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Nationalism in India — Part 2: Civil Disobedience and the Sense of Belonging (1928–1934)

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Lesson

Nationalism in India: towards Civil Disobedience

Part 2 — how a march to the sea in 1930 drew millions into breaking colonial laws, who joined, who held back, and how Indians came to imagine one nation.

In this lesson you will

Explain the Simon Commission, the Lahore Congress and the Salt March
Compare the participation of rich and poor peasants, business classes, workers and women in Civil Disobedience
Explain the limits of the movement for Dalits and Muslims
Analyse how history, folklore, songs, images and symbols created a sense of nationhood
Locate Congress session cities and satyagraha sites on a map of India

Part 2 at a glance

Concept

The late 1920s: depression and a commission

Table: falling agricultural prices from 1926 and a collapse after 1930 hurt peasants; the all-British Simon Commission arrived in 1928 and met protests from the Congress and the Muslim League; in October 1929 Irwin offered vague dominion status and a Round Table Conference
Development	Why it mattered
Agricultural prices fell from 1926 and collapsed after 1930	Peasants could not sell harvests or pay revenue
Simon Commission arrives, 1928	All-British body to review India's constitution; no Indian member
"Go back Simon" protests	Congress and Muslim League both protest
Lord Irwin's offer, October 1929	Vague promise of dominion status and a Round Table Conference