Non-Cooperation & Civil Disobedience — Set 5

Correct Answer: B. Arrest without trial and indefinite detention

The Rowlatt Act of 1919 allowed the British government to arrest and detain Indians without trial on suspicion of revolutionary activity. It also curtailed press freedom and the right to public meetings. Gandhi called it the 'Black Act' and organised nationwide protests, which led to the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy.

Correct Answer: B. Nagpur Session 1920

The Non-Cooperation programme was formally adopted at the Nagpur Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1920. An extraordinary session at Calcutta in September 1920 had first approved it. The Nagpur session significantly enlarged Congress membership and restructured it on linguistic lines.

Correct Answer: B. Calcutta Special Session

The Special Session of Congress held at Calcutta in September 1920 first approved Gandhi's Non-Cooperation programme. There was significant opposition, including from C.R. Das and Bipin Chandra Pal. The programme was then formally confirmed and expanded at the regular Nagpur Session in December 1920.

Correct Answer: B. Swaraj Party

C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party in 1923, after disagreeing with Gandhi's decision to suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement. The Swarajists argued for entering legislative councils to obstruct British governance from within. This led to a significant debate within the Congress about the correct strategy for achieving independence.

Correct Answer: B. 1923

The Swaraj Party was formed in January 1923 by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru, following the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922. They believed that Indians should enter legislative councils to obstruct British policies from within rather than maintain the boycott. The party achieved significant success in the 1923 elections.

Correct Answer: B. 1927

The Simon Commission was constituted in November 1927 under Sir John Simon to review India's constitutional progress under the Government of India Act 1919. All seven members were British, with no Indian representation. Congress declared a boycott, and when the Commission arrived in India in 1928, protesters greeted it with black flags and shouts of 'Simon Go Back.'

Correct Answer: B. It had no Indian members

The Simon Commission was boycotted because it had no Indian members — all seven commissioners were British. This was seen as an insult to Indian political aspirations and a denial of India's right to participate in determining its own constitutional future. The boycott was supported by both the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.

Correct Answer: B. Simon Commission

Lala Lajpat Rai died on November 17, 1928, from injuries received during a police lathi-charge on protesters demonstrating against the Simon Commission in Lahore on October 30, 1928. He had declared that 'Every blow struck at me will be a nail in the coffin of British Imperialism.' His death inflamed nationalist sentiment across India.

Correct Answer: B. A constitutional framework drafted by Indians in response to Simon Commission

The Nehru Report of 1928 was a constitutional framework for India drafted by a committee headed by Motilal Nehru, in response to the British challenge to Indian political parties to draft their own constitution. It recommended dominion status (not complete independence) and rejected separate electorates. The report caused controversy, particularly with Muslim League leaders who demanded safeguards for Muslims.

Correct Answer: A. Salt Satyagraha

The Dandi March is also known as the Salt Satyagraha or Salt March. The term 'satyagraha' means 'truth-force' or 'soul-force,' a concept developed by Gandhi. The Salt Satyagraha was one of the most well-known and symbolically powerful acts of civil disobedience in world history.