TEST 06: MODERN INDIAN HISTORY

Syllabus: 1919-1947

1. Consider the following statements regarding the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms:

1. In 1918, Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State, and Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy, produced their scheme of constitutional reforms which led to the enactment of the Government of India Act of 1919.

2. After the scheme of constitutional reforms, the Provincial Legislative Councils were enlarged and the majority of their members were to be elected.

3. The provincial governments were given more powers under the system of Diarchy.

Which of the above statement is true?

A. 1 and 2

B. 2 and 3

C. 1 and 3

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

• Explanation: In 1918, Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State, and Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy, produced their scheme of constitutional reforms which led to the enactment of the Government of India Act of 1919.

• The Provincial Legislative Councils were enlarged and the majority of their members were to be elected. The provincial governments were given more powers under the system of Diarchy. Under this system some subjects, such as finance and law and order, were called „reserved‟ subjects and remained under the direct control of the Governor; others such as education, public health, and local self-government, were called „transferred‟ subjects and were to be controlled by ministers responsible to the legislatures.

2. On 6 April 1919, which of the following historical events took place in India?

A. Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre

B. Dandi March

C. Non Cooperation

D. Bengal partition

Answer: A

• Explanation: The Government was determined to suppress the mass agitation. It repeatedly lathi-charged and fired upon unarmed demonstrators at Bombay, Ahmadabad, Calcutta, Delhi and other cities.

• Gandhiji gave a call for a mighty hartal on 6 April 1919. The people responded with unprecedented enthusiasm. The Government decided to meet the popular protest with repression, particularly in Punjab. At this time was perpetrated one of the worst political crimes in modern history.

• An unarmed but large crowd had gathered on 13 April 1919 at Amritsar (in Punjab) in the Jallianwalla Bagh, to protest against the arrest of their popular leaders, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal.

• General Dyer, the military commander of Amritsar, decided to terrorise the people of Amritsar into complete submission. Jallianwala Bagh was a large open space which was enclosed on three sides by buildings and had only one exit. He surrounded the Bagh (garden) with his army unit, closed the exit with his troops, and then ordered his men to shoot into the trapped crowd with rifles and machine-guns. They fired till their ammunition was exhausted.

3. Which of the following leaders were among those who left Congress after the declaration of non- cooperation programme because they still believed in the lawful struggle?

1. Subhas Chandra Bose

2. Annie Besant

3. G.S. Kharpade

4. Mohammad Ali Jinnah

5. Jawahar Lal Nehru

A. 1, 2, 3 and 5

B. 2, 3 and 4

C. Only 1 and 2

D. All of the above

Answer: B

• Explanation: With the declaration of non- cooperation programme by the Congress in the Nagpur session of 1920, many groups of revolutionary terrorists, especially those from Bengal, also pledged support to the Congress programme. But at this stage, some leaders like Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Annie Besant, G.S. Kharpade and B.C. Pal left the Congress as they believed in a constitutional and lawful struggle while some others like Surendranath Banerjee founded the Indian National Liberal Federation.

4. After which of the following incident, the Bardoli resolution was passed?

A. Jallianwala Bagh massacre

B. Chauri Chaura incident

C. Death of Lala Lajpat Rai

D. None of the above

Answer: B

• Explanation: On February 4, 1922, a mob of 3000 peasants gathered to picket a liquor shop at Chauri Chaura, a town near Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The local administration sent armed police to control the situation. The Police tried to disperse the crowd by firing two shots in the air. So stone pelting started. The police fired and killed 3 people. The result was that outrageous mob set the Police Chauki on fire and all 23 Police wallas inside got burnt alive.

• On 12 February 1922, when the Congress leaders met at Bardoli, Gandhi decided to withdraw the Noncooperation movement. It was a bit controversial but by that time Gandhi’s figure was respected by every Congressman. Thus, they accepted this decision, but they got demoralized and disintegrated. Gandhi was arrested on 10 March 1922 and trialled at Ahmadabad. A simple prison of 6 years was awarded to him. The Bardoli resolution stunned the country and had a mixed reception among the nationalists while some had implicit faith in Gandhiji, others resented this decision to retreat.

5. Consider the following statements regarding the contribution of Khilafat agitation:

1. It had brought urban Muslims into the nationalist movement responsible in part for the feeling of nationalist enthusiasm and exhilaration that prevailed in the country in those days.

2. It was inevitable that different sections of society would come to understand the need for freedom through their particular demands and experiences.

3. The Khilafat agitation represented much wider feelings of the Muslims than their concern for the Caliph.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2

C. 2 and 3

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

• Explanation: The Khilafat agitation had made an important contribution to the non-cooperation movement. It had brought urban Muslims into the nationalist movement and had been, thus, responsible in part for the feeling of nationalist enthusiasm and exhilaration that prevailed in the country in those days. Some historians have criticised it for having mixed politics with religion.

• As a result, they say, religious consciousness spread to politics, end in the long run, the forces of communalism were strengthened. This is true to some extent. There was, of course, nothing wrong in the nationalist movement taking up a demand that affected Muslims only. It was inevitable that different sections of society would come to understand the need for freedom through their particular demands and experiences.

• The nationalist leadership, however, failed to some extent in raising the religious political consciousness of the Muslims to the higher plane of secular political consciousness. At the same time, it should also be kept in view that the Khilafat agitation represented much wider feelings of the Muslims than their concern for the Caliph. It was, in reality, an aspect of the general spread of anti-imperialist feelings among the Muslims. These feelings found concrete expression on the Khilafat question. After all, there was no protest in India when Kamal Pasha abolished the Caliphate in 1924.

6. The Congress- Khilafat Swaraj Party was founded by:

A. Jawaharlal Nehru

B. Motilal Nehru

C. Mahatma Gandhi

D. Subhash Chandra Bose

Answer: B

• Explanation: In December 1922, Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Congress-Khilafat Swaraj Party with Das as president and Motilal Nehru as one of the secretaries. The new party was to function as a group within the Congress. It accepted the Congress programme except in one respect— it would take part in Council elections.

• The Swarajists and the “no-changers” now engaged in fierce political controversy. Even Gandhiji, who had been released on 5 February 1924 on grounds of health, failed in his efforts to unite them. But on his advice, the two groups agreed to remain in the Congress thought they would work in their separate ways.

7. Consider the following statements regarding the ideologies of “no-changers” in the modern history of India:

1. The ‘No-changers’ opposed council entry.

2. They advocated concentration on constructive work and continuation of boycott and noncooperation.

3. This school of thought led by Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachari & M.A. Ansari came to be known as the ‘No-changers’.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2

C. 2 and 3

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

8. With reference to Swarajists, consider the following statements:

1. Swarajists negated the non-cooperation movement and argued that council entry should be allowed

2. They intended to use the councils as organs for gradual transformation of colonial rule.

3. C.R Das , Vallabhai Patel and Motilal Nehru were prominent Swarajist leaders

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

A. 1 and 3 only

B. 2 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

• Explanation : The Swarajists argued that entering the councils would not negate the non-cooperation programme; in fact, it would be like carrying on the movement through other means—opening a new front.

• Their only intention was to use the councils as arena of political struggle; they had no intention to use the councils as organs for gradual transformation of colonial rule.

• C.R Das and Motilal Nehru were Swarajists, while, Vallabhai Patel was a no-changer

9. With reference to Nehru Report, consider the following statements:

1. It recommended joint electorates with reservation for Muslims even in the provinces where they were in majority

2. Formation of linguistic provinces was recommended in the report

3. It recommended complete dissociation of state from religion

Which of the statements given above is/are correct:

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

• Explanation : Nehru Report rejected separate electorates which had been the basis of constitutional reforms so far; instead, a demand for joint electorates with reservation of seats for Muslims at the centre and in provinces where they were in minority (and not in those where Muslims were in majority, such as Punjab and Bengal) in proportion to the Muslim population there with a right to contest additional seats was recommended.
• Nehru report recommended the formation of linguistic provinces.
• Complete dissociation of state from religion was envisaged in the report.

10. Consider the following statements:

1. Lahore session of Indian National Congress was presided by Jawaharlal Nehru

2. Pakistan Resolution was passed at the Lahore session of Muslim League

3. Setting up of Indian Statutory Commission was seen as the violation of the principle of self determination

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 3 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

• Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru, who had done more than anyone else to popularize the concept of Purna Swaraj, was nominated the president for the Lahore session of the Congress (December 1929) mainly due to Gandhi’s backing, (15 out of 18 Provincial Congress Committees had opposed Nehru). Nehru was chosen.

• On March 24, 1940, the ‘Pakistan Resolution’ was passed at the Lahore session of the Muslim League calling for “grouping of all geographically contiguous Muslim majority areas (mainly north-western and eastern India) into independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign

• The Indian response against the commission was immediate and nearly unanimous. What angered the Indians most was the exclusion of Indians from the commission and the basic notion behind the exclusion that foreigners would discuss and decide upon India’s fitness for selfgovernment. This notion was seen as a violation of the principle of self-determination, and a deliberate insult to the self-respect of Indians

11. With reference to Civil Disobedience Movement, consider the following statements:

1. In Tamil Nadu, K. Kelappan lead the dandi march from Calicut to Poyannur

2. Agitation against Cunningham Circular was organized

3. The movement saw unprecedented level of participation by Muslims

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 3 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 2 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: C

• Explanation: In Tamil Nadu, C.Rajagopalachari led a march from Tiruchirapally to Vedaranniyam. In Malabar, K. Kelappan led a march from Calicut to Poyannur. In Assam, satyagrahis walked from Sylhet to Noakhali (Bengal) to make salt. In Andhra, a number of sibirams (camps) came up in different districts as headquarters of salt satyagraha.

• Assam, A powerful agitation was organized against the infamous ‘Cunningham circular’ which forced parents, guardians and students to furnish assurances of good behavior.

• The Muslim participation was nowhere near the 1920-22 level because of appeals by Muslim leaders to Muslim masses to stay away from the movement and because of, active government encouragement to communal dissension. Still, some areas such as the NWFP saw an overwhelming participation. Middle class Muslim participation was quite significant in Senhatta, Tripura, Gaibandha, Bagura and Noakhali. In Dacca, Muslim leaders, shopkeepers, lower class people and upper class women were active. The Muslim weaving community in Bihar, Delhi and Lucknow were also effectively mobilised.

12. With reference to Communal Award, consider the following statements:

1. Congress neither accepted nor rejected the communal award

2. It led to the signing of Poona Pact which provided for a larger number of reserved seats for minorities

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

• Explanation: Congress was not in favour of changing the Communal Award without the consent of the minorities. Thus, while strongly disagreeing with the Communal Award, the Congress decided neither to accept it nor to reject it.

• Poona Pact was signed by B.R. Ambedkar on behalf of the depressed classes in September 1932, the Pact abandoned separate electorates for the depressed classes. But the seats reserved for the depressed classes were increased from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and 18 per cent of the total in the central legislature

13. With reference to the Government of India Act, 1935, consider the following Statements:

1. It lead to the formation of an All India Federation

2. It provided for the system of diarchy in the central legislature

3. It provided for direct elections to the council of states, while federal assembly was to have indirect elections

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

• Explanation: An All India Federation was envisaged by Government of India Act, 1935. It was to comprise all British Indian provinces, all chief commissioner’s provinces and Indian states. The federation’s formation was conditional on the fulfilment of two conditions:

1. States with allotment of 52 seats in the proposed Council of States should agree to join the federation.

2. Aggregate population of states in the above category should be 50 per cent of the total population of all Indian states.

• Since these conditions were not fulfilled, the proposed federation never came up. The Central Government carried on up to 1946 as per the provisions of Government of India Act, 1919.

• At the centre, the reserved subjects were administered by the governor-general on the advice of the executive councilors, while, transferred subjects were to be administered by the governor-general on the advice of ministers elected by the legislature. Thus the act introduced diarchy at the center.

• The Council of States was to be a 260-member house, partly directly elected from British Indian provinces and partly (40 per cent) nominated by the princes. The Federal Assembly was to be a 375-member house, partly indirectly elected from British Indian provinces and partly (one third) nominated by the princes. Oddly enough, election to the Council of States was direct and that to the Federal Assembly, indirect.

14. Which of the following was not proposed by Cripps Mission?

A.  Making of the constitution solely in the hands of Indians

B. It offered complete independence instead of dominion status

C.  It provided an option to the provinces to frame a separate constitution

D.  Free India was given an option to withdraw from the Commonwealth

Answer: B

• Explanation: The Cripps Mission proposals failed to satisfy Indian nationalists and turned out to be merely a propaganda device for US and Chinese Consumption as it offered dominion status instead of a provision of complete independence.

15. Who started an underground radio in Mumbai during Quit India Movement?

A. Ram Manohar Lohia

B. Aruna Asaf Ali

C. Usha Sharma

D. None of the above

Answer: C

• Explanation: Usha Sharma started an underground radio in Bombay. This phase of underground activity was meant to keep up popular morale by continuing to provide a line of command and guidance to distribute arms and ammunition

16. With reference to the INA agitation, consider the following statements:

1. The agitation garnered support from Muslim League

2. Defence of INA prisoners in the court was organized by prominent Congress leaders

3. INA agitation drew sympathy from the armed forces

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

• Explanation: Those who supported the INA cause in varying degrees, apartfrom the Congress, included the Muslim League, Communist Party, Unionists, Akalis, Justice Party, Ahrars in Rawalpindi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Hindu Mahasabha and the Sikh League.

• Defence of INA prisoners in the court was organised by Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Kailash Nath Katju, Nehru and Asaf Ali.

• Men of the armed forces were unexpectedly sympathetic and attended meetings, received those released (often in uniforms) and contributed funds

17. With reference to the Cabinet Mission plan, consider the following statements:

1. It accepted the demand for a full – fledged Pakistan

2. Existing provincial assemblies were grouped into three sections

3. Residual powers were given to the provinces under Cabinet Mission Plan

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and2 only

B. 2 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D.1, 2 and 3

Answer: C

• Explanation:  Cabinet Mission plan rejected the demand for a full-fledged Pakistan because:

• the Pakistan so formed would include a large non-Muslim population-38% in the North-West and 48% in the North-East;

• the very principle of communal self-determination would claim separation of Hindumajority Western Bengal and Sikh- and Hindu- dominated ‘Ambala and Jullundur divisions of Punjab (already some Sikh leaders were demanding a separate state if the country was partitioned);

• deep-seated regional ties would be disturbed if Bengal and Punjab were partitioned;

• partition would entail economic and administrative problems, for instance, the problem of communication between the western and eastern parts of Pakistan; and

•  the division of armed forces would be dangerous.

18 .Consider the following statements regarding the partition of British India:

1. Several hundred thousand people were killed and innumerable women raped and abducted.

2. Millions were uprooted, transformed into refugees in alien lands.

3. Probably, some 15 million had to move across hastily constructed frontiers separating India and Pakistan.

Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?

A. Only 1

B. 1 and 2

C. 1 and 3

D. All of the above

Answer: D

19. Who has given the two nation-theory?

A. Mahatma Gandhi

B. Muhammad Ali Jinnah

C. Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel

D. Jawaharlal Nehru

Answer: B

• Explanation: The two-nation theory was a founding principle of the Pakistan Movement and the partition of India in 1947. The ideology that religion is the main factor in defining the nationality of Indian Muslims was used by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He called it ‘the awakening of Muslims for the creation of Pakistan’.

20. In which of the following year the name ‘Pakistan’ was coined?

A. 1925

B. 1933

C. 1946

D. 1947

Answer: B

• Explanation: The name Pakistan or Pak-stan is coined by a Punjabi Muslim student at Cambridge, Choudhry Rehmat Ali in 1933