Gandhian Era — Set 16
Indian History · गांधी युग · Questions 151–160 of 170
Who is known as the 'Nightingale of India'?
Correct Answer: B. Sarojini Naidu
• **Sarojini Naidu** = **'Nightingale of India' (Bharat Kokila)** — celebrated poet and freedom fighter. • First Indian woman **Congress President (1925, Kanpur Session)**; led Dharasana Salt Satyagraha (1930). • First woman **Governor of UP** after independence; died in office 1949. • 💡 Annie Besant = first woman Congress President (**1917**) but foreign; Lata Mangeshkar = 'Nightingale of India' in music, but Sarojini = in poetry; Indira Gandhi = first woman PM.
When is 'Martyrs' Day' (Shaheed Diwas) observed in memory of Gandhi?
Correct Answer: D. January 30
• **January 30 = Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas)** — Gandhi was assassinated on this date in **1948**. • President and PM pay homage at **Raj Ghat** (Gandhi's memorial) at 11 AM with 2-minute silence. • **March 23** = also Shaheed Diwas for **Bhagat Singh, Rajguru & Sukhdev** (hanged 1931). • 💡 August 15 = Independence Day; March 23 = separate Martyrs' Day for revolutionaries; October 2 = Gandhi Jayanti, not Martyrs' Day.
What was the name of the journal published by Gandhi in South Africa?
Correct Answer: A. Indian Opinion
• Gandhi published **'Indian Opinion'** in South Africa from **1903** from Phoenix Settlement near Durban. • Published in **English, Gujarati, Hindi, and Tamil** — fought against racial discrimination of Indians. • Gandhi's first serious journalistic work; he typeset the paper himself as a satyagrahi practice. • 💡 Young India = Gandhi's English weekly in India (**1919**–**1932**); Navjivan = Gujarati weekly in India; Harijan = published **1933** onwards in India.
The Dandi March started from which place?
Correct Answer: D. Sabarmati Ashram
• **Dandi March** started from **Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad** on **March 12, 1930**. • Gandhi walked **241 miles (388 km)** to coastal Dandi village in **24 days** with 78 followers. • On **April 6, 1930**, Gandhi made salt by boiling seawater — breaking the salt law symbolically. • 💡 Dandi = destination, not starting point; Wardha = Sevagram Ashram location; Porbandar = Gandhi's birthplace, not march start.
Who designed the Indian National Flag?
Correct Answer: D. Pingali Venkayya
• **Pingali Venkayya** (Andhra Pradesh) = credited with designing the **Indian National Flag**. • Designed the basic tricolour layout; the **Ashoka Chakra** was added later by a committee. • Constituent Assembly formally adopted the flag on **July 22, 1947** (before independence). • 💡 Bankim Chandra = composed 'Vande Mataram'; Annie Besant = Home Rule flag (different); Tagore = wrote 'Jana Gana Mana' (national anthem).
The 'Chauri Chaura' incident took place in which modern-day state?
Correct Answer: D. Uttar Pradesh
• **Chauri Chaura** is in **Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh** (then United Provinces). • On **February 4, 1922**, a mob set the police station on fire, killing **22 policemen**. • Gandhi suspended the **Non-Cooperation Movement** because of this violence. • 💡 Bihar = Champaran Satyagraha; Gujarat = Kheda/Bardoli/Dandi; Punjab = Jallianwala Bagh; Chauri Chaura = only in UP.
Who was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India?
Correct Answer: D. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• **Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel** = India's **first Deputy Prime Minister** and also first **Home Minister**. • Integrated **560+ princely states** and managed the aftermath of partition. • Died in office on **December 15, 1950** in Bombay; remembered as the 'Iron Man of India'. • 💡 Maulana Azad = Education Minister; Nehru = PM; Rajendra Prasad = President; Patel alone was Deputy PM and Home Minister.
Which song was adopted as the National Anthem of India?
Correct Answer: D. Jana Gana Mana
• **'Jana Gana Mana'** = National Anthem of India, adopted on **January 24, 1950** by the Constituent Assembly. • Written by **Rabindranath Tagore** (originally 'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata' in Bengali, 1911). • **'Vande Mataram'** = National Song (Bankim Chandra Chatterjee); has equal honour but is not the anthem. • 💡 'Sare Jahan Se Achha' = patriotic song by Iqbal, not anthem; 'Ae Mere Watan' = patriotic song; 'Vande Mataram' = National Song, not anthem.
Who composed the National Song 'Vande Mataram'?
Correct Answer: D. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
• **Bankim Chandra Chatterjee** composed **'Vande Mataram'** in his novel **'Anandamath' (1882)**. • First sung in public at **1896 Congress session** by Rabindranath Tagore; became a rallying cry. • India's **National Song** (not anthem); first two stanzas adopted — rest were controversial (religious). • 💡 Tagore = wrote 'Jana Gana Mana' (anthem); Bose = 'Jai Hind'; Sarojini Naidu = poet but not 'Vande Mataram' composer.
In which year did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre occur?
Correct Answer: C. 1919
• **Jallianwala Bagh massacre** occurred in **1919** — specifically **April 13, 1919** on Baisakhi. • **General Dyer** ordered firing without warning; approximately 379 killed (official), 1000+ possibly. • Tagore returned Knighthood; Gandhi returned Kaiser-i-Hind medal; turned moderates into radicals. • 💡 **1921** = Moplah Rebellion and Non-Cooperation peak; **1920** = Non-Cooperation launch; **1918** = WWI end; **1919** is the massacre year.