Gandhian Era — Set 9

Correct Answer: A. Mahatma Gandhi

• **Phoenix Settlement** near Durban, South Africa, founded by **Gandhi in 1904** — communal living experiment. • Gandhi published **'Indian Opinion'** newspaper here from 1903; inspired by Ruskin's 'Unto This Last'. • Later he also founded **Tolstoy Farm (1910)** near Johannesburg for Satyagrahis' families. • 💡 Mandela = South African, not Gandhi's settlement; Gokhale = India-based; Naoroji = London-based politician.

Correct Answer: A. Nathuram Godse

• **Nathuram Godse** assassinated Gandhi on **January 30, 1948** at Birla House, New Delhi. • Shot Gandhi three times at point-blank range during evening prayers; Gandhi died instantly. • **Godse** was a former RSS member; believed Gandhi's policies favoured Muslims and caused partition. • 💡 Narayan Apte = co-conspirator, also executed; Madanlal Pahwa = threw bomb days before; Gopal Godse = Nathuram's brother, imprisoned.

Correct Answer: C. South Africa

• **Tolstoy Farm** established by Gandhi in **South Africa in 1910** near Johannesburg. • Named after Russian writer **Leo Tolstoy** whom Gandhi deeply admired; they exchanged letters. • Farm housed families of Satyagrahis fighting discrimination; promoted self-sufficient living. • 💡 Russia = Tolstoy's home country, not where Gandhi's farm was; England = Gandhi studied law there; India = Sabarmati/Phoenix were Indian ashrams.

Correct Answer: C. Lord Linlithgow

• **Lord Linlithgow** = Viceroy (1936–1943) during **Quit India Movement (1942)** — longest-serving Viceroy. • Adopted **severe repression** — arrested all Congress leaders on August 9, 1942; 100,000+ arrested. • Also during his tenure: **August Offer (1940)** and **Cripps Mission (1942)** were offered and rejected. • 💡 Wavell = **1943**–47 Viceroy; Willingdon = **1931**–36 Viceroy; Irwin = **1926**–31 Viceroy of Gandhi-Irwin Pact era.

Correct Answer: A. Lakshmi Sahgal

• **Captain Lakshmi Sahgal** (née Swaminathan) led the **Rani of Jhansi Regiment** — INA's all-women unit. • Regiment named after Queen Lakshmi Bai; one of the first all-female combat units in Asian history. • Dr. Lakshmi Sahgal later stood for President of India (**2002**) as Left-supported candidate. • 💡 Sarojini Naidu = led Dharasana salt raid **1930**; Aruna Asaf Ali = Quit India heroine **1942**; Usha Mehta = ran secret Congress radio.

Correct Answer: D. Mountbatten Plan

• **Mountbatten Plan** informally called the **'Dickie Bird Plan'** — Mountbatten's nickname was 'Dickie'. • Drafted under Lord **Ismay** (Mountbatten's Chief of Staff); proposed partition of Punjab and Bengal. • Also called 'June 3 Plan' (announced June 3, **1947**); accepted by both Congress and Muslim League. • 💡 Wavell Plan = Simla Conference **1945**; Cabinet Mission Plan = **1946** three-tier federal plan; Cripps Mission = **1942** Dominion Status offer.

Correct Answer: B. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• **Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel** = first Home Minister; integrated **560+ princely states** into India. • Used diplomacy (Instrument of Accession) and firmness — **'Iron Man of India'** and **'Bismarck of India'**. • Key challenges: **Kashmir** (Hari Singh signed Oct 1947), **Hyderabad** (Operation Polo 1948), **Junagadh**. • 💡 Ambedkar = Constitution drafter; Nehru = PM, focused on foreign policy; Rajendra Prasad = Constituent Assembly President.

Correct Answer: A. Cabinet Mission Plan

• Muslim League first accepted then **rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan** over 'grouping clause' dispute. • Conflict over whether groups of provinces were mandatory — Congress said 'optional', League said 'compulsory'. • League's rejection led to **Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946)** and Great Calcutta Killings. • 💡 August Offer = rejected by Congress; Mountbatten Plan = partition plan; Cripps Plan = **1942** war-time proposal.

Correct Answer: B. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

• **Maulana Abul Kalam Azad** = Congress President during **Quit India (1942)** — served 1940–1946 (6 years). • No elections due to WWII and mass imprisonment; led Congress negotiations with **Cripps** and **Cabinet Mission**. • Became India's **first Education Minister** (1947–1958); National Education Day on his birthday Nov 11. • 💡 Pattabhi Sitaramayya = lost to Bose **1939**; Nehru = became PM; Rajendra Prasad = Constituent Assembly President.

Correct Answer: D. Temple Entry

• **Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25)** = movement for lower castes' right to **temple entry** and use of roads in Kerala. • Led by **T.K. Madhavan** (Congress) and supported by E.V. Ramasamy Periyar and others. • Gandhi visited Vaikom in **1925**; settlement allowed lower castes on three of four roads. • 💡 Indigo Cultivation = Champaran issue; Salt Tax = Dandi March; Forest Rights = tribal struggles like Rampa rebellion.