Kerala Plus Two History Question Paper March 2022 with Answers

Teachers recommend solving Kerala Syllabus Plus Two History Previous Year Question Papers and Answers Pdf March 2022 to improve time management during exams.

Kerala Plus Two History Previous Year Question Paper March 2022

Part – I

A. Answer any questions from 1 to 6. Each carries 1 score. (4 × 1 = 4)

Question 1.
The Great Bath was situated at
(a) Mohenjodaro
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Harappa
(d) Dholavira
Answer:
(a) Mohenjodaro

Question 2.
Who gave leadership for the preparation of a critical edition of the Mahabharata?
(a) B.B. Lai
(b) V.S.Sukthankar
(c) Mahashweta Devi
(d) R.D.Baneiji
Answer:
(b) V.S.Sukthankar

Question 3.
Socrates was a native of:
(a) Iran
(b) China
(c) Russia
(d) Greece
Answer:
(d) Greece

Question 4.
Identify the birth place of the Buddha.
(a) Lumbini
(b) Bodh Gaya
(c) Samath
(d) Kusinagara
Answer:
(a) Lumbini

Question 5.
Where did the Buddha make his first sermon?
(a) Sachi
(b) Amaravati
(c) Kusinagara
(d) Samath
Answer:
(d) Samath

Question 6.
Name the leader of the Virashaiva movement in Karnataka.
(a)GuruNanak
(b) Basavanna
(c) Andal
(d) Appar
Answer:
(b) Basavanna

B. Answer all questions from 7 to 10. Each carries 1 score. (4 × 1 = 4)

Question 7.
Identify the king who was referred to as ‘Piyadassi’.
a) Kanishka
b) Samudra Gupta
c) Bimbisara
d) Asoka
Answer:
d) Asoka

Question 8.
Sultan Jehan Begum was the ruler of:
a) Amaravati
b) Bhopal
c) Iran
d) Guntur
Answer:
b) Bhopal

Question 9.
The Vijayanagara empire was founded in:
a) 1300
b) 1316
c) 1326
d) 1336
Answer:
d) 1336

Question 10.
Who started the newspaper ‘Rajyasamacharam’?
a) Benjamin Bailey
b) AmosPathiri
c) Hermen Gundert
d) Rev. Mead
Answer:
c) Hermen Gundert

Part – II

A. Answer any 3 questions from 11 to 15. Each carries 2 scores.

Question 12.
Prepare a short note on AkbarNama
Answer:
Abul Fazl – 3 books – first two books are chronicles – third isAin-i- Akbari – Reign of Akbar.

Question 13.
Point out any two capital cities of the Mughals.
Answer:

1. Delhi
2. Fathepur Sikri
3. Agra
4. Lahore
5. Shajahanabad

Question 14.
Write the names of any two leaders of the Revolt of 1857.
Answer:

1. Bahadurshah
2. Jhansi Rani
3. Nana Sahib
4. Shahmal Beegum Hazrat Mahal
5. Gonoo

Question 15.
Mention the names of any two Tinais.
Answer:

1. Kurinchi
2. Mullai
3. Palai
4. Marutham
5. Neithal

B. Answer any 2 questions from 16 to 18. Each carries 2 scores. (2 × 2 = 4)

Question 16.
Prepare a short note on Ain-i-Akbari.
Answer:
Abul Fazl – completed in 1598 – 3rd book of Akbar Nama – Aim gives detailed accounts of the organisation of the court  administration and army, the sources of revenue and the physical lay out of the princess of Akbar’s empire and the literacy, cultural and religious traditions of the people – 5 books.

Question 17.
Identify any two rulers who rules the Mughal empire in between 1526 to 1707.
Answer:

1. Babur
2. Humayun
3. Akbar
4. Jahangir
5. Shahjahan
6. Aurangazeb

Question 18.
Elucidate the European powers who came to Kerala for trade.
Answer:

1. The Portuguese
2. The Dutch
3. The English
4. The French

Part – III

A. Answer any 3 questions from 19 to 23. Each carries 4 scores. (3 × 4 = 12)

Question 19.
Evaluate the causes for the decline of the Harappan Civilization.
Answer:

1. Climatic change
2. Deforestation
3. Excessive floods
4. Over use of the landscape
5. Shifting and/or drying up of rivers

Question 20.
Examine the condition of women in the agrarian society of the Mughals.
Answer:
Women sowed, weeded, threshed and winnowed the harvest – gendered segregation was not possible – biases related to women’s biological functions – artisanal tasks – amongst the landed gentry, women had the right to inherit property.

Question 21.
Mark the following places on the outline map of ancient India:
• Delhi
• Kanpur
• Jhansi
• Awadh
Answer:

1. Delhi
2. Kanpur
3. Jhansi
4. Awadh

Question 22.
Evaluate the importance of oral history in the history of India’s partition.
Answer:
Lack of concreteness and the chronology – unique¬ness of personal experiences – memory of the indi¬vidual – Urvasi Bhutalia – The other side of silence’.

Question 23.
Match Column A with appropriate items from Column B.

Column A	Column B
Velu Thampi	Savarna Jatha
Rama Namby	Kallumala agitation
Mannath	Kundara Proclamation
Padmanabhan	Kurichiya Revolt
Ayyankali

Answer:

Column A	Column B
Velu Thampi	Kundara Proclamation
Rama Namby	Kurichiya Revolt
Mannath Padmanabhan	Savarna Jatha
Ayyankali	Kallumala agitation

B. Answer any 1 question from 24 to 25. Carries 4 scores. (1 × 4 = 4)

Question 24.
How did travellers like Ibn Battuta and Francois Bernier describe the condition of women and slaves in medieval India?
Answer:
Slaves were openly sold in markets, like any other commodity, and were regularly exchanged as gifts. There was considerable differentiation among slaves. Some female salves in the service of the sultan were experts in music and dance. Female slaves were also employed by the Sultan to keep a watch on his nobles.

While some women seemed to embrace Sati cheer¬fully, others were forced to die. However, women’s lives revolved around much else besides the prac¬tice of Sati. Their labour was crucial in both agricultural and non-agricultural production. It seems un¬likely that women were confined to the private spaces of their homes.

Question 25.
Analyse the importance of Awadh during the Revolt of 1857.
Answer:
The taking over of Awadh by the British made the local kings, talukdars, peasants and sepoys very unhappy and angry. By taking over Awadh, not only the Nawab but also many talukdars lost their jobs. The talukdars had many estates and fortresses in the villages of Awadh. They had been in control of these lands for generations. They had much power in the villages. They also used to keep small army units with them. Some even had armies numbering up to 12,000 soldiers. Even the small ones had 200 footmen.

The British refused to accept the autonomy and authority of the talukdars. Soon after they took over Awadh, they dispersed the armies of the talukdars and destroyed their fortresses. The land tax system also was not liked by the talukdars. The British enforced the new tax system in 1856. This was called the Summary Settlement of 1856. This was enforced with the concept that the talukdars had no permanent ownership of the land. The British saw them as encroachers who got the ownership of the land using ail kinds cheating and even force.

The British wanted to avoid the talukdars and make settlements with the real owners of the land. They thought this would reduce exploitation of the farmers and increase the government’s income. But in reality none of these happened. The officials soon realized that the tax imposed on the fanners was much more than their capacity to pay. In short the Summary Settlement was a failure. It satisfied neither the farmers nor the talukdars.

As talukdars lost their positions, their social status was lost. The relations between them and the farmers were ruined. Before the take-over by the British there was cordiality between the talukdars and the farmers. Although the talukdars were strict, they often behaved like the guardians of peasants. They helped peasants in their needs. They also gave peasants loans during festivals.

Peasants also showed loyalty to talukdars. But the coming of the British spoiled all these. The farmers got no consideration from the British. The British charged them heavy tax and used strict methods to collect it. During crop failure, or times of trouble, or feasts, the British never helped the peasants.

The ousted talukdars wanted to get back their lost estates and power. They became the strongest enemies of the British. In places like Awadh, where the revolt was the worst, the talukdars and the farmers were in the forefront of the revolt. Many of the talukdars were loyal to the Nawab. They joined Begum Hazrat Mahal, the wife of the Nawab, in her fight against the British. Even in failure, the talukdars did not abandon the Begum.
The taking over of Awadh by the British made the sepoys also unhappy. Many o f them were from Awadh itself. They did not like the idea of their birthplace getting into the hands of the British.

The Sepoys had many problems and complaints. They had small salarjes. The places they had to stay and the food they got were not of good quality. It was also difficult to get leave. The chances of promotion were limited. They did not get any foreign service allowance for working outside India. The journeys across the seas were not liked by many, because some religions prohibited such journeys. They also were unhappy because the British did not allow many of them to wear headcovers and also beards.

Part – IV

A. Answer any 3 questions from 26 to 29. Each carries 6 scores. (3 × 6 = 18)

Question 26.
Explain the features of the stupas and its relation with Buddhism.
Answer:
Stupas are holy places. These are mounds where part of the mortal remains of Buddha or some things he used is buried. They have been made with bricks or stones. They have a lot of story value.

1. Even before the coming of Buddhism, the practice of making stupas was in existence. Later it became attached to Buddhism.
2. Since they are built over the remains of Buddha or the things he used, they are worshipped as a sign of Buddha and Buddhism.

Followers of Buddha built many stupas in different parts of India. The Buddhist Book“Asokavadana Sishta” says that Emperor Asoka sent the mortal remains of Buddha in all the important towns of his empire and ordered stupas to be built over them. By the 2nd century BC, many stupas were built. The most famous stupas are in Bharhut, Sanchi and Saranath.

Stupa is a Sanskrit word meaning a heap or mound. In the early times, stupas were in semi-circles. Later they were known as ‘anda’. Gradually, the structure of the stupas became complex. They now acquired
circular and rectangular shapes.

Over the andas, they built some kind of balcony. It was called harmika which means ‘sreekovil’. It represents the abode of god. From harmika rose a flag-post, called ‘yashti’. Around this there were chhatris (umbrellas). Around the mound, a stone wall was constructed separating it from the material world around. The early stupas in Sanchi and Bharhut were simple.

The gates and the fences were looking as if they were made of bamboos or wood. There were four entrance arches to the stupas. These arches were decorated with sculptures. The worshippers entered the stupa from the eastern archway and went round the mound, Later these stupas were adorned with various sculptures and inscriptions. Such decorated stupas can be seen in Amaravati and Shahji-ki-dheri in Peshawar in Pakistan.

Question 27.
Assess the factors that led to the emergence of Magadha.
Answer:
Fertility of soil – growth of agriculture – iron deposit – use of elephants in war – communication through river Ganga – Powerful rulers like Bimbisara, Ajathashathru and Mahapadmananda – location of capitals (Rajagaha and Pataliputra)

Question 28.
Explain the features of the buildings in the Royal centre of the Vijayanagara empire.
Answer:
The royal centre was located in the southwestern part of the subcontinent. Although designated a royal centre, it included over 60 temples. There are more distinctive structures in the area. The King’s palace is the largest. It has two impressive platforms. They were the audience hall and Mahanavami dibba. The audience hall is a high platform with slot for wooden pillars. It had a stair case going up to the second floor which rest on the pillars. So there were little free space. So it is not clear what the hall was used for.

It is a massive platform rising from a base about 11,000 sq.ft, to a heights of 40 ft. There is evidence to that it supported a wooden structure. Tfie base of platform is covered with relief carvings Celebrations like Mahanavami are connected to Mahanavami Dibba. Mahanavami means the Great Ninth Day. This feast is known by different names in different regions. In North India it is ‘Dussehra’, in Bengal it is ‘Durga Pooja’ and in South India it is ‘Navaratri’. The Vijayanagara kings exhibited their glory and authority during this festival.

Mahanavami is celebrated with many rituals. Idol worship, veneration to the royal horse, animal sacrifice etc. were part of the rituals. The celebrations are made more enjoyable through dance performances, wrestling, processions with adorned horses, elephants, chariots and soldiers. Nayakas and regional chiefs owing loyalty to the main King come with gifts for their king and his guests. All these rituals had their symbolic meanings. On the last day of the festival, a huge function was conducted in an open place. In that the King examines his army and also those of the Nayaks.On this occasion, the nayaks give tribute to the king. Along with the tribute, the nayaks also gave the king plenty of expensive gifts.

One of the most beautiful buildings in the Royal Centre is the “Lotus Mahal”. This name was given by the British travellers who came here in the 19th century. Historians are not very sure for what purpose this structure was esed. Mackenzie feels that this was a Council Chamber in which the King met his advisors. There are many temples in the Royal Centre.

One of the important temples in the Royal Centre is Hazara Rama Temple. It is believed that only the king and his family members used this temple. The important idols of the Hazara Ramaswami Temple are not yet found. But the inscriptions and sculptures on the walls are still seen there. There are scenes from the Ramayana. They have been inscribed on the inner walls of the temple. When Vijayanagara was destroyed most of the constructions there also were destroyed. Still the tradition of building palatial structures was continued by the Nayaks. Many of the buildings made by them are still standing.

Question 29.
Analyse the life of Paharias and Santhals in the Rajmahal hills.
Answer:
Rajmahal Hills – The hoe and the plough – paharias – settled agriculture expanded – In 1770s the British embarked on a brutal policy of extermination – Santhals were pouring into the area – Damin-i-koh – Santhal settlements expanded rapidly – state levied heavy tax – money lenders – Santhal Revolt -1855-56 – Sidhu.

B. Answer any 2 questions from 30 to 32. Each carries 6 scores.

Question 30.
Explain the social condition of ancient India based on four fold varna system and system of marriage.
Answer:

1. Brahmanas – Study and teach vedas, perform sacrifices, give and receive gifts.
2. Kshatriyas – warfare, protect people and administer justice, study the vedas, get sacrifices performed, and make gifts.
3. Vaishyas – Engaged in agriculture, pastoralism and trade.
4. Shudras – Serve the three higher vamas. Exogamy, endogamy, Brahma marriage, Arsha marriage, child marriage, Asura marriage, Gandharva marriage, Rakshasa marriage, Paisacha marriage, monogamy, polgamy, polyandry etc. are some of the marriages that existed in ancient India.

Question 31.
Explain the early Bhakti traditions of South India.
Answer:
The leaders of early Bhakti movement were poet saints. They challenged the orthodox brahaminical traditions. These traditions also accomodated and acknowledged women and the lower castes. Some of the early Bhakti Movement were led by the Alvars and Nayanars.

Alvars and Nayanars initiated a movement of protest against the caste system and the dominance of Brahmins. This can be proved by the fact that the bhaktas came from diverse social backgrounds. They included various groups like brahmanas, artisans, cultivators, etc. The tradition of the Alvars and Nayanars were considered important. Many claimed that their composition were an important on the vedas. For example, one of the major anthologies of composition by the Alvars, the Nalayira Divya Prabandam, was known as Tamil Veda. This text was considered as significant as four vedas in Sanskrit.

I n the 12th century, a new pious movement came up in Karnataka. A Brahmin named Basavanna (1106 – 1168) was the leader of this movement. Virashaiva Movement is also called Lingayat. In the beginning Basavanna was a believer of Jainism. He had also served as a minister under King Bijalaof Chalukya. Because of serious differences of opinion, Basavanna decided to quit Jainism and with his son-in-law he formed the Virashaiva Movement. His followers were called Virasaivas or Lingayats.

Question 32.
Evaluate the background of the partition of India.
Answer:
It is quite true that the anti-Indians in Pakistan and anti-Pakistanis in India were the product ofvthe Partition. R.M. Murphy, a famous journalist, says that there are many anti Hindus in Pakistan and anti-N Muslims in India. They consider their opposite group as cruel, fanatical and vicious. Such misconceptions were in existence even before partition.

But these beliefs were strengthened with the unfortunate happenings in 1947.The voices of hared are still heard in both countries. When there are communal problems, the anger and hatred come in the open. People mutually accuse each other, repeating the atrocities committed during the partition time. The policies of both India and Pakistan were based, to an extent, on these misconceptions.

Some historians, both in India and Pakistan, believe that the Two-Nation Theory of Mohammed Ali Jinnah had actually originated in the Middle Ages. The two- nation theory stresses that the Hindus and Muslims of Colonial India are two separate nations. They show that difference have been in existence for centuries. The Partition of 1947 was just a climax for the long-standing rivalries.

These historians stress only the rivalries. They do not see the friendship and cooperation that existed between them. Although there were differences between the two communities there was also the sharing of cultural and economic aspects.

Some scholars say that the Partition was the result of the communal politics that began in India in the beginning of the 20th century. It was the separate constituencies allowed to the Muslims that caused such divisive thinking. Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909 allowed these separate constituencies. The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms expanded the concept still further. Separate constituencies helped the Muslims to elect their own representatives.

This was exploited by the politicians. They started promoting religious thinking. Each politician, whether Hindu or Muslim, did some favours to the members of his community and thus gained acceptance among them. Their only purpose was to gain power by playing the religious card. Religious concepts began to influence politics. Enmity between religious groups grew. Some incidents that took place in the first decades of the 20th century also increased the tension between the two communities. In the 1920s and 30s, this enmity grew.

1. Singing in front of the mosques, Save-the-Cow Movement, and the Suddhi Movement by Arya Samaj which tried to bring back coverts into other religions including Islam, made the Muslims unhappy.
2. The growth of some Islamic Organizations like Tabligh (Islamic Preaching) enraged Hindus.
3. Fanatics in both groups tried to organize their members with greater unity and solidarity. Opposing groups often clashed. This caused communal riots in many parts of the country.

Part – VI

Answer any 2 questions from 33 to 35. Each carries 8 scores. (2 × 8 = 16)

Question 33.
Explain the features of the Harappanb civilization on the bassi of following hints:
Hints:
• Mohenjodaro – A planned urban centre
• Seals and script
Answer:
History has left behind a number of evidences that Harappan civilization was an urban civilization. The greatest site of Harappan civilization is Mohenjo Daro. This was discovered after Harappa. It is from Mohenjo Daro that evidences of town planning, dwellings and seals of the Harappan civilization were discovered. This big city is situated in the Larkana District of Sindh on the shore of River Sindhu. The meaning of Mohenjo Daro is ‘The Mound of the Dead”. The excavations done here brought to light the remains of a well planned city. This city was divided into two parts – The Citadel and the Lower Town.

The Citadel: Citadel is a small manmade platform. It is located on the western side of the city. Citadel is the highest part of the city. There are two reasons for the unusual height of the citadel. First of all it is built on a higher ground. Secondly its buildings are constructed on the bricks made of earth. The citadel is protected by building walls around it. There are many big buildings in the citadel. They have been used various special purposes. The main buildings of the citadel are The Warehouse, and the Great Bath.

The Warehouse : The biggest building of Mohenjo Daro is its warehouse of barn. The lower part of this building is built with bricks. It can still be seen. The upper portion of the warehouse is made of wood. With the passage of most of it is ruined. The warehouse was used to store the leftover food grains.

The Great Bath : The most important structure in the citadel of Mohenjo Daro is the Great Bath. It is in rectangular shape. The pond is in the yard which is surrounded by corridors on all four sides. To^get into the pond there are steps on the northern and southern sides. The bottom of the pond is made watertight using bricks and lime paste. This prevents the water from seeping down and making the pond dry. There are rooms on 3 sides of the pond. There was a big well in one of the rooms.

The water for the pond was brought from this well. There were provisions for filling the pond with water and to make the dirty water flow out into drains. Historians think that the Great Bath had a religious importance. They think that this Great Bath was used for ritual baths. The Great Bath shows the importance the Harappans gave to cleanliness. It also shows their engineering and technical skills.

Lower Town : Domestic Architecture: The Lower Town was just below the citadel. This was also protected by walls. People lived here. Here we can see good examples of domestic architecture. The houses were made of bricks. The houses were ordered in the Grid System. The houses were built along both sides of the road, with adequate space between houses. The doors and windows were opened to face the central yard. It is believed that the yard was used for cooking and also weaving.

The houses did not have doors and windows that faced the street. All the houses had bathrooms. They were paved with bricks. The drainage system was excellent. Houses were different in size. There were single room and double room houses. There were also houses with more than two storeys. To get to the top stories there weife staircases.

Big houses had wells. It was dug in a room in such a way that even outsiders could draw water from it. Experts estimate that Mohenjo Daro had some 700 wells. Houses were built on raised platforms. The settlements were well planned. The bricks were made to certain specifications. The same kind of bricks was used in most constructions.

The drainage system : The drainage system in the Harappan cities was excellent. The drain of each house waslinked to the drainage canal outside. The drainage canals were covered with bricks or sheets of rock. In some places they covered the drainage canals with limestone slabs. It was possible to clean the canals by removing the top coverings. There were manholes in the public drainage.

Seal and Script:
The Harappan people used seals and sealings to identify the goods that sent from one place to another. The sealings convey the identity of the sender. Most of the Harappan inscriptions are short, the longest containing about 26 signs. The Harappan script is not deciphered so far. It was evidently not alphabetical as it has just too many signs. somewhere between 375 to 400. The script was written from right to left. The Harappan writing has been found on seals, copper tools, rims of jars, copper and terracotta tablets, jewellery bone rods and an ancient signboard.

Question 34.
How did Al-Biruni describe India in his text? Explain.
Answer:
Al-Biruni was born at Khwariezm in Uzbekistan. Khwariezm was an important centre of knowledge and so he got the best education possible. He was a linguist a scholar in many languages. He knew Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit. He was not familiar with Greek. But he had read the books of Plato and other Geek philosophers through Arabic translations. In 1017 Suitan Mahmud Ghazni attacked Khwarezm. He made many people prisoners and took them to Ghazni. Al-Biruni was one of them. Although he came to Ghazni as a prisoner, he began to like the place. He entered the services of Mahmud Ghazni and remained in Ghazni until he died at the age of 70.

It was in Ghazni that Al – Biruni developed an interest in India. Sanskrit work on astronomy, mathematics, and medicine, had been translated into Arabic from the eighteenth century on wards. When the Punjab became a part of the Ghaznavid empire, contact with local population helped to create an environment of mutual trust and understanding. He spent years in the company of Brahmin priests and scholars, learning Sanskrit and studying religion and philosophical texts.

Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind, written in Arabic, is simple and lucid. It is a voluminous text, divided into 80 chap- ’ ters on subjects such as religion, philosophy, festivals, astronomy, alchemy, manners and customs, social life, weights and measures, iconography, laws and metrology. He adopted a distinctive structure in each chapter. He began the chapter with a question. Then a description was made on the basis of Sanskrit tradition. The chapter was concluded with a comparison with other cultures. Some present-day scholars argued that this almost geometric structure, re- markablefor its precision and predictability. It reflects his mathematical orientation.

Al-Biruni was conscious of the problems involved in understanding strange countries. He has mentioned three things that proved difficult:

1. The first problem was language – Sanskrit was quite different from Arabic and Persian languages.
   It was not easy to translate the concepts from one language into another.
2. The second problem was the differences in religions and rituals.
3. The third problem was the secluded people who were interested only in their things. They looked at foreigners with suspicion and were not willing to mingle with them freely.

Al-Biruni accepted the Class distinctions as put forward by Brahmins. But he did not approve of the untouchability practised by them. He said that things that were impure would always try to get back their purity and succeed. For example, the sun purifies the air. The salt in sea-water prevents it from getting polluted. Without this natural purification, life would be impossible on this earth. He argued that untouchability is against natural laws.

The ideas of Al-Biruni exercised powerful influence in the study of Sanskrit books. The rules regarding
Varna System were formulated favouring the Brahmins. In real life Varna was not so strict. For example, the antyaja (who were born outside the Varna System) were expected to work for the agriculturists and zamindars for small wages. Although they were socially suppressed, they were induded in the economic activities.

Question 35.
Analyse the role of Mahatma Gandhi in India’s freedom struggle.
Areas to be considered:
• Early struggles
• Non-Cooperation Movement
• The Salt Satyagraha
Answer:
Gandhjji’s first Satyagraha was that of Champaran in Bihar. The indigo farmers there were exploited by the European estate owners. The farmers were forced to cultivate indigo in place of other crops. Then they were forced to sell the indigo at the prices determined by the estate owners. In 1917, Gandhi went to Champaran and studied in details about the pathetic situation of the farmers there. Authorities asked Gandhi to go away from the place but he did not obey.

He continued his research. He wanted to ensure that the farmers could cultivate what they wanted and not what others wanted. Ultimately, the government appointed a Commission. The Commission approved most of the demands of the farmers. Gandhi succeeded in his first attempts at Satyagraha. In 1918, Gandhiji led two protest movements. One was in Ahmedabad and the other was in Kheda. Gandhi interfered in a dispute between the workers and the owners of a cloth mill inAhmedabad. In 1919 the workers embarked on a strike demanding fast unto death demanding increased wages to the workers and better working conditions for them. The mill owners were ready to negotiate. The wages of the workers were increased by 35%.

In Kheda Gandhi fought for the farmers. Because of a serious draught, farmers in Kheda had a serious problem as their crops were damaged. Gandhi told the farmers not to give taxes until some reductions in the taxes were made. Finally the government approved the demand of the farmers and Gandhi ended his satyagraha. The Champaran, Kheda and Ahmedabad satyagahas of Gandhi were a preparation for his entry into Indian National Movement. These activities helped him in understanding the problems of the people.

The Non Cooperation Movement was the first strong moment of Gandhi against the British. It was part of Gandhi’s concept of non-violence. In the beginning he co-operated with the British. But some developments in 1919 made Gandhi change his attitude. The Rowlett Acts, Jalian Wala Bagh tragedy, the Khilafat Movement etc. were some of them.

The Non-Cooperation Movement had three aims:

1. Find a solution to the Punjab problem.
2. Solve the Khilafat issue.
3. Gain swaraj.

The exhortations of Gandhiji had great effect. Students boycotted government institutions. Thousands of workers in cities and towns went on strike. Official’ records show that in 1921 there were 396 strikes involving 6 lakh workers. 7 lakh working days were lost. In the Non-Cooperation Movement, women and farmers took active part. Many women came out of their purdah to take part in the protests.

1. The Movement spread even to villages. The forest dwellers in Andhra Pradesh broke the forest laws. Farmers of Awadh and Bihar took part in the struggle by refusing to pay taxes. The farmers of Kumaon (Uttarakhand) refused to carry the goods of the Colonial officers.
2. Often these protests were done against the instructions of regional leaders. Instead of taking orders from higher authorities, they refused to cooperate with the Colonial administration.

The Chauri-Chaura incident was big jolt to the Movement. Gandhi was forced to stop the Movement. Violence in Chauri-Chaura occurred when police fired at a procession of farmers. The enraged farmers attacked the Chauri-Chaura police station and burnt it. 22 policemen were killed. This shocked Gandhiji. He realized that people were not yet ready to fight using non-violence. On 22 February 1922, he decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement. He said that no provocation would justify the killing of the 22 policemen.

The Non-Cooperation Movement was a significant milestone. In the biography of Mahatma Gandhi, Louis Fischer (American) says that the Non-Cooperation Movement was big turning point in the history of India and also the life of Gandhi. It combined denial, sacrifice and self-control. Fischer says it was some kind of training for Autonomy.