madras Labour Union, was set up by B.P. Wadia in 1918. The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) formed in Bombay (1920) by N.M. Joshi, Joseph Baptista, Lala Lajpat Rai (first President), and others, aiming to coordinate labour activities and advance workers’ interests. Congress welcomed AITUC, and C.R. Das (Gaya Congress President, 1922) urged Congress to organize labour and peasantry. Congress leaders Darsanananda and Viswananda led a major strike on the East Indian Railway. Activity slumped again after 1922.

The Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) emerged by early 1927, led by S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, P.C. Joshi, and Sohan Singh Josh. Functioning as a left-wing within Congress, it participated in Simon boycott demonstrations. The WPP aimed to build class consciousness, achieve complete independence via a broad anti-imperialist front, and establish socialism. Its provincial units acted as working-class parties, though the WPP lost peasant contact between 1930-1935.

During the Civil Disobedience Movement, workers participated nationwide. A Communist Party document (1930) noted workers followed Congress’s lead as the main anti-imperialist force. The Congress in Bombay raised the slogan that “workers and peasants are the hands and feet of the Congress”. Strikes occurred supporting the salt law breach (GIP Railwaymen) and protesting Gandhiji’s arrest (Sholapur textile strike, leading to a parallel government). Workers in Karachi, Madras, and West Bengal clashed with police. Communist influence grew (e.g., Girni Kamgar Union strike, 1928), alarming the government, which arrested leaders (Mirajkar, Joshi, Muzaffar Ahmed, S.A. Dange, etc.) in the Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929). Despite this weakening the movement, workers participated heroically, facing repression.

The Quit India Movement (1942) also saw working-class involvement, boosted by the pro-labour stance of Congress ministries (1937-1939) which encouraged union growth. On 9 August 1942, workers struck nationwide (Delhi, Lucknow, Jamshedpur, Madras, Bangalore). Some strikes were prolonged (Tata Steel – 13 days; Ahmedabad textiles – 3.5 months). However, the Communist Party, following the ‘People’s War’ line after Germany invaded the USSR, officially dissociated itself and opposed strikes, though many communist rank-and-file members participated.

M. N. Roy (Narendranath Bhattacharya), a revolutionary associate of Bagha Jatin, co-founded the Mexican Communist Party and initiated the formation of the Communist Party of India (CPI) at Tashkent (1920). He participated in the Comintern’s Second World Congress and headed its Asian Bureau. Returning to India pseudonymously (1930), he was arrested (1931) and released (1936). He joined Congress, formed the League of Radical Congressmen, then resigned to form the Radical Democratic Party. Unlike the CPI, Roy supported the Allied war effort against Fascism. Post-independence, he dissolved his party and founded the new Radical Humanist Association, shifting from Marxism to humanism.

Extras

MCQs

1. On what date was the partition of Bengal announced?

A. 20 July 1905
B. 16 October 1905
C. 1 April 1907
D. 15 May 1907

Answer: A. 20 July 1905

2. When did the partition of Bengal take effect?

A. 20 July 1905
B. 16 October 1905
C. 1 April 1907
D. 15 May 1907

Answer: B. 16 October 1905

3. Which group of peasants rose in rebellion over indigo cultivation?

A. Assam peasants
B. Champaran peasants
C. Mymensingh peasants
D. Barisal peasants

Answer: B. Champaran peasants

4. Who led the Muslim peasants of Barisal?

A. Gaurisankar Misra
B. Aswini Kumar Datta
C. Baba Ramchandra
D. Sahajanand Saraswati

Answer: B. Aswini Kumar Datta

5. In March 1920 Gandhi issued a manifesto launching which movement?

A. Civil Disobedience
B. Quit India
C. Non‑cooperation
D. Bardoli Satyagraha

Answer: C. Non‑cooperation

6. Which organisation was formed first in the United Province in 1918 to mobilise peasants?

A. All India Kisan Sabha
B. Workers’ and Peasants’ Party
C. Kisan Sabha
D. Home Rule League

Answer: C. Kisan Sabha

7. Who initiated the first Kisan Sabha in 1918?

A. Misra and Dwivedi
B. Ranga and Naidu
C. Muzaffar Ahmed
D. Passi Madari

Answer: A. Misra and Dwivedi

8. Which leader organised the peasants of Oudh during the Non‑cooperation Movement?

A. Madan Mohan Malviya
B. Baba Ramchandra
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Vallabhbhai Patel

Answer: B. Baba Ramchandra

9. In which districts did the Eka movement arise?

A. Sitapur and Hardoi
B. Champaran and Assam
C. Bardoli and Surat
D. Patna and Lucknow

Answer: A. Sitapur and Hardoi

10. What vow did peasants take during the Eka movement?

A. Quit the land
B. Pay only recorded rent
C. Accept forced labour
D. Pay extra rent

Answer: B. Pay only recorded rent

11. Under whose leadership was the Bardoli Satyagraha launched?

A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Mahatma Gandhi
C. Vallabhbhai Patel
D. Madan Mohan Malviya

Answer: C. Vallabhbhai Patel

12. On what date did the Bardoli Satyagraha formally begin?

A. 6 April 1930
B. 12 February 1928
C. 20 July 1905
D. 16 October 1905

Answer: B. 12 February 1928

13. By how much did land revenue rise in Bardoli revision of 1926?

A. 15%
B. 22% to 60%
C. 10% to 20%
D. 5%

Answer: B. 22% to 60%

14. The violation of which law marked the start of the Civil Disobedience Movement?

A. Salt Law
B. Land Revenue Act
C. Rowlatt Act
D. Foreigners’ Act

Answer: A. Salt Law

15. On what date did Gandhi break the Salt Law at Dandi?

A. 20 July 1905
B. 12 February 1928
C. 6 April 1930
D. 16 October 1905

Answer: C. 6 April 1930

16. Who organised the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha in 1929?

A. Muzaffar Ahmed
B. Sahajanand Saraswati
C. N.G. Ranga
D. Bankim Mukherjee

Answer: B. Sahajanand Saraswati

17. In which year was the All India Kisan Sabha established?

A. 1925
B. 1930
C. 1936
D. 1918

Answer: C. 1936

18. Who was elected President of the All India Kisan Sabha?

A. N.G. Ranga
B. Swami Sahajanand
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Vallabhbhai Patel

Answer: B. Swami Sahajanand

19. Which campaign combined calls for no revenue to the British and no rent to zamindars?

A. Swadeshi
B. Civil Disobedience
C. No‑revenue and no‑rent
D. Quit India

Answer: C. No‑revenue and no‑rent

20. Which provincial Congress Committee backed the no‑rent campaign?

A. Bengal
B. U.P.
C. Bihar
D. Madras

Answer: B. U.P.

21. Which organisation was formed in early 1927 combining workers and peasants?

A. Workers’ and Peasants’ Party
B. Congress Socialist Party
C. All India Kisan Sabha
D. Communist Party of India

Answer: A. Workers’ and Peasants’ Party

22. In which city was the Congress Socialist Party formed in 1934?

A. Calcutta
B. Bombay
C. Delhi
D. Lucknow

Answer: B. Bombay

23. Which movement confirmed that India was becoming a nation, according to Prof Mukherjee?

A. Champaran
B. Bardoli Satyagraha
C. Eka movement
D. Quit India Movement

Answer: B. Bardoli Satyagraha

24. During which movement did peasant protests not become anti‑landlordism?

A. Non‑cooperation
B. Quit India Movement
C. Bardoli Satyagraha
D. Civil Disobedience

Answer: B. Quit India Movement

25. Which session declared that “Congress itself is in the main a kisan organisation”?

A. Haripura session
B. Lahore session
C. Benaras session
D. Gaya session

Answer: A. Haripura session

26. Where did the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha demonstrate before the Assembly?

A. Lucknow
B. Patna
C. Bombay
D. Madras

Answer: B. Patna

27. Which was the first trade union proper in India, formed in 1905?

A. Railwaymen’s Union
B. Printer’s Union
C. Madras Labour Union
D. AITUC

Answer: B. Printer’s Union

28. Which union followed the 1906 clerks’ strike on the East Indian Railway?

A. Bombay Mill Union
B. Railwaymen’s Union
C. Madras Labour Union
D. AITUC

Answer: B. Railwaymen’s Union

29. In which years did nationalist involvement in labour strikes slump?

A. 1919–22
B. 1908–09
C. 1930–32
D. 1937–39

Answer: B. 1908–09

30. Which was the first trade union proper in 1918?

A. AITUC
B. Madras Labour Union
C. Worker’s Union
D. Railwaymen’s Union

Answer: B. Madras Labour Union

31. In what year was the Madras Labour Union established?

A. 1905
B. 1918
C. 1920
D. 1919

Answer: B. 1918

32. Who was the first President of the All India Trade Union Congress?

A. Joseph Baptista
B. Lala Lajpat Rai
C. N.M. Joshi
D. Diwan Chaman Lal

Answer: B. Lala Lajpat Rai

33. In which year was the All India Trade Union Congress formed?

A. 1919
B. 1920
C. 1921
D. 1922

Answer: B. 1920

34. Which Congress session formed a committee to assist AITUC in 1922?

A. Lahore session
B. Haripura session
C. Benaras session
D. Gaya session

Answer: D. Gaya session

35. Which party acted as a left‑wing within Congress after 1927?

A. Workers’ and Peasants’ Party
B. Congress Socialist Party
C. Communist Party of India
D. AITUC

Answer: A. Workers’ and Peasants’ Party

36. Which strike lasted over six months under communist leadership in 1928?

A. Sholapur textile strike
B. Bombay dock strike
C. Girni Kamgar Union strike
D. Tuticorin mill strike

Answer: C. Girni Kamgar Union strike

37. Under which case were leading communist and trade union leaders tried in 1929?

A. Kanpur Conspiracy Case
B. Meerut Conspiracy Case
C. Dandi Case
D. Champaran Case

Answer: B. Meerut Conspiracy Case

38. On what date was Gandhi arrested in 1930 during Civil Disobedience?

A. 6 April 1930
B. 4 May 1930
C. 12 February 1928
D. 16 October 1905

Answer: B. 4 May 1930

39. In which city did volunteers set up a parallel government during a 1930 strike?

A. Karachi
B. Sholapur
C. Calcutta
D. Madras

Answer: B. Sholapur

40. By 1939, the number of trade unions had risen to approximately what figure?

A. 271
B. 400
C. 562
D. 800

Answer: C. 562

41. On what date did the Quit India Movement formally begin?

A. 6 April 1930
B. 12 February 1928
C. 9 August 1942
D. 20 July 1905

Answer: C. 9 August 1942

42. How long was the Tata Steel Plant shutdown during the 1942 strikes?

A. Seven days
B. Thirteen days
C. Three weeks
D. One month

Answer: B. Thirteen days

43. Which organisation did Nehru and Bose form in 1928?

A. Congress Socialist Party
B. Indian Independence League
C. Forward Bloc
D. Communist Party of India

Answer: B. Indian Independence League

44. In which year was Subhas Chandra Bose first elected Congress President?

A. 1928
B. 1938
C. 1939
D. 1942

Answer: B. 1938

45. Where was the Congress session held when Bose was re‑elected in 1939?

A. Haripura
B. Tripuri
C. Lahore
D. Benaras

Answer: B. Tripuri

46. Which party did Bose found after resigning from Congress?

A. Forward Bloc
B. Radical Democratic Party
C. Congress Socialist Party
D. Workers’ and Peasants’ Party

Answer: A. Forward Bloc

47. In which city abroad was the Communist Party of India founded?

A. Moscow
B. Kanpur
C. Tashkent
D. Bombay

Answer: C. Tashkent

48. In which year was the Communist Party of India founded?

A. 1920
B. 1924
C. 1925
D. 1930

Answer: A. 1920

49. Which case in 1924 saw the arrest of Indian communist leaders?

A. Dandi March
B. Meerut Conspiracy Case
C. Kanpur Conspiracy Case
D. Bardoli Satyagraha

Answer: C. Kanpur Conspiracy Case

50. Who was the founding initiator of the Communist Party of India?

A. M.N. Roy
B. S.A. Dange
C. Muzaffar Ahmed
D. M.G. Ghate

Answer: A. M.N. Roy

51. During World War II the communists followed which line?

A. Quit India line
B. Civil Disobedience line
C. People’s War line
D. Non‑cooperation line

Answer: C. People’s War line

52. Which ideology did Congress socialists draw up in Nasik Jail in 1932?

A. Liberalism
B. Socialism
C. Capitalism
D. Nationalism

Answer: B. Socialism

53. In which year was the All India Congress Socialist Party formed?

A. 1927
B. 1929
C. 1934
D. 1936

Answer: C. 1934

54. Who chaired the Patna conference that formed the Congress Socialist Party?

A. Jayaprakash Narayan
B. Sampurnanand
C. Narendra Dev
D. Minoo Masani

Answer: C. Narendra Dev

55. Who led the peasants of Oudh in collaboration with Gandhi’s Non‑cooperation calls?

A. Passi Madari
B. Baba Ramchandra
C. Swami Sahajanand
D. Gaurisankar Misra

Answer: B. Baba Ramchandra

56. Who co‑founded the Andhra Provincial Ryot’s Association in 1928?

A. Muzaffar Ahmed
B. N.G. Ranga and M.B. Naidu
C. Sahajanand Saraswati
D. Bankim Mukherjee

Answer: B. N.G. Ranga and M.B. Naidu

57. Which movement declared “workers and peasants are the hands and feet of the Congress”?

A. Quit India
B. Bardoli Satyagraha
C. Civil Disobedience Movement
D. Eka movement

Answer: C. Civil Disobedience Movement

58. Who organised the 1908 strike at Tuticorin Coral Mill?

A. Chidambaram Pillai
B. S.A. Dange
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Lala Lajpat Rai

Answer: A. Chidambaram Pillai

59. Which Congress session raised the demand for Complete Independence in 1929?

A. Haripura session
B. Gaya session
C. Lahore session
D. Benaras session

Answer: C. Lahore session

60. Which movement aimed to remedy Punjab wrongs and injustice to Turkey?

A. Quit India Movement
B. Non‑cooperation Movement
C. Civil Disobedience Movement
D. Bardoli Satyagraha

Answer: B. Non‑cooperation Movement

Questions and Answers

1. When was the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) established?

Answer: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was set up in 1936. It was established in Lucknow in April 1936, initially named the All India Kisan Congress, and soon after, its name was changed to the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).

2. Who was elected as the first President of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)?

Answer: Lala Lajpat Rai was the first elected President of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

3. When was the Communist Party of India (CPI) founded at Kanpur?

Answer: The Communist Party of India (CPI) was born from a conference held at Kanpur in 1925, in which different communist groups participated.

4. Who were appointed as the President and General Secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha when it was formed?

Answer: When the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was formed, Swami Sahajanand was its elected President and N.G. Ranga was the General Secretary.

5. When was the Forward Bloc founded by Subhas Chandra Bose?

Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose founded the Forward Bloc in 1939 after resigning from the post of Congress President and leaving Congress.

6. Which political party followed the ‘People’s War’ line and refrained from participating in the Quit India Movement?

Answer: Following the ‘People’s War’ line, the communists dissociated themselves from the Quit India Movement. The Communist Party of India did not lend any support to the industrial strikes by the working class. The Indian communists, following the Peoples’ War line after Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, suspended all sorts of anti-Imperialist activities. They refrained from participating in the Quit India Movement of 1942.

7. When was the Indian Independence League formed by Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose?

Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose established the Indian Independence League in 1928.

8. Who was appointed as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India after its formation?

Answer: After the Communist Party of India (CPI) was born from a conference held in Kanpur in 1925, M.G. Ghate was later appointed its General Secretary.

9. Which social reformers devoted themselves to the social welfare of factory workers in the nineteenth century?

Answer: In the second half of the nineteenth century, a few social reformers devoted themselves to the social welfare of the factory workers. Among these social workers, mention may be made of Sasipada Banerjee, Shivnath Shastri, Dwarakanath Ganguli, etc.

10. In which year was the Congress Socialist Party formed?

Answer: In 1934, the Congress left-wingers established the Congress Socialist Party in Bombay. In October 1934, a larger conference was organized from which was born the All India Congress Socialist Party.

11. What were the weaknesses of the nineteenth century peasant movements that were overcome in the twentieth century?

Answer: The Indian peasants of the nineteenth century displayed enough courage and organizational ability. Yet they lacked unity and failed to grasp the real significance of colonialism. Most of the weaknesses of the peasant movement were overcome in the twentieth century. Moreover, with the emergence of political parties the discontent of the peasants was merged with general anti-imperialist movement against the British.

12. How did the Great Depression of 1929 affect the Indian peasantry?

Answer: The Great Depression of 1929 adversely affected the Indian peasantry. Increase in the revenue demand also pressed them very hard.

13. What were the demands raised by peasants during the Bardoli Satyagraha?

Answer: In 1926 when the time of revision of land-revenue was due it was found that the hike was unprecedented. The burden on the peasants was 22% to 60% more than the previous rate of tax. The peasants of Bardoli thereupon began satyagraha under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel to protest this hike.

14. Why did the Communist Party of India refuse to support the Quit India Movement?

Answer: Following the ‘People’s War’ line the communists dissociated themselves from the Quit India Movement. The Communist Party of India did not lend any support to the industrial strikes by the working class. The communists followed a policy of industrial peace so that the workers could concentrate on production and the war-efforts not hampered. In reconciling the events at home with the international communist movement they were accustomed to look to the (erstwhile) Soviet Union rather than the potentialities of the Indian national movement. After Hitler had invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 the Indian communists following the Peoples’ War line suspended all sorts of anti-Imperialist activities lest that weakened the anti-Fascist war efforts. In the thesis the question of India’s independence was subordinated to the victory of the Soviet Union in the World War II.

15. How did the Non Co-operation Movement affect the organization of peasants?

Answer: During the Non Co-operation Movement the Indian peasantry also started voicing their protests against various acts of injustice done to them. The Non Co-operation Movement encouraged the peasantry to align them with it. With the support of the Congress leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and others the movement of the peasantry became a part of the national struggle for independence. The members of the Home Rule League, who were really the supporters of the Indian National Congress, initiated the process of organizing the peasants on modern lines. U.P. (United Province) was the province where Kisan Sabha was formed first. In fact, with the support of Madan Mohan Malviya Kisan Sabha came into existence in 1918 by the initiative of Gaurisankar Misra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi. During the Non Co-operation Movement it became difficult to distinguish between a Non Co-operation meeting and a Kisan Sabha gathering.

16. What was the impact of the formation of Congress ministries in 1937 on the trade union movement?

Answer: The formation of Congress ministries in different provinces following the election in 1937 gave a boost to the working class movement. In fact, during the tenure of the Congress ministries between 1937 and 1939, there was a phenomenal rise in the trade union movement. During this period the number of trade unions increased from 271 to 562. The pro-labour attitude of the Congress governments at the provincial level also served as an encouragement to the trade union activities. For instance, the Congress governments ensured civil liberties, meaning people had the right to say, think, and do what they wanted (as long as they respected other people’s rights). Even the Congress Working Committee adopted a resolution expressing solidarity with the Bengal jute workers in 1937 and denounced repressive measures taken against workers by non-Congress provincial ministries in Bengal and Punjab. Another significant feature was that strikes organized by trade unions during this period mostly ended successfully, with victory for the struggling workers.

17. Why did a split occur between Subhas Chandra Bose and the Congress leadership?

Answer: A split occurred between Subhas Chandra Bose and the Congress leadership primarily due to differing views on strategy during the impending World War II and ideological differences. Subhas Chandra wanted to take full advantage of Britain’s difficulties during the war and proposed serving the British with an ultimatum to agree to complete independence. However, both Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru opposed this attitude. They considered Fascism the immediate danger and believed independence would be meaningless with a Fascist victory in World War II. On these grounds, Gandhiji and Nehru were even ready to cooperate with the British.

Subhas’s desire to seek re-election as Congress President in 1939 became crucial. Despite being re-elected at the Tripuri Congress, defeating Gandhiji’s nominee Pattabhi Sitaramayya, conservative Congressmen’s machinations and a lack of unity in the Leftist bloc led to the defeat of Subhas Chandra’s Resolution. Instead, the Pant Resolution, expressing confidence in Gandhiji’s leadership, was passed by an overwhelming majority. Facing this situation, Subhas resigned from the post of President, subsequently left Congress, and founded the Forward Bloc in 1939.

18. What was the impact of the Meerut Conspiracy Case on communist activities in India?

Answer: The Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929) gave a severe blow to the activities of the communists. In an effort to hold back the growth of communist influence, the British Government arrested leading communist and trade union leaders, including Mirajkar, Joshi, Muzaffar Ahmed, and S.A. Dange, bringing them to trial under this case. Subsequently, the labour movement in India weakened, partly due to factors related to the case and splits within organizations like the AITUC.

19. How did the No-rent and No-revenue campaign work as a double-edged weapon against the British?

Answer: During the Civil Disobedience years, peasants in U.P. began a ‘no-revenue and no-rent’ campaign, which acted as a double-edged weapon against the British. According to Bipan Chandra, the no-revenue aspect was a call directed at the zamindars (landlords) urging them not to pay revenue to the British Government. Simultaneously, the no-rent aspect was a call directed at the tenants, urging them not to pay rent to the zamindars. This strategy aimed to disrupt both the colonial administration’s revenue collection and the economic position of the landlords who often collaborated with the British.

20. What was the main achievement of the Bardoli Satyagraha?

Answer: The Bardoli Satyagraha, formally launched on 12 February 1928, constituted an important chapter in India’s freedom movement. Its main achievement was becoming the symbol of peasants’ protests in the country. The movement successfully united a variety of Indian people, irrespective of their class, creed, caste, and religion. As pointed out by Prof Mridula Mukherjee, “Bardoli confirmed the Indian people were indeed on the way to becoming a nation.”

21. Describe the objectives and activities of the All India Kisan Sabha.

Answer: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was organized to coordinate the kisan movement already underway. Established in Lucknow in April 1936, it became the first peasant organization on an all-India basis. Swami Sahajanand was its elected President and N.G. Ranga was the General Secretary.

Organizationally, the AIKS was based on provincial Kisan Sabhas. In some provinces, notably Bihar, Bengal, UP, and Madras, the communists were successful in organizing peasant unrest through the AIKS. For instance, after the Congress ministries were formed in 1937, the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (BPKS), a part of the AIKS network, organized a demonstration of peasants before the Assembly at Patna. The demands raised included the abolition of the zamindari system and a moratorium on debts. Communists like P.C. Joshi advocated for working in active co-operation with local Congress Committees, defending a united front with the Congress so that every kisan struggle could be transformed into a people’s struggle. Although a few Congress leaders were associated with the AIKS, the Congress leadership officially refused to give its blessings to the Sabha, declaring at the Haripura session of 1938 that the “Congress itself is in the main a kisan organization.”

22. Explain the relationship between the Indian National Congress and peasant movements during the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Answer: The Civil Disobedience Movement, launched under Gandhiji’s leadership with the violation of the Salt Law on 6 April 1930, served as an encouragement to peasant movements, and peasants joined the movement. Though Gandhiji protested against zamindars’ oppressions, the Congress as an organization, until 1929 at least, was not tactically prepared to take the side of the peasants and risk open conflict with the zamindars.

However, during the Civil Disobedience years, the peasants of U.P. began a ‘no-revenue and no-rent’ campaign. According to Bipan Chandra, the no-revenue call was for zamindars not to pay the British Government, and the no-rent call was for tenants not to pay rent to zamindars. Under the initiative of Jawaharlal Nehru, the U.P. Congress Committee lent its full support to the no-rent campaign of the peasants. The U.P. Congress also resolved that the national programme should include reduction of land tax. The All India Congress Working Committee accepted most of these resolutions, satisfying both peasants and zamindars.

After March 1931, observing that tenants in the Oudh region received only nominal relief, the U.P. Congress, under Nehru’s direction, started intensifying its rural campaigning. The second phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement in U.P., lasting until mid-1932, drew the people of the countryside into the Congress agitation, with over 10,000 Congress volunteers and agitators being convicted. During the Civil Disobedience, the Congress in Bombay raised the slogan that “workers and peasants are the hands and feet of the Congress,” acknowledging their importance to the movement. Despite initial hesitations, the Congress actively supported and mobilized peasant participation, particularly in the no-rent campaigns, integrating their struggles into the broader national movement.

23. How did the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party try to organize the working class in India?

Answer: The Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) came into existence by early 1927 under the leadership of figures like S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, P.C. Joshi, and Sohan Singh Josh. Formed by communist leaders despite British Government restraints, the WPP initially functioned as a left-wing within the Congress and rapidly spread its organization at provincial and national levels.

The WPP devoted itself, among other things, to the growth of class consciousness amongst the working class. Its stated objective was to strive for a broad anti-imperialist front to achieve complete independence, with the ultimate aim of establishing socialism in the independent country. Though the WPP itself was short-lived, its units in some provinces emerged as the political party of the working class. WPP workers also participated in activities like the Simon boycott demonstrations across the country.

24. Discuss the contribution of the Congress Socialist Party to the freedom struggle.

Answer: The Congress Socialist Party (CSP) was established in 1934 in Bombay by Congress left-wingers such as Jayprakash Narayan, Narendra Dev, and Minoo Masani. These individuals, along with others like Achhut Patwardhan, were wedded to the leftist ideal and decided while detained in Nasik Central Jail in 1932 to draw up a socialist programme while remaining within the Congress fold. The party was formally born from a larger conference in October 1934, with Sampurnanand as the elected chairman.

The CSP had considerable influence amongst the peasants of north India, especially in Bihar and the United Province (UP). They adopted an agrarian policy that was more radical than that of the mainstream Congress. Their demands included the abolition of the zamindary system, recognition of occupancy rights for tenants, freezing the debts of the peasants, and formulating ‘agrarian wages’. Other objectives adopted included vesting all power in the people associated with production, socialization of industries and other productive organizations, state control over foreign trade, abrogation of the raja-maharaja system, distribution of land to peasants, and the state recognizing the right to work with wages paid according to need.
By articulating these radical demands and organizing sections of the peasantry, the CSP pushed for a more socialist orientation within the national movement and contributed to the mobilization of peasants and workers, linking their economic struggles with the broader goal of political freedom. Communists also utilized the organizational strength of the Kisan Sabhas associated with the Congress Socialists (and Congress) to augment their influence among the peasantry just before the Quit India Movement.

25. Explain the main features of the Eka Movement in United Provinces.

Answer: The Eka Movement, meaning unity movement, surfaced towards the close of the year 1921, reflecting the discontent of peasants in the United Provinces (U.P.), particularly in the districts of Hardoi, Sitapur, etc.

The main features of the Eka Movement were:

Origin and Leadership: While the initial thrust for the movement was provided by the Congress, its two most famous leaders were Passi Madari and Sahreb.

Peasant Vows: The insurgent peasants took vows before a symbolic representation of the river Ganges. These vows included commitments to pay only the recorded rent, pay it on time, refuse to leave the land under any circumstances (and if ejected, abide by the decision of the panchayat), and refuse to perform forced labour (bet-begari).
Demise: The Eka movement ultimately died an untimely death due to severe repression carried out by the colonial British authorities.

26. How did the nationalist leaders respond to labor unrest during the anti-partition movement?

Answer: Though Congress as an organization did not come out in open to support the workers’ movement during the anti-partition movement, many of the Congress leaders enthusiastically supported labour strikes and formation of trade unions. Aswinikumar Banerjee, Premtosh Bose, Apurba Kumar Ghosh, etc. were some of the labour leaders of the Swadeshi movement who were active in a large number of strikes. Tilak made Bombay workers go for a strike, and Chidambaram Pillai organized a strike of the Tuticorin Coral Mill. Some extremist leaders, imbued with Marxist ideas developing in Europe, openly urged for following the ‘Russian method’ of political general strike in India. The 14 September 1907 edition of Nabasakti openly advocated following the example of the working class movement in Russia. However, this remained mere lip service as there was no real political strike in the labour intensive establishments, remaining limited only to clerks and some Bengali jute mill workers.

27. Describe the formation and objectives of the All India Trade Union Congress.

Answer: The most important development of the period following the First World War was the formation of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920 in Bombay. In that year N.M. Joshi, Joseph Baptista, Lala Lajpat Rai and others were successful in consolidating the working class into a centralized national organization known as the AITUC. Lala Lajpat Rai was the first elected President and Diwan Chaman Lal, its General Secretary.

The objectives the AITUC were: to co-ordinate the activities of all the labour organizations in all trades and all provinces of India, and generally to further the interest of the Indian labour in matters economic, social and political.

28. What factors led to the growth of leftist ideology within the Indian National Congress?

Answer: During the 20s and 30s of the twentieth century, there was the emergence of a very strong leftist group in India, considered an integral part of the growth of the New Leftist movement globally. Socialist ideas percolated initially through Indian soldiers returning from World War I. The success of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917 played an important role, making some young Indians wonder if the imperialist British rulers could be driven out similarly. The British Government’s suspicion of national leaders, including Gandhiji, as secret agents of Soviet Russia, ironically led Indians opposed to British imperialism to take more interest in the Bolsheviks.

Within this context, two strands emerged: the Leftist leaning of Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, as well as amongst some young Congress members, and the growth of socialist parties outside the Congress fold. Nehru and Bose were central figures, deeply influenced by socialist ideas, travelling the country carrying the message of anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism, and anti-landlordism. The reason for their leftist leaning, even while remaining within Congress, was their realization that it was meaningless to have political freedom without achieving economic freedom. Nehru, after visiting Soviet Russia in 1927, was transformed into a ‘socialist’. Apart from Nehru and Bose, many other Congress workers like Jayprakash Narayan, Achhut Patwabardhan, Minoo Masani, and Narendra Deb were wedded to the leftist ideal, leading to the formation of the All India Congress Socialist Party in 1934.

29. Explain the differences between Gandhiji’s approach and the leftist approach toward peasant and worker mobilization.

Answer: Gandhiji was unhappy over the peasants’ plight and protested against the zamindars’ oppressions, but the Congress as an organization, till 1929 at least, was not tactically prepared to take the side of the peasants and thereby come into open conflict with the zamindars. Gandhiji’s participation in the national freedom struggle created a mass awakening that involved the working class. His arrest during the Civil Disobedience Movement intensified labour unrest. Later, Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru opposed Subhas Chandra Bose’s proposal for an ultimatum to the British before World War II, considering Fascism the immediate danger and being ready to cooperate with the British.

The leftist approach, exemplified by groups like the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) and the Congress Socialist Party, was generally more radical. The WPP, formed by early 1927, functioned as a left-wing within Congress and aimed to be a genuine peasant organization, devoting itself to the growth of class consciousness and striving for a broad anti-imperialist front for complete independence and socialism. The Congress Socialists demanded the abolition of the zamindary system, recognition of occupancy rights, freezing peasant debts, and formulating ‘agrarian wages’. Communists, influenced by the Russian Revolution, showed great interest in trade unions and used the organizational strength of Kisan Sabhas, forming the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in 1936. Their main political work was organizing peasants and workers, setting up unions, and organizing strikes, like the communist-led Girni Kamgar Union strike in 1928. Leftist leaders like Nehru and Bose emphasized that political freedom was meaningless without economic freedom, carrying messages of anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism, and anti-landlordism. Subhas Chandra Bose advocated taking full advantage of Britain’s difficulties during World War II to demand complete independence. However, the Communist Party, following the ‘People’s War’ line after Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, dissociated themselves from the Quit India Movement and suspended anti-imperialist activities to support the anti-Fascist war effort, which isolated them.

30. How did the various provincial Kisan Sabhas coordinate their activities?

Answer: In order to coordinate the kisan movement already under way in various provinces, the All India Kisan Sabha was organized. In Lucknow, in April 1936, the All India Kisan Congress was established. Soon after, its name was changed to the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS). Swami Sahajanand was its elected President and N.G. Ranga was the General Secretary. Organizationally, the AIKS was based on provincial Kisan Sabhas, thus providing a central body to coordinate their activities.

31. Evaluate the relationship between the Indian National Congress and peasant movements from the anti-partition movement to the Quit India Movement.

Answer: The relationship between the Indian National Congress and peasant movements evolved significantly from the anti-partition movement to the Quit India Movement.

During the Anti-Partition Movement (1905), peasant participation was very much limited, with the movement largely confined to the urban middle class. Although the Congress leadership did call upon peasants to start a no-rent campaign, participation was not negligible, with instances like the indigo peasants of Champaran rising in rebellion and disturbances in Assam and Mymensingh. The Boycott movement, a key feature, severely impacted the peasants of Bengal economically. At this stage, Left politics had not emerged, so there was no question of Leftist leadership among the peasants.

The Non Co-operation Movement (1919-1922) encouraged the peasantry to align with it. Congress leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vallabhbhai Patel supported the peasant movement, integrating it into the national struggle for independence. Supporters of the Indian National Congress, particularly members of the Home Rule League, initiated organizing peasants on modern lines, leading to the formation of Kisan Sabhas, first in U.P. in 1918. Leaders like Baba Ramchandra mobilized peasants against zamindars. During this period, it became difficult to distinguish between a Non Co-operation meeting and a Kisan Sabha gathering. The Eka Movement in U.P. (1921) initially received thrust from the Congress. The Bardoli Satyagraha (1928), led by Vallabhbhai Patel with Gandhiji’s blessings, became a symbol of peasants’ protests nationwide.

During the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930s), while Gandhiji protested against zamindars’ oppressions, the Congress as an organization, until 1929 at least, was not tactically prepared to openly side with peasants against zamindars. However, the peasantry built up its own organizations, like the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (1929) and similar bodies in Bengal and Andhra. This culminated in the formation of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in 1936. The Civil Disobedience Movement served as an encouragement to peasant movements, such as the ‘no-revenue and no-rent’ campaign in U.P., which received full support from the U.P. Congress Committee under Jawaharlal Nehru’s initiative. The Congress Working Committee accepted resolutions aiming to satisfy both peasants and zamindars. However, the first phase of the movement reportedly failed to make a significant impact on the peasant masses. The second phase drew more people from the countryside into the Congress agitation. The Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP), functioning as a left-wing within Congress, emerged but struggled to define its stance, exemplified by its indecision on supporting the Bardoli Satyagraha.

The emergence of the Congress Socialist Party in 1934, established by Congress left-wingers, brought a more radical agrarian policy, demanding the abolition of the zamindari system, recognition of occupancy rights, freezing peasant debts, and formulating ‘agrarian wages’. They held considerable influence among peasants in north India, especially Bihar and U.P.

Before and during the Quit India Movement (1942), Congress Ministries formed after the 1937 elections introduced legislation providing relief to the peasantry, which served as an opportunity for mobilization. Peasants either supported the legislation or demanded changes. Unlike earlier movements, the Quit India Movement, even when spread to villages, did not assume the character of anti-landlordism, and peasants were not in a mood for no-rent or no-revenue campaigns. Communists utilized the organizational strength of Kisan Sabhas (associated with Congress and Congress Socialists) to augment their influence, leading to the AIKS formation in 1936. While a few Congress leaders were associated with AIKS, the Congress leadership refused to give its blessings, declaring at the Haripura session (1938) that the “Congress itself is in the main a kisan organization.” Communists, through provincial Kisan Sabhas like the BPKS, organized peasant unrest and demonstrations, demanding zamindari abolition and debt moratoriums.

32. Analyze the evolution of working class movements in India during the freedom struggle.

Answer: The working class movement in India evolved through distinct phases during the freedom struggle.
Initially, before the First World War, the working class, which appeared in the second half of the nineteenth century, was not organized. Early efforts were made by social reformers like Sasipada Banerjee, Shivnath Shastri, and Dwarakanath Ganguli, who focused on the social welfare of factory workers.

The Anti-Partition Movement (1905-1908) marked a landmark period with Swadeshi and Boycott leading to significant ‘industrial unrest’ and a sharp increase in strikes. Swadeshi leaders encouraged labourers to unite and form unions. While Congress as an organization did not openly support workers’ movements, many Congress leaders enthusiastically supported labour strikes and the formation of trade unions. Notable strikes occurred in the East Indian Railway and various mills, led by figures like Tilak in Bombay and Chidambaram Pillai in Tuticorin. The first real labour unions, like the Printer’s Union (1905) and the Railwaymen’s Union (1906), were formed. However, nationalist interest in labour slumped after 1908, partly due to leaders being jailed. There were faint beginnings of socialist leanings, with calls to follow the ‘Russian method’ of general strikes, but these remained limited.

A resurgence occurred during the Non Co-operation Movement (1919-1922). Worsened living conditions due to post-WWI price hikes brought the working class into full activity. This phase saw the working class setting up its own all-India organization, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), in Bombay in 1920, with leaders like N.M. Joshi, Joseph Baptista, and Lala Lajpat Rai. The AITUC aimed to coordinate labour activities and further workers’ interests. The Madras Labour Union, the first proper trade union, was formed in 1918. Congress welcomed the AITUC and even formed a committee to assist it. Congress leaders led powerful strikes, like the one in the East Indian Railway. However, another slump occurred after 1922 under nationalist leadership.

The next wave was spurred by the Leftists in the 1920s and 1930s. Socialist and communist influence strengthened the movement, with groups organizing labour. The Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) was formed in 1927, functioning as a left-wing within Congress and aiming to build class consciousness and achieve complete independence with the ultimate goal of socialism.

During the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930s), the labour movement gained a political foothold, with workers participating nationwide, often following the Congress’s lead against British imperialism. Slogans like “workers and peasants are the hands and feet of the Congress” emerged. Gandhiji’s arrest intensified labour unrest, leading to strikes like the one in Sholapur. Communist influence grew strong, leading massive strikes like the Girni Kamgar Union (GKU) textile strike in Bombay. Despite severe repression, including the Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929) which imprisoned key leaders and weakened the movement through splits in the AITUC, workers heroically participated in the CDM, facing clashes with police, long-term imprisonment, and even death sentences.

The formation of Congress ministries in 1937 gave a boost to the working class movement, leading to a phenomenal rise in trade unions (from 271 to 562 between 1937-1939). The pro-labour attitude of these governments, ensuring civil liberties, encouraged trade union activities, and strikes often ended successfully. During the Quit India Movement (1942), following the arrest of national leaders, workers across the country went on strikes and hartals, sometimes lasting for months, as seen in Jamshedpur and Ahmedabad. Although the Communist Party officially dissociated itself due to its ‘People’s War’ line, the rank and file actively participated in many centres.

33. Discuss the role of leftist ideologies in shaping the anti-colonial movement in India.

Answer: Leftist ideologies played a significant role in shaping the anti-colonial movement in India, particularly from the 1920s onwards.

The emergence of a strong leftist group in the 1920s and 30s brought fundamental changes to Indian politics. This rise was influenced by global trends, the percolation of socialist ideas (partly through returning WWI soldiers), and the success of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which inspired hope that British imperialism could also be overthrown. This led to the development of two main strands: the leftist leanings of prominent Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, and the growth of distinct socialist and communist parties.

Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose were central figures influenced by socialist ideas. They advocated anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism, and anti-landlordism, realizing that political freedom required economic freedom. Nehru became a self-proclaimed ‘socialist’ after visiting Soviet Russia in 1927. Bose, in his writings, highlighted the strength of worker and peasant movements and criticized Congress’s inaction during favourable moments. Together, they formed the Indian Independence League in 1928 to push for Complete Independence (Poorna Swaraj), significantly contributing to the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Within the Congress, a group of workers wedded to the leftist ideal, including Jayprakash Narayan, Narendra Dev, and Minoo Masani, formed the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) in 1934. The CSP advocated a radical programme including the socialization of industries, abolition of the zamindari system, land distribution to peasants, and the right to work, adopting a more radical agrarian policy than the mainstream Congress.

The Communist Party of India (CPI), founded initially in Tashkent in 1920 and formally established in India in 1925, focused on organizing peasants and workers. They set up unions and led significant strikes, particularly in the late 1920s (e.g., the Girni Kamgar Union strike). However, they faced severe repression (Kanpur and Meerut Conspiracy Cases) and periods of isolation, especially when they broke ties with Congress or adopted lines like the ‘People’s War’ during Quit India, which subordinated national independence to international events. Despite this, communists actively participated in movements like the Civil Disobedience Movement, particularly after 1935 when they rejoined Congress activities.

Other leftist formations like the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP), formed in 1927, functioned as a left-wing within Congress, aiming to build class consciousness and strive for complete independence and socialism. Figures like M.N. Roy also played a crucial role, founding the CPI abroad, influencing ideology through literature, and later participating within Congress before forming the Radical Democratic Party.

Subhas Chandra Bose’s leftist ideology led him to advocate taking full advantage of Britain’s wartime difficulties. His election as Congress President (1938, 1939) represented a high point for the left within Congress, though internal opposition led to his resignation and the formation of the Forward Bloc in 1939.

Leftist ideologies introduced radical socio-economic demands into the anti-colonial discourse, organized key sections of society like workers and peasants through trade unions and Kisan Sabhas, pressured the Congress to adopt more radical stances like Poorna Swaraj, and provided alternative visions for an independent India focused on socialism and economic justice, thereby significantly shaping the character and trajectory of the freedom struggle.

34. Compare the participation of workers in different phases of the national movement from the anti-partition movement to the Quit India Movement.

Answer: Worker participation in the national movement evolved significantly across different phases:

During the Anti-Partition Movement (1905-1908), worker participation was marked by a sharp increase in strikes (‘industrial unrest’), often encouraged by Swadeshi leaders and supported by individual Congress figures, though not formally by the Congress organization. Strikes occurred in railways and mills, and the first unions were formed. However, participation was somewhat limited, mainly involving clerks and some jute mill workers, and saw a slump after 1908.

In the Non Co-operation Movement (1919-1922), there was a resurgence of working-class activity. This phase was characterized by greater organization, notably the formation of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920, and the working class became more involved in mainstream national politics, defending its class rights. Congress welcomed the AITUC, and its leaders even led major strikes. Participation was more widespread and politically conscious than during the anti-partition era, though it slumped again after 1922.

The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930s) saw the labour movement gaining a firm political foothold. Workers participated actively across the country, often following the Congress’s lead and facing severe repression. Communist influence grew, leading to large-scale, prolonged strikes (e.g., the GKU strike). Participation was widespread, involving various sectors like textiles, docks, and railways, and workers displayed significant heroism despite arrests and violence. This phase demonstrated a higher level of political integration and militancy compared to earlier movements.

During the Quit India Movement (1942), worker participation was immediate and widespread following the arrest of national leaders. Strikes and hartals occurred in major industrial centres across the country, often lasting for extended periods. This participation occurred despite the official non-participation policy of the Communist Party, indicating a strong nationalist sentiment among the rank and file. The preceding years under Congress ministries (1937-39) had already seen a significant boost in trade union activity and successful strikes, setting the stage for this large-scale involvement.

In comparison, worker participation grew from being somewhat sporadic and leader-dependent during the Anti-Partition phase to becoming increasingly organized, politically conscious, and integrated into the national struggle during the NCM and CDM. The CDM perhaps saw the peak of combined nationalist and class-based mobilization, despite repression and internal splits. The QIM demonstrated the workers’ capacity for spontaneous and sustained protest on a national scale, even when formal organizational directives were conflicting.

35. Examine the contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose to leftist politics in India.

Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose were pivotal figures who significantly contributed to the growth and direction of leftist politics within the Indian anti-colonial movement.

Both leaders were deeply influenced by socialist ideas in the 1920s and became central figures in the resurgent national movement. They shared a conviction that political freedom was incomplete without economic freedom and actively propagated messages of anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism, and anti-landlordism across the country.

Jawaharlal Nehru’s leftist orientation solidified after his visit to Soviet Russia in 1927, leading him to identify as a ‘socialist’. He played a crucial role in aligning parts of the Congress organization with peasant struggles. For instance, under his initiative, the U.P. Congress Committee supported the ‘no-rent’ campaign during the Civil Disobedience Movement, and he directed the intensification of rural campaigning in U.P. While committed to socialist ideals, his approach often involved working within the Congress framework and balancing different interests. He, along with Gandhiji, opposed Bose’s call for an immediate ultimatum to the British before World War II, prioritizing the fight against Fascism.

Subhas Chandra Bose represented a more militant strand of leftist nationalism. His book, The Indian Struggle, reflected his assessment of the revolutionary potential in the 1920s and his critique of Congress’s cautious approach. As a prominent leftist ideologue, his election as Congress President in 1938 and 1939 marked significant moments for the left wing. He strongly advocated leveraging Britain’s wartime difficulties to force immediate independence. His differences with the Congress right-wing and Gandhiji over strategy and ideology, particularly regarding cooperation with Britain against Fascism, led to his resignation and the formation of the Forward Bloc in 1939, aiming to consolidate leftist forces outside the mainstream Congress leadership.

Together, Nehru and Bose significantly energized the left within the national movement. Their joint formation of the Indian Independence League in 1928 was instrumental in pushing the Congress towards the goal of Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) and contributed to the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement. They articulated socialist visions for India’s future and helped ensure that socio-economic issues became integral parts of the freedom struggle, influencing Congress policies and mobilizing youth, workers, and peasants under a more radical banner. While they eventually diverged in their strategies and relationship with the mainstream Congress, both undeniably shaped the discourse and trajectory of leftist politics in India.

36. Analyze the factors that led to the emergence of independent peasant organizations separate from the Congress.

Answer: Several factors contributed to the emergence of independent peasant organizations separate from the Congress. The Indian peasantry during the 1930s began to build up organizations relying upon their own strength, driven by economic hardships such as the Great Depression, increased revenue demands, and exploitation by zamindars who demanded high rent. The enthusiasm generated by movements like the Bardoli Satyagraha also provided impetus.

Specific leaders emerged who organized peasants around their grievances, such as Baba Ramchandra in Oudh, Sahajanand Saraswati who initiated the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (BPKS) in 1929 for economically ruined peasants, and N.G. Ranga and M.B. Naidu who founded the Andhra Provincial Ryot’s Association in 1928. Communist leaders like Muzaffar Ahmed and Bankim Mukherjee also took initiatives in Bengal.

The need to coordinate these growing, localized peasant movements led to the formation of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in Lucknow in April 1936, which was the first peasant organization on an all-India basis. The rise of Left-wing politics, including the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) which emerged as a genuine peasant organization by 1929, and the Congress Socialist Party established in 1934, provided platforms with more radical agrarian policies than the mainstream Congress. Communists actively used the organizational strength of existing Kisan Sabhas (associated with Congress and Congress Socialists) to build the AIKS.

Although the Congress, particularly under Nehru’s initiative in U.P., supported peasant campaigns like the no-rent campaign and passed resolutions for reducing land tax, its approach sometimes aimed to satisfy both peasants and zamindars. Furthermore, while a few Congress leaders were associated with the AIKS, the official Congress leadership refused to give its blessings to the Sabha, declaring at the Haripura session of 1938 that the “Congress itself is in the main a kisan organization,” indicating a divergence that fostered separate organizational growth.

37. Discuss the relationship between the Communist Party of India and the mainstream national movement.

Answer: The relationship between the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the mainstream national movement, primarily represented by the Congress, was complex and evolved over time. Initially, before the CPI began its political activities among peasants after its formation in 1925, Indian Communists tried to work within the nationalist mainstream, the Congress. The Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP), formed by communist leaders in 1927, initially functioned as a left-wing within the Congress and its workers participated in nationalist activities like the Simon boycott demonstrations. Communists often expressed a desire to work in active co-operation with local Congress Committees, and leaders like P.C. Joshi defended a united front with the Congress.
During the Civil Disobedience Movement of the early 1930s, a Communist Party document acknowledged that the Congress was virtually the only organization fighting British imperialism, which led workers to follow the Congress’s lead. However, the relationship faced strains. The Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929), targeting communist leaders, was a severe blow. Subsequently, the communists inflicted a deadly blow on themselves by breaking their connection with the Congress. Despite this break, the communist movement survived partly because many communists refused to stand apart from the Civil Disobedience Movement and actively participated in it.

By 1935, there was a radical change, and communists once again participated in the activities of the Congress. However, a major divergence occurred during World War II. Following Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the CPI adopted the ‘People’s War’ line. This policy involved suspending all anti-Imperialist activities to avoid weakening the anti-Fascist war effort, effectively subordinating the goal of India’s independence to the victory of the Soviet Union. Consequently, the communists dissociated themselves from the Quit India Movement of 1942 and followed a policy of industrial peace. This stance isolated and discredited the Communist Party of India among nationalists, peasants, and workers, even though many rank-and-file communists did participate in the Quit India Movement in various centres.

38. Examine how the Bardoli Satyagraha symbolized the integration of peasant movements with the national freedom struggle.

Answer: The Bardoli Satyagraha, launched formally on 12 February 1928, became a powerful symbol of the integration of peasant movements with the broader national freedom struggle. Described as being “in many ways a child of the Non Co-operation days,” it was initiated by the peasants of Bardoli in Gujarat against an unprecedented hike in land revenue.

Crucially, the Satyagraha was led by a prominent Congress leader, Vallabhbhai Patel, and had the blessings of Mahatma Gandhiji, directly linking the peasant protest to the leadership of the national movement. It constituted an important chapter in the freedom movement of India and became the symbol of peasants’ protests across the country.

The movement’s success in uniting a variety of Indian people irrespective of their class, creed, caste, and religion demonstrated its national character. Professor Mridula Mukherjee noted that “Bardoli confirmed the Indian people were indeed on the way to becoming a nation.” The Satyagraha generated new enthusiasm amongst the peasantry nationwide, giving a fresh impetus to peasant movements and encouraging them to align with the national struggle for independence led by the Congress.

39. Evaluate the role of M.N. Roy in shaping the leftist movement in India.

Answer: M.N. Roy, originally Narendranath Bhattacharya, played a significant, albeit complex, role in shaping the leftist movement in India. He was a founder of both the Mexican Communist Party and the Communist Party of India (CPI), which was formed at Tashkent on 17 October 1920 under his initiative.

In the early phase, Roy was instrumental in introducing and spreading Marxist ideology in India. From Tashkent, where he headed the Asian Bureau of the Communist International, he sent various literature, pamphlets, and books to India for this purpose. His activities led to him being implicated in the Kanpur Conspiracy Case (1924).

After returning to India in 1930 and serving a jail sentence for sedition, Roy’s political trajectory shifted. He joined the Indian National Congress in 1936 and simultaneously organized the League of Radical Congressman. However, due to differences with the Congress High Command, he resigned and formed a new party, the Radical Democratic Party.

His stance during World War II distinguished him from the CPI’s initial position (though aligning with their later ‘People’s War’ rationale on different grounds); Roy and his followers supported the Allied war effort from the outset, viewing Fascism as a greater menace to mankind than declining British imperialism.

Towards the end of his life, particularly after India’s independence, Roy underwent another ideological transformation. He abolished the Radical Democratic Party and founded the new Radical Humanist Association, effectively turning from a Marxist to a humanist. Thus, while a key figure in the foundation and early ideological development of Indian communism, his later career saw him diverge from the mainstream communist movement and eventually from Marxism itself.

40. Analyze the impact of international events like the Russian Revolution and World War II on leftist politics in India.

Answer: International events like the Russian Revolution and World War II profoundly impacted the development and direction of leftist politics in India.

The success of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917 served as a major inspiration. It attracted young Indians to the socialist ideal, making them question why, if Tsarist autocracy could be overthrown, British imperialism could not be similarly challenged. The British government’s resulting fear of Soviet influence inadvertently increased Indian interest in the Bolsheviks. The revolution provided a model, influencing Indian communists to focus more on organizing trade unions. It also directly influenced key nationalist leaders; Jawaharlal Nehru, for instance, was transformed into a ‘socialist’ after his visit to Soviet Russia in 1927.

World War II caused significant shifts and divisions within the Indian left. The most notable impact was on the Communist Party of India (CPI). After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the CPI adopted the ‘People’s War’ line, prioritizing the defeat of Fascism over the immediate struggle for Indian independence. This led them to suspend anti-imperialist activities, support the British war effort through industrial peace, and dissociate themselves from the Quit India Movement launched by Congress in 1942. This policy severely isolated and discredited the CPI within the broader nationalist movement. Other leftists, like M.N. Roy and his Radical Democratic Party, also supported the war effort against Fascism, but based on their own analysis of Fascism as the primary global threat. The war also influenced mainstream nationalist leaders like Gandhiji and Nehru, who considered Fascism an immediate danger, impacting their strategies and willingness to potentially cooperate with the British war effort under certain conditions.

Ron'e Dutta

Ron'e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.

Get notes of other classes and subjects

NBSE	SEBA/AHSEC
NCERT	TBSE
WBBSE/WHCHSE	ICSE/ISC
BSEM/COHSEM	Custom Notes for Teachers
MBOSE	Question Papers

Notify change in syllabus/books	Sell PDFs of your books
Request notes not available now	Share PDFs of question papers

2 comments

Roni August 11, 2023 at 8:43 pm

Can you guys drop some mind map on this chapters of history

Reply
Ludasmi Banthia September 8, 2024 at 8:36 pm

Great opportunity for poor students. Thank you Sir.

Reply