Indian National Movement Quiz

National Movement and Independence of India

• Jawaharlal Nehru was a key figure in the national movement and free India's economy and polity, and was a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The 1937 provincial elections made the Muslim League realize that Muslims were a minority and would always have to play second fiddle in any democratic structure.
• The Congress's rejection of the League's desire to form a joint government in the United Provinces in 1937 annoyed the League.
• The Congress's failure to mobilize Muslim masses in the 1930s allowed the League to widen its social support.
• In 1945, the British opened negotiations with the Congress and the League for India's independence, but the talks failed due to the League's claim to be the sole spokesperson of India's Muslims.

The Swadeshi Movement

• The Swadeshi movement sought to oppose British rule and encourage self-help, swadeshi enterprise, national education, and use of Indian languages.
• The movement advocated for mass mobilization and boycott of British institutions and goods.
• Some individuals suggested that "revolutionary violence" would be necessary to overthrow British rule.

The All India Muslim League

• The All India Muslim League was formed in 1906 by Muslim landlords and nawabs.
• The League supported the partition of Bengal and desired separate electorates for Muslims, which was conceded by the government in 1909.
• This led to politicians gathering a following by distributing favors to their own religious groups.

The Congress and the Muslim League

• The Congress split in 1907, with the Moderates opposing the use of boycott and the Radicals advocating for mass mobilization.
• The Congress and the Muslim League signed the historic Lucknow Pact in 1916, deciding to work together for representative government.
• The Congress did well in the "General" constituencies, but the League's success in the seats reserved for Muslims was spectacular.

The Demand for Pakistan

• The Muslim League persisted with its demand for "Pakistan".
• The British Cabinet sent a three-member mission to Delhi in 1946 to examine the demand and suggest a suitable political framework for a free India.
• The mission suggested that India should remain united and constitute itself as a loose confederation with some autonomy for Muslim-majority areas.
• The proposal was rejected by the Congress and the Muslim League, making partition inevitable.

The Partition of India

• The Muslim League decided on mass agitation for winning its Pakistan demand, announcing 16 August 1946 as "Direct Action Day".
• Riots broke out in Calcutta on this day, lasting several days and resulting in the death of thousands of people.
• By March 1947, violence spread to different parts of northern India.
• Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the founder of the Khudai Khidmatgars, was strongly opposed to the Partition of India and criticized his Congress colleagues for agreeing to the 1947 division.

Test your knowledge about the Indian National Movement and key figures like Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. Learn about the historical events and contributions that shaped India's economy and polity.