INC Sessions & Presidents — Set 11

Correct Answer: B. He was a key organizer of revolutionary activities particularly in Punjab and Lahore

Sukhdev Thapar was one of the key organizers of revolutionary activities for the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, particularly in Punjab and the Lahore area. He organized and recruited young men into the revolutionary movement. He was also involved in the planning of several revolutionary actions. His dedication and organizational skills made him a crucial pillar of the revolutionary movement alongside Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad.

Correct Answer: A. Scheduled Caste Federation

B.R. Ambedkar founded the Scheduled Caste Federation in 1942 as a political organization to represent the interests of the depressed classes. He had earlier founded the Independent Labour Party in 1936. After independence, the Scheduled Caste Federation was reorganized into the Republican Party of India in 1956 shortly before Ambedkar's death. These parties represented a politically organized Dalit movement challenging both colonial government and the caste hierarchy within Indian society.

Correct Answer: B. To secure rights for Indian immigrant workers in South Africa

Gandhi developed and used Satyagraha in South Africa primarily to fight for the rights of Indian immigrant workers and settlers who faced severe racial discrimination. He opposed discriminatory laws like the Black Act (requiring Indians to register and carry passes), restrictions on Indian immigration, and the poll tax on indentured laborers. His campaigns in South Africa from 1894 to 1914 won significant concessions for the Indian community and honed his political philosophy of non-violent resistance.

Correct Answer: B. A Muslim movement to protect the Ottoman Caliphate; Gandhi supported it to build Hindu-Muslim unity

The Khilafat Movement (1919-24) was a pan-Islamic movement in India to protect the Ottoman Caliphate after World War I. Gandhi strategically allied the Congress and Non-Cooperation Movement with the Khilafat Movement to build Hindu-Muslim unity against British rule. The Khilafat leaders Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali became close allies of Gandhi. This alliance led to unprecedented Hindu-Muslim cooperation during the Non-Cooperation Movement, though it broke down after the movement's suspension.

Correct Answer: C. It shook the foundations of British authority and made Indians realize their collective power

The Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-22 was the first nationwide mass movement in India that challenged British authority on a massive scale. Thousands of Indians surrendered government titles, boycotted government schools, courts, and legislative councils, and returned foreign goods. It demonstrated to both Indians and the British that colonial rule depended on Indian cooperation, and that this cooperation could be withdrawn. The movement laid the foundation for subsequent mass movements.

Correct Answer: B. He established IITs, AIIMS, steel plants and other pillars of modern India

As India's first Prime Minister (1947-1964), Nehru laid the foundations of modern India by establishing key institutions. He set up the Indian Institutes of Technology, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and major industrial establishments like steel plants at Bhilai, Durgapur, and Rourkela. He championed scientific temperament and established research institutions like the CSIR. He was the architect of India's mixed economy model and the five-year planning system.

Correct Answer: B. Her poetry celebrated Indian culture and inspired patriotism among Indians

Sarojini Naidu's poetry celebrated India's rich cultural heritage, its landscapes, people, and traditions, inspiring patriotism and pride among Indians. Collections like 'The Golden Threshold', 'The Bird of Time', and 'The Broken Wing' drew attention to India's beauty and inspired nationalist sentiment. Her poetry in English also helped present India's cultural richness to international audiences. She combined her literary talents with active political engagement in the independence movement.

Correct Answer: B. British-organized conferences on India's constitutional future; Gandhi attended the Second one

The Round Table Conferences (1930-32) were British-organized discussions on India's constitutional future. The First Round Table Conference in 1930 was boycotted by Congress. Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference in London in 1931 as the sole representative of Congress, following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. The conference failed to reach an agreement that satisfied Indian demands. Gandhi returned without a settlement and resumed the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1932.

Correct Answer: B. He traveled overland to Afghanistan and then to Germany and Japan to seek international support for India's independence

In January 1941, Subhas Chandra Bose made a dramatic escape from British surveillance in Kolkata, traveling disguised as a Pathan merchant via Peshawar through Afghanistan to the Soviet Union and then to Germany. In Germany, he met Hitler and tried to organize Indian prisoners of war for a liberation force. He later traveled by submarine to Japanese-controlled territories, where he took command of the Indian National Army in Southeast Asia in 1943.

Correct Answer: B. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

B.R. Ambedkar's full name was Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. He was born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow, Central Provinces (now in Madhya Pradesh). His birth name was Bhimrao Sakpal, but he adopted his teacher's surname Ambedkar. April 14 is celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti (Equality Day) and is a national holiday in India.