Indian Freedom Movement 2 UPSC Flashcards
(79 cards)
1
Q
Describe the Indian Famine of 1896-97
A
- began in Bundelkhand, spread to United Provinces, the Central Provinces, Berar, Bihar, Punjab; parts of Bombay and Madras presidencies, princely states of Rajputana, Central India Agency, and Hyderabad
- Viceroy: Elgin II
- Lyall Commission appointed after famine
2
Q
Which Viceroy set up the “Durand Commission”?
A
Landsdowne
between India (now Pakistan) and Afghanistan
3
Q
What were the FOUR Famine Commisisons in India? What time periods?
A
- Campbell Commission (1866) - Odisha, Bengal, Bihar, Madras - Viceroy John Lawrence
- Stratchey Commission (1880) - Madras, Bombay, Uttar Pradesh & Punjab - Viceroy Lytton
- Lyall Commission (1896) - almost every province in India - Viceroy Elgin II
- McDonnell Commission (1900) - Central India - Viceroy Curzon
4
Q
What was the “Younghusband Mission” to Tibet in 1904?
A
- British invasion instigated by Curzon, led by Younghusband
- to curtail Russia’s expansionist raids (The Great Game) into Central Asia and to open lucrative trading routes between India, Tibet and China
5
Q
Which Viceroy passed the Seditious Meeting (Prohibition) Act in 1909? Why?
A
Minto II - to curb the rise of extremist movement after the partition of Bengal in 1905.
6
Q
Which Viceroy created the Bengal Presidency in 1911?
A
Hardinge II
7
Q
Which Viceroy was responsible for the McMohan Line?
A
Hardinge II in 1914
(India and China)
8
Q
Which Viceroy was responsible for the Rowlatt Act, 1919?
A
Chelmsford
9
Q
Why was the Rowlatt Act, 1919 enacted? What were its THREE main features?
A
- Enacted: to empower colonial authorities to arrest and detain persons suspected of sedition without trial
Features:
* suspended habeas corpus rights
* Sedition cases can be tried in the absence of a jury
* censorship of the press
10
Q
Which Viceroy ultimately repealed the Rowlatt Act in 1922?
A
Reading
(after the Rowlatt Satyagraha led by Gandhi and the Jallianwalabagh Massacre)
11
Q
Under whose Viceroyship did the Simon Commission visit India in 1928?
A
Irwin
12
Q
When was the Gandhi-Irwin pact made and Why?
A
in 1931 to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement
13
Q
When was the “Purna Swaraj” resolution adopted by the INC?
A
In 1929 at the Lahore Session
14
Q
When was the “Congress Socialist Party” established? By Whom?
A
1934 by Narendra Dev and Jayaprakash Narain
(Demand of complete freedom, not only dominion status)
15
Q
Which Viceroy extended the “August Offer” in 1940? What was it about (3)?
A
Linlithgow
Proposals:
1. Dominion status for India
2. Constituent Assembly to be set up after WWII - Jinnah’s Separate State supported
3. Expansion of Viceroy’s council as a step towards Indian self Government
16
Q
What was the Cripps Mission? Who headed it?
A
Mission to grant Dominion Status to India after WWII (1942)
supervision of Stafford Cripps; Chaired by Attlee
17
Q
What were the proposals of the Cripps Misison (1942)?
A
- Dominion Status for India
- Constituent Assembly comprised of Indians
- Right to secede for the provinces
- British control over India’s defence to continue until the War
18
Q
Newspaper started by Gandhiji in South Africa in 1903
A
Indian Opinion
19
Q
In which year was Gandhiji awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind medal?
A
1915
20
Q
Which year was the Sabarmati Ashram set up in India?
A
1917
21
Q
Who is a satyagrahi according to Gandhi?
A
- Satyagrahi does not submit to what he considers wrong
- Remains truthful and non-violent
- Does not bow down to evil or unjust laws
22
Q
FOUR publications of Gandhi
A
Indian Opinion
Young India
Navajivan
Harijan
23
Q
What were the FIVE main causes of the Non-Cooperation movement (1920)?
A
-
Economic hardships post WWI
…. - Discontentment against colonial rule
- Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh
- Failure of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
- Khilafat Issue
24
Q
When was the Non-Cooperation movement formally launched?
A
August 1920
25
FIVE main forms of protest in the Non-Cooperation movement?
1. Boycott of Schools and Colleges
2. Boycott of Courts and legislative councils; use panchayats instead
3. Boycott of foreign cloth
4. Renunciation of titles
5. Resignation from Civil service, non-payment of taxes
26
Which **INC session** endorsed the **non-cooperation** movement launched in **August 1920**?
**Nagpur** Session
"Attainment of swaraj through peaceful and legitimate, but **extra-constitutional means**"
27
When was the "**Congress Khilafat Swarajya Party**" formed? Why? By whom?
In **1922** by **CR Das** and **Motilal Nehru**
After the end of the Non-Cooperation Movement, the section of the INC that wanted to end legislature boycott and contest elections (aka **pro-changers**) broke away to form the Swarajya party.
28
What was the **Ghadar Party** (1913)?
A revolutionary and anti-imperialist party with its HQ in San Francisco.
“The Ghadar”, a free weekly newspaper
Contributed to the spread of nationalism amongst NRIs
29
What was the **Komagata Maru** Incident in **1914**?
A Japanese steamship **Komagata Maru**, carrying 376 people from British India attempting to migrate to **Canada**, but were denied entry and forced to **return to Calcutta**
When they returned to India, under the leadership of **Rashbehari Bose**, these Indians revolted against the British
30
What was the date planned by **Gandhi** for the **Rowlatt Hartal** in 1919?
**6th April** (1st All Indian Strike Day)
The date included a nationwide hartal, fasting and prayer, civil disobedience against specific laws and courting arrest.
31
What was the purpose of the **Hunter Commission** of **1919**?
Commission appointed to investigate the actions of **General Dyer** on **13 April 1919** at **Jallianwala Bagh**.
While the commission concluded that Dyer made a grave error in shooting for 10 minutes without warning, they did not inflict any disciplinary or penal action as he was merely guilty of a “**mistaken notion of duty**”
32
What is the **HSRA**? What were its THREE main protest activities?
**Hindustan Socialist Republican Association**
Founded in **1924** by **Ramprasad Bismil**, **Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee** & **Sachin Sanyal**
Active in **Punjab-Up-Bihar** Region
1. **Bomb on the Central Legislative Assembly (1929)** - Bhagat Singh and Bhatukeswar Dutt
2. **Lahore Conspiracy Case (1928)** - to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai
3. **Kakori Train Robbery (1925)** - looting official money
33
Describe the **Chittagong Armoury Raid of 1930**
An armed rebellion organized by **Surya Sen** to seize an armoury; and destroy telephone, telegraph and railway lines
Raid conducted under the banner of **Indian Republican Army**
34
What were the recommendations of the **Simon Commission (1927)**?
1. Abolition of Dyarchy and Establishment of representative governments in the provinces
2. Governor to have discretionary power for internal security
3. Rejected parliamentary government in the Center
4. Retain Communal electorates
35
What were the main recommendations of the **Nehru Report (1928)**?
1. Dominion Status and self Govt for India
2. Rejection of Separate electorates
3. Linguistic provinces
4. Recognition of 19 fundamental rights
5. Responsible government at the Center and Provinces
6. Dissociation of State from religion
36
What were the amendments proposed by **Jinnah** to the Nehru Report (1928)?
**Fourteen Points** of Jinnah:
1. One-third representation of Muslims in central legislature
2. Reservations for Muslims in Punjab and Bengal
3. Muslim Representation in provinces
4. Separate Electorates
5. Protection of Muslim Rights
37
What was the significance of **Irwin's Declaration in 1929**?
aka **Deepavali Declaration**
It was a state made to placate Indians by demonstrating the intention of the British government to facilitate India attaining **dominion status in the future**. However, there was **no mention of any timeline**
Also agreed to Round Table Conferences after the Simon Commission Report
38
What was the **Delhi Manifesto (1929)**?
Statement issued by **Gandhi/Congress** in **Response to Irwin's Statement**.
**Demanded** that the Round Table Conferences:
1. must not be used to debate whether to give India dominion status but to **formulate a constitution** for the implementation of dominion status.
2. must give **general amnesty** to political prisoners
3. must give **Congress a majority** at the conferences
39
What was the significance of the **Lahore Session of INC in 1929**?
* Presided by **Jawaharlal Nehru**
* Adoption of the **"Purna Swaraj"** pledge
* Unfurling the **tricolor flag** on 31 Dec 1929 on the banks of River Ravi
* Public Meetings on Jan 26, 1930 to recite the **Independence Pledge**
40
What were the various movements and **Satyagrahas** (8) undertaken as part of the **Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930**?
1. **Bihar** - **No Chaukidari Tax** payment movement
2. **Peshawar** - **Khudai Khidmatgars** (Red Shirts) movement by **Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan**
3. **Gujarat** - Raid on **Dharasana Salt Works** by **Sarojini Naidu and Imam Sahib**
4. **Malabar** - **Vaikom Satyagraha** by **Kelappan**
5. **TN** - Salt March by **C. Rajagopalachari**
6. **Orissa** - Salt March by **Gopalbandhu Chaudhari**
7. **UP** - **No revenue** campaign by Zamindars, **no Rent** campaign by tenants
8. **Assam** - Students' strike against **Cunningham Circular** which banned students' participation in political movements
41
Dates of the THREE Round Table Conferences?
1. **Nov 1930 - Jan 1931**: Congress boycott, Princely States, Muslim league (Aga Khan III), Depressed classes (Ambedkar), Women and Labour represented
2. **Sep - Dec 1931**: Congress attends; Princely States, Muslim league (Aga Khan III), Hindu groups, Depressed classes (Ambedkar), Industry, Women and Labour represented
3. **Nov -Dec 1932**: Congress boycott; most other leaders also boycott. Only princely states attend.
42
First **Woman President** of INC
Annie Besant (1917 Calcutta)
43
First **Muslim President** of INC
Badruddin Tyabji (1887 Madras)
44
First **INDIAN woman** to be president of INC
Sarojini Naidu (1925 Kanpur)
45
What were the FOUR main proposals of the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)?
Proposals:
- formation of a **Union of India**, comprising both the **British India and the Princely States**.
- Union would remain in charge of only Foreign Affairs, Defence and communications leaving the **residuary powers to be vested in the provinces**
- setting up an **Interim Government**, which would remain in office till a new government was elected on the basis of the new Constitution framed by the **Constituent Assembly**
- **Rejection of the demand for a full-fledged Pakistan**
Accepted by INC and Muslim League but ultimately **FAILED**
46
Why did the Cabinet Mission Plan fail?
1. It did not fully address Muslim League's demand for a **separate Muslim nation**
2. **Communal differences** between INC and the Muslim League
3. Some groups and princely states felt that they were **not adequately represented** in the plan’s provisions
4. **Riots** and communal clashes
47
Who were the THREE members of the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)?
Pethick Lawrence
Stafford Cripps
A.V. Alexander
48
What is the **Mountbatten Balkan Plan** (1947)?
* Alternative to the 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan
* envisaged the **transfer of power to separate provinces**
* **Punjab and Bengal** were given the option to **vote for partition**
* Plan for **speedy transfer of power**
* British Prime Minister **Clement Atlee**
* Abandoned after **NEHRU rejected** it.
49
What is the **Mountbatten JUNE 3 Plan** (1947)?
* British India was to be partitioned into **two dominions – India and Pakistan**
* Princely States such as **Jammu and Kashmir** were given a choice to either join India or Pakistan
* Congress accepted the **inevitability of partition**
* To fix the **international boundaries** between the two countries, the **Boundary Commission** was established chaired by **Cyril Radcliffe.**
* plan was put into action by the **Indian Independence Act 1947**
50
Who was the first translator of **Bhagavat Gita into English**?
Charles Wilkins (Founder of Asiatic Society)
51
Who established the London Branch of the Muslim League in 1908?
Syed Ameer Ali
52
Who was the President of the INC at the time of Partition?
J.B. Kripalani
53
What was the **Whitley Commission (1929-31)** and What were its recommendations?
assess the **conditions of labor** in British India and **recommend improvements**
Recommendations:
* Reduction of **working hours** in factories,
* **Better housing** and sanitation,
* Reduction of working hours for **women and children**,
* formation and recognition of **trade unions**,
* **unemployment benefits** and maternity benefits,
* poor conditions of **agricultural laborers**
54
What was the **Bardoli Satyagraha** (1928)?
* **secular peasant movement** guided by **Sardar Vallabhai Patel** and **Gandhi**
* Protest against: **Bombay** Presidency’s decision to impose **30% increase** in land revenue
* Patel instructed the farmers to remain completely **nonviolent**
* Government appointed the **Maxwell-Broomfield Commission** to look in to the matter
55
Which British Act established a **dual system of control** between the **British government** and the **East India Company**?
**Pitts' India Act (1784)**
**EIC** retained control over **trade and day-to-day operations**, however crucial **political decisions** were left to a private committee of three **directors**
56
What is **Fabianism** and Who introduced it in India?
Fabianism was a British socialist movement that advocated for **gradual and democratic transitions to socialism**, rather than revolutionary change
**Annie Besant** introduced it in India and **Nehru** was heavily influenced by it
57
What was the **Kisan Sabha Movement** **(1918)**?
cultivators were subjected to high rents, **summary evictions (bedakhali)**, illegal levies, **renewal fees or nazrana**
**United Provinces Kisan Sabha** was set up in February 1918 by Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi.
The Kisan Sabha asked kisans to refuse to till bedakhali land, not to offer hari and begar (forms of unpaid labour) and to boycott those who did not accept these conditions
58
What were the **Wavell Plan** and **Shimla Conference** of **1945**?
proposal initiated by the British government to resolve the deadlock in India
Provisions:
* British Government would introduce **Constitutional Reforms** in India if all the Indian political parties **helped the British in the Second World War**
* **new Executive Council** with all Indian members, except the Viceroy and the Commander in Chief, would be formed at the Center
* **Except for defence**, all portfolios will be controlled by Indian members
* **Equal representation** of Muslims and Hindus
* All **council members would be Indians**, except the viceroy and commander in chief
talks at the Shimla Conference failed due to disagreement on the issue of Muslim representation
59
Who started the paper **Shom Prakash**?
Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar
60
Who wrote the Book "**Babuvivah**"?
Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar
61
Who published the Urdu weekly newspaper **Al-Hilal**?
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
62
Who wrote the series of articles titled "New lamps for Old" (1893-94)?
**Aurobindo Ghosh**
(criticized the Congress for being out of touch with the Proleteriat)
63
Major Works of **Aurobindo Ghosh**
The Life Divine
Essays on the Gita
The Synthesis of Yoga
The Ideal of Human Unity
Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol
64
What was the **Free Indian Legion** and who founded it?
aka "**Tiger Legion**", and the "**Azad Hind Fauj**".
regiment of the German Army formed from Indian volunteers in 1942 initiated by **Subhash Chandra Bose**
65
Who **rejected the title of Knighthood** and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India?
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
66
Major works of **Sarojini Naidu**?
* The Golden Threshold
* The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death & the Spring
* The Broken Wing: Songs of Love, Death and Destiny
* The Sceptred Flute: Songs of India
* The Feather of the Dawn
Editor, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, An Ambassador of Unity: His Speeches & Writings 1912–1917
67
Who was **Aruna Asaf Ali**? What were her contributions to the Freedom Movement?
* ‘Grand Old Lady of Indian Independence’
* Contribution to the **Quit India Movement**
* she edited the magazine **Inquilab**
* member of the **Congress Socialist Party**
* played a crucial role in the formation of the **National Federation of Indian Women** in 1954 (CPI's womens wing)
68
What was the **Individual Satyagraha** movement of 1940?
Started by Gandhi in Guntur to protest British Govt's unilateral decision to include India in WW2.
First individual chosen to offer Satyagraha - **Acharya Vinoba Bhave**.
Second: **Jawaharlal Nehru**
Third: **Brahma Dutt**
69
Who founded the **Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association** in 1914?
Anasuya Sarabhai and Gandhi
Gujarat's Oldest labour union
70
Who founded the Social Service league in 1911?
Narayan Malhar Joshi
71
What were the main Social & Religious reforms of **Raja Ram Mohan Roy**?
1. **Atmiya Sabha (1814)** to address the issues of idolatry, rigid caste structures, and meaningless rituals that dominated society
2. **Abolition of Sati** assisted by William Bentinck
3. **Opposition to Child Marriage and Polygamy**
4. Promotion of Monotheism: Published **“Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin”** (A Gift to Monotheists)
5. **Critique of Idol Worship**
6. Interfaith Dialogue and **Religious Tolerance** - Published "**Precepts of Jesus**"
7. Established **Brahmo Samaj (1828)**
8. **Anglo-Hindu School (1822)**
9. **Vedanta College (1826)**
10. **Brahmanical Magazine (1821)**, the Bengali weekly **Samvad Kaumudi (1821)**, and the Persian weekly **Mirat-ul-Akbar**
72
Which **Mughal Emperor** gave the permission the British to establish a factory at **Surat**?
Jahangir in 1613
73
who drafted the INC Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Programme?
Jawaharlal Nehru in 1931 (for the Karachi Session of INC)
74
What was the name of the policy that forced farmers in **Champaran** to grow **Indigo** on their lands?
**Tinkhathia** (3/20th)
Champaran **Bihar**
**Gandhi** was invited by **Rajkumar Shukla** to investigate their plight
75
What was the **CR Formula (1944)**?
* **C. Rajagopalachari** issued a pamphlet titled as “**The Way Out**” which proposed a solution for constitutional deadlock
* tacit acceptance of the league demand for **Pakistan**.
* Gandhiji supported the formula
* Muslim majority areas in the North-West and North-East of India to decide by a **plebiscite** whether or not to form a separate sovereign
76
Who was Usha Mehta?
Freedom fighter who ran a secret radio station in 1942
77
What was the purpose of the Indian Parliamentary Committee (1893)?
Committee set up in the British House of Commons by William Wedderburn and W.S. Caine to agitate for political reforms.
Dadabhai Naoroji assisted them
78
Which movement did Gandhi NOT lead after coming to India?
**Quit India Movement** (as he was imprisoned)
Taken over by Ram Mohan Lohia and Jayaprakash Narain
79
Which parties were established by B.R. Ambedkar?
All India Scheduled Castes Federation
Independent Labour Party
