Modern History: Miscellaneous

1. Consider the following statements about the emergence of national cons

Consider the following statements about the emergence of national conscious-ness in India between the 18th and 19th centuries :

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  • 1. The spread of printing press and education, and inflow of modern ideas helped Indian regeneration.
  • 2. The reform movements helped develop a sense of national unity among the people.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct.
The emergence of national consciousness in India during the 18th and 19th centuries was a complex process influenced by various factors, including socio-religious reforms, the spread of modern education and ideas, and improvements in communication.
The printing press facilitated the dissemination of nationalist ideas and enabled communication among different regions. Education exposed Indians to Western political thought, including concepts like liberty, equality, and nationalism. The socio-religious reform movements, while primarily focused on social evils, also fostered a sense of pride in Indian heritage, challenged traditional divisions, and laid the groundwork for collective identity, contributing to national unity.

2. Which one of the following was the main purpose of the Lottery Committ

Which one of the following was the main purpose of the Lottery Committee (1817) formed in Calcutta ?

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Regulating Club Lotteries
Drawing lots for military recruitment
Organizing town planning
Checking street gambling
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The Lottery Committee was formed in Calcutta in 1817 with the specific purpose of raising funds through public lotteries to finance public works and urban development projects in the city. The funds collected were utilized for town planning activities, including laying roads, improving drainage, constructing public buildings, and enhancing civic amenities.
– The committee was established by the British authorities.
– Funds were generated through a lottery system patronized by both European and Indian residents.
– The resources were directed towards improving the infrastructure and layout of Calcutta.
Prominent citizens, including both Europeans and Indians, were part of the Lottery Committee. Its work contributed significantly to the beautification and modernization of Calcutta in the early 19th century.

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3. 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 :

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List IList II
A. Total Revolution1. George Fernandes
B. Garibi Hatao2. Jaya Prakash Narayan
C. Shah Commission3. Indira Gandhi
D. Railway Strike4. Janata Party Government

Code :

A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
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The correct answer is B.
A. Total Revolution (Sampoorna Kranti) was a political movement initiated by Jaya Prakash Narayan against the Indira Gandhi government in the 1970s (A-2).
B. ‘Garibi Hatao’ (Remove Poverty) was the election slogan used by Indira Gandhi during the 1971 general election (B-3).
C. The Shah Commission of Inquiry was constituted by the Janata Party Government in 1977 to inquire into the excesses committed during the Emergency (C-4).
D. The 1974 All India Railway Strike was a major strike led by railway unions, with George Fernandes being a prominent leader of the striking workers (D-1).
This question tests knowledge of significant events and associated personalities/entities in modern Indian history and politics.
The Total Revolution movement called for a transformation of all aspects of society. The Shah Commission’s report highlighted abuses of power during the Emergency period (1975-1977). The 1974 railway strike was one of the largest industrial actions in India’s history.

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4. Who did not accompany Gandhiji during his visit to the NWFP in October

Who did not accompany Gandhiji during his visit to the NWFP in October, 1938 ?

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Sushila Nayar
Amtus Salam
Jawaharlal Nehru
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
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The correct answer is C) Jawaharlal Nehru. During his visit to the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in October 1938, Gandhiji was primarily hosted by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the leader of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement in that region, who certainly accompanied him during his tours there. Sushila Nayar was Gandhiji’s personal physician and often travelled with him, as was Amtus Salam, a close associate. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a national leader and close to Gandhi, historical accounts of this specific visit primarily mention Gandhi, K.A.G. Khan, and members of Gandhi’s immediate entourage like secretaries and physicians, but not Nehru as part of the accompanying group from outside NWFP.
– Gandhiji’s visit to NWFP in 1938 was significant as it was a stronghold of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s non-violent movement.
– He toured the province to assess the political situation and the work of the Khudai Khidmatgars.
– Sushila Nayar served as Gandhi’s physician and close companion during many of his travels.
– Amtus Salam was a dedicated follower who lived in Gandhi’s ashrams and often accompanied him.
Leaders like Nehru frequently met Gandhi and visited different parts of the country for political work, but they were not always part of Gandhi’s personal touring party on every occasion. The question specifically asks who *did not accompany* him, implying who was not part of his travelling group for this visit.

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5. Name the Indian financier who funded the building of the Bombay Univer

Name the Indian financier who funded the building of the Bombay University clock tower.

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Cowasjee Jehangir Readymoney
Premchand Roychand
Jamshetji Tata
H. St. Clair Wilkins
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The correct option is B) Premchand Roychand.
The Rajabai Clock Tower at the University of Mumbai (formerly Bombay University) was funded by the wealthy Indian merchant and broker Premchand Roychand. He donated a significant sum to the University in 1869 for the construction of the library building and the clock tower, which he named after his mother, Rajabai.
Cowasjee Jehangir Readymoney funded the University Hall. Jamshetji Tata was a pioneering industrialist. H. St. Clair Wilkins was the British architect who designed the Rajabai Clock Tower.

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6. Who among the following took the lead in organizing the Women’s Indian

Who among the following took the lead in organizing the Women’s Indian Association in 1917?

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Margaret Cousins
Meherbhai Tata
Fatima Sheikh
Sarojini Naidu
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Margaret Cousins took a prominent lead in organizing the Women’s Indian Association (WIA) in 1917.
The Women’s Indian Association (WIA) was founded in 1917 in Adyar, Madras (Chennai). It was the first major feminist organization in India. Its founders included prominent figures like Annie Besant, Dorothy Jinarajadasa, and Margaret Cousins. Margaret Cousins, an Irish-Indian suffragette and educationist, played a crucial role in establishing and leading the organization, advocating for women’s suffrage, education, and social reform.
The WIA was instrumental in raising awareness about women’s rights and issues and played a significant role in the movement for women’s political representation in India. It helped pave the way for women to gain the right to vote in provincial and central legislatures.

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7. The first session of the All India Hindu Mahasabha, founded at the ini

The first session of the All India Hindu Mahasabha, founded at the initiative of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Lala Lajpat Rai, was held in

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1915
1920
1922
1923
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The first session of the All India Hindu Mahasabha was held in 1915.
The All India Hindu Mahasabha was formally established and held its first session in 1915 at Haridwar, during the Kumbh Mela. Although informal groups advocating for Hindu interests existed earlier, 1915 is considered the year of its formal founding as an all-India body. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya was one of the key figures instrumental in its establishment.
The Hindu Mahasabha emerged in response to political developments and communal concerns, aiming to protect and promote Hindu interests. Early leaders included Madan Mohan Malaviya, Lala Lajpat Rai, and later figures like V. D. Savarkar.

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8. Consider the following statements : 1. St. Francis Xavier was one o

Consider the following statements :

  • 1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
  • 2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
  • 3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Statement 1 is correct: St. Francis Xavier was indeed one of the original six companions of Ignatius of Loyola who co-founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order) in 1540.
Statement 2 is incorrect: St. Francis Xavier died on Shangchuan Island, off the coast of mainland China, on December 3, 1552. His body was later moved and is enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, but he did not die in Goa.
Statement 3 is correct: The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is a major religious festival celebrated annually in Goa on December 3rd, commemorating his death anniversary.
St. Francis Xavier was a pioneering Christian missionary, particularly in Asia. Goa holds his relics and is a significant pilgrimage site.

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9. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :

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1. Aurang—In-charge of treasury of the State
2. Banian—Indian agent of the East India Company
3. Mirasidar—Designated revenue payer to the State

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Pair 1 is incorrect. ‘Aurang’ in the context of Mughal and post-Mughal India, particularly concerning European trade, referred to a factory or depot, especially related to the collection and processing of goods like textiles, where weavers or producers delivered their output. It was not typically the in-charge of the State treasury, which was managed by officers like Diwan or Bakshi depending on the specific treasury (revenue, military payments, etc.). Pair 2 is correct. ‘Banian’ was a term used, especially by the British, for Indian merchants, brokers, or agents who assisted European traders in conducting business in India by acting as intermediaries. Pair 3 is correct. ‘Mirasidar’ (or Mirazdar) in South India referred to a holder of ‘miras’, a hereditary right to land or a share in village produce. Mirasidars were often the recognized landholders and were responsible for paying land revenue to the state.
‘Banian’ and ‘Mirasidar’ are correctly defined in the context of historical Indian economic and land systems.
The ‘Aurang’ system, particularly for indigo and cotton, was a significant part of the economic interaction between European companies and Indian producers. Mirasidars held a privileged position in the agrarian structure, often belonging to the dominant castes and having hereditary rights to cultivate land and collect dues.

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10. With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pai

With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs :

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PersonPosition held
1. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru: President, All India Liberal Federation
2. K. C. Neogy: Member, The Constituent Assembly
3. P. C. Joshi: General Secretary, Communist Party of India

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1 only
1 and 2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
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All three pairs are correctly matched. Pair 1: Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was a prominent leader of the Liberal Party and served as the President of the All India Liberal Federation. Pair 2: K. C. Neogy was a distinguished Indian politician who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly and later as a Union Minister. Pair 3: P. C. Joshi (Puran Chand Joshi) was a key figure in the early history of the Communist Party of India and served as its first General Secretary from 1935 to 1947.
Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru – Liberal leader; K. C. Neogy – Constituent Assembly member; P. C. Joshi – CPI General Secretary. All are correctly matched.
Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was an important moderate voice in Indian politics and participated in the Round Table Conferences. K. C. Neogy was part of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution and served in independent India’s first cabinet. P. C. Joshi played a crucial role in organizing and leading the CPI during a critical period before India’s independence.

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