Gandhian Era — Set 5
Indian History · गांधी युग · Questions 41–50 of 170
Who was the first Indian Governor-General of independent India?
Correct Answer: B. C. Rajagopalachari
• **C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)** = first and **only Indian Governor-General** of India (1948–1950). • Succeeded **Lord Mountbatten** in June 1948; post abolished when India became a Republic on Jan 26, 1950. • He also served as India's **Home Minister** and last Chief Minister of undivided Madras Province. • 💡 Nehru = Prime Minister, not G-G; Sardar Patel = Home Minister & Deputy PM; Rajendra Prasad = first President of India.
The 'Direct Action Day' was observed by the Muslim League on:
Correct Answer: C. August 16, 1946
• **Direct Action Day = August 16, 1946** — Muslim League pressed demand for Pakistan. • Led to **'Great Calcutta Killings'** — thousands died in 72 hours of communal violence. • Declared by **Jinnah** after Muslim League withdrew from Cabinet Mission plan; point of no return for partition. • 💡 January 26, **1946** = no such event; June 3, **1946** = not Direct Action Day; August 15, **1947** = Independence Day.
Who was the President of the Indian National Congress at the time of independence?
Correct Answer: C. J.B. Kripalani
• **J.B. Kripalani** (Acharya Kripalani) = Congress President **at time of independence, 1947**. • Took over from **Maulana Azad** in 1946; resigned later in 1947 over differences with Nehru government. • His wife **Sucheta Kripalani** later became first woman Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1963). • 💡 Nehru = PM, not Congress President; Rajendra Prasad = Constituent Assembly President; Maulana Azad = previous Congress President **1940**–46.
The Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny took place in:
Correct Answer: D. 1946
• **Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny = February 1946** — started on **HMIS Talwar** in Bombay. • Cause: bad food, racial discrimination; spread to 78 ships and 20 shore establishments, 20,000 sailors. • Showed British they could no longer rely on armed forces; accelerated Indian independence. • 💡 **1942** = Quit India year; **1947** = Independence year; **1944** = INA battles at Imphal; **1946** is the correct year.
Which movement is also known as the 'August Kranti'?
Correct Answer: D. Quit India Movement
• **Quit India Movement (August 1942)** = also known as **'August Kranti'** (August Revolution). • Launched on **August 8, 1942** at Gowalia Tank, Bombay — now called **August Kranti Maidan**. • Third and final mass movement led by Gandhi; slogan 'Do or Die' (Karo ya Maro). • 💡 Swadeshi = **1905** Bengal partition era; Civil Disobedience = **1930** Salt Satyagraha; Non-Cooperation = **1920**–22 movement.
Who defended the INA prisoners during the Red Fort Trials?
Correct Answer: B. Bhulabhai Desai
• **Bhulabhai Desai** = chief defence counsel at **INA Red Fort Trials (1945)**. • Assisted by **Jawaharlal Nehru**, Tej Bahadur Sapru; three officers tried: Shah Nawaz Khan, Dhillon, Sehgal. • Trials generated immense public sympathy; British had to release INA prisoners under pressure. • 💡 M.N. Roy = communist, not INA lawyer; Bose = died Aug **1945**, before trials; Ambedkar = not involved in INA defence.
The 'Wavell Plan' was discussed at which conference?
Correct Answer: B. Simla Conference
• **Wavell Plan** discussed at the **Simla Conference (June 1945)** by Viceroy Lord Wavell. • Proposed all-Indian Executive Council (except Viceroy & C-in-C); equal Hindu-Muslim representation. • Failed because **Jinnah insisted** all Muslim seats go to Muslim League alone; Congress refused. • 💡 London Conference = not the venue; Poona = not relevant; Delhi = not the Wavell Plan conference location.
Which famous leader was called 'Deshbandhu'?
Correct Answer: B. C.R. Das
• **Chittaranjan Das (C.R. Das)** = known as **'Deshbandhu'** (Friend of the Nation). • Brilliant lawyer; defended Aurobindo Ghosh in Alipore Bomb Case; founded **Swaraj Party (1923)**. • Was the political guru of **Subhash Chandra Bose**; died in office 1925. • 💡 Lajpat Rai = 'Punjab Kesari'; Motilal Nehru = co-founded Swaraj Party; Tagore = 'Gurudev', poet.
The term 'Sarvodaya' was used by Gandhi to mean:
Correct Answer: B. Universal Upliftment
• **Sarvodaya** = 'Universal Upliftment' or **'Welfare of All'** — coined by Gandhi. • Concept taken from **John Ruskin's 'Unto This Last'** which Gandhi translated into Gujarati as 'Sarvodaya'. • It emphasises welfare of the last person; later Vinoba Bhave ran a Sarvodaya movement. • 💡 Non-Violence = 'Ahimsa'; Complete Independence = 'Purna Swaraj'; Truth Force = 'Satyagraha'.
Who authored the book 'India Wins Freedom'?
Correct Answer: C. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
• **Maulana Abul Kalam Azad** authored **'India Wins Freedom'** — personal account of independence & partition. • He was Congress President for 6 years (1940–46) and India's **first Education Minister**. • **30 pages** of the book were sealed for 30 years as they contained sensitive political revelations. • 💡 Nehru wrote 'Discovery of India'; Patel = 'Sardar Patel's Correspondence'; Bose = 'The Indian Struggle'.