Question 1

With reference to the Khilafat issue after the First World War, consider the following demands made by the Khilafat Committee in India:
1. The Khalifa's absolute political authority over the entirety of the pre-war Turkish Empire must be restored.
2. The Khalifa must retain control over all Muslim sacred places.
3. Turkey should be compensated by the Allied powers for its losses during the war.
How many of the above statements correctly represent the demands?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The demand was not for the restoration of the entire pre-war empire, but that the Khalifa should be left with 'sufficient territories' after the new territorial arrangements. Statement 2 is correct. A key demand was that the Khalifa's control over Muslim sacred places should be retained. Statement 3 is incorrect. The demands focused on the Khalifa's position and control over territories and sacred sites, not on seeking financial compensation for war losses.

Question 2

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements, despite emerging from separate issues, were characterized by a common programme of non-violent non-cooperation.
Statement-II: The Lucknow Pact of 1916 and the unified Hindu-Muslim agitation against the Rowlatt Act had already created a foundation for common political action against the British.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct; the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements, while having distinct origins, indeed adopted a shared strategy of non-violent non-cooperation. Statement-II is also correct; events like the 1916 Lucknow Pact and the joint opposition to the Rowlatt Act were crucial in fostering Hindu-Muslim political cooperation. Statement-II provides the historical context and explains how the groundwork for such a united front, as mentioned in Statement-I, was laid, thus making it the correct explanation.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the background of the Non-Cooperation Movement:
1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were introduced by the British as a conciliatory measure in response to the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre.
2. The findings of the Hunter Committee, which endorsed General Dyer's actions, were a key factor contributing to the widespread discontent leading to the movement.
3. The alarming post-war economic situation, including price rises and increased taxes, weakened the anti-British attitude among the Indian populace.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

None. All three statements are incorrect. 
1. **Statement 1 is incorrect.** The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were based on the Montagu Declaration of August 1917, long before the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919. The Government of India Act of 1919, which embodied these reforms, was seen as inadequate and disappointing, adding to the discontent, but it was not a response to the massacre.
2. **Statement 2 is incorrect.** The Hunter Committee did not endorse General Dyer's actions. In its majority report, the committee condemned Dyer's actions as a 'grave error' and a 'misconception of duty'. However, it did not impose any significant penal or disciplinary action. The British government's subsequent lenient action was seen as a 'whitewash' and a gross injustice by the Indian public, which significantly fueled discontent. The outrage was further intensified when the British public and the House of Lords celebrated Dyer as a hero.
3. **Statement 3 is incorrect.** The post-war economic hardship drastically strengthened, not weakened, the anti-British attitude. The period saw a massive rise in the prices of essential commodities, a decline in the production of Indian industries leading to unemployment, and high taxation to pay for the war effort. These hardships affected all sections of society—peasants, artisans, workers, and the urban middle class—creating a common ground of suffering and resentment against the colonial government.

Question 4

Consider the following statements regarding the developments leading to the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat alliance:
1. The initial strategy of the Khilafat leaders was confined to petitions and deputations.
2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was sceptical of satyagraha as a political tool and opposed an alliance based on a religious issue.
3. Mahatma Gandhi was the president of the All India Khilafat Committee.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

All three. Statement 1 is correct. The first phase of the Khilafat agitation was limited to meetings, petitions, and deputations. The demand for more active agitation, such as non-cooperation, emerged later from a militant trend within the movement. Statement 2 is correct. Tilak expressed opposition to forming an alliance with Muslim leaders over what he considered a religious issue and was also doubtful about the effectiveness of satyagraha as a political instrument. Statement 3 is correct. Gandhi held the position of president of the All India Khilafat Committee and saw the issue as an opportunity to launch a united mass non-cooperation movement.

Question 5

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Indian National Congress was initially not united in its support for launching a non-cooperation movement on the Khilafat issue.
Statement-II: A key reason for the Congress's eventual support for non-cooperation was its loss of faith in constitutional methods following the Punjab incidents and the Hunter Committee Report.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct. There was significant division within the Congress regarding the adoption of non-cooperation on the Khilafat issue. Leaders like Tilak were opposed to the alliance and sceptical of satyagraha, and there was also opposition to specific proposals like the boycott of councils. Statement-II is also correct. The Congress's disillusionment with constitutional struggle, particularly after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the subsequent partisan Hunter Committee Report, was a major factor that inclined it towards adopting a non-cooperation programme. However, Statement-II explains why the Congress eventually *overcame* its initial hesitation, it does not explain the hesitation itself. The hesitation (Statement-I) was due to internal disagreements on strategy and alliances, while the eventual acceptance was driven by factors mentioned in Statement-II and the opportunity for Hindu-Muslim unity.

Question 6

Consider the following statements regarding the events leading to the Non-Cooperation Movement:
1. The Khilafat Committee formally launched its campaign of non-cooperation only after the Indian National Congress approved the programme at its Calcutta special session.
2. The all-party conference at Allahabad, which approved a programme of boycott, was held after the Treaty of Sevres was signed with Turkey.
3. Gandhi announced his intention to lead a non-cooperation movement before the joint Hindu-Muslim deputation was sent to the viceroy.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Khilafat Committee started its non-cooperation campaign on August 31, 1920, whereas the Congress special session in Calcutta, which approved the programme, was held in September 1920. Statement 2 is correct. The Treaty of Sevres was signed in May 1920, and the all-party conference at Allahabad was held subsequently in June 1920. Statement 3 is incorrect. The joint Hindu-Muslim deputation was sent to the viceroy in early February 1920. Gandhi's announcement that he would lead a movement came later in February 1920, after the deputation proved abortive.

Question 7

With reference to the Non-Cooperation Movement's programme and organisational structure, consider the following statements:
1. The non-cooperation programme approved at the Calcutta special session included the non-payment of taxes as part of its initial, immediate actions.
2. At the Nagpur session, the Congress creed was altered to aim for swaraj through 'peaceful and legitimate means' instead of 'constitutional means'.
3. The decision to form a 15-member Congress Working Committee (CWC) was taken at the Calcutta special session to better lead the movement.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The non-payment of taxes was envisaged as part of the second phase of the movement, not the initial phase. Statement 2 is correct. The Nagpur session in December 1920 made a significant change in the Congress creed, replacing the goal of self-government through constitutional means with the attainment of swaraj through peaceful and legitimate means. Statement 3 is incorrect. The formation of a 15-member Congress Working Committee (CWC) was an organisational change made at the Nagpur session, not the Calcutta special session.

Question 8

Consider the following two statements:
Statement-I: The Nagpur session of the Indian National Congress in December 1920 endorsed the programme of non-cooperation.
Statement-II: This session fundamentally altered the Congress creed, committing the party to an extra-constitutional mass struggle by adopting the goal of swaraj through peaceful and legitimate means.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Both statements are factually correct. The Nagpur session did endorse the non-cooperation programme. It also made a crucial change to the Congress creed, shifting from 'constitutional means' to 'peaceful and legitimate means'. This ideological shift (Statement-II) was the foundational change that formally committed the Congress to an extra-constitutional path, thereby providing the rationale and mandate for endorsing a mass struggle like the non-cooperation programme (Statement-I). Thus, Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Question 9

With reference to the Non-Cooperation Movement, consider the following statements:
1. Surendranath Banerjea founded the Indian National Liberal Federation after leaving the Congress.
2. J.M. Sengupta was a prominent leader associated with the Awadh Kisan Movement in UP.
3. Subhash Bose became the principal of Jamia Millia at Aligarh, which was established during this period.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is correct. Surendranath Banerjea, who believed in a constitutional and lawful struggle, left the Congress and founded the Indian National Liberal Federation. Statement 2 is incorrect. J.M. Sengupta was a prominent leader in the strikes organised in Assam, which included tea plantations, steamer services, and the Assam-Bengal Railways, not the Awadh Kisan Movement. Statement 3 is incorrect. While Subhash Bose was a leader in the organisation of national educational institutions, he became the principal of the National College at Calcutta. Jamia Millia at Aligarh was a separate institution established during this time.

Question 10

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: In urban centres of elite politics like Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, the response of the middle classes to the Non-Cooperation Movement was very limited.
Statement-II: A significant section of the big business class, which constituted the urban middle class, was skeptical of the movement due to the fear of labour unrest in their factories.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I is correct. The participation from the middle classes, who initially led the movement, was very limited in places like Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, which were centres of elite politicians. Statement-II is incorrect. It conflates two distinct groups. The fear of labour unrest was a characteristic of the 'Business Class', not the 'Middle Class' as a whole. The middle classes in elite centres showed reservations about Gandhi's programme itself, and the call for resignation from government service and surrendering titles was not taken seriously by them. The text treats the 'Middle Class' (comprising elite politicians) and the 'Business Class' as separate groups with different motivations.

Question 11

Consider the following statements regarding the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement:
1. The Ahmedabad session of 1921, with Hakim Ajmal Khan as the acting president, appointed Mahatma Gandhi as the sole authority to launch civil disobedience.
2. The Congress Working Committee met at Bardoli and resolved to intensify the civil disobedience programme while condemning the violence at Chauri Chaura.
3. Subhas Chandra Bose argued that the withdrawal was a calculated decision by the Congress leadership to keep the mass movement within 'safe channels'.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is correct. The Ahmedabad session in 1921 appointed Gandhi the sole authority on the issue of civil disobedience. C.R. Das was the president but was in jail, so Hakim Ajmal Khan served as the acting president. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Congress Working Committee, meeting at Bardoli in February 1922, resolved to stop all activity that led to law-breaking, effectively ending the movement, not intensifying it. Statement 3 is incorrect. This is an ideological swap. The view that the leadership wanted to keep the movement within 'safe channels' and called it off when the masses were taking initiative is the Marxist interpretation. Subhas Chandra Bose, in contrast, described the withdrawal as 'nothing short of a national calamity'.

Question 12

Consider the following viewpoints regarding the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922:
1. Mahatma Gandhi justified the withdrawal by stating his belief that the populace had not fully understood the method of non-violence.
2. Nationalist leaders like C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru, who were in prison, supported Gandhi's decision as a necessary tactical retreat.
3. The Marxist interpretation suggests that the movement was deliberately called off by the leadership just as the masses were beginning to take the initiative.

How many of the above viewpoints are correctly stated?

Accepted Answer

Only two. To determine the correct count, we must evaluate each viewpoint:

1.  **Viewpoint 1 is correct.** Mahatma Gandhi was deeply disturbed by the violence at Chauri Chaura. He felt that the people had not yet learned or fully understood the method of non-violence and that the movement was degenerating into mob action. He publicly stated that the withdrawal was a penance for this failure.

2.  **Viewpoint 2 is incorrect.** C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, and other leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, who were in prison, were shocked and dismayed by Gandhi's decision. They expressed their 'bewilderment' and 'resentment', arguing that it was a mistake to penalize the entire country for a localized incident. Their reaction was one of strong disagreement, not support.

3.  **Viewpoint 3 is correct.** This is a well-known Marxist interpretation of the event, most famously articulated by historians like R.P. Dutt. They argue that the bourgeois leadership of the Congress, including Gandhi, feared the movement was becoming too radical and slipping from their control. They posit that the leadership used the Chauri Chaura incident as a pretext to halt the movement just when the masses were taking revolutionary initiative, thereby protecting class interests.

Therefore, viewpoints 1 and 3 are correct, while viewpoint 2 is incorrect. This makes a total of **two** correct viewpoints.

Question 13

Consider the following statements regarding the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation Movement:
1. The movement's programme included a future stage involving civil disobedience through the non-payment of taxes.
2. At the Nagpur Congress Session in December 1920, the Congress goal was officially changed to the attainment of swaraj through any means necessary.
3. The establishment of national schools and panchayats was a part of the constructive techniques used during the movement.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. The movement's plan included a second stage which was to incorporate civil disobedience by non-payment of taxes. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Nagpur Congress Session of December 1920 changed the Congress goal to the attainment of swaraj, but specified it must be through 'peaceful and legitimate means', not 'any means necessary'. Statement 3 is correct. The techniques used during the movement included setting up national schools, colleges, and panchayats as alternatives to government-run institutions.

Question 14

Consider the following two statements:
Statement-I: The Khilafat-Non-Cooperation Movement was successful in bringing urban Muslims into the national movement and politicising various strata of the population, thereby challenging the myth of the invincibility of colonial rule.
Statement-II: The national leadership effectively channelled the religious sentiments of the Muslim community, transforming their political consciousness into a secular one.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I is correct. The movement brought urban Muslims into the national fold and politicised diverse sections of the population like artisans, peasants, and students. This mass activisation challenged the colonial myth of being invincible. Statement-II is incorrect. The national leaders failed to raise the religious political consciousness of the Muslims to a level of secular political consciousness, which is seen as a limitation of the movement's approach.

Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat Aandolan

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