[Mission 2024] STATIC QUIZ, 07 December 2023 – History

Solution: b)

The Polygar Wars or Palaiyakkarar Wars were fought between the Polygars of the former Tirunelveli Kingdom in Tamil Nadu and the British East India Company forces between 1799 to 1805 over pending taxes, oppressive land revenue system etc.

The British finally won after carrying out gruelling protracted jungle campaigns against the Polygar armies and finally defeated them.

The British victory over the Polygars brought large parts of the territories of Tamil Nadu under British control, enabling them to get a strong hold in Southern India.

Solution: d)

The rise and growth of Indian nationalism has been traditionally explained in terms of Indian response to the stimulus generated by the British Raj through creation of new institutions, new opportunities, resources, etc. In other words, Indian nationalism grew partly as a result of colonial policies and partly as a reaction to colonial policies. In fact, it would be more correct to see Indian nationalism as a product of a mix of various factors:

• Worldwide upsurge of the concepts of nationalism and right of self-determination initiated by the French Revolution.
• Indian Renaissance.
• Offshoot of modernisation initiated by the British in India.
• Strong reaction to British imperialist policies in India.

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

East India Association was an organization established by some Indian students in London on 1 October 1866 on initiative of Dadabhai Naoroji. It was one of the predecessor organizations of the Indian National Congress.

On October 1, 1866, the London Indian Society was superseded by East India Association. The several objectives and activities of East India Association were as follows:

• To advocate for and promote public interests and welfare of Indians.
• It worked towards presenting the correct information about India to the British Public and voice Indian grievances in British press.

Solution: c)

Indian (National) Social Conference was founded by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao. It was virtually the social reform cell of the Indian National Congress. The Conference met annually as a subsidiary convention of the Indian National Congress, at the same venue, and focused attention on social reform. The Conference advocated inter-caste marriages and opposed kulinism and polygamy. It launched the famous “Pledge Movement” to inspire people to take an oath to prohibit child marriage.

Solution: a)

The Indian National Congress conducted its first session in Bombay from 28–31 December 1885. It was presided over by W.C. Bonnerjee.

Kadambini Ganguly was the first female graduate from India as well as from the entire British Empire. She was also the first woman to address an open session of the Indian National Congress in 1890.