Struggle For Independence Of India — Part 1 MCQs with Explanations

The British ruled over India for about two centuries. They started interference in the religious matters and other social practices of Hindus and Muslims and it infuriated the Indians and their anger resulted in the armed revolt of 1857. The roots of the 1857 revolt lay in Blatantly discriminatory policies, exploitative land revenue policy and the policy of greased cartridges.

The Revolt of 1857: Who Started It? This question is about a very important event in Indian history – the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 , also known as the First War of Independence. It was a large-scale rebellion against the British East India Company. The question asks who began this rebellion. Let's look at the options: Option A: The sepoys – Sepoys were Indian soldiers who served in the British East India Company's army. Option B: The zamindars – Zamindars were landlords who collected taxes for the British. Option C: The peasants – Peasants were farmers who worked the land. Option D: The plantation workers – Plantation workers were laborers who worked on large farms, often owned by the British. While many groups participated in the Revolt of 1857, it primarily began with the sepoys . The immediate cause was the introduction of new rifle cartridges greased with animal fat (pork and beef), which offended both Hindu and Muslim soldiers. This sparked widespread anger and mutiny within the sepoy ranks, leading to the wider rebellion. Therefore, the correct answer is Option A: The sepoys . Although other groups joined the revolt later, the initial spark came from the sepoys' rebellion against the British.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 is also called the Indian Mutiny, the Sepoy Mutiny, North India's First War of Independence or North India's first struggle for independence. It began on 10 May 1857 at Meerut, as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army.

The most important impact of revolt of 1857 is that the administration of India was transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown. The queen's proclamation of 1858 announced that the policy of territorial extension was to be abandoned. Unity was forged between the Hindus and Muslims.

The Revolt of 1857 was localized and poorly organized. Due to lack of communication facilities, the sepoys of the widely dispersed cantonments could not act simultaneously in a concerted manner. The sepoys lacked common ideal before them. The sepoys at Delhi decided to recovery the glory of the Mughal. At Gwalior and Kanpur, Nana Sahib was proclaimed a Peshwa. Rani Lakhmi Bai fought for her Jhansi. The orthodox section among the Hindus and the Muslims were concerned with their religions. There was no unity among the Hindus and the Muslims.

Begum Hazrat Mahal, also called as Begum of Awadh, was the second wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. Wajid Ali Shah met her in his palace. She rebelled against the British East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. She finally found asylum in Nepal where she died in 1879.

On August 2, 1858, less than a month after Canning proclaimed the victory of British arms, Parliament passed the Government of India Act, transferring British power over India from the East India Company, whose ineptitude was primarily blamed for the mutiny, to the crown.

After the initial success of the Revolt of 1857, the objective for which the leaders of the revolt worked was elimination of foreign rule and return of the old order.

Govind Dhondu Pant, popularly known was Nanasaheb, and one of the principal leaders of the Revolt of 1857, was the adopted heir and successor of Peshwa Baji Rao II.

The Indian War of Independence is an Indian nationalist history of the 1857 revolt by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar that was first published in 1909.

The Vellore Mutiny was one of the earliest sign of a great mutiny coming up in 1857. The Vellore Mutiny was a major act of defiance that took place on July 10, 1806 and marked the first ever large-scale and violent mutiny by Indian sepoys against the East India Company.

Agra was not the centre of the revolt on 1857. Other important cities of this revolt were Kanpur, Jhansi, Lucknow, Gwalior.

The causes for the failure of the Great Revolt of 1857 were The rebels lacked effective leadership, There was no central organisation to guide them and Their military equipment was inferior to that of the English.

Nana Saheb and Begum of Awadh are among the following leaders of the Revolt of 1857 managed to escape to Nepal.

During the Indian Mutiny, from 1857 to 1858, Begum Hazrat Mahal's band of supporters, led by Raja Jailal Singh, rebelled against the forces of the British; later, they seized control of Lucknow and she declared her son, Birjis Qadra, as the ruler (Wali) of Oudh.

The 1857 revolt did not acquire much intensity in Bombay.

The revolt of 1857 began under the leadership of Bahadur Shah Zafar and it was the last effort of old Political order to regain power.

Bahadur Shah Zafar was a nominal Emperor, as the Mughal Empire existed in name only and his authority was limited only to the walled city of Old Delhi (Shahjahanbad). Following his involvement in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British exiled him to Rangoon in British-controlled Burma (now in Myanmar), after convicting him on conspiracy charges.

The Indigo revolt (or Nil vidroha) was a peasant movement and subsequent uprising of indigo farmers against the indigo planters that arose in Bengal in 1859.

The Wahabi movement, also known as the Wahabi Movement of India, was a religious and political movement that aimed to restore Muslim power in India by overthrowing the Sikhs in the Punjab and the British in Bengal. It was particularly active during 1852-1870 in regions like the Punjab, Bengal, Bihar, and the North-Western Frontier Province (NWFP). Led by leaders like Syed Ahmad Barelvi, the movement sought to establish a pure form of Islamic governance and eliminate what they perceived as corrupt practices in Muslim society. The movement's main objective was to unite Muslims under a single banner and restore their influence in the Indian subcontinent. While the movement did not achieve its ultimate goal, it played a significant role in shaping the socio-political landscape of the time.

As per the Act of Indian Independence, the boundaries of East Bengal, West Bengal and Assam would be determined by the Award of a Boundary Commission.

Lord Curzon asked Queen Victoria to separate Bengal. Because they were scared if the Muslims and Hindus got together they could start a war. 500 meetings were held in East Bengal alone. The Swadeshi movement had genesis in the anti-partition movement which started to oppose the British decision to partition Bengal.

The following historical events in the chronological order of their occurrence are Partition of Bengal - 1905, Champaran Satyagrah - 1917 and Jallianwala Bagh - 1919.

The Swadeshi movement started with the partition of Bengal by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon in 1905 and continued up to 1911. It was the most successful of the pre-Gandhian movement. Its chief architects were Aurobindo Ghosh, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai.

The following events in a correct sequence of Indian National Movement are Foundation of Indian National Congress- 1885, Home Rule Movement- 1916, Simon Commission- 1928 and Cabinet Mission- 1946.

The Non-Cooperation Movement was pitched in under leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress from September 1920 to February 1922, marking a new awakening in the Indian Independence Movement.

Chinnaswami Subramania Bharati, also known as Bharathiyar, was a Tamil writer, poet, journalist, Indian independence activist and a social reformer from Tamil Nadu. Popularly known as "Mahakavi Bharati", he was a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry and is considered one of the greatest Tamil literary figures of all time. He belonged to the extremist wing of the Congress part.

The All India States Peoples' Conference (AISPC) was a conglomeration of political movements in the princely states of the British Raj, which were variously called Praja Mandals or Lok Parishads. The Praja Mandal movement was a part of the Indian independence movement from the 1920s in which people living in the princely states, who were subject to the rule of local aristocrats rather than the British Raj, campaigned against those feudatory rulers, and sometimes also the British administration, in attempts to improve their civil rights.

The Khilafat movement, also known as the Indian Muslim movement (1919–24), was a pan-Islamist political protest campaign launched by Muslims of British India led by Shaukat Ali, Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Abul Kalam Azad to restore the caliph of the Ottoman Caliphate, who was considered the leader of Sunni Muslims, as an effective political authority.

In Turkey, a national movement arose under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who was a Pro-western nationalist. He, supported by the western powers, abolished the position of the Caliph. Naturally the Muslims in India became anti British, as the power and influence of their religious leader was ended. Muslims were especially upset about the future of the Islamic places of worship after the allied powers had partitioned the Turkish Empire.

The movement continued to linger in a non-effective manner till early April 1934 when Mahatma Gandhi announced his decision to withdraw the Civil Disobedience Movement. With these developments, the second phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement came to an end. The constructive programme may otherwise and more fittingly be called construction of Poorna Swaraj or complete independence by truthful and nonviolent means. Effort for construction of Independence so called through violent and, therefore, necessarily untruthful means we know only too painfully. Look at the daily destruction of property, life and truth in the present war. Complete Independence through truth and non-violence means the independence of every unit, be it the humblest of the nation, without distinction of race, colour or creed.

The peasant movements, revolts, riots, struggles, etc. in 19th century, India remained mainly localised because they grew out of local grievances.

Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 from Dandi . The Civil Disobedience Movement, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, was a significant campaign against British salt taxes and the monopoly of the British government on salt production. On March 12, 1930, Gandhi and a group of followers embarked on a march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a coastal village in Gujarat. The march covered a distance of about 240 miles (386 kilometers) over 24 days. At Dandi, Gandhi violated the British salt laws by picking up a lump of salt from the seashore, symbolizing the defiance of British rule. The Dandi March and the Civil Disobedience Movement marked a turning point in India's struggle for independence, with people across the country participating in acts of civil disobedience, boycotting British goods, and engaging in protest activities. Option A: Sabarmati Ashram was Gandhi's residence and a center for his activities, but the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched from Dandi. Option B: Ahmedabad is a city in Gujarat where Gandhi had a significant presence, but the movement was initiated from Dandi. Option C: Porbandar is Gandhi's birthplace, but the Civil Disobedience Movement did not begin there. Therefore, the correct option is Option D: Dandi , where Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 with the historic Dandi March.

On 8 August 1942 at the All-India Congress Committee session in Bombay, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi launched the 'Quit India' movement. The next day, Gandhi, Nehru and many other leaders of the Indian National Congress were arrested by the British Government.

The Aligarh Movement was the push to establish a modern system of education for the Muslim population of British India, during the later decades of the 19th century. The movement′s name derives from the fact that its core and origins lay in the city of Aligarh in Northern India and, in particular, with the foundation of the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental Collegiate School in 1875. The founder of the oriental college, and the other educational institutions that developed from it, was Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. He became the leading light of the wider Aligarh Movement.

Namdhari, or Kuka, movement also had its origin in the north-west corner of the Sikh kingdom, away from the places of royal pomp and grandeur. It harked back to a way of life more in keeping with the spiritual tradition of the community. Its principal object was to spread the true spirit of Sikhism shorn of tawdry customs and mannerism, which had been growing on it since the beginning of Sikh monarchy.

The achieved milestone of the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921 was that the Hindus and the Muslims came closer in political pursuit . The Non-Cooperation Movement was a significant phase of India's struggle for independence, led by Mahatma Gandhi and supported by various Indian political and social groups. During the Non-Cooperation Movement, Indians boycotted British institutions, including schools, colleges, law courts, and government services, as a form of nonviolent protest against British colonial rule. The movement aimed to bring the British government to the negotiating table and gain concessions related to India's political rights and self-governance. One of the positive outcomes of the movement was the increased cooperation and unity between Hindus and Muslims. The movement saw Hindus and Muslims participating together in large numbers, demonstrating a shared commitment to the cause of India's independence. This unity was significant as it indicated the potential for harmony and collaboration among diverse communities in the pursuit of common goals. Option A: The Non-Cooperation Movement did express solidarity with the Khilafat Movement, but its primary focus was on Indian grievances against British rule rather than directly stopping the injustice done to the Khilafat. Option B: While the movement did contribute to Indian political awareness and rights, its major impact was in fostering unity and a shared sense of purpose among Indians. Option D: The Non-Cooperation Movement did not specifically avenge the Punjab atrocities; however, it did address broader issues related to British rule in India. Therefore, the correct option is Option C: The Hindus and the Muslims came closer in political pursuit , as one of the achieved milestones of the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921 was the increased unity and cooperation between Hindus and Muslims in India's struggle for independence.

Aligarh Muslim University is the creation of the movement. In 1886 Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the All India Muhammadan Educational Conference in order to promote more broadly the educational objectives of Aligarh Movement.

The members of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan's Red Shirt Movement were known as Khuda-i-Khidamatgar (Servants of God).

Gandhi gave the call to reject all foreign goods during the Swadeshi Movement . The Swadeshi Movement was a significant phase of India's struggle for independence and aimed at promoting the use of domestically produced goods and boycotting British goods as a means of protest against British colonial rule. During the Swadeshi Movement, Indians were encouraged to support local industries, spin their own cloth (khadi), and boycott imported British goods. The movement gained momentum and became a symbol of India's economic and political resistance against British exploitation. Option A: The Khilafat Movement was a movement initiated to support the cause of the Ottoman Caliphate and to address the grievances of Muslims globally. Option B: The Non-cooperation Movement was launched by Gandhi to boycott British institutions, including educational institutions and government services, as a form of nonviolent protest. Option D: The Civil Disobedience Movement involved the nonviolent violation of specific laws, orders, and regulations as a form of protest against British rule. Therefore, the correct option is Option C: Swadeshi , as Gandhi gave the call to reject all foreign goods during the Swadeshi Movement. **If you believe there is an error, please consult reliable historical sources for verification.