Spectrum Questions

Chapter 01- The Revolt of 1857

1. Explain the economic cause behind the revolt of 1857, and what conditions
led peasants, artisans, and zamindars alike to join the revolt.
2. List the political and administrative causes for the revolt. (2 + 1)
3. List the religious causes for the revolt, and an associated act. (3)
4. List 4 reasons why sepoys specifically were unhappy and revolted.
5. Indicate the broad geographical extent of the 1857 revolt. (Page 3)
6. Indicate the civilian response.
7. What was the response of modern, educated Indians?
8. What was the role of Emperor Bahadur Shah in the revolt? (Page 5)
9. Name the people who led the revolt in: Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Bihar,
Faizabad, and Jhansi.
10. What were some of the causes for the failure of the revolt? (6)
11. What was the most enduring contribution of the revolt of 1857? (Page 9)
12. List 3 changes brought in by the British after the revolt.

Chapter 02- Religious and Social Reform Movements

1. ‘The socio-cultural regeneration of the India of the 19 th century was

occasioned by the colonial presence, but not created by it.’ Comment.
2. Outline some common characteristics shared by the 19 th century social
reform movements, covering issues like ideological and social base, key
ideas, coverage of issues beyond religion etc. (Pages 14, 15)
3. Which GG was responsible for abolition of Sati?
4. Whose name is associated with Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act of 1856?
5. What was the ‘Wood’s Dispatch’? (Google; 6 points)
6. Write a note on Raja Rammohun Roy. (Page 24)
7. What were the twin objectives of the Tattvabodhini Sabha? Who was its
leader?
8. What was the reason behind the split in Brahmo Samaj in 1865? In 1878?
(Page 23)
9. What was the Prarthana Samaj? How was it different from the Brahmo
Samaj? Where was it based, and who was the founder?
10. What were the key features of the Young Bengal Movement? Why did it fail?
11. Mention positive and negative effects of the 19th century reform movements
in India.
12. What was the most harmful effect of the 19th century religious reform
movements?
13. Write short notes on:
Raja Rammohun Roy, Debendranath Tagore, Keshub Chandra Sen, Mahadev
Govind Ranade, Akshay Kumar Dutt, Jyotiba Phule, Gopal Hari Deshmukh
‘Lokahitwadi’, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Sri Narayan Guru, Ramakrishna
Paramhansa, Narendranath Dutta, Dayanand Saraswati, Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar, E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, Sri Narayan Guru, M. Malabari, Sri
Narayan Guru, Raghunath Rao, Syed Ahemd Raibarelvi, Syed Ahmed Khan,
Dudu Mian
Summary of various social reform movements:
Num Name Year/ Place Founder Key idea(s)
HINDU
1. Dharma Sabha 1830 Radhakant Deb Orthodox Hindu; status-quoist
2. Paramhans Mandali 1849/ Believed in ‘one God’, caste removal,
Maharashtra women empowerment etc.
3. Prarthana Samaj 1863/ Keshub Chandra Social reform, but don’t come into
Bombay Sen/ Ranade conflict with orthodox Hindus
(unlike Brahmo Samaj)
4. Satyashodhak Samaj 1873/ Jyotiba Phule Caste consciousness; first
Maharashtra movement with leadership from
low castes; Raja Bali used as
symbol
5. Arya Samaj 1875 Dayanand Saraswati “Back to the Vedas”, end priestly
(Publication: domination, promote inter-caste
Satyarth Prakash) and widow marriages, no idol
worship
6. Seva Sadan 1885 M. Malabari Parsi; take care of marginalized
women
7. Ramakrishna 1897/ Narendranath Dutt Spread the universal message of
Movement Calcutta (Vivekananda) Vedanta, love all religions, service
of humans = service of god
8. Bharat Dharma 1902 Madan Mohan Orthodox Hindu; status-quoist;
Mahamandala Malviya (didn’t formed by combination of several
found it, but state units
important figure)
9. Servants of India 1905 Gopal Krishna Non-religious, aimed at raising
Society Gokhale cadres for nation-building
LOWER CASTE
10 Sri Narayan Guru 1902/ Narayan Guru Started among Ezvahas of Kerala
Dharma Paripalana Kerala (toddy-trappers, untouchables);
(SNDP) movement urged them to join schools,
administration
11 Aravippuram Narayan Guru SNG installed Shiva idol at a temple
Movement in Kerala (Aravippuram) despite
being lower caste as a protest
measure
12 Justice Movement 1917/ CN Mulaidar/ T. Secure jobs for non-Brahmins in
(political party) Madras Nair/ P. Tyagaraja legislature
13 Self-respect 1920s EV Ramaswami Rejection of Brahminical religion;
movement Naicker formalizing weddings without
priests
14 Temple entry Vaikom: KV Keshav 1924: Vaikom satyagraha; joined by
movement Jatthas from Panjab and Madurai
K. Kelappan
1931: After CDM, in Travancore; in
1936, Maharaja said okay, enter
MUSLIM
15 Wahabi/ Walliullah 1840s Sayyed Ahmed Orthodox Muslim revivalist
movement (initially Raibarelvi,
against influenced by Shah
Sikhs, later Waliullah
Brits);
fizzled out Later, also:
by 1870s * Shah Abdul Aziz
under Brit * Tithu Mir
repression
16 Faraizi movement 1840s Haji Shariat Allah/ Orthodox Muslim revivalist (end
Dudu Mian liberal influences)
17 Ahmadiya 1889 Mirza Ghulam Equivalent to Brahmo Samaj-
movement Ahmed universalist, against orthodoxy,
opposed to Jihad (but pro-
mysticism)
 18 Aligarh movement Syed Ahmed Khan Spread modern education and
social reform among Muslims, but
stay true to Islam (Aligarh
university etc.)
19 Deoband School Orthodox, but mainly just opposed
to Syed Ahmed Khan, so even
supported INC; no proper
philosophy
PARSI
20 Rahnumai Mazda 1851 Restore Parsi religion to its pristine
Yasnan Sabha purity
SIKH
21 Singh Sabha 1873/ Educate Sikhs, counter
movement Amritsar proselytizing by Christians and
Hindu revivalists
22 Akali movement Liberate Sikh Gurudwaras from
Udasi Mahants; later won and set
up SGPC; later turned communal
(why?)
WESTERN HINDU
23 Theosophical 1875 (US); Madam Blavatsky/ Study philosophy of Upanishads
movement 1882 Annie Besant and Vedanta; allied with Hindu
(Adyar, renaissance; however, limited to a
Tamil Nadu) small segment of westernized
Indian due to complex and airy
ideas

Chapter 03: Moderate Phase and Early Congress (1858-1905) (Page 42-53)

1. Describe 6 factors that aided in the growth of modern nationalism in India

(Page 42-45)
2. Describe the Vernacular Press Act (1878)
3. Describe the Arms Act (1878)
4. What was the Ilbert Bill controversy?
(Note: the above 3 are good examples to use as pre-INC political agitations)
5. Name the important pre-Congress organizations started by: Dadabhai
Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee, Justice Ranade, Anand Mohan Bose, and
Pherozshah Mehta. Badruddin Tyabji

Num Name Year Place Founders / Aims

1. British Indian 1851 Bengal Petition British government to separate
Association executive from legislature, abolish salt duty,
stamp duty etc.
2. East India 1866 London Dadabhai Naoroji
Association
3. Poona Sarvajanik 1867 Poona Ranade
Sabha
4. Indian 1876 Calcutta Surendranath Banerjea, Ananda Mohan Bose
Association of
Calcutta
5. Bombay 1885 Bombay Pherozshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji
Presidency
Association

6. Who was Kadambini? (Page 47)

7. Name 5 prominent early moderates in the INC (right at the start) and their
contributions.
8. What were the methods of political work of the early moderates?
9. What were their key aims?
10. What were some of the key demands of the early moderates regarding the
economy?
11. What were the ‘3 Ps’ propounded by the early moderates? (Page 55)
12. Outline the key demands of the moderate nationalists between 1885 and
1892.
13. When did these demands start to change and why? (Page 50)
14. What was the key slogan of the moderates at this time? Who came up with
it?
15. What was a key failure of the early moderates? (Apart from trusting the
British) (Page 51)

Chapter 04: National Movement- 1905 to 1918 (Page 54-80)

1. What were the reasons for the growth of militant nationalism in the late
1890s? (Page 54; Check)
2. What was the immediate cause of the Swadeshi movement? (Page 56)
3. Why did the British want to partition Bengal in the early 1900s?
4. Who was the Viceroy then?
5. Along which two broad lines did the British want to partition Bengal?
6. When and where was the first formal proclamation of the Swadeshi
movement made? (Page 57)
7. Was the Swadeshi movement limited to Bengal? (Page 57)
8. What was the Congress position regarding the Swadeshi movement?
9. Why are the INC sessions of 1906 and 1907 important?
10. After 1905, why did the influence of extremist leaders grow in Bengal?
11. Beyond boycott, what were the extremists/ militant nationalists advocating
regarding the course of the Swadeshi movement? (Page 58)
12. What were some of the new forms of political struggle that emerged in the
course of the Swadeshi movement? (Page 58)
13. Outline the Muslim response to the Swadeshi movement, and the reasons for
it. (Page 60)
14. When and why was the Muslim League created?
15. When and why was the partition of Bengal annulled?
16. Name two important developments associated with the annulment.
17. What were some of the reasons that the Swadeshi movement fizzled out by
1908? (3)
18. Describe the social base of the Swadeshi movement.
19. Did the Swadeshi movement touch any hitherto untouched sections of Indian
society and involve them into the political struggle?
20. List some key difference between the moderates and the extremists,
covering their social base, ideological inspiration, envisaged relationship
with Britain, thoughts about involvement of the masses etc.
21. What was the main failing of the moderates? (Page 63)
22. What was the biggest negative effect of the extremists’ modus operandi?
(Page 63- 2 points; CHECK)
23. What were some of the reasons for the 1907 Surat split? (Mention in terms
of events during the last two Congress sessions before the split)
24. What were the differences in vision of the extremists and the moderates
regarding how to carry the Swadeshi movement forward?
25. After 1908, why did the national movement decline for a while?
26. List 5 government acts between 1908 and 1910.
27. Name 2 extremist leaders who forever quit nationalistic politics after the
Swadeshi movement.
28. Why did revolutionary terrorism rise? What were the failings of the
extremist leaders in this regard?
29. Write a note on the early revolutionary terrorists in Bengal, Maharashtra,
and Punjab.
30. What were their main aims? Methods?

Bengal
Num Name Year/ Place Founder/ Others Key idea(s)
1. Anushilan Samiti; 1902/ Promotha Mitter/ Limited to giving physical and
journal: Yugantar Bengal Rashbehari Bose, moral training to supporters; not
Sachin Sanyal, very significant till 1907-08; in
Prafulla Chaki, 1906, members Barindra Kumar
Khudiram Bose Ghosh started ‘Yugantar’, which
advocated revolutionary terrorism.
Rash Bose and Sachin Sanyal tried
to create rev. terr. Activity in other
states such as Punjab and Delhi;
Chaki and Khudi threw bombs at a
carriage they thought had a judge,
but killed a memsaab instead; Rash
and Sanyal threw bomb at Viceroy
in Chandni Chowk
2. Journals: Keshari, 1890s/ Bal Gangadhar Tilak propagated a spirit of militant
Mahratta Maharashtra Tilak/ Chapekar nationalism, including violence,
brothers (murdered through Ganapati and Shivaji
Plague festivals, and his newspapers.
commissioner of Nasik, Poona, Bombay emerged as
Poona, Rand) bomb manufacturing hubs
3. Mitra Mela, later 1897; merge Savarkar
merged with in 1904/
Abhinav Bharat Maharashtra
(after ‘Young Italy’)
4. Journal: Punjabee Punjab Lala Lajpat Rai Opposed land and irrigation taxes,
frequent famines etc.; journal
advocated self-help at any cost,
including violence
5. Anjurnan-i- Lahore Ajit Singh (Bhagat Opposed land and irrigation taxes,
Mohisban-i-Watan; Singh’s uncle) frequent famines etc.
journal: Bharat Mata
Both this and (4.) died out after
1907 because both Lajpat and Ajit
were deported
6. Indian Home Rule London, Shyamji Also brought out the journal The
Society 1905 Krishnavarma Sociologist, and set up the India
House
7. Journal: Bande Paris Madam Bhikaji
Mataram Cama
8. Berlin Virendranath
Chattopadhyay

31. List two important events in 1906 that preceded and directly contributed to
the final shape of the Minto-Morley reforms (Page 69)
32. List the key features of the Minto-Morley reforms, with regards to: (a)
composition of the Imperial Legislative Council, (b) power of the council
regarding legislation, and (c) one key difference between the provisions at
the central and provincial level.
33. Who was Satyendranath Sinha?
34. What was the response of the moderates, the extremists, and the
revolutionaries to the First World War? (Check)
35. Mention some pre-Ghadar Party nationalists actions in foreign lands (end of
Page 68) (3 points)
36. When was the Ghadar party established?
37. What were the ex-professions of Ghadrites?
38. Name some of the prominent Ghadrites.
39. Which Act was passed to curb Ghadrite activity?
40. Describe the area, pattern, and leaders of revolutionary activity during the
First World War.
41. What were some of the key features of the overall action plan of the
Ghadarites?
42. What was the Komagata Maru incident, and when did it take place?
43. What effect did it have on the Ghadar movement?
44. Critically evaluate the Ghadar movement (strengths and weaknesses)
45. List 3 reasons why there was a temporary respite in revolutionary activity
after the First World War. (Page 73)
46. After having been imprisoned in 1908 for 6 years, upon his return, what
were the tactics employed by Tilak to gain re-entry into the Congress and get
back onto the nationalist scene?
47. Describe the key features of the Home Rule Movement (backdrop, leaders,
demands, role of Congress, social base)
48. What was the main programme of action adopted by the Home Rule
Leagues?
49. What was the main demand of the HRLs?
50. Why did the masses readily participate? (P. 74)
51. Name 2 newspapers ran by Annie Besant.
52. What were the geographies where Tilak/ Besant operated?
53. What was the Muslim League’s stand?
54. What was the impact of Gandhi’s arrival on the HRLs?
55. What was the response of the Government to the HRLs?
56. Why did the HRL agitation fade out by 1919?
57. What were the two most enduring contributions of the HRL movement?
(Page 76)
58. What were the 2 very significant developments at the 1916 Congress
session?
59. Write key points of the Lucknow Pact.
60. Why did moderates and extremists decide to come together again?
61. What were the reasons for the shift in Muslim league’s stance around 1916?
(4)
62. What was the importance of Montague’s 1917 statement?

Chapter 05: National Movement, 1919-39

Era of Mass Nationalism
1. List the 3 main reasons for the nationalist resurgence after the end of the
First World War.
2. List the key provisions of the Government of India Act, 1919, with regards to
the changes It brought in the legislature and the executive arrangements at
the provincial and central levels. (Page 85)
3. What were the major drawbacks of the GoI Act of 1919?
4. What was the Rowlatt Act? When and why was it passed?
5. Who was the Viceroy then?
6. What was Gandhi’s stand on the Home-Rule agitations?
7. Between 1917 and 1918, Gandhi was involved in 3 Satyaghrahas. Name
them, and explain each one. (Page 91)

Num Name Year/ Place Key idea(s)

1. Champaran 1917/ Bihar European planters used the tinkathia system, which
Satyagraha forced peasants to grow indigo on 3/20th of their total
land. Indigo prices were dropping due to synthetic
substitutes, but planters were demanding high rents
and illegal dues before allowing peasants to shift to
other crops. Gandhi convinced government to abolish
tinkathia, and as a compromise, agreed that the
planters will only pay back 25% of the illegal dues
that were taken so far
2. Ahmedabad Mill 1918/ Discontinuation of plague bonus; Gandhi asked
Strike Gujarat workers to strike and demand a 35% wage hike. Fast
unto death; mill owners agreed
3. Kheda Satyagraha 1918/ Crop failure, but government didn’t follow its own
Gujarat revenue code (that said that if produce is less than
25% of normal, no taxes); Gandhi protested,
authorities said only those could afford to pay should
do so

8. What was the Tinkathia system? Where?

9. Describe the Rowlatt Satyagraha. (Page 92)
10. What was the name of the commission that was set up to investigate the
Jallianwala Bagh massacre? What was its verdict? (Page 92)
11. List the conditions in the country in 1920 that led to the emergence of
Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements.
12. Why were the 2 Congress sessions in 1920 important?
13. What was to be the programme of the Non-Cooperation movement? (P. 91)
14. List some of the local struggles that emerged across India in the course of the
NCM. (Page 95)
15. What was the government response to the NCM? (2 important points- P. 95)
16. Why and when did the NCM come to an abrupt end? (P. 95)
17. What happened to Gandhi after the withdrawal of the NCM?
18. List 3 reasons why Gandhi decided to withdraw the NCM.
19. What was the contribution of the NCM with respect to the masses?
20. What direction did the Congress take immediately after the NCM?
21. Were the Swarajists identical to erstwhile moderate nationalists? (P. 98)
22. Describe the evolution of the Swarajists, with emphasis on happenings in
1923, 1924, 1926, and 1930. (Page 99)
23. What was the aim of the ‘Public Safety Bill’ of 1928?
24. List one criticism of Gandhian constructive work.
25. List some of the successes and weaknesses of the Swarajists.
26. “The 3rd decade of the 20th century marked a watershed in modern Indian
history in more ways than one”. Comment. (1 very important development-
Page 101/ 102)
27. Why was there a revival of revolutionary terrorism in the 1920s?
28. What were the two broad geographical strands of revolutionary terrorism in
the 1920s?
29. Name the 3 founders of HRA.
30. Describe the Lahore Conspiracy Case.
31. Describe the key incidents in HRA’s history (1924, 1925, 1928 (2), 1929,
1931)
32. Which 2 bills were Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt protesting against
when they threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly? (Page 104)
33. Which was the most famous revolutionary terrorist group in Bengal in the
1920s? (Page 105)
34. Evaluate the successes and failures of the 1930 Chittagong Armory Raid.
35. Under what ‘banner’ was this conducted? (P. 105)
36. Who established the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha? (Page 106)
37. What was an outstanding aspect of the new phase of terrorist activity in
Bengal under Surya Sen? (Page 107)
38. When and why was the Simon commission appointed?
39. Reactions of Congress and Muslim League to the Simon Commission.
40. Name 2 parties that didn’t oppose the Simon Commission.
41. What was the ‘Birkenhead Challenge’?
42. What were the 6 main recommendations of the Nehru report?
43. What were the ‘Delhi Proposals’?
44. List some of the concessions granted in the Nehru report to both Hindu and
Muslim communalists.
45. Why were the younger sections of the Congress unhappy with the Nehru
Report?
46. Which organization did Nehru and SC Bose set up as a result?
47. What was the ‘Delhi Manifesto’? Viceroy?
48. List some of the main reasons that Gandhi chose salt satyagraha as the ideal
way to start the CDM.
49. What were some of the local responses to the call for CDM? (Ryotwari areas,
zamindari areas, Central Provinces, Peshawar, Sholapur, Dharsana,
Chittagong, Bihar, Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra)
50. Who was known as the ‘Frontier Gandhi? (Page 122)
51. What were some of the effects of the salt satyagraha and the various local
forms of civil disobedience that it led to? (Page 123)
52. Compare the Muslim participation in the CDM with the NCM.
53. Outline the government response to the CDM.
54. Write a note on the First RTC.
55. Write a note on the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (Delhi Pact).
56. What was its main achievement?
57. Was the G-I pact a weak retreat from the Indian nationalists?
58. What were the main differences between the NCM and the CDM? (one is
about classes- see Page 126)
59. What was the significance of the Karachi congress session of 1931?
60. Aside from ratification of the G-I pact, what were 2 main resolutions passes
at this session?
61. List 4 reasons why the second RTC was a failure (P. 128)
62. What was the response of the Congress to the 2nd RTC?
63. What was the government’s response to this reaction?
64. What was the popular response to all this?
65. When did Gandhi finally call off the CDM?
66. Describe the Communal Award.
67. What was the Poona Pact? When was this?
68. Describe Gandhi’s actions after the Poona Pact.
69. Describe Gandhi’s views on caste and untouchability (Page 131- check)
70. Why did Gandhi resign from the Congress in 1934? (Page 134)
71. Describe the Government of India Act of 1935, with reference to: (a) Nature
of the federation, (b) federal level executive and legislature, and (c)
provincial level executive and legislature
72. Describe the first and second stage debates after the CDM. (Page 137)
73. Describe 2 major impacts of the 1937 elections.
74. Describe the work of the Congress ministries after the 1937 elections.
75. Describe the Congress’ initiatives in agrarian reform, and limitations.
76. Describe the Congress ministries attitude towards labour during its tome in
power.
77. When and why did the Congress ministries resign?
78. “Communalism was the channel through which the colonialists expanded
their social base”. Comment.
79. List the 3 stages of development of communalism.
80. What were some of the reasons for the rise of communalism in India? (Page
109- 3 main reasons)
81. Describe the communal element in the Swaraj split. When did it happen?
Who were the leaders on the 2 sides of the split?
82. What were the events of 1937 that led to the rise of extreme communalism?
83. Describe the deliberations of the second RTC.
84. What was the ‘minorities pact’?

Chapter 06: National Movement- 1939 to 1947 (Page 145-173)

1. What were the two basic conditions that the nationalists put forth before
India was to cooperate in the war effort?
2. What was the response of Gandhi, Bose, and Nehru to the war question?
3. What was the government’s response to Congress demands?
4. When did the Muslim League issue the Pakistan Resolution?
5. What was the ‘August Offer’?
6. Why did Gandhi launch individual satyagrahas towards the end of 1940s?
Who was the first person to offer such satyagraha?
7. What was to be the demand of the satyagrahis? (Page 148)
8. What was the ‘Dilli Chalo’ movement?
9. When and why was the Cripps mission sent?
10. What were its main recommendations? (4)
11. Outline the objections of the Congress and the Muslim League to the Cripps
recommendations.
12. List 2 main reasons why Gandhi thought that the time was ripe to launch the
QIM.
13. What was the government’s response?
14. What was the popular response to this? (Underground movements, parallel
governments in Ballia, Midnapore, Satara etc.; covered almost every section of
Indian society)
15. Describe the causes of the 1943 famine. (3)
16. Describe the Rajagopalachari formula.
17. Describe the Desai-Liaqat pact.
18. Describe the Wavell Plan, and Congress and League’s reactions to it.
19. Describe the 1945 elections (why then?), campaign strategy, INA issue.
20. Describe the 3 upsurges in 1945 and 1946. What common features did they
share?
21. What was the potential of these upsurges? (Page 162)
22. Why did the Congress not support these upsurges?
23. What were the results of the 1945 elections? What was their significance?
(Page 163)
24. What were the 2 main reasons for voting along strict communal lines? (P.
163)
25. Describe the Cabinet Mission Plan. (Page 165)
26. Describe Attlee’s statement on February 20, 1947.
27. What was the Mountbatten Plan?
28. “Acceptance of partition by the Congress was only a final act of the process of
step-by-step concessions to the League’s championing of a separate Muslim
state”. Explain. (Page 173)

N. Name Year Key idea(s)

1. August Offer 1940 Reason: Hitler’s astounding success made Brits afraid

Offer: Dominion status, Constituent Assemble after the war

(‘mainly’ in Indian hands), no constitution to be adopted
without consent of minorities
2. Cripps Mission 1942 Reason: Mainly a propaganda devise for US, USSR, and
Chinese consumption, who were all pressurizing Britain to
(‘Blueprint for solicit Indian support for the war
India’s
partition’) Offer: Indian union with Dominion Status, free to decide
relationship with Commonwealth; constituent assembly, with
members nominated by provincial councils and princes (not
elected); any province willing to stay out and have a
separate constitution would be allowed to do so

Congress rejected this because of absence of any plan for

immediate transfer of power, dominion status, secession
option, and nomination (rather than election) by princes
3. Rajagopalachari 1944 Formula for Congress-League cooperation; tacit acceptance
formula of League’s demand for Pakistan

1.Muslim League to endorse Congress demand for

independence, and join Congress at the center in a
provisional government
2.Postwar plebiscite in Muslim-majority provinces to decide
on partition

Jinnah opposed; wanted any potential plebiscite in Muslim-

majority areas to only be based on voting by Muslims, and
not the entire population of that area
4. Desai-Liaqat Pact 1945 A sort of parity was decided on between the Congress and the
League, with far-reaching consequences. INC and ML were to
field an equal number of candidates for the government,
cabinet of ministers will have reservations for Muslims, and
20% seats were to be reserved for minorities (no deal
reached because all this was done without the knowledge of
other leaders in both parties, and they didn’t agree after
finding out)
5. Wavell Plan/ 1945 War was over, but Japanese threat was still there. Elections
Shimla Plan (May; were coming up in Britain, and allies were also pressurizing
after the Britain to grant independence so they could co-opt India
war)
Offer:
- Apart from GG and Commander-in-Chief, all members of
the executive council to be Indians
- Caste Hindus and Muslims will have equal representation
in the council
- GG could exercise veto only on advice of ministers
- Parties to submit a joint list of reps to exec council, which
would function as interim government

Didn’t work out; League wanted veto, said anything to do

with Muslims should need 2/3rd majority from Muslims, and
that Congress shouldn’t field any Muslim candidates (i.e., all
Muslim candidates to the council would be nominated by the
League). Congress said this was an attempt to reduce them
to the status of a Caste Hindu party

Talks broke down, thus gave League implicit veto; this

strengthened League’s position, as reflected in election
results in 1945-46
6. Sept. Announcement that a constituent assembly will be convened
1945 after the elections, and that the Government was working
according to the ‘spirit’ of the Cripps offer; elections were
announced

Why? (USA and USSR emerged as superpowers, and wanted

independence for India; Britain’s economy was shattered,
people demoralized, no longer a major power; new Labour
government in Britain; last elections in India were held in
1934 (center)/ 1937 (provinces); elections were inevitable
7. Cabinet Mission Feb 1946 Given the war-weary bureaucracy, RIN mutiny, and
(Separate international pressure, Brits realized they had to go. Now, all
Grouping) they wanted was a graceful exit, and to co-opt any successor
states into commonwealth. Now, they expressed a preference
for a united India

Plan:
- Rejection of a demand for full-fledged Pakistan (why? P.
165)
- Grouping of existing provinces (A, B, and C)
- Constituent Assembly to be elected by provincial
assemblies (proportional representation) and princely
states will nominate
- All provinces, then groups, would form constitution, then
all will sit together and make central constitution
- Common center will control defense, communication, and
external affairs
- Provinces will have residuary powers
- Provinces could come out of their group after the first
general election

Congress wanted grouping to be optional, and princely

states to elect their reps (and not nominate as contained in
the proposed plan); Muslim League wanted compulsory
 grouping, with a view to future secession; both, however,
accepted in June 1946. But league backed out in July, and
issued a call for ‘direct action’; from August, communal riots
broke out at an unprecedented scale

Fearing mass action by Congress, Wavell now asked Congress

to make interim government, even without the League (a
stark departure from his stance at Shimla). He also quietly
(later) brought in the League

However, the League didn’t attend informal constituent

assembly meetings, and continued agitation for Pakistan.
Congress appealed to the Viceroy to demand resignation
from League members
8. Attlee’s Feb. 1947 To shock both sides into action, Attlee said Britain will hand
statement over power to either the CA in February 1948, or if CA wasn’t
representative, to Provincial Governments (clear hints of
partition). Congress was okay with this, League launched
Civil Disobedience Mission to overthrow coalition
government in Punjab
9. Mountbatten June 1947 Divide India, but make Pakistan as small as possible; freedom
Plan would come on August 15, 1947, initially to a dominion
state

Chapter 07: Administrative Changes

1. “A new stage of colonialism set in India in the second half of the 19 th

century”. Explain. (CHECK- Page 179)
2. After the revolt of 1857, why did the British think of revamping their
administration in India? Which level did they want to focus on most and
why?
3. Describe the administrative changes brought about in 1858 at the central
government level.
4. What was the effect of this policy on the governor general?
5. Describe the changes introduced by the Indian Councils Act of 1861 to the
executive and legislative councils at the level of central government. What
were its drawbacks?
6. Describe the changes introduced by the Indian Councils Act of 1861 to the
provincial government.
7. What was the significance of Mayo’s Resolution of 1870?
8. What was the significance of Ripon’s Resolution of 1882? Discuss its success
or failure, as is appropriate. (Page 182)
9. Describe the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Decentralization
(1908)
10. Discuss the significance of the resolution of 1918 with regards to local self-
government. (Page 184)
11. Discuss the impact of GoI Act of 1919 on LSG.
12. Discuss the impact of GoI Act of 1935 on LSG.
13. Describe the policy of the British towards Muslims immediately after the
revolt of 1857, and after 1870.
14. What was the attitude of the British towards social reform? (Page 188)
15. Describe the Indian Factory Acts of 1881 and 1891.
Chapter 09: Development of Press

1. What was the significance of the Charter Act of 1813 with regards to trade?
(Page197)
2. What were the ‘Licensing Regulations of 1823’? (Page 204)
3. Who was known as the ‘liberator of the Indian press’, and why? (Page 204)
4. Describe the struggle by the early nationalists to secure press freedom.
5. What was the main precursor to the introduction of the Vernacular Press Act
of 1878? (Page 205)
6. Who introduced the above act?
7. What were its main features?
8. When was it repealed?
9. When were the ‘Defense of India Rules’ imposed? (Page 207)

Chapter 10: Development of Education

1. Which act incorporated for the first time the principle of encouraging
learned Indians and promoting knowledge of modern sciences? (This Act
also sanctioned Rs. 1 lakh annually for the promotion of education)
2. What were the key points of Macaulay’s minute of 1835?
3. What was the ‘downward filtration theory’?
4. What were the key points of Wood’s Despatch of 1854?
5. Hunter’s Education Commission, 1882
6. Saddler University Commission, 1917
7. Explain the Wardha Scheme of Education. What year?
8. Free, universal, and compulsory education up to 14 years of age was first
proposed by which commission? (Page 215)

Chapter 11: British Social and Cultural Policy in India

1. At the beginning of the 19th century, why did the British start intervening in
the social and cultural spheres in India? List 3 reasons. (Page 217)
2. Describe the philosophy of the conservatives, paternalistic imperialists, and
radicals in Britain around then. (CHECK)
3. Why did the British shift from their policy of ‘hesitant modernization’ in
1858? What was to be their approach from here on?
4. Whose name is associated with introduction of civil services in India?
5. Whose name is associated with reform of judiciary in India? (Page 222)
6. What was the ‘Cornwallis Code’? (Page 223)
7. Outline the positive and negative aspects of judiciary under the British in
India. (Page 224)
8. Outline the key features of Pitt’s India Act of 1784.
9. Which Act ended the company’s monopoly over trade in India? (Page 225)
10. Which Act introduced competitive examinations for entry to the civil
services, ending the company’s patronage? (Page 226)

Chapter 12:
1. What was the mandate of the Butler committee of 1927? (Page 229)

Chapter 13: Civil Rebellions and Tribal Uprisings

Bengal and Eastern India

S.No. Name Time Area Leaders Causes
1. Sanyasi 1770s Imposition of ban on visits to holy
revolt places; Sanyasis organized raids
on company
2. Chuar 1766- Midnapore Famine, enhanced land-revenue
uprising 1772; demand, economic distress
then
1795-
1816
3. Ho rising 1820-37 Chotanagpur
4. Kol Mutiny 1831 Chotanagpur Large-scale transfer of land from
Kol (Munda) headmen to
outsiders like Punjabi and Muslim
merchants
5. Kandh 1837-56 Patna Chakra Bisoi Kandhs were revolting against
uprising British attempts to put an end to
the practice of human sacrifices
6. Santhal Hool 1854 Rajmahal Sido and Oppression by revenue officials,
onwards hills Kanhu police, moneylenders, landlords,
and other outsiders (‘dikus’)
7. Ahom Revolt 1828 Assam Gomdhar British had promised to withdraw
Konwar from Assam after first world war,
but didn’t => rebellion
8. Khasi 1830s Northeastern Brits wanted to build a road
uprising states through Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia
hills; people revolted
9. Pagal Panthis 1825- Bengal to Semi-religious; opposed
1840s Garo hills exploitation of tenants by
landlords
10. Faraizi revolt 1838-57 Eastern Dadu Mian Advocated radical religious and
Bengal (son of Haji political changes; organized
Shariat Allah) people to throw British out from
Bengal
11. Munda revolt 1890s Chotanagpur Birsa Munda Armed uprising against intrusion
(Birsa of revenue farmers and
was moneylenders, axnd destruction
killed in of traditional systems of common
1900) land holdings
Western India
S.No. Name Time Area Leaders Causes
1. Bhil uprising 1817-46 Khandesh Sewaram Fear of agrarian hardship under
East India Company
2. Cutch 1819 Cutch, Rao Bharamal Brits deposed ruler Rao Bharamal,
rebellion Gujarat and then imposed high land
revenues
3. Waghera 1820 Baroda
rising
4. Koli rising 1830s Gujarat
5. Ramosi Satara- Chittur Singh
Western
Ghats (hill
tribes)
6. Surat salt 1844 Gujarat Government withdrew duty
agitations
7. Kolhapur/ 1844 Maharashtra Gadkaris Gadkaris were a hereditary
Savantvadi martial class, but disbanded by
revolts British. So, revolt.
South India
 S.No. Name Time Area Leaders Causes
1. Revolt of 1765 Northern EIC acquired territory and
Raja of Sarkars demanded huge tribute => revolt
Vizianagara
m
2. Poligar’s 1856 Malabar Oppressive land revenue system
revolt
3. Divan Velu 1810s Travancore Overuse of subsidiary alliance
Tampi’s arrangement
revolt
4. Rampa revolt 1879 Coastal New restrictive forest regulations
Andhra
North India
S.No. Name Time Area Leaders Causes
1. Wahabi 1830s Syed Ahmed Islamic revivalist movement (back
movement of Rai Bareilly to the Prophet’s times); first jihad
was declared against Sikh
kingdom of Punjab; after 1849,
the British became the sole targets
2. Kuka revolt/ 1870s Punjab Baba Ram Started as a religious purification
Namdhari Singh/ movement, but later turned into a
revolt Bhagat political one; advocated abolition
Jawahar Mal/ of caste amongst Sikhs.
Baba Balak
Singh One of the earliest users of NC and
CD.

Chapter 14: Peasant Movements, 1857-1947

1. Discuss the condition of the peasantry under the British rule.

2. Describe the following: Deccan Agriculturalists Relief Act (1879), Bengal
Tenancy Act (1885)
3. Describe the main features of the changed nature of peasant movements after
1857. What was the main aim of these revolts? (Page 239)
4. Describe their weaknesses.
5. During the 1930s, which event influenced the peasant movements? (Page
241)
6. Why is 1937-1939 considered the ‘high watermark’ of the peasant movement
and activity?
7. Describe the reasons for the AIKS split during the Second World War.
8. In Telangana, what did vethi refer to? (Page 244)
9. What were the major combined achievements of these peasant movements?

Peasant Movements
S.No. Name Time Area Leaders Causes
1. Indigo 1859- Bengal Digambar Planters gave the farmers advance sums
revolt 60 Biswas, and made them enter into fraudulent
Bishnu Biswas ‘forward contracts’; eventually, ryots
revolted and refused to grow Indigo. They
went on a no-rent campaign, and
organized a force to counter planters’
attempts to evict them. Bengali
intelligentsia helped them; by 1860,
planters were routed
2. Pabna 1879 Eastern Enhanced rents beyond legal limits;
Agrarian Bengal forced evictions. Peasants organized joint
Leagues funds and fought court cases; main form
of struggle was legal resistance, and very
little violence was used.
3. Deccan 1874 Poona, 1864- end of American civil war led to
Riots Ahmednagar, crash in cotton prices; 1867- bad harvests;
Sholapur, in 1874, this worsening situation led to a
Satara social boycott movement against the
‘outsider’ moneylenders. Later, this
turned into agrarian riots, where the debt
bonds and deeds of moneylenders were
burnt. Led to passing of Deccan Agri.
Relief Act in 1879.
4. Kisan 1920s Awadh (Rai Gauri Shankar After 1857 revolt, Brits gave Awadh
Sabha Bareilly, Mishra, Indra taluqdars their lands back; these
Movement Faizabad, Dwivedi taluqdars now subjected the peasants to
Sultanpur) high rents, summary evictions (bedakhali)
etc.

In this backdrop, World War 1 led to a

hike in food prices, and around this time,
Home Rule Leagues became active. In this
atmosphere, Kisan Sabhas were
organized. These asked peasants not to till
bedakhali lands, and not offer beggar/
hari. In 1921, the movement became
violent, and thereafter fizzled out.
5. Eka 1921 United Madari Pasi, Around the time of NCM; against high
(Unity) Provinces and other rents; members of Eka movements
Movement lower-caste conducted a symbolic religious ritual in
leaders which they vowed that they would pay
only the recorded rent (but would pay
that on time), and would refuse to do
forced labour
6. Mapilla 1921 Malabar (NCM time) §Mapillas were Muslim
Revolt tenants; most landlords in Malabar were
Hindus. Mapillas joined the Khilafat
movement and demanded lower rents and
security of tenure. However, in 1921 one
of their respected leaders was arrested;
this made the movement violent, with the
Mapillas initially focusing on torching
symbols of British authority. However,
this quickly acquired communal
overtones, with the peasants attacking
Hindu landlords. This isolated the
Mapillas from the Khilafat movement, and
by December 1921, all resistance fizzled
out.
7. Bardoli 1926 Surat In 1926, authorities increased the land
Satyagraha revenue by 30%. Under Patel (who got the
title ‘Sardar’ here), the Bardoli peasants
refused to pay the revised assessment
until the government appointed a
tribunal. After rising tensions,
government did appoint a tribunal, which
recommended only a 6% hike.
8. Indian 1936 Lucknow Swami
Kisan Sahajanand
Congress Saraswati, NG
Sabha Ranga
9. Tebhaga 1946 North Bengal Principally Demand was for 2/3rd share of the harvest
Movement among to the sharecroppers (bargadars), instead
Rajbanshis, a of the usual half. Movement dissipated
low caste of under repression, calls for Bengal’s
tribal origins partition, and communal riots in Calcutta
10. Telangana 1946 Hyderabad Peasants organized to take on the
Movement State Razakars; resistance fizzled out after
Indian storm troopers took over
 Hyderabad

Chapter 15: Working Class Movements

1. Describe the attitude of the early nationalists towards labour.

2. When was the AITUC formed? In what backdrop?
3. How did the government deal with the increasing strength of the trade union
movements in the late 1920s/ early 1930s?
4. What was the Meerut Conspiracy Case of 1929?