8 sst
Class 8 History Notes
1. Emergence of Nationalism → A Nation in the Making
During 1870–1880, a big change started in India. Earlier, people in India were divided by different regions, languages, and castes. Very few people thought that all of them were citizens of one country.
But slowly, the policies of the British made Indians feel that they were being treated unfairly.
Discriminatory Laws of the British
The British government made several laws that treated Indians unfairly.
1. Arms Act (1878)
According to this law, Indians were not allowed to keep weapons, but British people could keep them.
This made Indians feel that the British wanted to keep them weak and powerless.
2. Vernacular Press Act (1878)
Because of this law, newspapers written in Indian languages were not free to write openly.
If a newspaper criticized the British government, it could be closed.
Because of these laws, Indians started feeling that the British government was suppressing their rights.
Slowly, people began to think that if they wanted their rights, they had to raise their voice together.
Word Meaning
Emergence – उदय Regions – क्षेत्र Castes – जातियाँ Policies – नीतियाँ Unfairly – अन्यायपूर्ण Discriminatory – भेदभावपूर्ण Weapons – हथियार Vernacular – स्थानीय भाषा Criticized – आलोचना करना Suppressing – दबाना Rights – अधिकार2. Establishment of the Congress
As dissatisfaction increased, some intelligent leaders thought that there should be an organization to present the problems of Indians to the government.
For this reason, the Indian National Congress was established in 1885.
The main leaders involved in its establishment were:
- Dadabhai Naoroji
- Allan Octavian Hume
The main objectives of the Congress were:
- To present the problems of Indians to the government
- To demand rights for Indians
- To create awareness among people
This was the time when the feeling of Nationalism slowly started growing in India.
Word Meaning
Establishment – स्थापना Dissatisfaction – असंतोष Organization – संगठन Objectives – उद्देश्य Demand – मांग Awareness – जागरूकता Nationalism – राष्ट्रवाद3. Beginning of Becoming One Nation
Now the leaders of Congress started raising the problems of people across the country.
At that time India faced many problems:
- Good jobs were mostly given to the British
- Indians were given only small posts
- Heavy taxes were taken from farmers
- Workers were made to work very hard
- People living in forests lost their rights
- Sometimes there were famines and hunger
Because of these problems, people from different regions started realizing that their problems were similar.
Word Meaning
Posts – पद Taxes – कर Workers – मजदूर Famines – अकाल Hunger – भूख Realizing – समझना4. Spreading Awareness Among People
Congress leaders used many ways to make people aware:
- Writing articles in newspapers
- Giving public speeches
- Organizing meetings and gatherings
Through these activities they told people that Indians could fight for their rights together.
Word Meaning
Articles – लेख Speeches – भाषण Organizing – आयोजन करना Gatherings – सभाएँ Activities – गतिविधियाँArrival of Mahatma Gandhi
At the time when nationalism was growing in India and common people were also joining the movement, a leader came who gave a new direction to the movement.
That leader was Mahatma Gandhi.
Before coming to India, Gandhi lived in South Africa. There he fought against injustice faced by Indians and used the method of Satyagraha (non-violent protest).
After returning to India, Gandhi did not start a movement immediately. First, he travelled across the country and tried to understand the problems of the people.
Word Meaning
Arrival – आगमन Injustice – अन्याय Satyagraha – सत्य और अहिंसा पर आधारित आंदोलन Protest – विरोध Direction – दिशाThe Tragic Event of Jallianwala Bagh
Protests against the Rowlatt Act were happening across the country.
During this time, on 13 April 1919, a tragic event took place called the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
This event happened in Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.
On that day, many people had gathered peacefully for a meeting. At that time, the British officer Reginald Dyer ordered the soldiers to fire on the crowd.
Many innocent people were killed and many others were injured in this incident.
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