Moderates, Extremists & Lal-Bal-Pal — Set 15

Correct Answer: C. Bombay

Pherozeshah Mehta was a dominant political figure in Bombay. He was a lawyer and a leading moderate in the Indian National Congress. He was one of the key organizers of the Surat Congress session of 1907. Mehta strongly opposed the extremists and played a role in their expulsion from Congress after the Surat Split.

Correct Answer: B. Pherozeshah Mehta

Pherozeshah Mehta was called 'Diamond of India' for his brilliance and contributions. He was a towering figure in Bombay's legal and political circles. Mehta believed in constitutional methods and working within the British legal framework. He was a key moderate leader who played an important role in early Congress history.

Correct Answer: C. Calcutta

The Alipore Bomb Conspiracy case trial was held in Calcutta (Alipore) in 1909. Aurobindo Ghosh was one of the main accused in this case. He was acquitted after a year-long trial. C.R. Das defended him brilliantly in court. Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki were involved in the Muzaffarpur bomb case that triggered the Alipore arrests.

Correct Answer: D. Aurobindo Ghosh

Aurobindo Ghosh was NOT part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio. The trio consisted of Lala Lajpat Rai (Lal), Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Bal) and Bipin Chandra Pal (Pal). These three extremist leaders dominated the Congress from 1905 to 1907. Aurobindo Ghosh was another extremist leader but not part of this specific trio.

Correct Answer: B. Sedition

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was tried for sedition in 1897 for the first time. His articles in Kesari were deemed seditious by the British government during the plague epidemic in Pune. He was sentenced to 18 months rigorous imprisonment. This was the first of several sedition trials Tilak faced during his political career.

Correct Answer: C. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bal Gangadhar Tilak organized the Shivaji festival in Maharashtra to promote Hindu nationalism. He used the festival to evoke the memory of Shivaji's resistance to the Mughals as a parallel to Indian resistance to British rule. The festival brought people together and provided a platform for nationalist speeches. This was an important method of mass political mobilization.

Correct Answer: A. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was known as 'the Gladstone of India' for his moderate and constitutional political approach. The comparison was with William Gladstone, the British Liberal Prime Minister. Like Gladstone, Gokhale believed in reform through legitimate political processes. He was also Mahatma Gandhi's political mentor before Gandhi emerged as a mass leader.

Correct Answer: D. Both B and C

Both Barindra Kumar Ghosh (Aurobindo's brother) and Aurobindo Ghosh were associated with the revolutionary 'Yugantar' newspaper. Barindra was the primary editor while Aurobindo contributed articles. The newspaper preached armed revolution against British rule. The Alipore Bomb Case was connected to the revolutionary group organized around Yugantar.

Correct Answer: B. Administrative autonomy within British Empire

The moderates meant administrative autonomy within the British Empire when they spoke of Swaraj. They wanted self-governance like the dominion status enjoyed by Australia and Canada. They did not demand complete separation from Britain. The extremists criticized this moderate definition, demanding complete independence or Purna Swaraj.

Correct Answer: A. 1856

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on July 23, 1856 in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. He died on August 1, 1920 in Bombay. He was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement. Tilak transformed Indian nationalism from an elite activity to a mass movement through his use of festivals and newspapers.