2. World War I and Nationalism

Key Point 1: Increased Defence Expenditure → Higher Taxes

Elaboration:

During World War I (1914–1918), Britain’s expenses for the war skyrocketed. India, which was then a British colony, was expected to share the financial burden. To raise funds, the British government increased taxes in India. Two major steps were taken:

Custom Duties Increased: This means taxes on imported and exported goods became higher. Products coming into or going out of India faced more tax.
Income Tax Introduced: For the first time, Indians had to pay a portion of their earnings directly as tax.

Both these measures affected ordinary people. Peasants had to pay more while selling crops. Urban workers and traders saw their living costs go up.

Examples:

A cloth trader had to pay more to import British cloth, so he increased prices for customers.
A farmer selling wheat saw his profits drop due to increased export taxes.
Office workers in cities found part of their salary taken away as income tax.

Key Point 2: Price Rise and Shortages → Hardship for Common People

Elaboration:

The war caused a huge disruption in the supply of goods. Imported items slowed down due to fighting on sea routes. This made food grain and essential goods costlier. Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918. However, wages did not grow accordingly. As a result, the poor and middle-class families suffered greatly.

Examples:

In 1913, one kilogram of rice cost ₹1; by 1918, the same amount cost ₹2.
Workers who earned ₹5 per week could still only buy the same amount of food as before with their earnings.
Town dwellers often found shops empty or goods being sold at inflated prices.

Key Point 3: Forced Recruitment in Army

Elaboration:

To meet the war’s military requirements, the British government looked towards India for soldiers. In rural areas, recruitment was often forced. Many young men had to leave their homes to fight a foreign war. This left villages short of able-bodied men, impacting farming and daily life.

Examples:

Recruitment officers visited villages, pressuring families to send their sons to the army.
A village where 20 young men joined the army faced difficulty at harvest time, leading to smaller crop yields.
Families, already poor, lost their main source of labor and income.

Key Point 4: Influenza Epidemic (1918–19)

Elaboration:

Right after the war, a severe influenza pandemic swept the world. India was hit very hard. Between 13 and 17 million Indians died, many more than the number of Indian soldiers lost in the war. This tragedy added to the suffering and anger of Indian people.

Examples:

In a town of 10,000, hundreds died in a few weeks, leaving many children orphaned.
Villages lost entire families, making recovery from the war even harder.
Hospitals were overwhelmed and medicines ran out quickly.

Key Point 5: Impact on Nationalism

Elaboration:

With rising taxes, forced recruitment, shortages, and the epidemic, Indians began questioning British rule. They wondered why they were suffering for a war that was not their own. The widespread suffering and unfairness turned anger into a longing for freedom. This growing discontent was the foundation for mass movements led by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi.

Examples:

A teacher gathering neighbors to discuss how the war’s hardships could be ended only with self-rule.
Women participating in protests for the first time, inspired by the loss of their loved ones.
Local groups starting to boycott British goods as a sign of protest.

Activity: Simulating the Impact of Increased Taxes

Instructions:

Divide the class into three groups: peasants, urban workers, and British officials.
Give each "peasant" group tokens as earnings from crop sales.
Collect a portion of their tokens as 'taxes'.
Repeat this for “urban workers” with their weekly wages.
Discuss as a class how the peasants and workers feel after taxes.

Observations:

Peasants and workers feel there is less money left for their needs.
British officials collect more tokens but did not have to work for them.
Discontent among peasants and workers, which can lead to protest (nationalism).

Scenario Based Questions

Scenario: You are a village head during WWI and your villagers are forced to send their sons to war.
- Question: How do you address the villagers’ concerns and what might be their reactions?
- Answer: I would try to console them, but many would be angry and worried. They would fear losing family members and having less help for farming. Some might protest against the forced recruitment.
Scenario: As a merchant, you notice higher custom duties on your goods.
- Question: How does this affect your business and what could you do?
- Answer: My costs rise, so I may increase prices or earn less profit. I might try to find cheaper goods, or join other merchants in demanding lower taxes.
Scenario: During 1918, your city faces a sudden rise in food prices and shortage of goods.
- Question: What strategies might city dwellers adopt to cope with this crisis?
- Answer: People might buy in groups to get discounts, grow some food at home, or cut back on non-essential purchases.
Scenario: Your family loses two members to the influenza epidemic.
- Question: How does this loss affect your attitudes toward the British government?
- Answer: The loss brings anger and sadness. I may blame the government for not doing enough and support calls for independence.
Scenario: Inspired by hardships, your town is thinking of starting a protest.
- Question: What kind of protest actions can they take and what is the likely hope behind them?
- Answer: Actions can include boycotting British goods, organizing marches, or writing petitions. The hope is that British rulers will notice the dissatisfaction and allow more self-rule.