Miscellaneous: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)

Explanation

With reference to Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were all associated with archaeological excavations. Alexander Rea (1858-1924) was an archaeologist who worked mainly in South British India and is known for unearthing a sarcophagus from the hillocks of Pallavaram in Tamil Nadu. He arrived in India in 1882 and became assistant of Burgess in the Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.), Madras Division. He went on to become Superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of Southern India (1902). Albert Henry Longhurst (1876-1955) was an archaeologist and art historian who worked in India and Ceylon. He was in charge of the systematic digging of Nagarjunakonda (1927-1931). Robert Sewell (1845-1925) was a civil servant in the Madras Presidency in colonial India. He undertook archaeological work at the Amaravati stupa. The site had previously been surveyed by Colin Mackenzie and Walter Elliot (1803-1887). James Burgess (1832-1916) was the founder of the Indian Antiquary in 1872 and an important archaeologist of British India in the 19th century. From 1886-89 he was Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: St. Francis Xavier, along with St. Ignatius of Loyola and others, co-founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) in 1534. The Jesuits were established to promote education, missionary work, and counter the Protestant Reformation.

Statement 2 is incorrect: He died on December 3, 1552, on Shangchuan Island (Sancian Island), off the coast of China, while waiting for a ship to take him to mainland China for missionary work. His body was later brought to Goa, where it is enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus, a church dedicated to him.

Statement 3 is correct: The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated annually on December 3 in Goa.

Explanation

Statement (1) is incorrect: The first woman to preside over the Congress was Annie Besant in 1917. Sarojini Naidu became President in 1925. Sarojini Naidu was a prominent leader and the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress.

Statement (2) is correct: Chittaranjan Das (C.R. Das) was elected President of the Indian National Congress in 1922. However, he was imprisoned during the Non-Cooperation Movement and conducted his presidential duties from jail.

Statement (3) is incorrect: A.O. Hume was a founder but never served as its President. The first Britisher to preside over the Congress was George Yule in 1888.

Statement (4) is correct: Alfred Webb, an Irish nationalist, presided over the 10th session of the Congress in 1894. His election symbolized the solidarity between Indian nationalists and Irish freedom fighters.

Explanation

The paintings of Abanindranath Tagore, a prominent figure in the Bengal School of Art, are classified as revivalistic because they aimed to revive Indian cultural and artistic traditions during British rule. He drew inspiration from Mughal miniatures, Ajanta frescoes, and Japanese wash techniques, moving away from Western realism and promoting a distinctly Indian art style. Abanindranath Tagore’s works, such as Bharat Mata symbolized national pride and cultural heritage, blending art with India’s freedom movement.

Explanation

Alam Ara (1931) was India’s first feature-length talkie film, directed by Ardeshir Irani. It marked the beginning of sound in Indian cinema and revolutionized the film industry. It was a musical drama based on a Persian story, and it featured several songs, which was a major draw for audiences at the time. The film had a huge impact on Indian cinema, especially in terms of introducing sound and dialogue, which made it a landmark in the history of Indian cinema.

Explanation

Butler Committee Report (1927) focused on the relationship between the Indian states and the British Paramount Power. It studied the status and governance of princely states under British rule. Hurtog Committee Report (1929) studied the growth of education in India and its future potential. The committee also emphasized on the role of higher education in producing trained administrative personnel for the British government. Hunter Inquiry Committee Report (1920) investigated the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and its aftermath. The report was criticized for being a whitewashed account of the massacre, as it did not hold Dyer accountable in a meaningful way. The Muddiman Committee Report (1924) examined the working of the dyarchy introduced under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919). The committee’s report found that the dyarchy system was not working effectively due to several reasons, such as the lack of real power in the hands of Indian ministers, bureaucratic resistance, etc.

Explanation

A is matched with 4: The first session of the National Conference was held at Calcutta in 1883 to discuss political issues and laid the groundwork for the Indian National Congress, which was established in 1885. B is matched with 3: The All-India Muslim League was formed on December 30, 1906 at Dacca (now Dhaka) to represent the interests of Indian Muslims. C is matched with 2: All India State Peoples Conference was formed in 1927. This conference united representatives from princely states to push for democratic reforms. D is matched with 1: Announcement of Communal Award from Whitehall by the British government in August 1932 introduced separate electorates for minorities, including Dalits (then termed Depressed Classes), causing widespread controversy. v v v