UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress.

Describe the Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat agitation. Discuss the actions that individuals have made in various locations.

How did Rani Chennamma’s revolt against the British sparked a nationwide struggle for women’s rights?

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.

— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.

Way forward/ conclusion

— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.

— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.

Self Evaluation

— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.

QUESTION 1: Describe the Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat agitation. Discuss the actions that individuals have made in various locations.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

— In 1920, the British imposed a punitive treaty on the Turkish Sultan, or Khalifa.

— Furthermore, Indian Muslims desired that the Khalifa maintain jurisdiction over Muslim holy sites in the former Ottoman Empire.

— The Khilafat agitation’s founders, Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, now sought to launch a full-fledged Non-Cooperation Movement.

— Gandhiji backed their request, urging the Congress to struggle against “Punjab wrongs” (the Jallianwala massacre), the Khilafat wrong, and the desire for swaraj.

— The Non-Cooperation Movement gained traction during 1921-22. Thousands of students quit government-run schools and institutions.

— Many lawyers, including Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, C. Rajagopalachari, and Asaf Ali, abandoned their practices. British titles were relinquished, and legislatures boycotted.

— People burned public bonfires with foreign fabric.

— Between 1920 and 1922, imports of foreign textiles declined dramatically. But this was just the top of the iceberg. Large portions of the country were on the verge of a violent insurrection.

People’s initiatives

— In Kheda, patidar peasants staged nonviolent campaigns to protest the British’s excessive land revenue demands.

— In coastal Andhra and interior Tamil Nadu, liquor stores were picketed. In Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur area, tribals and poor peasants launched a number of “forest satyagrahas”. They hoped that Gandhiji would decrease their levies and abolish the forest laws. In many forest communities, peasants declared swaraj and felt that “Gandhi Raj” was soon to be founded.

— In Sind (now in Pakistan), Muslim traders and peasants were very enthusiastic about the Khilafat call.

— In Bengal, the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation alliance gave enormous communal unity and strength to the national movement.

— In Punjab, the Sikh Akali agitation aimed to oust corrupt mahants, who were supported by the British, from their gurdwara. This movement became closely associated with the Non-Cooperation Movement.

— Tea garden workers in Assam chanted “Gandhi Maharaj ki Jai” as they requested a significant wage hike. They deserted the British-owned estates, declaring that they were following Gandhiji’s wishes.

— In southern Malabar, predominantly Muslims, wage an armed struggle against the British for nearly six months beginning August 1921.

(Source: The Malabar rebellion is a layered story with multiple strands that defy simplistic narrations by Amrith Lal, ncert.nic.in)

Points to Ponder

Chauri Chaura Movement

Mahatma Gandhi

Related Previous Year Questions

Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement. (2021)

Throw light on the significance of thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times. (2018)

QUESTION 2: How did Rani Chennamma’s revolt against the British sparked a nationwide struggle for women’s rights?

Introduction:

— Rani Chenamma was born on October 23, 1778, in Kagati, a small village in present-day Belagavi district in Karnataka.

— At the age of 15, she married Raja Mallasarja of Kittur, the province’s ruler until 1816. After Mallasarja died in 1816, his eldest son, Shivalingarudra Sarja, took the throne.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Revolt against the British

— Shivalingarudra had no natural heir and Chennamma too had lost her son. Before his death in 1824, Shivalingarudra adopted a child, Shivalingappa, as the successor. However, the British East India Company refused to recognise Shivalingappa as the successor of the kingdom under the ‘doctrine of lapse’.

— Under the doctrine, any princely state without a natural heir would collapse and would be annexed by the Company, and John Thackery, the British official at Dharwad, launched an attack on Kittur in October 1824.

— According to historian Queeny Pradhan’s book Ranis and the Raj, Thackery ordered two horse artillery pieces and an infantry company to enter the fort. The Kittur army, led by Rani Chennamma, replied with devastating fire. Thackeray was killed, and Rani Chennamma emerged victorious.

— However, this success was short-lived. On December 3, 1824, the British troops attacked and seized the Kittur Fort. Rani Chennamma and her family were imprisoned at the Bailhongal Fort, where she died in 1829.

Conclusion:

— Even while in prison, Rani Chennamma maintained contact with local leaders such as Sangoli Rayanna. Throughout the conflict, Chennamma was aware of the Company’s forces. However, she opted to revolt.

— Commemorating a watershed point in our history, such as the Kittur revolution, which was led by a woman, may encourage more women to fight for their rights and enter politics.

(Source: How Rani Chennamma’s revolt against the British inspired a national campaign for women’s rights by Srijana Siri)

Points to Ponder

Rani Laxmi Bai

Begum Hazrat Mahal

Sarojini Naidu

Related Previous Year Questions

The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (2017)

Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase. (2016)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 41)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 42)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 43)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 42)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 43)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 42)

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