Social Science : History : Chapter 9 : Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu
I. Choose the Correct Answer:
1. Who was the first President of the Madras Mahajana Sabha?
- T.M. Nair
- P. Rangaiah
- G. Subramaniam
- G.A. Natesan
Ans : P. Rangaiah
2. Where was the third session of the Indian National Congress held?
- Marina
- Mylapore
- Fort St. George
- Thousand Lights
Ans : Thousand Lights
3. Who said “Better bullock carts and freedom than a train de luxe with subjection”?
- Annie Besant
- M. Veeraraghavachari
- B.P. Wadia
- G.S. Arundale
Ans : Annie Besant
4. Who among the following were Swarajists?
- S. Satyamurti
- Kasturirangar
- P. Subbarayan
- Periyar EVR
Ans : S.Sathyamurti
5. Who set up the satyagraha camp in Udyavanam near Madras?
- K. Kamaraj
- C. Rajaji
- K. Santhanam
- T. Prakasam
Ans : Prakasam
6. Where was the anti-Hindi Conference held?
- Erode
- Madras
- Salem
- Madurai
Ans : Salem
II. Fill in the blanks:
1. ________ was appointed the first Indian Judge of the Madras High Court.
Ans : T.Muthu Swami
2. Nilakanta Brahmachari started the secret society named ________.
Ans : Bharatha Matha Society
3. The Dravidian Association Hostel for non-Brahmin students was established by ________.
An s: C.Natesanar
4. ________ formed the first Congress Ministry in Madras.
Ans : Rajaji
5. ________ was the founder of the Madras branch of the Muslim League.
Ans : Yakub Hasan
6. ________ hoisted the national flag atop Fort St. George on 26 January 1932.
Ans : Bhashyam
III. Choose the Correct Statement
1. (i) Madras Native Association was founded in 1852.
(ii) Tamil nationalist periodical Swadesamitran was started in 1891.
(iii) The Madras Mahajana Sabha demanded conduct of civil services examinations only in India.
(iv) V.S. Srinivasanar was an extremist.
- (i) and (ii) are correct
- (iii) is correct
- (iv) is correct
- All are correct
Ans : i) and ii) are correct
2. (i) EVR did not participate in the Non- Cooperation Movement.
(ii) Rajaji worked closely with Yakub Hasan of the Muslim League.
(iii) Workers did not participate in the Non- Cooperation Movement.
(iv) Toddy shops were not picketed in Tamil Nadu.
- (i) and (ii) are correct
- (i) and (iii) are correct
- (ii) is correct
- (i), (iii) and (iv) are correct
Ans : ii) is correct
IV. Match the following:
1. MNA | Anti-Hindi agitation |
2. EVR Periyar | Removal of Neill Statue |
3. S.N. Somayajulu | Salt Satyagraha |
4. Vedaranyam | Torture Commission |
5. Thalamuthu | Vaikom Hero |
Ans: 1 – D, 2 – E, 3 – B, 4 – C, 5 – A
V. Answer the following in brief:
1. List out the contribution of the moderates.
- The primary contribution of moderates lies in exposing the liberal claims of the British.
- They exposed how the British exploited India and their hypocrisy in following democratic principles in England and imposing an unrepresentative government in the colonies.
2. Write a note on the Tirunelveli Uprising.
- V.O.Chidamabaranar joined with Subramania Siva in organising the mill workers in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli.
- In 1908, he led a strike in the European-owned Coral Mills.
- It coincided with the release of Bipin Chandra Pal
- V.O.C and Subramania Siva, organised a public meeting to celebrate the release of Bipin, were arrested.
- The two leaders were charged with sedition and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment.
- The news of the arrest sparked riots in Tirunelveli. The police station, court building and municipal office were burnt.
- It led to the death of four people in police firing.
- V.O.C was treated harshly in prison and was made to pull the heavy oil press. Other leaders were also arrested.
3. What is the contribution of Annie Besant to India’s freedom struggle?
- Annie Besant, an Irish lady and leader of the Theosophical Society, started Home Rule League in 1916 and carried forward the demand for home rule all over India.
- She started the news papers New India and Commonweal to carry forward her agenda.
- She wrote two books, How India wrought for freedom and India: ‘A Nation and a pamphlet on self-government.’
- Students joined the movement in large numbers. They were trained is Home Rule classes. They were formed into boy scouts and volunteer troops.
VI Answer in detail
1. Discuss the response to Swadeshi Movement in Tamil Nadu.
i) Swadeshi Movement:
- The partition of Bengal (1905) led to the Swadeshi Movement.
- The Swadeshi movement made a deep impact in Tamil Nadu.
- The Congress carried on a vigorous campaign for boycott of foreign goods.
ii) Response in Tamilnadu:
- V.O.Chidambaranar, V.Chakkaraiyar, Subramania Bharati and Surendranath Arya were some of the prominent leaders in Tamilnadu.
- Public meetings were organised in various parts of Tamilnadu.
- Tamil was used on the public platform for the first time to mobilise the people.
- Subaramania Bharati’s patriotic songs stirred patriotic emotions.
- Many journals were started to propagate Swadeshi ideals. Swadesamitran and India were prominent journals.
iii) Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company
- One of the most enterprising acts was the launching of the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company at Thoothukudi by V.O. Chidambaranar.
- However , due to cutthroat competition from the European company V.O.C’s efforts ended in failure.
iv) Tirunelveli Uprising:
- V.O.C and Subramania Siva organised the mill workers in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli.
- In 1908, he led a strike in the Coral Mills.
- V.O.C and Subramania Siva organized a public meeting to celebrate the release of Bipin. So they were arrested.
- The news of the arrest sparked riots in Tirunelveli. People burnt police station, court building and municipal office.
- It led to the death of four people in police firing.
- V.O.C was treated harshly in prison and was made to pull the heavy oil press.
- To avoid imprisonment Subramania Bharati moved to Pondicherry which was under French rule.
- The brutal assault of the police brought the Swadeshi Movement to a close in Tamil Nadu.
2. Examine the origin and growth of Non-Brahmin Movement in Tamil Nadu.
- There was an increase in the number of educated non-Brahmins.
- They raised the issue of caste discrimination and unequal opportunities in government employment and representation in elected bodies, which were dominated by Brahmins.
- Further, the Congress was also overwhelmingly composed of Brahmins.
The South Indian Liberal Federation.
- The non-Brahmins organised themselves into political organisations to protect their interests.
- In 1912 the Madras Dravidian Association was founded. C.Natesanar played an active role as its secretary.
- He also played a key role in bridging the differences between two leading non-brahmin leaders of the time,Dr T.M.Nair and P.Thyagarayar.
- On 20 November 1916 a meeting of about thirty non-Brahmins was held under the leadership of P.Thyagarayar, Dr. T.M.Nair and C.Natesanar in Chennai.
- The South Indian Liberal Federation (SILF) was founded to promote the interests of the non-Brahmins.
- They also launched three news papers: Justice in English, Dravidian in Tamil and Andhra Prakasika in Telugu.
- Soon the SILF began to be popularly known as Justice. Party after its English daily.
- The non-Brahmin Manifesto was released outlining its objectives viz reservation of jobs for non-Brahmins in government service, and seats in representatives bodies.
- The Madras Government was also supportive of the Justice Party.
- The Act of 1919 provided reservation of seats to non-Brahmins, a move criticised by the Congress but welcomed by the Justice Party.
3. Describe the role of Tamil Nadu in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
i) Salt March to Vedaranyam.
- Tamil Nadu was in the forefront of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- In the city of Madras, shops were picketed and foreign goods boycotted.
- Rajaji organised and led a salt satyagraha march to Vedaranyam.
- The march started from Tiruchirappalli on 13 April, 1930 and reached Vedaranyam in Thanjavur district on 28 April.
- A special song was composed for the march by Namakkal V. Ramalinganar.
- Despite a brutal crackdown by the police, the marching satyagrahis were provided a warm reception along the route.
- On reaching Vedaranyam 12 volunteers under the leadership of Rajaji broke the salt law by picking up salt.
- Rajaji was arrested, T.S.S. Rajan, Rukmani Lakshmipathi, Sardar Vedarathanam, C. Swaminathar and K. Santhanam were among the prominent leaders who participated in the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha.
ii) Widespread agitations in Tamil districts.
- The Satyagrahis under the leadership of T. Prakasam and K.Nageswara Rao set up a camp at Udayavanam near Madras. However, the police arrested them.
- It led to a hartal in Madras.
- Volunteers who attempted to offer salt Satyagraha in Rameshwaram were arrested.
- Similar attempts at Uvari, Anjengo, Veppalodai, Thoothukudi and Tharuvaikulam were stopped by the police.
- Women participated enthusiastically.
- Rukmani Lakshmipathi was the first woman to pay penalty for violation of salt laws.
- Police used brutal force to suppress the movement.