Struggle for Freedom (I)

Read the two statements given below about the Indian National Congress. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (R).

Assertion (A): The Indian National Congress was formed by A.O. Hume.

Reason (R): W.C. Bonnerjee was the first President of the Indian National Congress.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other

Answer

(A) and (R) are independent of each other

Explanation — Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, was instrumental in founding the Indian National Congress in 1885. The first session of the Congress was held in December 1885 in Bombay. The President of this session was W.C. Bonnerjee.

Identify the policies of Lord Lytton.

P: Removal of import duties on British goods

Q: Holding a Grand Imperial Durbar in Delhi

R: Formation of British Indian Association

S: Partition of Bengal

1. P and Q
2. R and S
3. P and R
4. Q and S

Answer

P and Q

Vaishali is preparing a project on 'rise of Radicals'. Which of the following leaders would MOST LIKELY be part of her project?

1. Lala Lajpat Rai
2. Bipan Chandra Pal
3. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
4. All of these

Answer

All of these

Which of the following aspects is being depicted by the given advertisement?

1. Promoting machine made Goods
2. Forcing to buy Swadeshi Goods
3. Discouraging Swadeshi Goods
4. Promoting Swadeshi Goods

Answer

Promoting Swadeshi Goods

Identify the ODD ONE out of the following major political associations.

1. Allahabad Native Association
2. British Indian Association
3. Bombay Association
4. Madras Native Association

Answer

Allahabad Native Association

Consider the statements given below and choose the correct answer.

Statement I: The first 20 years of the Congress from 1885 to 1905 are mentioned as the Early Nationalists Phase or the Moderate Phase.

Statement II: The leaders followed a mild and moderate policy of 'prayer and petition'.

1. Statement (I) is correct and statement (II) is incorrect.
2. Statement (I) is incorrect and statement (II) is correct.
3. Both statements (I) and (II) are incorrect.
4. Both statements (I) and (II) are correct.

Answer

Both statements (I) and (II) are correct.

Which among the following statements is incorrect?

1. In 1908 the British annulled the partition of Bengal.
2. The Anti-Bengal Partition Movement was initiated on 7 August 1905.
3. Lord Curzon was associated with the Partition of Bengal.
4. During the Swadeshi and Boycott movement huge bonfires of foreign goods were lit in public places.

Answer

In 1908 the British annulled the partition of Bengal.

The first session of the Congress was held in December 1885 in

1. Delhi
2. Bombay
3. Madras
4. Calcutta

Answer

Bombay

Arrange the following in chronological order:

(i) Vernacular Press Act was passed

(ii) Partition of Bengal was announced

(iii) Leaders of Congress were divided at the Surat session of congress

1. (ii), (iii), (i)
2. (i), (ii), (iii)
3. (iii), (i), (ii)
4. (iii), (ii), (i)

Answer

(i), (ii), (iii)

Who raised the famous slogan "Swaraj is my birthright and I must have it"?

1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. Lala Lajpat Rai
3. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
4. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Answer

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Fill in the blanks.

1. The British shaken the ............... economy.

2. The Arms Act forbade the Indians from ............... .

3. The President of the first session of the Congress was ............... .

4. The three prominent leaders of the Radical Nationalists group were ..............., ............... and ............... .

Answer

1. Indian

2. possessing arms

3. W.C. Bonnerjee

4. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal

Match Column A with Column B.

Answer

State whether the following statements are True or False.

1. The Congress was started in 1885.

2. Unification of India as one political unit was achieved by the Indians themselves.

3. The British treated the Indians at par with themselves.

4. A prominent leader of the Early Nationalist groups was S. N. Bannerjea.

Answer

1. True

2. False
   Correct Statement — Unification of India as one political unit was achieved with the help of the British.

3. False
   Correct Statement — The British did not treat the Indians at par with themselves.

4. True

How did unification of India help to bring about a feeling of nationalism among the Indians?

Answer

The unification of India under British rule helped bring about a feeling of nationalism in several ways:

1. The repressive policies of the British, such as economic exploitation, racial discrimination, and restrictive laws like the Arms Act and Vernacular Press Act, made Indians realize that their interests were being ignored. This built national consciousness.
2. The spread of modern education exposed Indians to ideas of democracy, equality, and nationalism from the West, inspiring them to think collectively about their country.
3. The role of the press and literature helped Indians from different regions to communicate, criticize British policies, and feel a shared identity. Writers like Bharatendu Harishchandra, Subramania Bharati, and Rabindranath Tagore instilled a sense of pride and nationalism.
4. The need for an all-India political organisation, such as the Indian National Congress, arose because Indians across the country wanted to represent their common interests, which encouraged a feeling of unity and nationhood.

How did modern education bring about unity among Indians?

Answer

Modern education brought about unity among Indians in the following ways:

1. The Indians who received modern education could now read western thought and literature. They were exposed to the revolutionary changes taking place in the West — the American and French Revolutions. They also became aware of the ideas of democracy, equality and nationalism. The Indians were now inspired by the ideas of nationalism and democracy.
2. The reform movements also played an important role in bringing the people together.

Name two early All-India associations.

Answer

Two early All-India associations are — British Indian Association (1851) and the Bombay Association (1852).

Differentiate between the methods of Early Nationalists and Radical Nationalists.

Answer

The difference between the methods of Early Nationalists and Radical Nationalists is given below:

What was anti-partition movement?

Answer

The Anti-Partition Movement was a protest movement initiated on 7 August 1905 against the partition of Bengal. It involved massive demonstrations, such as the one at the Town Hall in Calcutta, and aimed to spread the movement throughout the province. The movement also encouraged boycott of British goods, promoted Indian trade and industry, and fostered nationalism, self-reliance, and self-respect among the people.

This picture shows three Radical Nationalist leaders.

1. Identify and name them.

2. Write about the methods what they suggested.

Answer

1. The given picture depicts the Radical Nationalist leaders, namely Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal.

2. The methods suggested by the Lal-Bal-Pal trio were:

1. Involvement and participation of the masses.
2. Reviving popular festivals to spread political awakening among the people.
3. Preparing people for sacrifices in the interest of the nation.
4. New methods of agitation such as hartals and boycott of foreign goods and services were introduced.