Q 1 – What is the literal meaning of “Sarvajanik”?
Ans. The literal meaning of Sarvajanik is “of or for all the people” i.e. Sarva = all + Janik = of the people
Q 2 – Define the term Sovereign.
Ans. The capacity to act independently without outside interference
Q 3 – What was the role played by AO. Hume?
Ans. A retired British official A.O. Hume played an important role by bringing Indians from the various regions together.
Q 4 – Which movement demanded for Indianisation of the movement?
Ans. It was part of movement against racism.
Q 5 – What were the means of spreading awareness adopted by the Moderates?
Ans. The Moderates published newspapers wrote articles for spreading awareness.
Q 6 – Mention the slogan raised by Tilak.
Ans. Tilak raised the slogan “Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it!”
Q 7 – How was the first year spent by Mahatma Gandhi in India?
Ans. His first year in India was spent travelling throughout the country, understanding the people, their needs and situations.
Q 8 – What was mainly discussed in the Naoroji’s book Poverty and un-British Rule in Indial
Ans. In this book, he offered a scathing criticism of the economic impact of British rule.
Q 9 – In which year congress split took place?
Ans. In 1907.
Q 10 – When did Gandhiji arrived from where?
Ans. He arrived in 1915 from South Africa.
Q 11 – When was the Khilafat issue got introduced in front of the world?
Ans. In 1920 Khilafat issue got in front of the world.
Q 12 – Which state of India witnessed Akali Agitation of Sikhs?
Ans. Punjab.
Q 13 – How did Gandhiji spent his 1st year in India?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi spent 1st year in India by traveling throughout the country.
Q 14 – Which dates is observed as a day of non-violent opposition to the Rowlatt Act?
Ans. 6 April 1919.
Q 15 – How many delegates from all over India met at Bombay in 1885?
Ans. 72 delegates.
Q 16 – What is meant by the concept of Poorna Swaraj?
Ans. It means complete independence.
Q 17 – What does RSS stands for?
Ans. It stands for Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh.
Q 18 – What was the demand of ‘Assam tea garden labours?
Ans. The demand was for the increase in the wages.
Q 19 – What does CPI stands for?
Ans. CPI stands for Communist Party of India.
Q 20 – Describe the event of Gandhiji’s arrival to India from South Africa
Ans. Gandhiji, at the age of 46, arrived in India in 1915 from South Africa. He led Indians in South Africa in non-violent marches against racist restrictions. He was already a respected leader known internationally. His South African campaign brought him in contact with various types of Indians.
Q 21 – How did the First World War alter the economic and political situation in India?
Ans. The First world War led to a huge rise in the defence expenditure of the Government of India. The Government in turn increased taxes on individual incomes and business profits. Increased military expenditure and the demands for war supplies led to a sharp rise in prices that created difficulties for the common people. On other side business groups reaped fabulous profits from the war.
The war created demand for industrial goods and there was seen a decline of imports from other countries into India so Indian industries expanded during the war. These industries began demanding greater opportunities for development. All this shows the way economic and political situation altered in India with the event of the First World War.
Q 22 – Mention the events by which people linked Non-Cooperation movement to local grievances.
Ans. In Kheda, Gujarat, patidar peasants organized non-violent campaigns against the high land revenue demand of the British. In coastal Andhra and interior Tamil Nadu, liquor shops were picketed. In Guntur, tribals and some peasants staged a number of ‘forest satyagrahas’. In Sind, Muslims traders and peasants enthusiastically took part in khilafat call. In Bengal too, there was seen a great communal unity.
Q 23 – What had happened in Chauri Chaura that Gandhiji called off his Non-Cooperation movement?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi was against violence. He abruptly called off the Non-Cooperation movement in February. 1922 when a crowd of peasants set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura. 22 policemen were killed. The peasants were provoked because the police had fired on their peaceful demonstration.
Q 24 – Name the important political associations formed after 1850 especially those who came into being in the 1870’ 80’s and who led them?
Ans. Most of the political associations were led by the English-educated professionals such as lawyers. The important associations were Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, the Bombay Presidency Association, the Indian National Congress.
Q 25 – Define the terms sovereign, Publicists and Repeal.
Ans.
- Sovereign: The capacity to act independently without outside interference.
- Publicist: Someone who publicizes an idea by circulating information, writing reports, speaking at meetings.
- Repeal: to undo law to officially end the validity without outside interference.
Q 26 – How did the Non-cooperation Movement gain momentum through 1921-22? Explain.
Ans. The Non-Cooperation Movement gained momentum through 1921 – 22. Thousands of students left the schools and colleges that were controlled by the government. Many lawyers such as Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, C.Rajagopalachari and Asaf Ali gave up their practices. British titles that were awarded to several of the Indians were surrendered.
- Legislatures were boycotted. People lit public bonfires of foreign cloth. The import of foreign cloth fell drastically between 1920 and 1922. But all this was seen as merely the tip of the iceberg. The large parts of the country were on the brink of a formidable revolt.
Q 27– What was the process adopted by revolutionary nationalists such as Bhagat Singh and his comrades for fighting colonial rule and the rich exploiting classes?
Ans. Revolutionary nationalists such as Bhagat Singh and his comrades wanted to fight colonial rule and the rich exploitating classes through a revolution of workers and peasants. This purpose was served with the foundation of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928 at Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi. Members of the HSRA assassinated Saunders, a police officer who had led a lathi-charge that caused the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
- Along with his fellow B.K. Dutt, Bhagat Singh threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly on 8th April 1929. The aim was not to kill but “to make the deaf hear”, and to remind the foreign government of its callous exploitation. Bhagat Singh was tried and executed at the age of 23.
Q 28 – Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s?
Ans. The dissatisfaction with British rule intensified in the 1870s and 1880s. The main reason was the two Acts was passed by the British.
- The Arms Act, 1878
- The Vernacular Press Act, 1878
The Arms Act disallowed Indians from possessing arms and the Vernacular Press Act allowed the government to confiscate the assets of newspapers including their printing presses if the newspapers published anything that was found “objectionable”.
Q 29 – Who did the Indian National Congress wish to speak for?
Ans. Indian National Congress wished to speak for all the people of India, irrespective of class, colour, caste, creed, language, or gender. It stated that India, its resources and systems were not of any one class or community of India, but of all the different communities of India.
Q 28 – What economic impact did the First World War have on India?
Ans. The First World War changed the economic and political situation in India. There was a huge rise in the defence expenditure of the Government of India. The government increased taxes on individuals and businesses. The price of all commodities increased putting the common man into a lot of hardship. There was a great demand for industrial goods due to the war and this resulted in the decline of European goods being imported into India. This in turn gave the Indian industrialists a chance to expand their production.
Q 30 – What did the Muslim League re Solution of 1940 ask for?
Ans. In 1940 the Muslim League passed a re Solution demanding “Independent States” for Muslims in the north-western and eastern areas of the country. The re Solution did not mention partition or Pakistan.
Q 31 – Who were the Moderates? How did they propose to struggle against British rule?
Ans. During the first 20 years, after it was formed the Congress was “moderate” in its objectives and methods. Some of the ‘Moderate’ leaders were Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, W.C. Bonnerji, Surendranath Banerji, Romesh Chandra Dutt and S. Subramania Iyer.
- They proposed to struggle against the British in a non- violent manner, which the Radicals called the “politics of prayers”.
- The Moderate leaders wanted to develop public awareness about the unjust nature of British rule. They published newspapers, wrote articles, and showed how British rule was leading to the economic ruin of the country. They criticised British rule in their speeches and sent representatives to different parts of the country to mobilise public opinion. They felt that the British had respect for the ideals of freedom and justice, and so they would accept the just demands of Indians. What was necessary, therefore, was to express these demands, and make the government aware of the feelings of Indians.
Q 32 – How was the politics of the Radicals within the Congress different from that of the Moderates?
Ans. In Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab, many leaders adapted more radical means to gain freedom from the British. They were Bepin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai
Bepin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai were known as the Triumvirate or the three militant patriots of the Congresses – “Lal Bal Pal”. The trio was responsible for initiating the first popular upsurge against British colonial policy in the 1905 partition of Bengal, before the advent of Gandhi into Indian politics. Bepin Chandra Pal was also the founder of the nationalistic journal Bande Mataram.
They argued that people must rely on their own strength, not on the “good” intentions of the government. They felt that the people must fight for Swaraj.
Q 33 – Why did Gandhiji choose to break the salt law?
Ans. The British introduced a law stating that the Government had control over the manufacture and sale of salt. It also imposed a tax on the sale of salt. Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders felt that it was wrong to impose tax on salt which was an essential commodity for food. The leaders decided to oppose this tax.
- In 1930, Gandhiji declared that he would lead a march to break the salt law. The Salt March was related to the desire for freedom felt by everyone, the rich and the poor alike.
- Gandhiji and his followers marched for over 240 miles from Sabarmati to the coastal town of Dandi where they broke the government law by gathering natural salt found on the seashore, and boiled sea water to produce salt.
- Peasants, tribals and women participated in large numbers. Pamphlets were published on the Salt Satyagraha.