The struggle for independence

Q1) Name a few elements of the constructive programme of Gandhi.

Ans: the constructive program proposed by Gandhi included spinning khadi, Hindu-Muslim unity, and removal of untouchability .

Q2) Write a short note on the Noncooperation movement. 

Ans: in 1920, the government launched the noncooperation movement. The goal was to undo the injustice done in Punjab and Turkey. People boycotted British goods and refused to cooperate with the British. Large quantities of foreign goods were burnt. The people adopted the wearing and spinning of khadi. Students and people with the government job joined the movement. The leader publicly spoke against the service in the army and the police. The noncooperation movement had a powerful impact in the country.

Q3) why did Indian boycotted the Simon Commission

Ans: the commission constituted under lord Simon was to take a decision on self government for India. But, a body meant to decide India's political future did not include a single Indian, hence Indians boycotted the commission .

Q4) what was the revolutionary act committed by Bhagat Singh? What was the sentence awarded to him by the British?

Ans: Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary, killed Saunders, the British officer who had ordered the lathi charge at a demonstration at Lahore. Bhgat Singh was hanged on 23 March 1928.

Q5) What was the “ two nation theory “

Ans: Jinnah and the Muslim league put forward the two-nation theory, according to which Hindus and Muslims wrere not merely separate religious communities, but were also culturally and racially different. They were therefore, two separate nations.

Q6) why did the congress ministries resign in 1939?

Ans: Britain declared that being a British colony, India would participate in the second world war. The congress insisted on the immediate transfer of effective power to Indians in return for their cooperation in the war. When the British government gave no satisfactory reply, all congress ministries resigned in protest.

Q7) who formed the main base subhash chandra bose's Indian ?National Army?

Ans: a large number of patriotic Indians living in south eat Africa formed the main base of the INA

Q8) why did the Simla conference fail?

Ans: Lord Wavell. The viceroy of India at that time, held the Simla conference in 1945. he planned to give representative Indian leaders all the portfolios in his council, except that of commander – in – chief.

The conference failed owing to the lack of agreement between the congress and the Muslim league.

Q9) which party called for the Direct Action Day

Ans: it was the Muslim League that called for the Direct Action Day to be observed on 16 August 1946 and boycotted the assembly. It condemned the congress and the British government and declared that Muslim should resort to direct action to achieve their goal of Pakistan.

Q10) write a short note on

a) Simon Commission

b) The Nehru Report

Ans:

a) The British government appointed a commission under Sir John Simon in 1927 to take a decision on self government for India. But not a single Indian member was includedin the Simon commission. India criticised the fact that a body meant to decide India's future did not include a single Indian.

The congress, the Muslim league and the Hindu Mahasabha decided to boycott the commission. When the Simon commission arrived in India they were greeted with black flags and slogan “ Simon go back “ 

b) In respect to the Simon Commission, the Indian leaders decided to draw up a constitution for India that was acceptable to all. The all parties conference met in 1928 and appointed a committee headed by Motilal Nehru to draft a constitution. The report, recommended that India be granted dominion status immediately and demanded fundamental rights for Indian citizens.

Q11) What is Dandi March?

Ans: Mohatma Gndhi walked 400 km from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi and on 6 April 1930, he picked up a handful of salt that had been formed along the shore by the evaporation of sea water. This symbolic act broke the British salt laws and set the trend for civil disobedience movement that followed.

Q12) write an account of the Dandi March by Gandhi.

Ans: the civil Disobedience movement was launched with the historic Dandi March in 1930. This march was undertaken by Gandhi and many of his supporters as a mark of protest against the grossly unjust salt laws imposed by the British government. According to the salt laws, the British had the sole right to manufacture salt in India.

Q13) Describe the non-cooperation movement. Why did Gandhi withdraw the movement?

Ans: In December 1920, the congress adopted a new programme of struggle against the government. It was called the Noncooperation Movement. It asked the people to boycott British’s goods and refuse to cooperate with the British. Foreign goods were burnt at many places, many students gave up their studies, lawyers boycotted courts, and people left governmental jobs.

The Charka and Khadi became symbols of this programme. People and police clashed and there was bloodshed. Thousands of people were arrested. But nothing subdued the spirit of the people. However on 5^th February 1922 at Chauri Chura, a village in Uttra Pradesh, a group of peasants were fired upon by the police. They burnt the police station killing 22 police men. Gandhi realized that people had not fully understood the meaning of non-violence, he called off the campaign.

Q14) write a note on Two Nation Theory.

Ans: Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the president of the Muslim league, insisted that the Muslim league be recognized as the sole representative body of the Muslim in India. He put forward the Two Nation Theory. 

In 1940, the Muslim league passed a resolution demanding the partition of India, and create of an independent Muslim state to be named Pakistan.

Q15) What events and differences in view caused a breach between the congress and the Muslim league.

Ans: the major differences between the congress and Muslim league started with the congress sweeping the polls in the 1937 assembly elections. The Muslim league was now bitterly opposed to the congress. It began to claim that the interests of the Muslim minority could not be protected by the Hindus.

 Q16) Which event was the main reason for the announcement of the Quit India Movement? What was its results?

Ans: the failure of the Cripps mission was the main reason for the announcement of Quit India Movement. But before the congress could start repressive measures. All the members of the congress working committee along with Gandhi were arrested. There were strikes and demonstrations all over the country. People took to violence against Gandhi’s will, the Quit India Movement turned violent.  

Q17) Describe the events that preceded and led to partition of India. What were the effects of partition on India and Pakistan?

Ans: when the congress won the assembly elections in 1946, the Muslim league got alarmed at the success of congress. It decided to boycott the assembly. The Muslim league declared that Muslim should resort to direct action to achieve their goal of Pakistan. Riots broke out, thousands of Hindus and Muslims were killed. The British announced that they would complete transfer power to the Indians by 1948, the Muslim league started an agitation for the partition of the country on 23 March 1947, the league observed Pakistan Day. In March 1947 Lord Mountbatten came to India and presented a plan for the partition of India into two independent states, India and Pakistan. Partition saw some of the worst communal riots in the history of the world.

Q18) write a short note on the constituent assembly and the adoption of the constitution of India.

Ans: The constituent assembly was formed under the provision of the cabinet Mission plan. The main task of the assembly was to form a constitution. India being a multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious country, it was decided that all religions and languages would be treated with respect. The final draft was ready and passed on 26 January 1949. India was declared a sovereign democratic republic on 26 January 1950.