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• In Feb. 1922, Gandhi took the Non-Cooperation Movement back. It caused anger and disenchantment in the mind
of youthful Nationalist particular.
• Young Nationalist moved towards revolutionary measures. Hindustan Republican association, Hindustan Socialist
Republican Army were the main revolutionary organizations which came into existence in this period.
• Gandhi was critical to violent method. He counted it unethical and said that violence can beget only violence. On
the contrary revolutionaries were critical to non violence. Sharat Chand in his Pather Dabi appreciated revolution.
Sachindra Nath Sanyal wrote his Bandi Jiwan.
• He came with a Philosophical base to revolution by interpreting Ramayan and Mahabharat. He said that Gita
teaches us to fight. His logic was based upon the concept of protecting peace & Dharma needs sword & sacrifice.
• Later on we find philosophy of Bomb which provided the violence a philosophical base.
Answer 1 (b)
• Indian National Congress and peasants :-
o Demand for the cutting in Land revenue and enhancing the budgetary allocation to agriculture.
o In person Gandhi led the Champaran and Khera peasant movements; but till date congress never launched
any movement in favour of peasants. During Non-Cooperation movement peasants participated in the
movement and now on they remained the most important social base of Indian National Movement and
Indian National Congress. During this movement Gandhi had a plan to launch a Non payment of tax
movement from Bardoli, but before it could happen, this movement was taken back.
o As for as the demand of the congress is concerned, we find that peasants were brought into the mainstream
politics but their issues were yet to come in the mainstream. During the civil disobedience movement,
congress allowed the peasants to go for the non payment of taxes but the Bengal peasants were not allowed.
Indian National congress was not ready to agitate the Zamindars. Congress was following a general policy to
keep the Indians united against the British and for this purpose it Generally avoided the second front of the
exploitation of Indians.
o Even in the Karachi session it did not pass the resolution regarding the Zamindari abolition, although they
passed the resolution regarding universal adult franchise and welfare state.
o In 1936 only congress passed the resolution regarding the abolition of Zamindari. Still we can’t forget that in
1937 election Zamindars became very dominant in Indian National Congress.
Answer 1 (c)
• In October 1906 a delegation of Muslim intellectuals met Lord Minto in Shimla. They demanded more
representation than that of their population. Along with this they demanded separate electorate. Government
accepted their demand.
• Muslim League was founded on the initiative taken by Mohsin-ul-Mulk. He was particularly concerned that
some young Aligarh Muslim Leader’s political aspiration was leading them towards congress.
• Aaga Khan assured Dunlop Smith (Secretary of Lord Minto) that Mohsin-ul-Mulk will not take any step without
consent of the Government.
• Md. Ali later on called the events as the command performances.
• Examine :-
• Demand of the separate electorate initiated from Dunlop Smith, went to Archibald and finally it reached
to Lord Minto by the delegation in Shimla. Minto’s acknowledgement that showing the dragon's teeth will
help the British cause in India. He also said that Muslims don’t deserve the number of seats what they
have been given.
• Muslim League was not founded with the British command but their was an assurance and untold
consent.
Answer 1 (d)
• Indian Nationalism Forced British to leave India and made India united and a Nation State. Some Historians
believe that India Broke the British chain with British hammer only.
• Base :-
British United India Politically and administratively.
British Education and the Idea of Liberty, Equality and Nationalism.
Railway
Economic Integration
English became a connecting language
• Flip side of the coin :-
Indian Nationalism evolved through India’s Civilizational evolutional.
Indian Nationalism was considered an Impossible phenomenon.
Indian National Movement was like a protest movement.
• Evaluation :-
British contribution was supporting not decisive.
British role was unintentional not purposive.
Answer 2 (a)
• Basic initiatives of Lord Ripon :-
Famine code
Factory Act
Railway.
Minimising the tariff.
Press was given freedom.
Upper age limit for the services was made higher.
• Analysis :-
Imperial economic interest was promoted.
He tried to keep the middle class nationalists along with the government.
From paternalism, he moved towards partnership to keep the empire safe and intact.
Curzon, on other hand was a firm believer of hard handling with the nationalist forces. He was almost similar to
Ripon on the economic front. But he tried to bring the so called paternalistic pattern back in the policy design.
• Example :-
Some growth and welfare related initiatives. But at the same time he came with some reactionary measures like:-
Media control.
Control over the education institutions.
Control over the municipal bodies.
Ever the partition of Bengal too should be read in this line only because Curzon was committed to curb the
nationalist forces by hook or by crook.
Answer 2 (b)
• Beginning of the 20th century came with new nationalist enthusiasm. It brought protest against the British and
friction within the congress. This friction reached at the worst level in Surat Congress.
Even when Kolkata session of the congress passed the resolution of Swaraj moderates and extremists
interpreted it differently.
Moderates wanted to remain under the constitutional means while extremists were committed to the new
• Arbindo Ghosh :-
Vande Mataram
Meaning of Swaraj
• Rationality :-
Orderly anarchism
• Government thought that this public trial will send a very strong message to all the serviceman to keep them
• Why?
No stand or strategy can be Judged in vacuum. In 1946, India was already standing on the verge of
independence. Almost every section of Indian society was vehemently opposed to the government. Thus
military too was developing the sense of nationalism, because they came from the same society.
Answer 5 (d)
• Define socialism
• Nehru’s Initiative :-
Zamindari abolition
• Describe the concept of two nation’s theory and the Denial of Indian National Congress of this idea.
• Ayesha Jalal said that congress was not committed to the principle of Denial of two nation’s theory, because
• Muslim league was committed to two nation’s theory and they fought their tooth and nail to form a Muslim
Pakistan. Thus Muslims in India were equal citizens, while Pakistan was not at all reliable to protect the life and
liberty of Hindus. Keeping this basic reality in our mind, we can say that demand of the partition of Punjab and
• Capitalist class was supporting the nationalist cause in India form the begging because British government was
working in favour of British industrial and financial capitalism.
• Capitalist gave the nationalist, particularly Indian National Congress donations. In return they wanted that
congress should raise voice in their favour.
• But capitalist class did not support Swadeshi Movement because they wanted protest through the constitutional
means only.
• During Non cooperation movement capitalists were divided in two groups. Some of them supported them while
others formed anti non cooperation league. After the Non cooperation movement Gandhi came with two stands :-
Make the congress economically less dependent upon the capitalist class.
He guided the capitalist class to form a united forum, which can give them strength to play a more effective
and constructive role in the prospective politics of India. On account of this suggestion capitalists formed Ficci
in 1927.
• Capitalist class participated fully in Civil Disobedience Movement first time and they boycotted the round table
conference as well.
• Within the Congress they wanted to promote the leadership which was considered pro capital or at least not
socialist. That is why they were generally in favour of Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad and Raja Jee and particularly
against of Subhash Chandra and Jawahar Lal Nehru.
• But by coming of 1940 Indian Capitalists too were showing same conciliatory path. In 1944, eight Indian
Capitalists came with “A brief memorandum outlining a plan of economic development for India.” This was a
plan which accepted the significant role of the state in economic affairs. These are the routes from where the
idea of mixed economic emerged.
Answer 6 (c)
• When congress resigned from the provincial government after the beginning of World War Two.
• Muslim League got opportunity. They formed governments :-
Assam in August 1942
Sindh in October 1942
Bengal in March 1943
North Western Frontier Provinces in May 1943
• On account of this Muslim league became very powerful and energetic. Almost all the other Muslim political
leadership was weakened and Muslim league along with Jinnah as the supreme leader came into the centre of
Muslim politics. This was an entirely different Muslim league in comparison of 1937.
• But emergence of the league was not only an outcome of the political manoeuvring . We have to look it in the
large prospective, like :-
• Historical process was broadening the gap between Hindus and Muslims.
• Muslims Capitalists and Zamindars were in favour of Muslim league because for their class interest.
• As the national movement was reaching to its destination and growing as democrat and socialist, Muslim league
became essential for them.
Muslim youths and small business people thought Pakistan in their favour, because they were not in
condition to complete against the Hindus in their respective field.
International situation (Particularly German events) too was stimulating the issue raised by Muslim league.
Government kept promoting the Hindu Muslim communal conflict Ab initio.
• Thus we can say that Muslim league’s manoeuvring became successful because it was working against the fertile
socio-political context.
Answer 7 (a)
• Various phases of integration :-
Treaty of annexation :- Only those rights were given to Indian Government which were enjoyed by the British
Government.
Unification under the Rajpramukh.
Democratisation :- When power was given to Vidhan Sabha and Chief Minister.
Centralization :- When the areas under the Rajpramukh and Chief Ministers were brought under the 7th
schedule of Indian constitution.
• Role of Sardar Patel :-
He dealt with Mount Batten and asked for full basket of apple.
With the help of Mount Batten he assured the annexation of most of the princely states.
He used his emotional intelligence, persuasive power and diplomatic skills.
He used every possible weapon and left the kings with choice but used arms very little; because he convinced
the states that they don’t have any alternative and then he offered them to keep their palaces, personal
properties, good political opportunities and privy purse. Overall we can say that the velvet glove he offered to
the kings was neither too soft nor very steely. Princes were convinced for one another thing that Sardar Patel
is the most appropriate man to deal with, because Jawahar Lal was considered very radical in this regard.
Answer 7 (b)
• Constituent assembly paid homage to Gandhi with highest regard but in words only. If we read the constitution of
India we do not find any majors particular influence.
• Popularly people say that Gandhian idea was incorporated in many specific ways like- Abolition of untouchability, and
many provision of DPSP like Panchayati Raj, Protecting animal husbandries, Cottage industry etc.
• But if we examine it in depth we find that abolition of untouchability given in the Article 17 was the only significant
influence taken from Gandhi. In this regard too we should remember that abolition of untouchability would have
been accepted even otherwise, by some other law.
• As far as DPSP part is concerned, it looks like a promish without conviction and directive without command.
• If Gandhi would have been considered constitutionally worth following than extraordinary power to the centre would
not have been provided. In this regard we can compare Indian constitution with the constitution of Aundh framed by
Gandhi and another parallel constitution framed with the help of Gandhi. Gandhian democracy was overlooked by
the constituent assembly either in the name of National integration, socialism and Dalit empowerment. This is the
reason why Indian Polity is gradually losing the democratic norms and the real popular controle over the mechanism.
Authority with popularity is the political reality of Indian since last 5 decades and gradually it is degrading. Panchayati
Raj is the only solution of may problems. It can resolve even the regional problems.
Answer 7 (c)
• How Sir Sayyid Khan gave the Muslims a sense of separate Identity?
Sir Sayyid Ahamad Khan persuaded the Muslims to move towards the modern education and outlook. Along
with this he led them towards friendly relationship with the government. It was a departure from the
traditional Muslim politics, which was divided in two parts :-
Wahabis were sectarian in nature.
1857 revolt provided a collective political mission.
Sir Sayyid Ahamad Khan called the Muslims not to join congress, because he believed that Muslims are
separate and have different interest than the Hindus. Both are different political communities thus they
should not join any similar political organisation. This is the point from where two nation theory emerged.
• How Iqbal gave them the sense of separate Destiny ?
Iqbal was a poet and a leader of Pan Islamic movement. Initially he was in favour of integrated India but by
the passage of time he became a Muslim leader only. He came with the idea of separate Muslim nation in
the Western and North Western part of India within India. In fact he propounded the idea of three tier
political system in which centre, group of Muslim majority states and state will fall in which centre will be
kept restricted to few departments only, while Muslim majority states can share some political and
governmental authorities.
In one way Iqbal look like a natural culmination of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan but we should notice one another
thing that he was constructing his political frame when India was demanding Purna Swaraj. That is why the
idea of separate identity moved towards separate destiny which was realised by Jinnah in the next phase with
ever one step further by making Pakistan a sovereign country.
Answer 8 (a)
• Gandhi led the national movement from 1919 to 1942 during which he launched many movements involving
many a million people directly or indirectly.
• Some historians believe that although Gandhi was accepted as an unparallel leader and all the leaders respected
his command but people in general were not responding to the movement as framed by Gandhi.
• Examples :-
Violence erupted many times.
Hindu-Muslim harmony was never up to that mark as Gandhi suggested
Dalits were generally not respected by the upper caste Hindus.
Peasants participated with their own priority and method. In civil disobedience movement peasants in Bengal
launched non payment of taxes without the consent of Gandhi.
• Comment :-
Examining the leader’s command over the people during the mass movement, should not be judged in terms
of absolutism. With all the limitations we can say that Gandhi was having great influence. Over the popular
participation of the movement. Local reasons and aboriginal methods were their but Gandhi must be
credited to bring not only the courage to protest but constructive and cultural way to protest also.
Answer 8 (b)
• Gandhi was the paramount leader of Congress and like a father figure to Nehru. Nehru became the president of
Indian National Congress in 1929 with the support of Gandhi. In 1946 also he became the president of congress
with the intervention of Gandhi in favour of Nehru.
• Nehru followed the path of Gandhi in all the movements he launched and followed many of his lessons even
during the post independence era; particularly in foreign policy.
• Flip side of the coin :- Nehru was critical to Gandhi on various subjects like :-
Nehru passed the resolution of Purna Swaraj.
Nehru was not in agreement with using religion in politics while Gandhi was a religious man by core.
Nehru was not convinced that change in heart can bring justice to depressed class of society.
Nehru was critical to Gandhi for his being absolutely against the western ideas and the role of technology.
Nehru was a socialist and during the early age of thirties he started showing his disenchantment form Gandhi
and wrote “ Parting of the ways”.
Nehru was in favour of modern industry while Gandhi counted it an evil force.
Nehru was in favour of a strong centre while Gandhi was in favour of Gram Swaraj and Panchayati Raj.
Gandhi thought non violence as a way of life while Nehru counted it a strategy.
Gandhi too criticised Nehru on various occasions and shaped Nehru as a great political leader who became
able to make a balance between his idea and the reality of the time and space. But at the same time we
should notice that Nehru raised few issues before Gandhi, like- Purna Swaraj, Abolition of Zamindari and
Active role of congress in princely states.
• Finally we can say that Nehru was a political disciple of Gandhi with his own ideas and priorities who was
tremendously influenced by Gandhi but at the same time he influenced Gandhi as well in many ways.
Answer 8 (c)
• In 1962 India lost against the Chinese which brought new diplomatic direction to whole of the Asia but India in
particular.
• How it damaged to India?
Physical loss :-
Loss of life
Territorial loss – Wallong – Lapas – Aksai Chin.
Along with the above physical loss, some less visible but more profound impact can be witnessed, like
National pride was lowered.
Nehru was forced to ask American support. He wrote two letters to American president . Galbraith
(American Ambassador in India) has informed this thing in his Diary . He has shown his apprehension that
China can capture whole the area of Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya. He asked 12 Swadren
of warheads and Pilots also. In the second letter Nehru asked 350 warheads and at least 10000 support
staffs.
• Danish Cook in his book India’s and United State’s strange democracies has given the detail information regarding this.
• B. K. Nehru (Indian Ambassador in America) in his book “Nice Guys Finish Second” said that First letter was against
our policy of non alignment and the second was the symbol of shame.
• If we look the events with the broader perspective of Indian foreign policy it looks like a case of collapsing the
castle. How?
India started with the idea of Asian unity and leadership. It was shattered by an Asian only.
He propounded the idea of Panchsheel and China trenched it.
Propounded the idea of NAM but now Nehru was forced to beg for the extra-ordinary support of USA.
India was trying to give a leadership to the world while this attack showed the world along with India that in
the real world of diplomacy and national interest power is the most pivotal thing.
• In the end we can say that though there was a resource crunch also but Nehru can’t be freed from the blame of
misjudging China and the prospective threat.