Modern Indian History MCQs

Notes:
On 26 January 1931, Mahatma Gandhi was released from Yerwada jail, consequent to the Salt Satyagraha of March-April 1930. Other CWC members also released from jail. On 17 February 1931: Gandhi-Irwin talks began. On 5 March 1931, Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed off. On 26–31 March 1931, Gandhi-Irwin Pact was endorsed in the Karachi Session of the Congress.

Notes:
In the year 1944, Subhash Chandra Bose used the phrase for Gandhi when he was briefing on Singapore Radio. However, Gandhi was never accorded either Mahatma or Father of the Nation title officially by Government of India and no rule or ordinance was ever passed; and can be passed since it would be against article 18. So, Mahatma Gandhi as “Father of Nation” is a popular notion.

Notes:
In the year 1943 (25th August) Rash Behari Bose handed over the control of Azad Hind Fauz at a meeting in Singapore. Azad Hind Fauz was established in Japanese occupied Singapore with immense support of the Empire of Japan during World War II.

Notes:
Chauri Chaura came into prominence in 1922 when its inhabitants whole-heartedly participated in the Nonco- operation movement started by Gandhi. However, in February 1922, a police chowki (station) was set on fire by a mob of angry citizens, killing 23 policemen inside. On February 12, 1922, the Indian National Congress halted the Non-cooperation Movement on the national level as a direct result of the Chauri Chaura tragedy.

Notes:
Ryotwari System was introduced by Thomas Munro in 1820. Major areas of introduction include Madras, Bombay, parts of Assam and Coorg provinces of British India. In Ryotwari System the ownership rights were handed over to the peasants. British Government collected taxes directly from the peasants. The revenue rates of Ryotwari System were 50% where the lands were dry and 60% in irrigated land. Zamindari System was introduced by Cornwallis in 1793 through Permanent Settlement Act. It was introduced in provinces of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Varanasi. Also known as Permanent Settlement System. Mahalwari system was introduced in 1833 during the period of William Bentinck. It was introduced in Central Province, North-West Frontier, Agra, Punjab, Gangetic Valley, etc of British India. The Mahalwari system had many provisions of both North and South regions.

Notes:
Gandhi believed that India lives in villages and that development of the villages will mean development of India as a whole. He was against the heavy industry city centric model of development that paid lip service to rural development leading to massive rural to urban migration. Gandhi rather believed in the overall development of the village economy as a whole.

Notes:
Sarojini Naidu was the first woman to become the governor of a state in India after India’s independence. She held the post of Governor of Uttar Pradesh from 15 August 1947 to 2 March 1949. Her daughter Padmaja Naidu was the second woman to be the Governor of any Indian state when she held the position of West Bengal Governor during 1956-1967.

Notes:
Sarvodaya is a Sanskrit term meaning ‘universal uplift’ or ‘progress of all’. The term was used by Gandhi as the title of his 1908 translation of John Ruskin’s tract on political economy, Unto This Last, and Gandhi came to use the term for the ideal of his own political philosophy. In the Gandhian philosophy, Sarvodaya is the true panacea for all types of social or political problems experienced by Indian society. It represents the ideal social orderby bringing about a countrywide decentralization of both political and economic powers and providing opportunity for the allround development of the individual and the society. Later Gandhian, like the Indian non-violence activist Vinoba Bhava, embraced this term. In short. Sarvodaya envisaged a new humanistic, simple, non-violent and decentralized socialist society with man at its centre.

Notes:
On 12 August 1765, the Mughal Emperor appointed the East India Company as the Diwan of Bengal. The Permanent Settlement aka Zamindari system was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal in 1793. This idea was put forward by Sir John Shore. Under this system the zamindars were declared the owners of the land and they were free to decide the amount of levy to be collected.

Notes:
Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the ‘Grand Old Man of India’ and the ‘Unofficial Ambassador of India,’ was a moderate leader and the first Asian to serve as a British Member of Parliament.