UPSC Static Quiz – History : 19 May 2025

Solution: c)

Landholders Society:

• In July 1838, the “Zamindari Association”, also known as the “Landholders Society”, was established to safeguard the interests of the landlords.
• Landholders’ Society was limited in its objectives i.e. covered demand of Landlords only.
• The landholders Society used the methods of constitutional agitation for the redressal of grievances and marked the beginning of organised political activities.

Bengal British India Society:

• In April 1843, another political association under the name of the Bengal British India Society was founded.

Its objective was “the collection and dissemination of information relating to the actual condition of the people of British India”

Solution: b)

Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, played a pivotal role in the formation of the Indian National Congress by writing an open letter to the graduates of Calcutta University in 1883. This letter outlined his vision for a body representing Indian interests and helped mobilize educated Indians to engage in political dialogue with the British government. Hume’s efforts led to the organization of the first Congress meeting in Bombay in 1885, with the approval of Viceroy Lord Dufferin.

Solution: b)

• James Augustus Hickey is widely regarded as the father of the Indian Press, primarily because he started the first Indian newspaper, the Bengal Gazette, in 1780.
• His work marked the beginning of journalism in India, despite operating under heavy scrutiny and restrictions by the British authorities.
• The Bengal Gazette sought to express independent opinions, challenging colonial authorities, which eventually led to censorship and the closure of the paper.
• Hickey’s contribution laid the foundation for the press’s role in India, which later became instrumental in political awareness and the struggle for freedom.

Solution: b)

• Amrita Bazar Patrika was established by Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal Ghosh, not Surendranath Banerjea, making statement 1 incorrect.
• Kesari was indeed a Marathi newspaper founded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who used it to voice nationalist sentiments and critique British rule, making statement 2 correct.
• The Bengalee was edited by Surendranath Banerjea, who was known for his eloquent advocacy for India’s political rights, making statement 3 correct.
• These newspapers together played a critical role in circulating nationalist ideas and mobilizing public opinion against British rule.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect because the sedition clause (Section 124A) was already in place in the Indian Penal Code, and while Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a prominent target of sedition charges, the law itself was not introduced solely in response to his activism.

The Press Act of 1910 was indeed a draconian law that resulted in the prosecution of over 1000 newspapers, severely curtailing press freedom and forcing publications to adopt cautious reporting practices.

The Prevention of Seditious Meetings Act of 1911 focused on restricting gatherings deemed seditious rather than all large-scale protests. It was aimed at preventing meetings that could incite anti-colonial sentiment, especially among nationalist groups, and was part of the broader crackdown on political expression during the rise of the nationalist movement.