Nationalism under Gandhi’s leadership

Nationalism Under Gandhi's Leadership

OPSC PYQs

1.Mahatma Gandhi and the congress party developed the philosophy of militant non-violence to oppose British Rule of India after World War-1 and to lessen oppression of the Indian poor by the Indian rich. By, 1929, Gandhi had succeeded in transforming the congress party from a narrow middle class party into a mass independence movement. 

2. In spite of this unimpressive feature, his lion cloth and bare body , there was royalty and kingliness in I am which compelled a willing obeisance from others.

3. I have no doubt that British Government is a powerful government, but I have no doubt also that Satyagraha is a sovereign remedy.

4. The contribution of Gandhi towards Indian National Life and Independence has remained unique. Explain.

5. How did Non-Cooperation Movement form landmark in the history of freedom struggle in view of Gandhiji's technique of mass mobilization.

6. I, therefore want freedom immediately, this very night, before dawn if it can be had.

7. Mahatma Gandhi restrained mass movements, yet he retained his popularity among the masses.  (20)

8. The Nationalistic Political Movements for liberation such as the Non-Cooperation and Civil-disobedience movements and their leadership depended heavily on the Peasantry.

9. The Quit India movement was a spontaneous revolt of the people against British Rule.  (20)

10. Quit India Movement was leaderless movement.

UPSC

Rise of Gandhi; Character of Gandhian nationalism; Gandhi’s popular appeal

1. How would you explain Gandhiji’s ‘rise to power’ or ‘capture’ of national leadership in the course of 1919-20? Was it a very skillful top-level political game? [1987, 60m]

2. Gandhi restrained mass-movements yet he retained his popularity among the masses. How do you explain this paradox? [1994, 60m]

3."Gandhi's mystique consisted of a union of original ideas with a remarkable flair for tactics and an uncanny insight in the mass mind." Elucidate. [1999, 60m]

4. “Gandhi restrained mass movements, yet he retained his popularity among the masses.” Comment. [2002, 20m]

5. “Is moral law, the laws of conscience, higher than the law of the State which is oppressive?” Comment. [2008, 20m]

6. Discuss how the Satyagrahas of Gandhi removed the spell of fear among Indians and thus knocked off an important pillar of imperialism. [2017, 20m]

Rowlatt Satyagraha; the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement

1. What were the circumstances that led Mahatma Gandhi to start the Non-cooperation Movement? Examine its contribution to India’s struggle for freedom. [1980, 60m]

2. Explain the circumstances leading to the alliance between the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements. Was it a politically wise step on the part of the Congress? [2007, 60m]

3. “Many of us who worked for the congress programme lived in a kind of intoxication during the year 1921. We were full of excitement and optimism… we had a sense of freedom and pride in that freedom.” Critically examine. [2013, 10m]

4. “M.K Gandhi made a gross mistake in championing the Khilafat cause, an extra-territorial issue which cut at the very roots of Indian nationality.” Critically examine. [2014, 10m]

5. “This retention of Rowlatt legislation in the teeth of universal opposition is an affront to the nation. Its repeal is necessary to appease national honour.” Critically examine. [2015, 10m]

6. Do you consider the suspension of Non-Cooperation Movement a "national calamity"? [2018, 20 Marks]

National politics from the end of the Noncooperation movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement; Simon Commission; The Nehru Report; the Round Table Conferences; the two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement;

1. Identify the main strands in the Civil Disobedience Movement with particular reference to the changing role of ‘business pressures’ in the country [1985, 60m]

2. Show how the Civil Disobedience was marked by much scattered potentially radical manifestations. Was the Karachi Congress an indication of certain basic weakness of the entire movement? [1992, 60m]

3. Analyse the factors responsible for the Civil Disobedience movement (1930-31). How far were its aims realised in the Government of India Act of 1935? [2005, 60m]

4. “At Karachi in 1931, the congress defined what Swaraj would mean for the masses.” Comment. [2007, 20m]

5. “Gandhi’s body is in jail, but his soul is with you, India’s prestige is in your hands, you must not use any violence under any circumstances. You will be beaten but you must not resist, you must not raise a hand to ward off blows.” Critically examine. [2013, 10m]

Nationalism and the Peasant Movements; Nationalism and Working class movements

1. “The nationalist political movements for liberation such as the non-cooperation and civil disobedience movements and their leadership depended heavily on the peasantry.” Comment. [1993, 20m]

The election of 1937 and the formation of ministries

1."The developments during 1937-39 greatly undermined the ability of the Indian National Congress to push through the agenda of national unity." Comment. [2010, 20m]

The Cripps Mission

1. “The Cripps Mission gave India‚ a post-dated cheque.” Comment. [1982, 20m]

2"The Cripps Mission was plagued throughout, and ultimately torpedoed." Critically

examine. [2019, 10 Marks]

Quit India Movement

1. “In the summer of 1942 Gandhi was in a strange and uniquely militant mood.” Comment. [2003, 20m]

2. Do you think that Quit India movement was a Spontaneous Revolution? [2009, 30m]

3. “To characterize the Quit India Movement as ‘Spontaneous Revolution’ would be partial interpretation, so also would be to look up at it as the culmination of Gandhian Satyagraha movements.” Elucidate. [2015, 20m]

4.Why is the Quit India Movement characterised as a 'Spontaneous Revolution'? Did it accelerate the process of Indian independence? [2019, 20 Marks]

The Wavell Plan; The Cabinet Mission

1. “The Cabinet Mission Plan‚ seemed to open an avenue for the reconciliation of a united India with Muslim autonomy’.” Comment. [1983, 20m]

2. “The Simla Conference (1945) afforded the last opportunity of the forces of nationalism to fight a reargued action to preserve the integrity of the country and when the battle was lost, the waves of communalism quickly engulfed it.” Comment. [1988, 20m]

4. “… instead of rejecting the plan (Cabinet Mission Plan), they (the Congress Leadership) resorted to a half-baked legalistic stratagem to reserve their position on its long-term arrangements and accepted its short-term provisions.” Critically examine. [2014, 20m]

Others

1. “The Royal Indian Navy Revolt was seen as an event which marked the end of the British rule almost as finally as Independence Day.” Explain. [2015, 10m]

2. Explain why the efforts at finding solution to India's constitutional impasse failed during 1942-1946. [2017, 20m]

Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics (1885-1947)

1."The active participation of Aruna Asaf Ali in 1942 movement symbolized the role of women in India's freedom struggle.” Comment. [2010, 20m]

2. What significant role did women play in the Indian National Movement? [2016, 20m]