UPSC Indian Modern History 6 (Old Year Questions)

Ans c
During the Vice-royalty of Lord Chelmsford, a sedition committee was appointed by the Government in 1918 with Justice Rowlatt which made certain recommendations to curb seditious activities in India. The Rowlatt 1919, gave unbridled powers to the government to arrest and imprison suspects, without trial. The act caused a wave of anger among the people. Gandhiji decided to fight against this act and he gave a call for Satyagraha on April 6, 1919.

Ans c
To achieve the goal of Complete Independence, Gandhiji launched another civil disobedience movement in 1930. Alongwith 78 followers, Gandhiji started his famous march from Sabarmati Ashram on March 12, 1930 for the small village Dandi (Navsari district) to break the Salt Law. Gandhiji covered a distance of 240 miles in 24 days. On reaching the seashore on April 6, he broke the Salt Law by picking up salt from the seashore. By picking handful if salt, Gandhiji inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement, a movement that was to remain unsurpassed in the history of Indian National Movement for the countrywide mass participation it unleashed.

Ans d
The All India Congress Committee met at Bombay on August 8, 1942, and passed the famous ‘Quit India’ resolution, proposing to start non-violent mass struggle to achieve this aim. On the night of this day, Gandhi gave his call of ‘Do or Die’. But before the Congress could start its non-violent movement, the government rounded up all the important leaders, including Gandhi in the morning of August 9. This unwise act of the government unleashed an unprecedented and country – wide wave of mass fury. Left leaderless and without any organization, the people reacted in any matter they could.

Ans a
The Ahmedabad Mill strike gave Gandhi an urban, industrial base. In 1920, he founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association, the union which afterwards set the tone of industrial relations in the city. Its approach was mild, but Gandhi’s standing with the workers guaranteed constructive response from the mill owners, who feared him.

Ans b
Partition of Bengal (1905): The partition, officially announced on July 4, 1905, came into effect on October 16, 1905. On the same day, the people of Bengal reacted in an unprecedented way by observing it as a day of mourning and organizing protest meetings. At a meeting held at the so-called ‘Federal Hall’, a resolution was adopted to launch the Swadeshi movement and adopt the slogan of ‘Bande Mataram’.

Ans b
In October 1940, Gandhi selected Vinoba Bhave as the first Satyagrahi-civil resister-for the individual Satyagraha against the British, and Jawaharlal Nehru the second Satyagrahi. On October 31, 1940 Pt. Nehru was arrested for offering individual Satyagraha to protest against India’s forced participation in war. He was released along with the other leaders in December 1941.

Ans b
The Cripps Proposals – March-April 1942: Sir Stafford Cripps after discussions with the Indian leaders, announced his proposals in the form of a Draft Declaration, which may be summarized as: i. The British Government’s object was the creation of a new Indian Union, which would have Dominion Status. ii. A Constitution-making body, consisting of the elected representatives from the British Provinces and the Princely States was to be set up immediately after the war. iii. The Constitution framed by this body would be accepted and implemented subject to two conditions (a) any province of British India not prepared to accept this Constitution would retain its present constitutional position. With such non-acceding provinces, the British might agree upon a new Constitution, giving them the same status as the Indian Union, (b) Every Princely State would be free to adhere to the Constitution or decline to do so. iv. During the War an Executive Council would be set up, composed of leaders of the principal sections of the Indian people. But the British Government would retain control of the defence of India as a part of their war effort.

Ans c
Aruna Asaf Ali (July 16, 1909, Kalka, Haryana—July 29, 1996) (born Aruna Ganguli), was an Indian independence fighter. She is widely remembered for hoisting the Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan in Bombay during the Quit India Movement, 1942. Aruna was dubbed the Heroine of the 1942 movement for her bravery in the face of danger and was called Grand Old Lady of the Independence movement of her later years.

Ans c
Sarojini Naidu is well acclaimed for her contribution to poetry. Her poetry had beautiful words that could also be sung. Her collection of poems published in 1905 under the title “The Golden Threshold”.

Ans b
The institutions of urban local government originated and developed in modern India during the period of British rule. The major events in this context are: (i) In 1687, the first municipal corporation in India was set up at Madras, (ii) In 1726, the municipal corporations were set up in Bombay and Calcutta.

Ans a
The government consists of a number of ministries/departments, number and character varying from time to time on factors such as volume work, importance attached to certain items, changes of orientation, political expediency etc. On 15 August 1947, the number of ministries at the Centre was 18. The number of ministries at the Centre at present is 55.

Ans d
Cripps proposals may be summarized as under: The British Government’s object was the creation of a new Indian Union, which would have Dominion status. A Constitution-making body, consisting of the elected representatives from the British Provinces and the Princely States was to be set up immediately after the war. The Constitution framed by this body would be accepted and implemented subject to two conditions: (1) any Province of British India not prepared to accept this Constitution would retain its present constitutional position. With such non-acceding Provinces, the British Government might agree upon a new Constitution, giving them the same status at the Indian Union, (2) Every Provincely State would be free to adhere to the Constitution or decline to do so. During the War an Executive Council would be set up, composed of leaders of the principal sections of the Indian people. But the British Government would retain control of the defence of India as part of their War effort. In exchange for these concessions, Britain asked for India’s support in its war efforts.

Ans a
In 1939, with the outbreak of war between Germany and Britain, India was announced to be a party to the war for being a constituent component of the British Empire. Following this declaration, the Congress Working Committee at its meeting on 10th October, 1939, passed a resolution condemning the aggressive activities of the Germans. At the same time the resolution also stated that India could not associate herself with war as it was against Fascism. There was hardly any difference between British colonialism and Nazi totalitarianism. Responding to this declaration, the Viceroy issued a statement on October 17th wherein he claimed that Britain is waging a war driven by the motif to strengthen peace in the world. He also stated that after the war, the government would initiate modifications in the Act of 1935, in accordance to the desires of the Indians. Gandhi’s reaction to this statement was; “the old policy of divide and rule is to continue. The Congress has asked for bread and it has got stone.” According to the instructions issued by High Command, the Congress ministers were directed to resign immediately. Congress ministers from eight provinces resigned following the instructions.

Ans b
East India Company, (British, 1600-1874) has established its first factory at Machilipatnam on the Coromandel coast of the Bay of Bengal in 1611 during the reign of Jehangir (1605-1628), and its gradually acquired unequaled trade privileges from the Mughal emperors.

Ans c
In 1905, G.K. Gokhale had established the Servants of India Society. He had also rejected the title of knighthood and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India.

Ans c
The “Free Indian Legion” was founded in 1942 by Subhas Chandra Bose and consisted of Indian volunteers and prisoners of war; in June 1942 it was designated the Indisches Infanterie Regiment 950/Legion Freies Indian of the German Army. It was initially deployed to the Netherlands and then to northern France, in 1943; numbering around 2,300 men now, in August 1944 it was transferred to the Waffen-SS and re-titled the “Indische Freiwilligen Legion der Waffen SS”; around the end of March 1945, the Legion was captured by Allied forces.

Ans b
Surat Split refers to the splitting of the Congress party into ‘Moderates’ and ‘Extremists’ after a clash at the session. The extremists were led by Lokmanya Tilak, Lajpat Rai and Sri Aurobindo and the moderates were led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta and Surendranath Banerjee. The divided Congress re-united in the crucial Lucknow session of congress in 1916.

Ans c
Dadabhai presented to the British people the “Drain Theory”, which put before them the facts and figures illustrating systematic bleeding of the wealth and resources of India. His ideas were put into a volume called “Poverty and UnBritish rule in India”. This was a charge against the British Empire, and he asked for immediate appointment of a Royal Commission to look into the charges. Dadabhai was one of the members of the Royal Commission.

Ans c
The Rowlatt Act was law passed by the British Raj in India in March 1919, Lord Chelmsford : 4 April 1916 – 2 April 1921 Lord Irwin : 3 April 1926 – 18 April 1931 Lord Reading : 2 April 1921 – 3 April 1926 Lord Wavell : 1 October 1943 – 21 February 1947

Ans c
Kripalani, J.B. (1888-1982) – He was professor of English and History. Kripalani came in contact with Gandhi in 1917 during Champaran Satyagraha. He served as General Secretary of the Congress from 1934-1945. He took part in all the movements since 1921 and was imprisoned number of times.