Freedom Struggle & Gandhi — Set 3

Correct Answer: B. Work in freedom movement and communal harmony

Mridula Sarabhai was a prominent political worker and activist from the Sarabhai family of Ahmedabad. She was a close associate of Gandhi and Nehru and worked actively in the freedom movement. She later worked for communal harmony and refugee rehabilitation during the partition crisis of 1947. She was known for her fearless political activism and work bridging communal divides.

Correct Answer: C. Bombay

The Indian National Congress was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (Mumbai) by A.O. Hume, a retired British civil servant, along with Dadabhai Naoroji and Dinshaw Wacha. The first session was presided over by W.C. Bonnerjee with 72 delegates attending. It was initially formed to give Indians a forum to discuss political grievances with the British administration. It later became the primary organization leading the independence movement.

Correct Answer: B. British House of Commons

Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Indian elected to the British House of Commons as a Member of Parliament in 1892, representing Finsbury Central constituency. Known as the Grand Old Man of India, he was born in Navsari, Gujarat in 1825. He was one of the founders of the Indian National Congress and a prominent early nationalist leader. His 'Drain of Wealth' theory argued that British colonialism was systematically draining India's economic resources.

Correct Answer: B. British rule was draining India's economic wealth

The 'Drain of Wealth' theory propounded by Dadabhai Naoroji argued that British rule was systematically draining India's economic wealth through exploitative trade policies and sending money back to Britain. He presented this in his work 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' (1901). He calculated that India was losing enormous sums annually to Britain, impoverishing the nation. This theory became a cornerstone of the economic critique of British colonialism.

Correct Answer: A. Moderates and Extremists

The Surat Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1907 witnessed the famous split between Moderates led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Extremists led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The split occurred over the presidentship and methods to achieve independence. Moderates believed in constitutional methods while Extremists advocated swadeshi, boycott, and more assertive nationalism. The Congress remained divided for nearly a decade until reunification in 1916.

Correct Answer: C. Central Legislative Assembly

Vitthalbhai Patel served as the President (Speaker) of the Central Legislative Assembly from 1925 to 1930. He was the first Indian to hold this position, making him one of the highest-ranking Indians in the colonial administration. He used the position skillfully to advance Indian interests and oppose oppressive legislation. His tenure demonstrated Indian capability for parliamentary governance.

Correct Answer: B. Cotton textile mill industry

Ahmedabad was known as the 'Manchester of India' because of its thriving cotton textile mill industry, similar to Manchester's role in British textiles. The city had hundreds of cotton textile mills making it India's industrial capital in the colonial era. The textile industry was central to the Ahmedabad economy and was the focus of Gandhi's labour rights work. The Majoor Mahajan Sangh (Textile Labour Association) founded with Gandhi's support became a powerful union here.

Correct Answer: C. 1905

Shyamji Krishna Varma established India House in London in 1905 as a centre for Indian revolutionary activities against British rule. India House became a hub for Indian students and revolutionaries including Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. It published revolutionary literature including 'The Indian Sociologist' journal. The British government eventually forced India House to close due to its anti-colonial activities.

Correct Answer: C. The Indian Sociologist

Shyamji Krishna Varma published 'The Indian Sociologist' journal in London starting in 1905 to advocate for Indian independence. The journal argued for complete independence and criticized British colonial policies. Shyamji Krishna Varma was born in 1857 in Mandvi, Kutch, Gujarat. His journal inspired many young Indians to take up revolutionary activities for independence.

Correct Answer: B. Gandhi

Gandhi participated in the Second Round Table Conference held in London in 1931 as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed. The pact involved suspension of Civil Disobedience Movement in exchange for Congress attending the conference. However, the conference failed to produce any significant constitutional reforms. Gandhi returned to India and relaunched Civil Disobedience in January 1932.