INC Sessions & Presidents — Set 10

Correct Answer: B. Constitutional reforms introducing dyarchy in provincial governments

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, embodied in the Government of India Act 1919, introduced the system of dyarchy (dual governance) in provincial governments. Under dyarchy, certain departments like education and agriculture were transferred to Indian ministers, while important departments like finance and police remained with British officers. This was seen as an insufficient step by most Indian nationalists. Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement partly in protest against this inadequate measure.

Correct Answer: C. Annie Besant

Annie Besant became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1917. She was followed by Sarojini Naidu, who became the first Indian woman to hold this position in 1925. Annie Besant presided over the Calcutta session of Congress in 1917. Her election was significant as it showed Congress's recognition of women's leadership at a time when women's political participation was limited globally.

Correct Answer: B. Division of Bengal by Lord Curzon; strongly opposed by Indian nationalists including Lal-Bal-Pal

The Partition of Bengal was announced by Lord Curzon, the Viceroy, in 1905, dividing Bengal into Hindu-majority West Bengal and Muslim-majority East Bengal. Indian nationalists saw it as a 'divide and rule' policy. It triggered massive protests and the Swadeshi Movement, led by nationalists like Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The partition was reversed in 1911 due to sustained opposition, but it left lasting communal tensions.

Correct Answer: B. He was arrested along with other Congress leaders and spent time in prison

Nehru was arrested immediately after the launch of the Quit India Movement on August 9, 1942, along with Gandhi and other Congress leaders. He was imprisoned in Ahmednagar Fort, where he wrote 'The Discovery of India'. He spent a total of about nine years in British jails across his life. His imprisonment did not diminish his commitment to India's freedom and he emerged as India's foremost leader alongside Gandhi.

Correct Answer: B. It explained his embrace of rationalism and socialist ideology over religious belief

Bhagat Singh wrote the famous essay 'Why I am an Atheist' (Main Nastik Kyun Hoon) in jail in 1930. In it, he explained his rejection of religion and his embrace of rationalism and socialist ideology. He argued that belief in God was a sign of weakness and that a revolutionary needed to face death with courage, not by seeking divine help. This essay is considered a masterpiece of rational thought and remains widely read today.

Correct Answer: C. The Punjabee

Lala Lajpat Rai edited 'The Punjabee', a nationalist journal that was important in spreading political awareness in Punjab. He also wrote extensively in other nationalist publications and authored several books on Indian history and social reform. He wrote biographies of national figures and political works including 'Young India: An Interpretation and a History of the Nationalist Movement from Within'. His writings inspired a generation of nationalists in northern India.

Correct Answer: C. Madhya Pradesh (then Central Provinces)

Chandrashekhar Azad was born on July 23, 1906, in Bhavra village in the Alirajpur district of present-day Madhya Pradesh. He was drawn into revolutionary politics as a teenager, participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement at age 15. He was arrested and produced before a magistrate, where he reportedly gave his name as 'Azad', his father's name as 'Swatantrata' (Independence), and his address as 'Jail'. He was sentenced to 15 lashes.

Correct Answer: B. An ideal society based on truth and righteousness for all citizens equally

Gandhi's concept of 'Ram Rajya' referred to an ideal social order based on truth, righteousness, justice, and equality for all citizens. He used the term to describe a society where the welfare of all, especially the poor and marginalized, would be the primary concern. Gandhi explicitly stated that Ram Rajya was not a Hindu state but an ideal that encompassed all religions. This vision guided his social and political activism throughout his life.

Correct Answer: B. It was a philosophical and historical exploration of India's civilization and identity

Nehru wrote 'The Discovery of India' while imprisoned in Ahmednagar Fort from 1942-46. The book traces India's history from the Indus Valley Civilization to the eve of independence. It explores India's rich cultural and intellectual heritage, its encounters with foreign civilizations, and its struggle for independence. The book reflects Nehru's deep pride in India's past and his vision for a modern, secular, democratic India.

Correct Answer: B. A movement promoting Indian-made goods and boycott of British goods

The Swadeshi Movement emerged as a response to the Partition of Bengal in 1905. It called for the boycott of British-manufactured goods and the promotion of Indian-made products. Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak championed this economic nationalism. The movement was a powerful form of non-violent resistance that hit British commercial interests and promoted Indian industry and self-reliance.