1. Who said this in 1871 : “In my belief a greater calamity would not befall India than for England to go away and leave her to herself.
A. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B. Dada Bhai Naoroji
C. M.G. Ranade
D. Bipan Chandra Pal
Solution
The correct answer is Dada Bhai Naoroji.
Key Points
- Dadabhai Naoroji was focused on civil service reform while speaking about the drain of wealth and promoting a solution through public works
- He challenged British claims that Indians were not mentally fit, capable, or trustworthy enough for high administrative positions
- Naoroji had plans for steady Indianization of the services, which became more ambitious over time
- In 1868, he hoped for the British majority in services to be reduced to two-thirds or three-fourths, but certain high executive powers would remain in British hands
- Naoroji rejected the transfer of all administrative posts to Indians
- “In my belief,” he asserted, “a greater calamity could not befall India than for England to go away and leave her to herself.”
- But his evolving demands for the Indianization of the civil service betrayed a different sentiment. In 1871, while addressing a select parliamentary committee in London, he discarded his earlier stance that “high executive power” should be the sole province of the British.
- Instead, Naoroji now called for the appointment of Indians to legislative councils, the India Office, and “all grades” of the government.
Therefore the given sentence is said by Dada Bhai Naoroji.
2. To which Indian goes the credit of initiating the theory of drain of wealth?
A. Dr. D. R. Gadgil
B. R. C. Dutt
C. Dadabhai Naoroji
D. M. K. Gandhi
Solution
Dadabhai Naoroji for the first time initiated the theory of the drain of wealth.
Key Points
- Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Asian and Indian man to be elected as an MP to the British House of Commons. During his stay in Britain, he voiced the grievances of the Indian people to the British and spoke about possible remedies to the problems. He believed that the British were inactive only because they were not acquainted with the realities in India.
- He founded the London India Society in 1865 along with W.C Bonnerjee and the East India Association in 1866 with the purpose of opening the British eyes to Indian problems and generating consensus for effecting proper reforms.
- it was because of his efforts that the I.C.S examinations began to be held simultaneously in England as well as India.
- Dadabhai Naoroji actually identified the ‘Drain of Wealth’ phenomenon as a transfer of Indian wealth to Britain for which India got no proportionate economic return and wrote extensively about it in his famous work ‘Poverty and Un-British Rule of India’.
- This drove him to realize that only Indians could govern themselves properly and he became the first national leader to call for Swaraj or self-rule for India under the British Empire in 1906.
- Dadabhai Naoroji also served as the President of the INC for three terms during which important resolutions about Swaraj, National Education, Swadeshi, and Boycott were passed.
Hence, we can conclude that Dadabhai Naoroji for the first time initiated the theory of the drain of wealth.
Important Points
- Dr. D R Gadgil or Dhananjay Ramchandra Gadgil: He was an Indian economist who had significant contributions to the Planning Commission of India. To commemorate his achievements, the Government of India issued stamps in his honor in 2008.
- R.C.Duttwas an early nationalist, contemporary of Dadabhai Naoroji. His theory of deindustrialization under British rule occupies an important place in the economic history of India.
- M.K.Gandhi or Mohandas Karamchnad Gandhi, popularly known as Gandhiji, was the most popular leader of the Indian freedom struggle. It was he who initiated the mass phase of the freedom struggle in India through his philosophy of satyagraha and non-violence.
3. Who among the following revolutionaries was associated with Swadesh Bandhav Samiti?
A. Chandrasekhar Azad
B. Bhagat Singh
C. Rajguru
D. Ashwini Kumar Dutta
Solution
The correct answer is Ashwini Kumar Dutta.
Key Points
- Ashwini Kumar Dutta founded the Swadesh Bandhab Samiti on 6th August 1905 after the partition of Bengal.
- The organisation was formed to promote the consumption of swadeshi goods.
- It was established in the Barisal district(Present day Bangladesh).
- It published its weekly paper called, ‘Barisal Hitaishi.’
- The organisation had its own shops.
- Ashwini Kumar Dutta was responsible for the creation of the Co-operative Hindusthan Bank in 1908 to help Indians start their own business.
Additional Information Bhagat Sing
- He was born on 27 September 1907 in Banga, Lyallpur District, Punjab Province, British India (present-day Faisalabad District, Punjab, Pakistan).
- In December 1928, Bhagat Singh and an associate, Shivaram Rajguru, were both members of a small revolutionary group, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.
- He was an Indian revolutionary.
- He participated in a massive symbolic bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi and a hunger strike in prison.
Chandrasekhar Azad
- Chandra Shekhar Tiwari who was popularly known as Chandrashekhar Azad was an Indian Revolutionary leader and a Freedom fighter.
- Azad along with Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries secretly restructured the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) in 1928 and renamed it the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) on 8-9 September in order to achieve their primary goal of an independent India based on the idea of socialism.
- He was involved in the Kakori Train Action Case that happened in 1925. Now UP government renames Kakori kand to Kakori train action on 9 August 2021.
4. Which among the following group was not associated with the congress moderates?
A. Servants of India Society
B. Deccan Education Society
C. Indian Society
D. Sarvajanik Sabha
Solution
The correct answer is the Deccan Education Society.
Key Points
- The Deccan Education Society (DES)
- It was established in 1884 by the stalwarts of India’s freedom struggle, like GOPAL GANESH AGARKAR and LOKMANYA TILAK and later built by great personalities of the era, like GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE and DHONDO KESHAV KARVE (honoured with Bharat Ratna). Bal Gangadhar tilak belongs to extremist leaders. Hence, Option 2 is correct.
- Deccan education society is an organization that runs 43 education establishments in Maharastra, Pune founded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
- The two leaders also vied for the control of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha and the founding of the Deccan Sabha by Gokhale in 1896 was the consequence of Tilak coming out ahead.
Additional Information
- The London Indian Society
- In 1865, the London Indian Society was founded under the guidance of Dadabhai Naoroji.
- It was formed by Indian students as a forum to air political grievances.
- Europeans were allowed to be honorary members but could not vote or hold office.
- Of the founding group of students, they included W. C. Bonnerjee, Manomohun Ghose, Pherozeshah Mehta, and Badruddin Tyabji.
- In 1866, the London Indian Society was superseded by the East India Association, although it did continue to exist in some separate form for a few more years.
- East India Association
- The East India Association was founded by Dadabhai Naoroji in 1866, in collaboration with Indians and retired British officials in London.
- It superseded the London Indian Society and was a platform for discussing matters and ideas about India, and providing representation for Indians to the Government.
- Naoroji delivered the first lecture to the Association on 2 May 1867.
- The Association’s first President was Lord Lyveden.
- The East India Association incorporated the National Indian Association in 1949 and became the Britain, India, and Pakistan Association.
- In 1966 it amalgamated with the former India Society, now Royal India, Pakistan, and Ceylon Society, to become the Royal Society for India, Pakistan, and Ceylon.
- Indian Society
- In 1872, Anand Mohan Bose formed an Indian Society in London to foster the spirit of nationalism among the Indian residents in Britain.
- Later, this organisation became an important platform for Indians to voice their demands.
- Sarvajanik Sabha
- Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was a socio-political organisation in British India that started with the aim of working as a mediating body between the government and the people of India and popularising the peasants’ legal rights.
- It started as an elected body of 95 members elected by 6000 persons on April 2, 1870.
- The organisation was a precursor to the Indian National Congress which started with its first session in Maharashtra itself.
- The Pune Sarvajanik Sabha provided many of the prominent leaders of national stature to the Indian freedom struggle including Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
- It was formed in 1870 by Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi commonly known as Sarvajanik Kaka.
5. During the freedom struggle on which day the Indian National Congress celebrated the Poorna Swaraj.
A. January 26, 1930
B. January 29, 1929
C. August 16, 1930
D. August 18, 1930
Solution
The correct answer is January 26, 1930.
Key Points:
- on 19 December 1929, Indian National Congress passed the historic ‘Purna Swaraj’ at its Lahore session. On 26 January 1930, A public declaration was made. It was a day where the Congress Party urged Indians to celebrate as ‘Independence Day
- Due to the breakdown of negotiations between leaders of the freedom movement and the British over the question of dominion status for India, the declaration was passed.
- It did not have a legal/constitutional structure. The resolution was a short document of 50-word. It read more like a manifesto. It called for severing ties with the British and claimed ‘Purna Swaraj’ or ‘complete independence’. It indicted British rule and succinctly articulated the resulting economic, political and cultural injustice inflicted on Indians. On the behalf of Indians, the document spoke and made its intention of launching the civil disobedience movement clear.
- It is a critical component of the changing strategy of the independence movement in engaging with the British
- The demand for freedom was now made in the language of justice and not charity. Total independence was seen as an event by leaders of the freedom movement and Indians in general.
- During 1946 -1950 while making the constitution process, members of the Constituent Assembly chose 26 January 1950 for the Constitution of India to come into effect to honour the date of the public declaration of Purna Swaraj.
6. ‘Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it’, this is a famous slogan saying by –
A. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Solution
The correct answer is Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
- ‘Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it’, this is a famous saying by – Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Additional Information
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak, born Keshav Gangadhar Tilak, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, and independence activist.
- He was one-third of the Lal Bal Pal triumvirate.
- Tilak was the first leader of the Indian Independence Movement.
- The British colonial authorities called him “The father of the Indian unrest.”
- Subhas Chandra Bose was an Indian nationalist whose defiant patriotism made him a hero in India, but whose attempts during World War II to rid India of British rule with the help of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan left a troubled legacy.
- Jawaharlal Nehru was an Indian independence activist and, subsequently, the first Prime Minister of India, as well as a central figure in Indian politics both before and after independence.
- Gopal Krishna Gokhale was an Indian liberal political leader and a social reformer during the Indian Independence Movement.
- Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and the founder of the Servants of India Society.
7. In 1905, “The Servants of India Society” was formed by ____.
A. Shyamaji Krishnavarma
B. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
C. Dadabhai Naoroji
D. Mahatma Gandhi
Solution
The correct answer is Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
Key Points
- The Servants of India Society was formed in Pune, Maharashtra, on June 12, 1905, by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who left the Deccan Education Society to form this association.
- Along with him were a small group of educated Indians, as Natesh Appaji Dravid, Gopal Krishna Deodhar, Surendra Nath Banerjee, and Anant Patwardhan who wanted to promote social and human development and overthrow the British rule in India.
- The Society organized many campaigns to promote education, sanitation, and health care and fight the social evils of untouchability and discrimination, alcoholism, poverty, oppression of women, and domestic abuse.
- The publication of The Hitavada, the organ of the Society in English from Nagpur commenced in 1911.
Additional Information
- Shyamaji Krishnavarma
- Shyamaji Krishnavarma, founding father of the India House organization in Highgate, began to supply and edit The Indian Sociologist in January 1905.
- The Indian Sociologist of September 1908, published in London. Shyamji Krishnavarma edited the journal from 1905 to 1914.
- Dadabhai Naoroji
- Dadabhai Naoroji was also one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress.
- He presided over the Congress session three times and was a renowned Politician.
- He wrote a book named ‘Poverty and Un-British Rule in India‘. It highlighted his ‘wealth drain‘ theory from India to Britain.
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer.
- He rose to prominence as the face of the nationalist movement that opposed British colonial rule in India.
- As a result, he earned the title “father of his country.“
- Gandhi’s philosophy of using nonviolent protest (satyagraha) to advance political and social change has earned him respect on a global scale.
- Gandhi was regarded as the Mahatma (or “Great Soul”) by millions of his fellow Indians.
- He found it extremely difficult to work during the day or get any rest at night due to the enormous crowds of people that flocked to see him along the routes of his trips.
8. Consider the following statements:
1. Moderates demanded to conduct Civil Services Exams both in England & India.
2. Moderates demanded Constitutional reforms while Extremists demanded Swaraj.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 and 2.
Solution
The correct answer is Both 1 and 2.
Important Points
| Moderates | Extremists |
| Professed loyalty towards British Rule. | They thought Indian people’s loyalty should be toward India only. British crown was no worthy of this loyalty. |
| They were inspired by Western liberal thoughts & European history. | They though Indian culture & history was deeper than the Western one. They were inspired by Indian culture & scriptures. |
| They emphasised the use of the Constitutional way of approaching only. | They emphasised the use of extra-constitutional methods like boycott & resistance. |
| They demanded only a share in the Indian services. | They demanded Indianisation of the government services. |
| They believed that the movement should be limited to the middle class of people only.It had a narrow social base. | They stressed the mass agitation. The immediate cause of the rise of Extremists was the recreationary reforms of Curzon. |
| They comprised of Zamindars & the upper-middle class in town. | They comprised the educated middle class & lower classes in towns. |
| They demanded only constitutional reforms. | They demanded complete Swaraj. |
| Leaders: Dadabai Naoroji, Firoze shah Mehta, Gopalakrishna Gokhale & M. G. Ranade | Leaders: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipinj Chandra Pal, Aurbindo Ghosh. |
- Hence, statement 2 is correct.
- Demands of Moderates:
- Separation of Judiciary & executive organs of government.
- Appointment of Indian to the commissioned ranks in the army.
- To conduct Civil Services both in India & in England.
- Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- Repealing of Arms act.
- Reduction of military expenditure.
- Reduction in land revenue demands.
- Modification in forest law suppressing tribes living in forests.
- Representation of Indians In British Parliament.
- Reforms in Central & Provincial legislative councils.
- Expansion of viceroy’s Executive council.
- Freedom of press & speech.
9. In which year the Radicals and Moderates were divided?
A. 1905
B. 1907
C. 1912
D. 1908
Solution
The correct answer is 1907.
- Radicals and Moderates were divided in 1907. The Moderates were opposed to the use of boycotts. They felt that it involved the use of force.
Key Points
- In 1907, Surat Session,
- The two main objectives placed by the extremists were that:
- Demand for the resolution of Swaraj.
- Lala Lajpat Rai to be made the President of the INC.
- These two demands were not acceptable to the moderates.
- Thus, instead of Lala Lajpat Rai, the moderates supported the idea of Rash Behari Ghosh as the President.
Additional Information
- After the split, the Congress came to be dominated by the Moderates with Tilak’s followers functioning from outside.
- The two groups reunited in December 1916.
- Next year the Congress and the Muslim League signed the historic Lucknow Pact and decided to work together for representative government in the country
10. Which of the following was a political demand of Moderates in Indian freedom struggle?
A. Holding of Indian Civil Services examination simultaneously in England and India.
B. Spread of primary education among the masses
C. In the beginning of the 20th century, they demanded for Swaraj within the British Empire similar to the self-governing colonies in Canada and Australia.
D. All of the above
Solution
The Correct Answer is. All of the Above.
Key Points
- The methods of the Moderates can be best described as ‘Constitutional agitation’.
- Their main demands were –
- Holding of Indian Civil Services examination simultaneously in England and India.
- Wider employment of Indians in the higher grades of administrative services.
- Spread of primary education among the masses.
- By the beginning of the 20th century, they demanded Swaraj (self-rule) within the British Empire similar to the self-governing colonies in Canada and Australia.
- Reduction of military expenditure.
- Separation of judiciary from the executive.
- Grant of self-government to India within the British Empire.
- The plea for the extension of the legislative council leads to the popular control of the administration.
- Removal of restriction on freedom of the press and speech.
- Abolition of arms act breaches the freedom of people.
- Separation of judiciary from the executive.
- Supporter of Democracy and Nationalism.
- Exploitative relation of the British could be exempted.
