Question 1: Choose the appropriate option.
a) The Partition of Bengal in 1905 led to the ______
- i) The Quit India Movement
- ii) The Swadeshi Movement
- iii) The Khilafat Movement
- Answer: ii) The Swadeshi Movement
b) ‘Do or Die’ slogan was given by Mahatma Gandhi during the ______
- i) The Rowlatt Satyagraha
- ii) The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
- iii) The Quit India Movement
- iv) The Partition of the country
- Answer: iii) The Quit India Movement
c) The Indian National Army was reorganised by ______
- i) Bhagat Singh
- ii) Mahatma Gandhi
- iii) Subhash Chandra Bose
- iv) Gopalkrishna Gokhale
- Answer: iii) Subhash Chandra Bose
d) The ______ allowed the British government to arrest any Indian without warrant and scope for trial, if doubted of being engaged in suspicious activities.
- i) The Vernacular Press Act
- ii) The Ilbert Bill
- iii) The Rowlatt Act
- iv) The Government of India Act
- Answer: iii) The Rowlatt Act
e) ______ was the first President of the Congress.
- i) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- ii) C.R. Das
- iii) W.C. Bonnerjee
- iv) Mohammed Ali Jinnah
- Answer: iii) W.C. Bonnerjee
Question 2: Consider the following statements and choose the correct option.
a)
- Assertion (A): The western-educated Indians had initially hoped that Britain would guide India towards progress.
- Reason (R): They believed that the British considered the Indians their equals.
- Answer: iii) A is true but R is false
b)
- Assertion (A): The radical leaders were satisfied with opposing government policies through petitions.
- Reason (R): They wished to launch a broad-scale, non-cooperation movement.
- Answer: iv) A is false but R is true
Question 3: Match the columns.
| Column A | Column B |
| a) Subhas Chandra Bose | i) Extremist leader |
| b) Lord Mountbatten | ii) Boundary Commission |
| c) Sir Cyril Radcliffe | iii) Fought for the rights of Indians in South Africa |
| d) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi | iv) Last Viceroy of India |
| e) Bal Gangadhar Tilak | v) founded the Rani Jhansi regiment in the I.N.A |
| Column A | Column B |
| a) Subhas Chandra Bose | v) founded the Rani Jhansi regiment in the I.N.A. |
| b) Lord Mountbatten | iv) Last Viceroy of India |
| c) Sir Cyril Radcliffe | ii) Boundary Commission |
| d) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi | iii) Fought for the rights of Indians in South Africa |
| e) Bal Gangadhar Tilak | i) Extremist leader |
Question 4: Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words.
a) What did the early nationalists fight for?
The early nationalists, known as the Moderates, fought for greater Indian participation in the administration through constitutional methods. They aimed for civil rights, economic reforms to reduce the drain of India’s wealth, and increased representation in legislative councils. Their approach was based on petitions, prayers, and peaceful protests, hoping to bring about self-governance through gradual reform.
b) What reason did the British give for partitioning Bengal?
The British officially claimed that the province of Bengal was too large and populous to be administered efficiently. They argued that partitioning it in 1905 would improve administrative convenience and foster development in the eastern region. However, the real, unstated motive was widely believed to be a political strategy to divide and weaken the growing nationalist movement in Bengal.
c) What was the most important feature of the Swadeshi Movement?
The most important feature of the Swadeshi Movement was the comprehensive boycott of British goods and institutions. Indians were urged to reject foreign products, burn foreign cloth, and use only Indian-made goods (Swadeshi). This was coupled with the revitalization of indigenous industries and the establishment of national schools and colleges, making it a potent tool of economic and political resistance.
d) How was the Quit India movement different from the previous movements?
The Quit India Movement was different because it was a mass, spontaneous uprising that began without a structured leadership, as most Congress leaders were arrested immediately. Gandhi’s call was for “Do or Die,” demanding complete and immediate British withdrawal. It was the most radical and widespread rebellion, characterized by unprecedented popular fury and the emergence of parallel governments in some areas.
e) What was the Mountbatten Plan?
The Mountbatten Plan, announced in June 1947, was the final blueprint for British withdrawal from India. It proposed the partition of British India into two independent dominions: India and Pakistan. The plan also stipulated that the princely states would be free to accede to either dominion. This plan led to the creation of two separate nations on August 15, 1947.
f) Why did Gandhiji choose salt as the theme for launching his Dandi march?
Gandhiji chose salt because it was a simple, universal necessity consumed by every Indian, rich and poor. The British salt tax was a symbolic representation of their exploitative rule. By illegally making salt from seawater, Gandhi launched a powerful and inclusive protest that every common person could understand and join, making it a brilliant symbol of defiance against an unjust law.
Question 5: Answer the following questions in 50 to 70 words.
a) What do you know about the rise of nationalism in India during the late nineteenth century?
The rise of nationalism in late 19th century India was fueled by several factors. Western education created a class of Indians who understood concepts of liberty and self-rule. The economic policies of the British, which drained India’s wealth and ruined its local industries, created widespread resentment. Further, the racial discrimination practiced by the British and the unifying work of social reformers created a shared sense of Indian identity, leading to the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885.
b) How did the national movement transform with the arrival of Gandhiji?
With Gandhiji’s arrival, the national movement was transformed from a campaign led by an educated elite into a truly mass movement. He introduced novel methods of non-violent resistance—Satyagraha, non-cooperation, and civil disobedience—that involved millions of common people, including peasants, women, and workers. His emphasis on truth, non-violence, and self-reliance (Swadeshi) gave the freedom struggle a moral high ground and a unique character, making it a deeply popular and widespread struggle for ‘Swaraj’ or self-rule.
c) Differentiate between the Radical and Moderate methods of resistance.
The Moderates, dominant in the early Congress, believed in constitutional methods like petitions, prayers, and peaceful protests. They had faith in British justice and aimed for reforms and greater self-governance within the British Empire. The Radicals or Extremists, led by leaders like Tilak, lost this faith. They advocated for more aggressive methods, including boycotts and passive resistance, to achieve ‘Swaraj’ or complete self-rule. They aimed to mobilize the masses and were willing to confront the British government directly.
d) Mention the developments after 1945 that led to India’s independence.
Several key developments after 1945 hastened India’s independence. The Quit India Movement had revealed the depth of nationalist sentiment. The British economy was shattered after World War II, weakening its hold on the empire. There was a change in government in Britain, with the Labour Party, which was more sympathetic to Indian independence, coming to power. Additionally, the 1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny signaled that even the armed forces could not be relied upon, making the continuation of British rule practically impossible.
6. Write short notes on:
a. The Rowlatt Satyagraha: This was Mahatma Gandhi’s first all-India satyagraha against the repressive Rowlatt Act of 1919, which allowed imprisonment without trial. Gandhi called for a nationwide hartal (strike), involving peaceful protests and civil disobedience. The movement saw unprecedented Hindu-Muslim unity but was suspended by Gandhi after it led to violent incidents. However, it set the stage for a broader national struggle.
b.The Chauri Chaura incident: In 1922, a peaceful protest in Gorakhpur turned violent when police fired on demonstrators. In retaliation, the protestors set a police station on fire, killing 22 policemen. Appalled by the violence, Mahatma Gandhi immediately called off the entire Non-Cooperation Movement, believing that India was not yet ready for disciplined non-violence.
c.The Khilafat issue: This was a pan-Islamic movement in India protesting the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. Gandhi saw it as a golden opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims. He integrated the Khilafat demand with the Non-Cooperation Movement, leading to remarkable communal harmony and making the freedom struggle a truly united national effort for a brief period.
d.Subhas Chandra Bose: A charismatic and radical leader, Subhas Chandra Bose believed in achieving freedom through armed struggle. He famously escaped British India and formed the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) in Southeast Asia with Japanese help. His slogan “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!” and his establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India inspired millions and presented a direct military challenge to the British Raj.