Indian National Movement (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

31. The Indian Muslims, in general, were not attracted to the Extremist movement because of: [1998]

Correct Answer: (d) extremists' policy of harping on Hindu aspect
Solution:The extremists believed in sacrificing everything including life for the cause of the motherland. They tried to instill self-respect and patriotism in the people by invoking past heroes like Ashoka, Shivaji, Maharana Pratap and Rani Laxmibai. Because of the extremist's policy of harping on Hindu past, The Indian Muslims in general were not attracted to the extremist movement.

32. Which one of the following events, was characterised by Montague as 'Preventive Murder? [1998]

Correct Answer: (b) Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh
Solution:

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, also known as the Amritsar Massacre, took place on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab. On this fateful day, British troops led by Colonel Reginald Dyer opened fire on a large crowd of unarmed Indian civilians gathered at Jallianwala Bagh, an enclosed public garden. The crowd had gathered to peacefully protest the arrest of two nationalist leaders and the imposition of the repressive Rowlatt Act.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 stands as one of the most tragic and pivotal events in the history of British India. This brutal act of violence by British forces against Indian civilians marked a significant turning point in the Indian independence movement.

In 1951, the Government of India established a memorial at Jallianwala Bagh to honour the spirit of Indian revolutionaries and those who died in the brutal massacre.

33. What is the correct sequence of the following events? [1998]

1. The August offer

2. The I.N.A trial

3. The Quit India Movement

4. The Royal Indian Naval Ratings' Revolt.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Codes:

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 3, 2, 4
Solution:
  1. The August Offer (1940)
    • Who: Viceroy Lord Linlithgow.
    • What: A British proposal offering dominion status and an expanded Viceroy’s Executive Council, seeking Indian support for World War II.
    • Result: The offer was rejected by the Indian National Congress, as it did not promise immediate independence.
  2.  The Quit India Movement (1942)
    • Who: Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress.
    • What: A mass movement demanding an immediate end to British rule in India.
    • Impact: It was a significant event in India’s struggle for independence.
  3. The I.N.A. Trials (1945–1946)
    • Who: Officers and soldiers of the Indian National Army (INA).
    • What: Post–World War II trials by British colonial authorities for treason against members of the INA, who had fought alongside the Japanese.
    • Significance: These trials generated widespread public support for the INA soldiers.
  4. The Royal Indian Naval Ratings’ Revolt (1946)
    • Who: Ratings (sailors) of the Royal Indian Navy.
    • What: A mutiny and strike by naval ratings against the British, protesting poor pay, food, and racial discrimination.
    • Impact: The revolt began in Mumbai and spread, highlighting growing dissatisfaction within the armed forces and pushing the British government towards granting independence.

34. Which one of the following defines extremist ideology during the early phase of Indian freedom movement? [1998]

Correct Answer: (b) Obtaining self-government by aggressive means in place of petitions and constitutional ways
Solution:In the beginning of the 20th century, Extremists, a new class of national leaders emerged in India which were different from the moderate group. They took a more aggressive stance against the British Empire. They were typically younger and did not believe in the soft and persuasive approach of the moderate leaders. They did not stick to constitutional methods to protest and demand. They resorted to boycotts, strikes, etc. They also burned foreign-made goods. They believed in confrontation rather than persuasion. They believed in sacrificing everything including life for the cause of the motherland. They opposed westernization of Indian society by the British.

35. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? [1998]

1. Theodore Beck: Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College, Aligarh.

2. Ilbert Bill: Ripon

3. Pherozeshah Mehta: Indian National Congress

4. Badruddin Tyabji: Muslims League

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Codes:

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:

Theodore Beck was indeed the principal of Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh, this association is accurate. The Ilbert Bill, which proposed that Indian judges should be allowed to try British subjects, was introduced during Lord Ripon’s viceroyalty, so this pair is also accurate. Pherozeshah Mehta was a founder and president of the Indian National Congress, which verifies option III. The incorrect pair is Badruddin Tyabji and the Muslim League. Although Badruddin Tyabji was a prominent Indian lawyer and a leader in the Indian independence movement, he was not associated with the Muslim League – instead, he served as the president of the Indian National Congress in 1887.

36. "The Congress is tottering to its fall and one of my great ambitions while in India, is to assist it to a peaceful demise. "This statement is attributed to: [1998]

Correct Answer: (b) Lord Curzon
Solution:

Lord Curzon was appointed Viceroy of India in 1899 succeeding Lord Elgin at the age of 39, making him the youngest person to hold the position. He served until 1905. Curzon worked to modernise India’s infrastructure, especially in terms of railways, irrigation, and administrative efficiency. However, he held deeply racist views and believed in Britain’s “civilizing mission” in India.
The most contentious decision of his tenure was the Partition of Bengal in 1905, which sparked widespread protests and nationalist sentiment.

37. Who was the leader of the Ghaddar Party? [1998]

Correct Answer: (b) Lala Hardayal
Solution:
  • The Ghadar Party was a revolutionary group founded by Indians in the United States with the aim of securing India’s independence from British rule.
  • Taraknath Das, a prominent Indian in the USA, established the Indian Independence League in California in 1907 and later began publishing the paper Free Hindustan.
  • In 1913, Sohan Singh Bhakna founded the Hind Association of America, which started the weekly publication Ghadar in English, Urdu, Marathi, and Gurmukhi.
  • This paper promoted revolutionary ideas and inspired the name of the Ghadar Party.
  • Lala Hardayal emerged as a key leader in the Ghadar movement, establishing a central committee with headquarters at the Yugantar Ashram in San Francisco.
  • The Ghadar Party also had notable figures such as Bhai Parmanand and Ram Chandra, and the publication Ghadar consistently encouraged armed struggle and revolt against British rule.
  • Revolutionaries Raja Mahendra Pratap and Barkatullah supported the Ghadar Party from abroad and, with the help of Germany and Russia, attempted to set up a provisional government of India in Kabul.

38. Lord Mountbatten came to India as a Viceroy with specific instruction to: [1998]

Correct Answer: (b) keep India united if possible
Solution:He was not able to keep India united so he used the Plan Balkan.

This article hints on Mountbatten's plan of keeping India united. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/viceroys-house/lord-mountbatten-india-partition/

  • The Mountbatten Plan, also known as the 3 June Plan, marked the final blueprint for India’s independence from British rule.
  • The partition of the country accompanied it into two dominions:
    ○ India and
    ○ Pakistan.
  • Lord Louis Mountbatten, who arrived in India as the last British Viceroy in March 1947, proposed this plan to address the communal tensions and expedite the transfer of power.

39. Assertion (A): The Khilafat movement did bring the urban Muslims into the fold of the National Movement: [1998]

Reason (R): There was a predominant element of anti-imperialism in both the National and Khilafat Movement.

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
Solution:Both are correct and R explains A
  • The Khilafat Movement was a significant phase in India’s freedom struggle, marking the first major political unification between Hindus and Muslims in opposition to British rule.
  • Initiated to defend the Ottoman Caliphate, the movement became a symbol of Muslim solidarity and a vehicle for Indian nationalism, merging religious and political aims under one cause.

40. Assertion (A): Partition of Bengal in 1905 brought to an end the moderates' role in the Indian freedom movement. [1998]

Reason (R): The Surat session of Indian National Congress separated the Extremists from the Moderates.

Correct Answer: (d) A is false but R is true
Solution:A is false as role of moderates continued after partition of Bengal. Extremists and moderates separated at Surat session in 1907 but reunited at 1916 session at Lucknow.
• The ideological rift between the Moderates and Extremists in the Indian National Congress had been developing for years.
• Moderates, including leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, believed in settling issues through negotiations and constitutional methods, focusing on achieving incremental reforms.
• They sought to limit the Swadeshi and boycott movements to Bengal, avoiding a nationwide call.
• On the other hand, the Extremists, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, advocated a more direct and militant approach, using boycotts and strikes to push for widespread swadeshi, boycotts, and national education across the country.
• This faction aimed for a nationwide movement to challenge British authority directly.