16 September 2024 : Daily Answer Writing
Q1) Analyse the significance of the Civil Disobedience Movement in India’s freedom struggle, considering its extent, reach, and revolutionary zeal.
(150 Words/10 Marks)
ANS
The Civil Disobedience Movement was a national movement against oppressive British regime. The movement holds a unique place in India’s freedom struggle:
- Extent of participation:
- Women played a leading role, picketing foreign shops selling liquor, opium, etc.
- Students and youth boycotted foreign cloth and liquor.
- Traders’ associations and merchants were active in implementing the boycott, especially in Tamil Nadu and Punjab.
- Tribals were active participants in Central Provinces, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
- Workers participation in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Sholapur, etc. was seminal.
- Peasants were active in the United Provinces, Bihar and Gujarat.
- Geographical reach of participation:
- Tamil Nadu: C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Thiruchirapalli to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law.
- Malabar: K. Kelappan, a Congress leader famed for the Vaikom Satyagraha, organised salt marches.
- Andhra Region: Sibirams (military style camps) were set up to serve as the headquarters of the Salt Satyagraha.
- Violation of chaukidari tax was seen in Bengal, Bihar, etc.
- Manipur and Nagaland: Rani Gaidinliu, a Naga spiritual leader raised the banner of revolt against foreign rule.
- Peshawar: Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan organised a volunteer brigade ‘Khudai Khidmatgars’, who actively participated in the movement.
- Revolutionary zeal of movement:
- Complete independence was declared as the aim of Congress in Lahore Session. Moreover, January 26, 1930, was fixed as the first Independence Day.
- Tricolour flag of freedom was hoisted on the banks of Ravi by Jawaharlal Nehru amidst slogans of Inquilab Zindabad.
- Independence Pledge: A thought was gaining momentum that it a crime against man and God to submit any longer to British rule; a pledge was taken to that effect.
- Gandhi’s Eleven Demands: M K Gandhi presented eleven demands to the government. E.g., Change Arms Act allowing popular control of issue of firearms licences; Reduce land revenue by 50 per cent etc.
- Mahatma Gandhi gave the following directions for future actions:
- Wherever possible civil disobedience of the salt law should be started.
- Truth and non-violence as means to attain swaraj should be faithfully adhered to.
III. Foreign liquor and cloth shops can be picketed; etc.
The Civil Disobedience Movement stands out in India’s freedom struggle due to its mass participation, commitment to nonviolence, grassroot mobilization, symbolic actions, and international impact. It also laid the foundation for future campaigns, such as the Quit India Movement in 1942, finally culminating with India’s independence.
