Struggle for Freedom (II)

Read the two statements given below about the emergency of Mahatma Gandhi. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (R).

Assertion (A): For the first time method of Satyagraha was used by Mahatma Gandhi during India's struggle for independence.

Reason (R): During the struggle against racial injustice in South Africa, he evolved a novel technique of struggle which he called 'Satyagraha'.

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

(R) contradicts (A)

Explanation — Mahatma Gandhi first used 'Satyagraha' to fight against racial injustice in South Africa. Later, this method was used by the Indians during their freedom struggle.

Identify the features of Simon Commission.

P: Formed in November 1927

Q: It did not have a single Indian member.

R: Bal Gangadhar Tilak received fatal blows

S: Slogan of 'Simon Come back' could be heard all over

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

Answer

P and Q

Neha is doing a project on Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. Which of the following British military officers, she is MOST LIKELY to highlight?

1. General Hugh Rose
2. General Willam Taylor
3. General Dyer
4. Colonel Oncell

Answer

General Dyer

Identify the ODD ONE out of the following movements against the British rule.

1. Non-cooperation Movement
2. Home Rule Movement
3. Civil Disobedience Movement
4. Quit India Movement

Answer

Home Rule Movement

Which of the following aspect is being depicted by the given picture?

1. Statue of Unity, Gujarat
2. The Residency, Lucknow
3. The Martyr's Memorial, Patna
4. Dandi March Statue, Gyarah Murti, Delhi

Answer

Dandi March Statue, Gyarah Murti, Delhi

Rahul is preparing a speech on the formation of the forward Bloc. Which of the following person's be must mention in his speech?

1. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
2. Jawaharlal Nehru
3. Subhas Chandra Bose
4. Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Answer

Subhas Chandra Bose

Consider the statements given below and choose the correct answer.

Statement I: The Indian National Army (INA) was formed with the aim to get freedom from British rule.

Statement II: The Indian National Army conquered Imphal and Kohima.

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

Statement (I) is correct and statement (II) is incorrect.

Which among the following statements is incorrect?

1. A Cabinet Mission was a team of three members.
2. On 26th January 1950 India become a Sovereign, Democratic and Republic.
3. India gained independence on 15th August 1947.
4. The British government put five of the INA officers on trial at Red Fort for fighting against the British.

Answer

The British government put five of the INA officers on trial at Red Fort for fighting against the British.

The All India Congress Committee met at Bombay on August 8, 1942 and passed the

1. Quit India Resolution
2. Khilafat Resolution
3. Civil Disobedience Resolution
4. Indian National Army Resolution

Answer

Quit India Resolution

Choose the correct statement :

1. In December 1929, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was made the President of the Indian National Congress.
2. In December 1935, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was made Prime Minister of the Indian National Congress.
3. In March 1945, Pandit Nehru was made leader of the Indian National Congress.
4. In January 1943, Pandit Nehru was made minister of the Indian National Congress.

Answer

In December 1929, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was made the President of the Indian National Congress.

Fill in the blanks.

1. The slogans 'Dilli Chalo' and 'Jai Hind' are associated with ............... .

2. The Quit India Movement took place in the year ............... .

3. The Chairman of the Simon Commission was ............... .

4. ............... was the last Viceroy of India.

Answer

1. Subhas Chandra Bose

2. 1942

3. Sir John Simon

4. Lord Mountbatten

Match the contents of Column A and Column B.

Answer

State whether the following statements are True or False.

1. The Charkha was a symbol of progress.

2. Chauri Chaura is a place in Madhya Pradesh.

3. Rowlatt Act was passed in 1923.

4. Sir Stafford Cripps was an American officer sent to India.

5. Netaji started the Quit India movement.

Answer

1. True

2. False
   Correct Statement — Chauri Chaura is a place in Uttar Pradesh.

3. False
   Correct Statement — Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919.

4. False
   Correct Statement — Sir Stafford Cripps was a British minister sent to India.

5. False
   Correct Statement — Gandhiji started the Quit India movement.

Discuss the main aspects of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Answer

The main aspects of the Non-Cooperation Movement are given below:

1. Boycott of British institutions – People renounced titles, resigned from government jobs, lawyers left courts, and students left British schools and colleges.
2. Economic boycott – People refused to pay taxes and boycotted British goods.
3. Mass participation – Large sections of the population, including urban Muslims, joined the movement.
4. Goal of Swaraj – The ultimate goal was to achieve Swaraj (self-rule).
5. Non-violent approach – Initially, the movement was peaceful, though it was suspended by Gandhiji after the Chauri Chaura incident.
6. Impact on people – Indians gained self-confidence, self-esteem, and overcame fear of the British; it also strengthened Hindu-Muslim unity.

How and when did the Civil Disobedience Movement start? How did the government suppress it?

Answer

The Civil Disobedience Movement started on 12 March, 1930 when Gandhiji marched from his Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat to Dandi, along with 78 followers to break the Salt Law. Gandhiji defied the law by picking up a handful of salt formed by evaporation of sea water.

The government tried to suppress the movement by declaring the Congress illegal. The British arrested Gandhiji and thousands of protesters, carried out lathi charges, imposed fines, and used force to quell the protests, all aimed at ending the movement.

Eventually, the conflict led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), in which the British agreed to release political prisoners and allow Indians to make salt for personal use, while Gandhi agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Why did the Congress pass the Quit India Resolution? How did the government react to it?

Answer

After the Cripps Mission failed because the British were unwilling to transfer effective power to Indians and only proposed dominion status (which was rejected by both Congress and the Muslim League), the Congress decided to launch a mass struggle for independence. At the All India Congress Committee meeting in Bombay on 8 August 1942, the Congress passed the Quit India Resolution. Gandhiji demanded immediate freedom and gave the slogan ‘Do or Die’, emphasizing that India must be freed at all costs.

Government's reaction to the Quit India Movement —

1. Gandhiji and a few members of the Congress Working Committee were immediately arrested.
2. The news of arrests shocked the people, but demonstrations, meetings, hartals, and processions broke out nationwide. So, the government tried to curb the movement using lathi charges, firing, restrictions on newspapers, and closing down many newspapers.

Write a short note on Non-cooperation Movement.

Answer

The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by the Khilafat Committee on 31 August 1920 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and supported by the Congress. It aimed to not co-operate with the British government through renunciation of titles, boycott of legislatures, resigning from government jobs, lawyers leaving courts, students leaving schools and colleges, and boycott of British goods. People also refused to pay taxes, rejecting the legitimacy of the government.

The movement gained momentum and involved a large part of the population, spreading across India and fostering Hindu-Muslim unity. However, after the Chauri Chaura incident (5 February 1922), where protesters killed 22 policemen, Gandhi called off the movement and was arrested.

The movement transformed the freedom struggle into a mass movement, boosted self-confidence and self-esteem, and brought urban Muslims into the nationalist cause.

Explain the campaigns led by Mahatma Gandhi.

Answer

The major campaigns led by Mahatma Gandhi are given below:

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)

• Launched alongside the Khilafat Movement.
• Methods included boycott of British goods, schools, courts, government jobs, and tax refusal.
• Aimed at achieving Swaraj through non-violent protest.
• Movement was suspended after the Chauri Chaura incident (1922).
• Impact: Mass participation, strengthened Hindu-Muslim unity, and boosted self-confidence among Indians.

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)

• Started with the Salt March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi on 12 March 1930 to break the Salt Law.
• Widespread participation including women and peasants, boycotting foreign goods, and refusal to pay taxes.
• Government response: Arrests, fines, and use of force.
• Later resolved through the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), which led to release of political prisoners and allowed Indians to make salt for personal use.

Quit India Movement (1942)

• Launched after the failure of the Cripps Mission.
• All India Congress Committee, on 8 August 1942, passed the Quit India Resolution.
• Gandhiji gave the slogan “Do or Die” demanding immediate independence.
• Government suppression: Arrest of Gandhi and other leaders, lathi charges, firing, restrictions on newspapers, and widespread use of force.
• Impact: Showed the resolve of the masses and became the greatest mass challenge to British authority.

Discuss the contributions of INA in the freedom struggle.

Answer

The Indian National Army (INA), also called Azad Hind Fauj, was formed with the aim of securing India’s freedom from British rule. It consisted mainly of Indian prisoners of war and was led by Subhas Chandra Bose, who became its Supreme Commander.

1. In 1943, the Azad Hind Fauj was formed in Singapore, and India’s flag was hoisted on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, then under Japanese control.
2. The INA advanced to Imphal and Kohima in cooperation with the Japanese army, challenging British control, though the victory was short-lived.
3. Slogans like “Dilli Chalo” and “Jai Hind” became sources of motivation for the masses.
4. The British trial of INA officers (Shah Nawaz Khan, P.R. Sehgal, and G.S. Dhillon) at Red Fort sparked nationwide protests, pressuring the government to release all INA prisoners.
5. Indians of all religions and castes united under a common goal of freedom.

Discuss the main clauses of the Indian Independence Act of 1947.

Answer

The main clauses of the Indian Independence Act of 1947 are given below:

1. Two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, were to be established on 15th August 1947; Pakistan included Sindh, Baluchistan, NWFP, West Punjab, and East Bengal, while the rest formed India.
2. The British Government would have no control over the dominions and transfer all powers to their assemblies.
3. The Viceroy’s office was abolished and replaced by separate Governor-Generals: Lord Mountbatten for India and Muhammad Ali Jinnah for Pakistan.
4. The Constituent Assemblies of both dominions would frame their constitutions and decide on British Commonwealth membership.
5. Each Constituent Assembly would exercise the powers of the Central Legislature.
6. The legislatures of the new dominions had full law-making powers.
7. The right of the king to veto laws was given up. This right was given to the Governor-General.
8. Until new constitutions were framed, dominions and provinces would follow the Act of 1935.
9. Princely states could join either dominion or remain independent.
10. The Governor-General was given the powers to modify or adopt the Government of India Act, 1935 by March 31, 1948.
11. The office of the Secretary of State for India was abolished.
12. Agreements with the tribes of the NWFP were to be negotiated by the Dominion concerned.