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By Ankit Gupta
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Updated on 7 Nov 2025, 13:02 IST
The chapter Nationalism in India Class 10 explains how Indians united to fight against British rule and worked together to gain freedom. It highlights the rise of national feelings, the role of great leaders, and the power of unity among people from different regions, religions, and social backgrounds. The movement for independence was not sudden—it developed slowly through struggles, sacrifices, and strong leadership.
The Class 10 History Chapter 2 Nationalism in India Notes help students understand how Mahatma Gandhi introduced new ways of protest like Satyagraha and non-violence that inspired millions of Indians. His campaigns such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and the Salt March became turning points in India’s freedom struggle. The chapter also focuses on other important events like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Khilafat Movement, and the demand for Purna Swaraj or complete independence.
The Nationalism in India Class 10 Notes PDF summarises these events in an easy way for students to learn and revise quickly. Through these notes, learners can see how ordinary people—farmers, students, women, and workers—took part in protests and contributed to the freedom movement. The Nationalism in India Notes PDF shows how India’s struggle was not just political but also social and cultural, as people began to see themselves as one nation.
The Class 10 History Chapter 2 questions and answers based on this topic help students prepare for exams by covering key events, leaders, and outcomes of the national movement. For better practice, students can also use Nationalism in India Class 10 Handwritten Notes or download the Class 10 History Chapter 2 Notes PDF for detailed revision. These study materials make learning history simple and effective.
By reading the Class 10 History Chapter 2 Nationalism in India Notes PDF, students can understand how nationalism gave Indians a shared identity and a common goal — freedom from British rule. The story of India’s independence teaches courage, unity, and the importance of truth and non-violence in achieving justice.
The Class 10 nationalism in india notes pdf is an essential guide for CBSE students for the 2025–26 session, helping them revise important concepts easily and prepare confidently for their board exams.
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Nationalism in India Class 10 Notes PDF explains how people across India united to fight against British rule under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. The lesson describes major movements like the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and the Salt March, which helped build a sense of national pride and unity.
These Class 10 Nationalism in India Notes PDF highlight how ideas of truth, non-violence, and self-rule inspired Indians from all sections of society to work together for independence. Through simple explanations and key events, the Nationalism in India Class 10 PDF helps students understand how the freedom struggle developed into a mass movement.
You can use these Class 10 History Chapter 2 Nationalism in India Notes PDF for quick revision and clear understanding of the chapter’s main ideas.
Mahatma Gandhi came back to India from South Africa in 1915. During his years in South Africa, he had seen racial injustice and developed a peaceful method of protest called Satyagraha, which means holding on to truth. He believed that if people stood by the truth and followed the path of non-violence, they could fight injustice without hatred or weapons.
After returning, Gandhi began to use Satyagraha to solve problems faced by ordinary Indians.
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These early struggles showed that peaceful protest could bring real change.
In 1919, the British government passed the Rowlatt Act, which allowed them to arrest and jail people without trial for up to two years. Gandhi opposed this law because it took away basic human rights. He started a nationwide protest against it, asking people to stay peaceful but firm.
On 13 April 1919, a large crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. Some people came for the Baisakhi fair, while others came to protest against the Rowlatt Act. General Reginald Dyer surrounded the park, blocked the only exit, and ordered his soldiers to open fire on the unarmed people. Hundreds were killed, and many more were injured.
This tragic event shocked the entire nation. Indians were angry and heartbroken. Strikes, protests, and attacks on British buildings took place in many cities. Gandhi was deeply upset and decided to stop the movement temporarily to prevent more violence.
After the First World War, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) was defeated. Indian Muslims worried about the future of their religious leader, the Caliph. To protect his position, Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali started the Khilafat Movement in Bombay (1919). Gandhi supported it and encouraged unity between Hindus and Muslims.
Gandhi believed that the British ruled India only because Indians cooperated with them. He said that if Indians stopped cooperating, British rule would collapse.
He suggested:
The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement began in 1921. It quickly spread across India and involved people from all walks of life.
Do Check: Class 10 Social Science Syllabus
Peasants refused to pay high rents and taxes to landlords. In Awadh, Jawaharlal Nehru travelled to villages to understand farmers’ problems. He and others started the Oudh Kisan Sabha in 1920 to support them. The movement spread fast, and peasants began to demand fair treatment.
Unfortunately, some protests became violent. Gandhi believed that violence went against his principles of Satyagraha. In 1922, after the Chauri Chaura incident (where policemen were killed by a mob), he called off the movement.
After the Non-Cooperation Movement ended, many leaders debated the next step. In 1928, the Simon Commission came to India to discuss political reforms, but Indians protested because the commission had no Indian members. People greeted it with the slogan “Go back, Simon!”
In December 1929, during the Lahore Session of Congress, Jawaharlal Nehru declared “Purna Swaraj” — complete independence for India. 26 January 1930 was celebrated as Independence Day for the first time.
On 31 January 1930, Gandhi sent a letter to Viceroy Lord Irwin listing 11 demands. The most important one was to remove the salt tax. When the British refused, Gandhi began a historic protest.
Gandhi and 78 volunteers walked 240 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a coastal village in Gujarat. On 6 April 1930, he made salt from seawater, breaking the British law. This act became the symbol of India’s Civil Disobedience Movement.
People across India joined the protest:
The British arrested Gandhi and other leaders. Protests became stronger after his arrest. Finally, Gandhi and Lord Irwin signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), and Gandhi agreed to attend the Round Table Conference in London. When the conference failed, he returned to India and restarted the movement, but it lost strength by 1934.
Dalits (then called the “Depressed Classes”) wanted separate political representation and reserved seats. Their leader, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, founded the Depressed Classes Association (1930). He demanded separate electorates for Dalits.
Gandhi opposed this because he feared it would divide Indians further. After long discussions, they signed the Poona Pact (1932). It gave Dalits reserved seats in legislatures, but not separate electorates.
Do Check: Class 10 Social Science Sample Papers
Nationalism grew not only through protests but also through culture, art, and literature.
Ques. When and why did Mahatma Gandhi return to India?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915 after fighting against racial discrimination in South Africa. He came back to help Indians gain freedom through non-violent methods.
Ques. What is the meaning of Satyagraha?
Answer: Satyagraha means the power of truth and non-violence. Gandhi believed people could win rights through peaceful protest instead of violence.
Ques. What was the aim of the Champaran Satyagraha (1917)?
Answer: The Champaran Satyagraha aimed to help indigo farmers in Bihar who were forced to grow indigo under unfair conditions by British planters.
Ques. What was the Rowlatt Act of 1919?
Answer: The Rowlatt Act gave the British government the power to arrest and jail people without trial. It was called the “Black Act” by Indians.
Ques. Describe the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Answer: On 13 April 1919, General Dyer ordered soldiers to fire on an unarmed crowd at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, killing hundreds. It shocked the entire nation.
Ques. What was the Khilafat Movement?
Answer: The Khilafat Movement (1919) was started by Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali to support the Caliph of Turkey. Gandhi supported it to unite Hindus and Muslims.
Ques. What was the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: Started in 1920, the Non-Cooperation Movement asked Indians to boycott British schools, courts, jobs, and goods to weaken British rule peacefully.
Ques. Why was the Non-Cooperation Movement withdrawn in 1922?
Answer: Gandhi stopped the movement after the Chauri Chaura incident, where protesters killed policemen. He felt the movement was turning violent.
Ques. What was the Simon Commission?
Answer: The Simon Commission (1928) was a British committee to study Indian reforms. It had no Indian members, so Indians protested with the slogan “Go Back, Simon!”
Ques. What was the Lahore Session of Congress (1929)?
Answer: In the Lahore Session (1929), Jawaharlal Nehru declared the demand for Purna Swaraj or complete independence. 26 January 1930 was celebrated as Independence Day.
Ques. What was the Salt March or Dandi March?
Answer: In 1930, Gandhi marched 240 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi with his followers to make salt and break the salt law. This began the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Ques.What was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?
Answer: The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) was an agreement where the British released political prisoners, and Gandhi agreed to stop the Civil Disobedience Movement and attend peace talks.
Ques.What was the Poona Pact?
Answer: The Poona Pact (1932) was signed between Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. It gave reserved seats for Dalits in legislatures instead of separate electorates.
Ques. Who wrote ‘Vande Mataram’ and who painted ‘Bharat Mata’?
Answer: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Vande Mataram, and Abanindranath Tagore painted Bharat Mata as a symbol of national unity and pride.
Ques. What is the main idea of the Nationalism in India chapter?
Answer: The main idea is that Indians united under Gandhi’s leadership using truth, non-violence, and self-rule to fight against British rule and achieve independence.
The Nationalism in India Class 10 Notes are very helpful for students to understand how India’s freedom movement developed under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. These Class 10 History Chapter 2 Nationalism in India Notes make it easy to revise important events, leaders, and movements that shaped India’s struggle for independence.
The Nationalism in India Class 10 Notes PDF helps students remember key concepts quickly without reading the entire textbook again. It includes short summaries of topics like the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, the Salt March, and the role of important leaders such as Gandhi, Nehru, and Ambedkar. These notes are well-organized and allow students to focus on the most important points during exam preparation.
Using the Nationalism in India Class 10 PDF also saves time because it highlights the main facts, causes, and results of each event. Students can use these notes as a quick reference tool before exams. The Nationalism in India Notes PDF is written in simple language so that students can revise topics faster and more effectively.
For those who like writing practice material, Nationalism in India Class 10 Handwritten Notes are also very useful. They help in understanding the chapter deeply and improving memory through active recall. Whether you are studying from school notes, printed copies, or a Class 10 Nationalism in India Notes PDF, the goal is the same — to make revision easy and clear.
You can also download the Class 10 History Chapter 2 Notes PDF to keep a digital copy for last-minute study. Having Class 10 history chapter 2 notes handwritten or printed allows you to review every topic step by step.
To get the best results while studying the Nationalism in India Class 10 Notes, follow these simple tips:
Do Check: Class 10 Social Science Notes
The Class 10 History Chapter 2 Notes PDF download is very useful because students can study anywhere and anytime, even without carrying heavy textbooks. It is designed in a clear, point-wise format with all key topics explained simply. Whether you are preparing for school exams or board exams, these notes will save time and help you score better.
The Nationalism in India Class 10 Notes PDF covers every major part of the chapter in simple words — from Gandhi’s Satyagraha movements to the idea of Swaraj and the rise of nationalism among Indians. These Class 10 history chapter 2 notes handwritten or digital notes ensure complete understanding in less time.
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The chapter explains how people in India united under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership to fight against British rule using truth, non-violence, and peaceful protests like the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements.
The Nationalism in India Class 10 Notes help students quickly revise key events, movements, and leaders before exams. They make the chapter easier to understand and remember.
The Nationalism in India Class 10 Notes PDF covers Satyagraha, the Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Khilafat Movement, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, the Salt March, and the Poona Pact.
The main leaders were Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Students can revise from the Class 10 History Chapter 2 Notes PDF download to focus on key points and practice Class 10 History Chapter 2 questions and answers regularly for better results.
Yes, many students prefer Nationalism in India Class 10 Handwritten Notes because they make learning more personal and easier to memorize important facts.
Read the Class 10 Nationalism in India Notes PDF, make short summaries, use maps and timelines, and solve Nationalism in India Class 10 questions and answers to strengthen your understanding of the chapter.