India’s Long Road to Independence
Short Questions and Answers
Q1. What happened in 1858 after the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
In 1858, the British Crown took direct control of India from the East India Company.
Q2. Who founded the Brahmo Samaj, and when?
Answer:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 in Calcutta.
Q3. Who composed the poem ‘Vande Mataram’, and when?
Answer:
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed ‘Vande Mataram’ in 1875.
Q4. When was the Indian National Congress founded?
Answer:
The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885.
Q5. Who was known as Lokmanya?
Answer:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was known as Lokmanya.
Q6. What was the Kuka Movement?
Answer:
The Kuka Movement was a movement in Punjab that opposed British rule and promoted resistance to it.
Q7. Why did the British partition Bengal in 1905?
Answer:
The British partitioned Bengal in 1905, claiming that it would make administration easier. However, the partition was also intended to weaken nationalist unity.
Q8. What were the Swadeshi and Boycott movements?
Answer:
The Swadeshi Movement encouraged the use of Indian-made goods, while the Boycott Movement encouraged people to reject British goods.
Q9. When was the Muslim League founded?
Answer:
The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906.
Q10. What was the Surat Split of 1907?
Answer:
The Surat Split was the division between the Moderates and the Nationalists within the Indian National Congress in 1907.
Q11. What is satyagraha?
Answer:
Satyagraha is a method of resistance based on truth and non-violence, associated with Mahatma Gandhi.
Q12. What was the Rowlatt Act?
Answer:
The Rowlatt Act of 1919 gave the British government repressive powers, including the power to detain people without trial.
Q13. What was the Lucknow Pact of 1916?
Answer:
The Lucknow Pact promoted cooperation between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
Q14. What was the demand for Purna Swaraj?
Answer:
Purna Swaraj meant complete independence from British rule.
Q15. What slogan did Mahatma Gandhi give during the Quit India Movement?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan “Do or Die” during the Quit India Movement in 1942.
Long Questions and Answers
Q1. What was the Royal Proclamation of 1858?
Answer:
In 1858, Queen Victoria issued a Royal Proclamation after the Revolt of 1857. The British Crown took direct control of India from the East India Company. The proclamation promised to respect the rights and dignity of Indian princes and treat Indian subjects fairly. It also promised not to impose Christianity on Indians. However, many of these promises were not respected in practice, and British control continued.
Q2. How did social reform movements contribute to the growth of nationalist feelings?
Answer:
Social reformers challenged practices such as child marriage, caste discrimination and the poor treatment of widows. Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 and supported girls’ education and widow rights. Swami Dayananda Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 and encouraged rational thinking, equality and self-reliance. Reformers such as Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai Phule and Syed Ahmed Khan also promoted education and social reform. These movements helped create awareness and encouraged people to work towards a better society.
Q3. Why was the partition of Bengal in 1905 opposed by Indians?
Answer:
The British partitioned Bengal in 1905, claiming that it would make administration easier. Many Indians believed that the real purpose was to weaken nationalist unity by dividing people. The partition led to widespread protests and strengthened nationalist feelings. The Swadeshi Movement encouraged people to use Indian-made goods, while the Boycott Movement urged them to reject British goods. The movement became an important stage in India’s struggle for independence.
Q4. Explain the differences between the Moderates and the Nationalists in the Indian National Congress.
Answer:
The Moderates believed in constitutional methods, petitions and peaceful discussions to bring changes under British rule. The Nationalists wanted stronger action and greater pressure on the British government. Leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak supported more assertive methods to achieve self-rule. These differences created divisions within the Indian National Congress. In 1907, the Congress split at Surat between the Moderates and the Nationalists.
Q5. What was the importance of Mahatma Gandhi’s method of satyagraha?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi developed satyagraha as a method of resistance based on truth and non-violence. It encouraged people to oppose injustice without using violence. Gandhi used this method in various movements against British rule. It brought ordinary people into the freedom struggle and encouraged peaceful protests, boycotts and civil disobedience. Satyagraha became one of the important methods used in India’s struggle for independence.
Q6. What happened during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and what was its impact?
Answer:
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in Amritsar in 1919. British troops under General Dyer fired on a gathering of people at Jallianwala Bagh. Many people were killed, and the incident shocked Indians across the country. It increased anger against British rule and weakened the belief that the British government would treat Indians fairly. The massacre became a major turning point in the freedom struggle.
Q7. Explain the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 to oppose British rule. People were encouraged to withdraw cooperation from British institutions and reject British goods. Many students left government schools, and people boycotted foreign cloth and other British products. The movement brought large numbers of ordinary Indians into the national struggle. Gandhi later withdrew it in 1922 after violence occurred at Chauri Chaura.
Q8. What was the importance of the Salt March and the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi began the Salt March in 1930 to protest against the British salt tax and their control over salt production. He marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi and broke the salt law by making salt. This action marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. People across India broke colonial laws and participated in protests. The movement challenged British authority and gained widespread attention.
Q9. Describe the Quit India Movement of 1942.
Answer:
In August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement and called on the British to leave India immediately. He gave the slogan “Do or Die.” Most senior Congress leaders were arrested, but protests and demonstrations continued across the country. Workers went on strike, students joined protests, and underground leaders helped continue the movement. Although the British suppressed it, the movement showed that they could no longer rule India without Indian consent.
Q10. What developments led to India’s independence and Partition?
Answer:
India’s freedom struggle involved many movements, protests and sacrifices by people from different parts of the country. The Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement challenged British authority. During this period, disagreements over India’s political future and demands for separate Muslim-majority states also grew. After the Second World War, British rule became increasingly difficult to maintain. India became independent in 1947, but independence came with Partition, which led to widespread displacement and communal violence.
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