Magazines, Books and Their Authors

21. Mahatma Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj is essentially

Mahatma Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj is essentially

a critique of Western modernity
an outline of his philosophy of Satyagraha
an invocation to Indians to free themselves from the British
a blueprint of Gram Swaraj
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Mahatma Gandhi’s book ‘Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule’, published in 1909, is a foundational text that outlines his philosophical critique of Western civilization and modern industrial society. Gandhi argues that Western modernity, characterized by industrialization, materialism, and complex institutions like railways, lawyers, and doctors, is inherently exploitative and morally corrupting. He contrasts this with his vision of true Swaraj, which he defines not just as political independence from British rule, but as self-rule or control over one’s own mind and desires, leading to a spiritually and morally uplifted society. While it touches upon Satyagraha and freedom from the British, the core essence is a deep critique of the modern Western way of life and its impacts.
Hind Swaraj presents Gandhi’s fundamental disapproval of modern Western civilization, viewing it as a ‘disease’ that India should not adopt. His vision of Swaraj is intertwined with this critique, advocating for a simple, ethical, and self-reliant society.
The book is structured as a dialogue between ‘The Reader’ (representing typical Indian nationalist views of the time, seeking Western-style self-government) and ‘The Editor’ (representing Gandhi’s views). This format allows Gandhi to systematically dismantle arguments in favour of adopting Western institutions and values.

22. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List I (Book)
P. Eighteen Fifty-seven
Q. Civil Rebellion in the Indian Mutinies (1857 – 1859)
R. The Sepoy Mutiny and the Revolt of 1857
S. Awadh in Revolt, 1857 – 1858

List II (Author)
1. S.N. Sen
2. R.C. Majumdar
3. S.B. Chaudhuri
4. Rudrangshu Mukherjee

Code :

P Q R S
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 4 2 3 1
(d) 1 3 2 4
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 4 2 3 1
(d) 1 3 2 4
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UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
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Correct Answer: D
– The correct matching of the books on the Indian Mutiny (Revolt of 1857) with their respective authors is as follows:
– ‘Eighteen Fifty-seven’ was written by S.N. Sen, who was commissioned by the Government of India to write a history of the mutiny.
– ‘Civil Rebellion in the Indian Mutinies (1857 – 1859)’ is a work by S.B. Chaudhuri.
– ‘The Sepoy Mutiny and the Revolt of 1857’ was written by R.C. Majumdar, who was initially commissioned but later wrote his independent account.
– ‘Awadh in Revolt, 1857 – 1858’ is a detailed study of the revolt in Awadh by Rudrangshu Mukherjee.
These books represent different perspectives and historical analyses of the 1857 revolt. S.N. Sen’s work was the official history, while R.C. Majumdar presented a view that differed from the official narrative, particularly on the nature and scope of the revolt. S.B. Chaudhuri focused on the civil uprisings that accompanied the sepoy mutiny. Rudrangshu Mukherjee’s work provides a regional study of the revolt in Awadh, highlighting the role of taluqdars and peasants.

23. Nil Darpan, which deals with the condition of Indigo planters, was wri

Nil Darpan, which deals with the condition of Indigo planters, was written by

Michael Madhusudan Dutta
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Lal Behari Dey
Dinabandhu Mitra
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The correct answer is (D) Dinabandhu Mitra.
‘Nil Darpan’ (The Mirror of Indigo) is a famous Bengali play written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1860. The play vividly depicted the oppressive treatment of Indian indigo farmers by the British planters and highlighted their suffering and revolt, significantly influencing public opinion and contributing to the Indigo Rebellion (1859-1860).
Michael Madhusudan Dutta was a pioneering figure in Bengali drama and poetry. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee is renowned for his novel ‘Anandamath’, which contains the song ‘Vande Mataram’. Lal Behari Dey was a Bengali journalist and writer known for works like ‘Bengal Peasant Life’.

24. A Bunch of Old Letters, originally published in 1958, is a collection

A Bunch of Old Letters, originally published in 1958, is a collection of letters written to and by

Acharya Narendra Dev
N. G. Ranga
Jawaharlal Nehru
Sarojini Naidu
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“A Bunch of Old Letters”, originally published in 1958, is a collection of letters written to and by Jawaharlal Nehru.
The book contains personal and political correspondence of Jawaharlal Nehru with various notable figures from Indian history, including Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and others.
The collection provides insights into the personal thoughts and political journey of India’s first Prime Minister during significant periods of the Indian freedom struggle and the early years of independence.

25. Which one of the following pairs of founder and newspaper is NOT corre

Which one of the following pairs of founder and newspaper is NOT correctly matched?

Bande Mataram – Bankim Chandra
Kesari – Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bombay Samachar – Fardonjee Marzban
Al Hilal – Abul Kalam Azad
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The correct answer is Bande Mataram – Bankim Chandra. This pair is NOT correctly matched.
– The newspaper ‘Bande Mataram’ was primarily associated with figures like Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghose, particularly during the Swadeshi movement.
– Bankim Chandra Chatterjee is renowned for composing the song ‘Vande Mataram’ and writing the novel ‘Anandamath’, but he was not the founder or primary figure behind the newspaper ‘Bande Mataram’.
– Kesari was founded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
– Bombay Samachar was founded by Fardonjee Marzban.
– Al-Hilal was founded by Abul Kalam Azad.
‘Bande Mataram’ was an English newspaper that became prominent around 1906. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee passed away in 1894, long before the newspaper gained prominence under the editorship of Aurobindo Ghose.

26. Who among the following is the author of the book ‘The Indian Struggle

Who among the following is the author of the book ‘The Indian Struggle 1920 – 1942’ ?

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Subhas Chandra Bose
Vallabhbhai Patel
Sarat Chandra Bose
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The book ‘The Indian Struggle 1920 – 1942’ was written by Subhas Chandra Bose.
This book provides an account of the Indian independence movement from the perspective of Subhas Chandra Bose, covering a crucial period including the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the early years of World War II as it impacted India.
Subhas Chandra Bose was a prominent nationalist leader who advocated for complete and unconditional independence. He held various positions within the Indian National Congress before forming the Forward Bloc and later leading the Indian National Army (INA). Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a leading figure of the Hindu Mahasabha. Vallabhbhai Patel was a key leader in the Indian National Congress and later served as India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. Sarat Chandra Bose was Subhas’s elder brother and also a prominent political leader.

27. During the 19th century, who among the following wrote Satapatra

During the 19th century, who among the following wrote Satapatra Series?

M. G. Ranade
B. G. Tilak
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
G. H. Deshmukh
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During the 19th century, G. H. Deshmukh wrote the Satapatra Series.
Gopal Hari Deshmukh, known by his pen name ‘Lokahitawadi’, wrote a series of letters exposing the evils of Hindu society, published in the Marathi weekly ‘Prabhakar’. These letters, known as ‘Shatapatre’ or ‘Satapatra’ (hundred letters), were written between 1848 and 1850.
M. G. Ranade was a prominent social reformer and moderate leader. B. G. Tilak was a prominent nationalist leader and a key figure in the extremist faction of the Congress. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was a famous Bengali writer and composer of Vande Mataram. While all were significant figures of the 19th century, the ‘Satapatra’ series is specifically associated with Gopal Hari Deshmukh.

28. Who was the editor of the journal Indian Social Reformer that was st

Who was the editor of the journal Indian Social Reformer that was started in 1890?

K. T. Telang
Veeresalingam
N. G. Chandavarkar
K. N. Natarajan
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The question asks for the editor of the journal *Indian Social Reformer* which was started in 1890.
– The *Indian Social Reformer* was a prominent journal dedicated to social reform in India.
– It was edited for a long period by K. N. Natarajan, who took over soon after its inception and continued his editorship for decades.
K. T. Telang was a judge and reformer. Veeresalingam (Kandukuri Veeresalingam) was a prominent social reformer from Andhra Pradesh. N. G. Chandavarkar was a social reformer and politician who also became President of the Indian National Congress. While these figures were associated with social reform, K. N. Natarajan was the long-term editor of this specific journal.

29. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List-I
(Historian)		 List-II
(Book)
A. Sumit Sarkar 1. The Rise and Growth of Economic Nationalism in India
B. Shahid Amin 2. A Rule of Property for Bengal
C. Ranajit Guha 3. The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal, 1903-1908
D. Bipan Chandra 4. Event, Metaphor, Memory—Chauri Chaura, 1922-1992

Code :

A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
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The correct matching of historians with their books is A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1.
– Sumit Sarkar is renowned for his detailed study of the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal.
– Shahid Amin’s work ‘Event, Metaphor, Memory’ is a micro-history exploring the Chauri Chaura incident from multiple perspectives.
– Ranajit Guha, a founder of Subaltern Studies, authored ‘A Rule of Property for Bengal’ which critically examines the Permanent Settlement.
– Bipan Chandra is a leading historian of modern India, known for his work on economic nationalism and the freedom struggle.
These historians represent different schools of thought within Indian historiography, particularly regarding nationalism and subaltern perspectives. Sumit Sarkar and Bipan Chandra are often associated with nationalist and Marxist interpretations, while Ranajit Guha and Shahid Amin are key figures in the Subaltern Studies group, focusing on the agency of common people.

30. Who among the following is the author of Maze Vidyapeeth, the famous p

Who among the following is the author of Maze Vidyapeeth, the famous poem about the life of working class of Bombay?

Narayan Surve
Amol Palekar
Bhalchandra Nemade
Narendra Jadhav
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Narayan Surve is the author of the famous Marathi poem “Maze Vidyapeeth” (My University). This poem is a powerful depiction of the life and struggles of the working class in Bombay.
“Maze Vidyapeeth” is a significant work in modern Marathi literature, known for its realistic portrayal of urban life and social commentary.
Narayan Surve (1926-2010) was a prominent Marathi poet. His work often reflected his own experiences growing up in poverty and living among mill workers and ordinary people.
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