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 19th century
was occasioned by the colonial presence, but not created by it.
Comment.
2. Outline some common characteristics shared by the 19th 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 Woods 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:
Nu
m

Name

Year/
Place

HINDU
Radhakant Deb

1.
2.

Dharma Sabha
Paramhans
Mandali

3.

Prarthana Samaj

4.

Satyashodhak
Samaj

5.

Arya Samaj
(Publication:
Satyarth
Prakash)
Seva Sadan

1875

Dayanand
Saraswati

1885

M. Malabari

7.

Ramakrishna
Movement

1897/
Calcutta

Narendranath
Dutt
(Vivekananda)

8.

Bharat Dharma
Mahamandala

1902

9.

Servants of India
Society

1905

10

Sri Narayan Guru

Dharma
Paripalana
(SNDP)
movement
Aravippuram
Movement

1902/
Kerala

Madan Mohan
Malviya (didnt
found it, but
important figure)
Gopal Krishna
Gokhale
LOWER CASTE
Narayan Guru

Justice
Movement
(political party)
Self-respect
movement

1917/
Madras

CN Mulaidar/ T.
Nair/ P. Tyagaraja

1920s

EV Ramaswami
Naicker

6.

11

12
13
14

Temple entry

1830
1849/
Maharasht
ra
1863/
Bombay

Founder

1873/
Maharasht
ra

Keshub Chandra
Sen/ Ranade
Jyotiba Phule

Narayan Guru

Vaikom: KV

Key idea(s)
Orthodox Hindu; status-quoist
Believed in one God, caste
removal, women
empowerment etc.
Social reform, but dont come
into conflict with orthodox
Hindus (unlike Brahmo Samaj)
Caste consciousness; first
movement with leadership
from low castes; Raja Bali
used as symbol
Back to the Vedas, end
priestly domination, promote
inter-caste and widow
marriages, no idol worship
Parsi; take care of
marginalized women
Spread the universal message
of Vedanta, love all religions,
service of humans = service
of god
Orthodox Hindu; status-quoist;
formed by combination of
several state units
Non-religious, aimed at raising
cadres for nation-building
Started among Ezvahas of
Kerala (toddy-trappers,
untouchables); urged them to
join schools, administration
SNG installed Shiva idol at a
temple in Kerala
(Aravippuram) despite being
lower caste as a protest
measure
Secure jobs for non-Brahmins
in legislature
Rejection of Brahminical
religion; formalizing weddings
without priests
1924: Vaikom satyagraha;

movement

Keshav

joined by Jatthas from Panjab

and Madurai

K. Kelappan
1931: After CDM, in
Travancore; in 1936, Maharaja
said okay, enter
15

16
17

Wahabi/
Walliullah
movement

Faraizi
movement
Ahmadiya
movement

18

Aligarh
movement

19

Deoband School

20

Rahnumai Mazda
Yasnan Sabha

21

Singh Sabha
movement

22

Akali movement

23

Theosophical
movement

1840s
(initially
against
Sikhs,
later
Brits);
fizzled out
by 1870s
under Brit
repression
1840s
1889

MUSLIM
Sayyed Ahmed
Raibarelvi,
influenced by
Shah Waliullah

Orthodox Muslim revivalist

Later, also:
* Shah Abdul Aziz
* Tithu Mir
Haji Shariat
Allah/ Dudu Mian
Mirza Ghulam
Ahmed
Syed Ahmed
Khan

Orthodox Muslim revivalist

(end liberal influences)
Equivalent to Brahmo Samajuniversalist, against
orthodoxy, opposed to Jihad
(but pro-mysticism)
Spread modern education and
social reform among Muslims,
but stay true to Islam (Aligarh
university etc.)
Orthodox, but mainly just
opposed to Syed Ahmed Khan,
so even supported INC; no
proper philosophy

PARSI
1851

Restore Parsi religion to its

pristine purity
SIKH

1873/
Amritsar

WESTERN HINDU
1875 (US); Madam
1882
Blavatsky/ Annie
(Adyar,
Besant
Tamil
Nadu)

Educate Sikhs, counter

proselytizing by Christians and
Hindu revivalists
Liberate Sikh Gurudwaras
from Udasi Mahants; later won
and set up SGPC; later turned
communal (why?)
Study philosophy of
Upanishads and Vedanta;
allied with Hindu renaissance;
however, limited to a 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
Nu
m

Name

Year

Place

Founders / Aims

1.

British Indian
Association

1851

Bengal

2.

East India
Association
Poona
Sarvajanik
Sabha
Indian
Association of
Calcutta
Bombay
Presidency
Association

1866

London

1867

Poona

1876

Calcutta

Surendranath Banerjea, Ananda Mohan

Bose

1885

Bombay

Pherozshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji

3.
4.
5.

Petition British government to separate

executive from legislature, abolish salt
duty, stamp duty etc.
Dadabhai Naoroji
Ranade

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?
Nu
m

Name

1.

Anushilan Samiti;
journal: Yugantar

Year/
Place
1902/
Bengal

Bengal
Founder/
Others
Promotha Mitter/
Rashbehari Bose,
Sachin Sanyal,
Prafulla Chaki,

Key idea(s)
Limited to giving physical and
moral training to supporters;
not very significant till 190708; in 1906, members

Khudiram Bose

2.

Journals: Keshari,
Mahratta

1890s/
Maharasht
ra

3.

Mitra Mela, later

merged with
Abhinav Bharat
(after Young
Italy)
Journal: Punjabee

1897;
merge in
1904/
Maharasht
ra
Punjab

4.

5.

Anjurnan-iMohisban-iWatan; journal:
Bharat Mata

Lahore

6.

Indian Home
Rule Society

London,
1905

7.

Journal: Bande
Mataram

8.

Paris
Berlin

Bal Gangadhar
Tilak/ Chapekar
brothers
(murdered
Plague
commissioner of
Poona, Rand)
Savarkar

Lala Lajpat Rai

Ajit Singh
(Bhagat Singhs
uncle)

Shyamji
Krishnavarma

Barindra Kumar 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
Tilak propagated a spirit of
militant nationalism, including
violence, through Ganapati
and Shivaji festivals, and his
newspapers. Nasik, Poona,
Bombay emerged as bomb
manufacturing hubs

Opposed land and irrigation

taxes, frequent famines etc.;
journal advocated self-help at
any cost, including violence
Opposed land and irrigation
taxes, frequent famines etc.
Both this and (4.) died out
after 1907 because both
Lajpat and Ajit were deported
Also brought out the journal
The Sociologist, and set up
the India House

Madam Bhikaji
Cama
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 Leagues stand?
54.
What was the impact of Gandhis 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 leagues
stance around 1916? (4)
62.
What was the importance of Montagues 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 Gandhis 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)
Nu
m

Name

Year/
Place
1917/
Bihar

1.

Champaran
Satyagraha

2.

Ahmedabad Mill
Strike

1918/
Gujarat

3.

Kheda
Satyagraha

1918/
Gujarat

Key idea(s)
European planters used the tinkathia
system, which 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
Discontinuation of plague bonus; Gandhi
asked workers to strike and demand a 35%
wage hike. Fast unto death; mill owners
agreed
Crop failure, but government didnt follow its
own 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 HRAs 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 didnt 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 governments 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 Gandhis actions after the Poona Pact.
69. Describe Gandhis 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 145173)
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 governments 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 governments 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 Leagues
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 Attlees 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 Leagues
championing of a separate Muslim state. Explain. (Page 173)
N.

1.

Name
August Offer

Year
1940

Key idea(s)
Reason: Hitlers 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

(Blueprint
for Indias
partition)

Reason: Mainly a propaganda devise for US, USSR,

and Chinese consumption, who were all
pressurizing Britain to solicit Indian support for the
war
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

3.

Rajagopalacha
ri formula

1944

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
Formula for Congress-League cooperation; tacit
acceptance of Leagues 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

4.

Desai-Liaqat
Pact

1945

5.

Wavell Plan/
Shimla Plan

1945
(May;
after the
war)

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
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 didnt agree after finding out)
War was over, but Japanese threat was still there.
Elections were coming up in Britain, and allies were
also pressurizing Britain to grant independence so
they could co-opt India
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
Didnt work out; League wanted veto, said
anything to do with Muslims should need 2/3 rd
majority from Muslims, and that Congress shouldnt
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 Leagues position, as
reflected in election results in 1945-46

6.

7.

Sept.
1945

Cabinet
Mission
(Separate
Grouping)

Feb
1946

Announcement that a constituent assembly will be

convened 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; Britains
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
Given the war-weary bureaucracy, RIN mutiny, and
international pressure, Brits realized they had to go.
Now, all they wanted was a graceful exit, and to coopt 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

8.

Attlees
statement

Feb.
1947

However, the League didnt attend informal

constituent assembly meetings, and continued
agitation for Pakistan. Congress appealed to the
Viceroy to demand resignation from League
members
To shock both sides into action, Attlee said Britain
will hand over power to either the CA in February
1948, or if CA wasnt 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
Plan

June
1947

Divide India, but make Pakistan as small as

possible; freedom 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
19th 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 Mayos Resolution of 1870?
8. What was the significance of Ripons 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 Macaulays minute of 1835?
3. What was the downward filtration theory?
4. What were the key points of Woods Despatch of 1854?
5. Hunters 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 Pitts India Act of 1784.
9. Which Act ended the companys monopoly over trade in India?
(Page 225)
10. Which Act introduced competitive examinations for entry to
the civil services, ending the companys 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
S.No.

Name

Time

Bengal and Eastern India

Area
Leaders

Causes

1.

Sanyasi
revolt

1770s

2.

Chuar
uprising

Midnapore

3.

Ho rising

4.

Kol Mutiny

17661772;
then
17951816
182037
1831

5.

Kandh
uprising

183756

Patna

Chakra
Bisoi

6.

Santhal
Hool

1854
onward
s

Rajmahal
hills

Sido and
Kanhu

7.

Ahom
Revolt

1828

Assam

Gomdhar
Konwar

8.

Khasi
uprising

1830s

Northeaste
rn states

9.

Pagal
Panthis

18251840s

Bengal to
Garo hills

10.

Faraizi
revolt

183857

Eastern
Bengal

11.

Munda
revolt

1890s
(Birsa
was
killed in
1900)

S.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.

S.No.
1.

Chotanagp
ur
Chotanagp
ur

Chotanagp
ur

Time
181746
1819

Waghera
rising
Koli rising
Ramosi

1820

Baroda

1830s

Gujarat
SataraWestern
Ghats (hill
tribes)
Gujarat

1844

Name
Revolt of
Raja of

Time
1765

1844

Dadu Mian
(son of Haji
Shariat
Allah)
Birsa
Munda

Western India
Area
Leaders
Khandesh
Sewaram

Name
Bhil
uprising
Cutch
rebellion

Surat salt
agitations
Kolhapur/
Savantvadi
revolts

Imposition of ban on visits to

holy places; Sanyasis
organized raids on company
Famine, enhanced landrevenue demand, economic
distress

Cutch,
Gujarat

Maharasht
ra

Rao
Bharamal

Large-scale transfer of land

from Kol (Munda) headmen
to outsiders like Punjabi and
Muslim merchants
Kandhs were revolting
against British attempts to
put an end to the practice of
human sacrifices
Oppression by revenue
officials, police,
moneylenders, landlords,
and other outsiders (dikus)
British had promised to
withdraw from Assam after
first world war, but didnt =>
rebellion
Brits wanted to build a road
through Garo, Khasi, and
Jaintia hills; people revolted
Semi-religious; opposed
exploitation of tenants by
landlords
Advocated radical religious
and political changes;
organized people to throw
British out from Bengal
Armed uprising against
intrusion of revenue farmers
and moneylenders, axnd
destruction of traditional
systems of common land
holdings
Causes
Fear of agrarian hardship
under East India Company
Brits deposed ruler Rao
Bharamal, and then imposed
high land revenues

Chittur
Singh
Government withdrew duty
Gadkaris

South India
Area
Leaders
Northern
Sarkars

Gadkaris were a hereditary

martial class, but disbanded
by British. So, revolt.
Causes
EIC acquired territory and
demanded huge tribute =>

2.
3.
4.

Vizianagar
am
Poligars
revolt
Divan Velu
Tampis
revolt
Rampa
revolt

revolt
1856

Malabar

1810s

Travancore

1879

Coastal
Andhra
North India
Area
Leaders
Syed
Ahmed of
Rai Bareilly

S.No.
1.

Name
Wahabi
movement

Time
1830s

2.

Kuka
revolt/
Namdhari
revolt

1870s

Punjab

Oppressive land revenue

system
Overuse of subsidiary
alliance arrangement

Baba Ram
Singh/
Bhagat
Jawahar
Mal/ Baba
Balak Singh

New restrictive forest

regulations
Causes
Islamic revivalist movement
(back to the Prophets
times); first jihad was
declared against Sikh
kingdom of Punjab; after
1849, the British became the
sole targets
Started as a religious
purification movement, but
later turned into a political
one; advocated abolition of
caste amongst Sikhs.
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?
S.N
o.
1.

Name
Indigo
revolt

Tim
e
1859
-60

Peasant Movements
Area
Leaders
Causes
Bengal

Digambar
Biswas,
Bishnu
Biswas

Planters gave the farmers advance

sums and made them enter into
fraudulent 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;

2.

Pabna
Agrarian
Leagues

1879

Eastern
Bengal

3.

Deccan
Riots

1874

Poona,
Ahmednag
ar,
Sholapur,
Satara

4.

Kisan
Sabha
Moveme
nt

1920
s

Awadh (Rai
Bareilly,
Faizabad,
Sultanpur)

5.

Eka
(Unity)
Moveme
nt

1921

United
Provinces

6.

Mapilla
Revolt

1921

Malabar

7.

Bardoli
Satyagra
ha

1926

Surat

Gauri
Shankar
Mishra,
Indra
Dwivedi

Madari Pasi,
and other
lowercaste
leaders

by 1860, planters were routed

Enhanced rents beyond legal limits;
forced evictions. Peasants
organized joint funds and fought
court cases; main form of struggle
was legal resistance, and very little
violence was used.
1864- end of American civil war led
to crash in cotton prices; 1867- bad
harvests; in 1874, this worsening
situation led to a 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.
After 1857 revolt, Brits gave Awadh
taluqdars their lands back; these
taluqdars now subjected the
peasants to 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.
Around the time of NCM; against
high rents; members of Eka
movements conducted a symbolic
religious ritual in which they vowed
that they would pay only the
recorded rent (but would pay that
on time), and would refuse to do
forced labour
(NCM time) Mapillas were Muslim
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.
In 1926, authorities increased the
land 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.

9.

10.

Indian
Kisan
Congress
Sabha
Tebhaga
Moveme
nt

1936

Lucknow

1946

North
Bengal

Telangan
a
Moveme
nt

1946

Hyderabad
State

Swami
Sahajanand
Saraswati,
NG Ranga
Principally
among
Rajbanshis
, a low
caste of
tribal origins

Demand was for 2/3rd share of the

harvest to the sharecroppers
(bargadars), instead of the usual
half. Movement dissipated under
repression, calls for Bengals
partition, and communal riots in
Calcutta
Peasants organized to take on the
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?