UPSC 2013 Modern History Questions with Answers

Explanation

Tebhaga Peasant Movement (1946) in Bengal aimed to reduce landlords’ share of the harvest from one-half to one-third. The movement, led by the Bengal Provincial Kisan Sabha, called for the implementation of the Floud Commission recommendations, demanding two-thirds of the produce for sharecroppers (bargadars) instead of the previous one-half. The main slogan, "nij khamare dhan tolo," urged sharecroppers to keep their paddy in their own homes, not at the landlord’s. The movement was strongest in North Bengal, particularly among the Rajbanshis and Muslims.

Explanation

The Indian Statutory Commission, commonly referred to as the Simon Commission under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon arrived in British India in 1928. The Simon Commission originated as a result of the Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms), which introduced Dyarchy in provinces. The Act had a provision that after ten years, its impact would be reviewed to decide further constitutional reforms. It was appointed by the British government to assess India’s constitutional development and recommend constitutional reforms. The main reason behind the agitation against the Simon Commission was that there were no Indian members of the panel and only seven British members of the British Parliament. This was viewed as racist and colonialist.

Explanation

In 1942, the British Government sent the Cripps Mission to India to secure Indian support for Britain’s war effort during World War II. The Cripps Proposals offered India dominion status after the war and promised a constituent assembly to frame a new constitution, but these were largely seen as insufficient and vague. The Congress (led by Mahatma Gandhi) demanded immediate independence and rejected the Cripps Proposals. When the British government failed to provide clear and concrete plans for independence, Gandhi called for a mass movement of civil disobedience, demanding that the British "Quit India".

Explanation

The idea of a constituent assembly was put forward for the first time by M N Roy. The Indian National Congress (INC) first formally requested a constituent assembly to draft an Indian constitution in 1935. Representatives of each community were to be elected by members of that community in the provincial legislative assembly and voting was to be by the method of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. In case of princely states, the heads of princely states were supposed to nominate the representatives.

Explanation

The Ilbert Bill Controversy (1883) arose from Lord Ripon’s attempt to reform India’s legal system. Under the existing laws, a European could be tried only by a European judge or magistrate, which was seen as discriminatory against Indian judges. To end this injustice, C.P. Ilbert proposed a bill in 1883 that would allow Indian judges to try Europeans. The proposal faced strong opposition from the European community in India. The Ilbert Bill controversy made educated Indians aware of the need of an all Indian organisation, resulting in the formation of Indian National Congress in 1885.

Explanation

Annie Besant (1847-1933) made her first visit to India as a member of the Theosophical Society. She had embraced Theosophy after meeting Helena Blavatsky in 1889. Following her arrival, the society relocated its headquarters to Adyar, near Madras (now Chennai). Besant went on to serve as the society’s president from 1907 until her passing in 1933. In Benares, she established the Central Hindu College (CHC) and later founded the newspapers New India and Commonweal to promote her ideas and advocacy.

Statement 1 is correct: Annie Besant was instrumental in initiating the Home Rule Movement in India. In 1916 she established the All India Home Rule League which advocated for self-governance and dominion status for India within the British Empire. This movement sought to promote political awareness and mobilize Indian citizens towards the cause of self-rule.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 in New York by Helena Blavatsky, Henry Olcott, and William Judge. Annie Besant joined in 1889 after meeting Blavatsky and later became its president in 1907 andserving until her death in 1933. However, she was not its founder.

Statement 3 is correct: Annie Besant achieved the distinction of being the first woman to preside over the Indian National Congress. She was elected as the President in 1917 reflecting her significant influence and commitment to India’s independence movement.