History & Civics
Do you think that the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 marked the entry of women on the Indian political scene? Did it have any effect on the position of women?
Answer
The Civil Disobedience Movement brought women out of their homes to participate in politics and to make them equal partners in freedom struggle. During Gandhiji's salt march, thousands of women came out of their homes to listen to him. They participated in protest marches, manufactured salt, and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many went to jail. Moved by Gandhiji's call, they began to see service to the nation as a sacred duty of women.
However, this did not result in any change in their social position. For a long time the Congress was reluctant to allow women to hold any position of authority within the organization. It was keen only on their symbolic presence.
Related Questions
In 1930 Mahatma Gandhi's demands were rejected by the British, as a result of which he launched the Civil Disobedience Movement. In this context, explain the following:
(a) Name the famous march undertaken by Gandhiji. Where did he begin this march? State two of its features.
(b) How was this Movement different from the Non-Cooperation Movement?
(c) Explain briefly how did Mahatma Gandhi try to promote Hindu-Muslim unity from the Rowlatt Satyagraha to the Third Round Table conference.
Suppose you recently visited Jallianwala Bagh Memorial in Amritsar. While you were there, you could visualise what might have happened on that unfortunate day on April 13, 1919. Describe the scene of the tragedy as visualised by you.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre which shook the British rule in India was reported in the British Press after eight months when the Hunter Committee of Inquiry formed to inquire into the matter gave its report. The Indian Press also took little note of the incident and buried it in the inside pages of the newspaper. Why, do you think, that such a gruesome massacre remained the most underplayed news stories of its time?
How did the Civil Disobedience Movement create a sense of collective belonging that resulted in the spread of nationalism?