[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS STATIC QUIZ, 8 July 2022 – History

Solution: b)

Gandhi’s entry into public life began with the ‘Satyagraha’ in Champaran district of Bihar in 1917. He could mobilize the peasants of this district against the exploitation of European indigo planters. In 1918, Gandhiji led a “no tax campaign” at Khera in Gujarat where the peasants were not able to pay the revenue due to famine. But, after the Jalianwala Bagh tragedy, the government expressed no sign of regret but went ahead with more repression. Mahatma Gandhi was shocked and suspended the ‘Satyagraha’ declaring it as a “Himalayan Blunder”. It was because he had asked those people to pursue non-violence who could not afford to be non-violent. The Satyagraha movement failed in attaining its object as the government did not withdraw the Rowlatt Act. However, it was the first experiment of non-violence of Gandhiji in Indian politics.

Solution: b)

The Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Harijan or Satyagraha Ashram) was home to Mahatma Gandhi from 1917 until 1930 and served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle.

Sevagram cottage served as the last residence of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji left to Delhi from Sevargam Cottage in 1946 and then went to Noakhali. From there he did not return to Sewagram while engaged in his task of communal unity and peace making. He was martyred in Delhi in 1948.

It was from Sabarmati Ashram that Gandhi led the Dandi march also known as the Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930. In recognition of the significant influence that this march had on the Indian independence movement, the Indian government has established the ashram as a national monument.

Solution: d)

In 1919 Gandhiji gave a call for a satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act that the British had just passed. The Act curbed fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression and strengthened police powers.

• In April 1919 there were a number of demonstrations and hartals in the country and the government used brutal measures to suppress them. The Jallianwala Bagh atrocities, inflicted by General Dyer in Amritsar on Baisakhi day were a part of this repression.
• The Khilafat issue was another such cause. In 1920 the British imposed a harsh treaty on the Turkish Sultan or Khalifa. People were furious about this as they had been about the Jallianwala massacre. Also, Indian Muslims were keen that the Khalifa be allowed to retain control over Muslim sacred places in the erstwhile Ottoman Empire.

• The leaders of the Khilafat agitation, Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, wished to initiate a full-fledged Non-Cooperation Movement. Gandhiji supported their call and urged the Congress to campaign against “Punjab wrongs” (Jallianwala massacre), the Khilafat wrong and demand swaraj.

Solution: a)

A noteworthy achievement was the defeat of the Public Safety Bill in 1928 which was aimed at empowering the Government to deport undesirable and subversive foreigners.

Solution: d)

As per the commission, there should be a constitutional reconstruction in the form of a federal constitution. The provinces should be given full autonomy including law.

Other major recommendations include:

• The number of members of provincial legislative council should be increased. Governor- general should have complete power to appoint the members of the cabinet.
• The governor should have discretionary power to relate to internal security and administrative powers to protect the different communities.
• The government of India should have complete control over the high court.
• There were no Indian members in the commission. No universal franchise was proposed and the position of governor-general remained unaffected.