Question 1

Question 4(A) Gandhiji decided to launch a movement calling upon the British to quit India.(R) In 1942 Gandhiji declared that the presence of British in India was an invitation to Japan to invade India.(R) contradicts (A)(R) is the reason for (A)(A) is true but (R) is false(A) and (R) are independent of each other

Accepted Answer

(R) is the reason for (A)Explanation — Gandhi's declaration that the presence of the British in India was an invitation to Japan to invade India was a strategic move to expedite the process of Indian independence. It was a way to highlight the potential threat of a foreign invasion if the British continued to rule, thereby adding urgency to the demand for their withdrawal.

Question 2

Question 5What reasons did the Muslim League put forward for the creation of two independent nations?

Accepted Answer

The Muslim League put forward the following reasons for the creation of two independent nations-Jinnah and other leaders of the League proclaimed that Muslims could not expect any justice at the hands of the Congress.To grant the right of self-determination to Muslims, they wanted a nation to themselves.

Question 3

Question 6How was the Constitution-making body to be constituted according to the Cripps Proposals of 1942?

Accepted Answer

The Cripps' Mission proposed that a Constituent Assembly would be set up. It would consist of the members elected by the Lower House of the Indian Legislature and the representatives of the Princely States nominated by their rulers. It would be set up to draft a new Constitution.

Question 4

Question 7Which point in the Cripps Offer was against the unity of the nation?

Accepted Answer

The point which was against the unity of the nation was that the Provinces would be free to join the Indian Union. If they would not join the Indian federation, they would formulate their own Constitutions which could have the same status as the Union of India.

Question 5

Question 8Why did the people of the Princely States oppose the Cripps' mission? What kind of status was promised to India after the War by Sir Stafford Cripps?

Accepted Answer

The people of the Princely States opposed the Cripps' mission because they had no right to send their representatives to the proposed Constitution-making body. Their representatives were to be selected by the rulers.Dominion status was promised to India after the War by Sir Stafford Cripps.

Question 6

Question 9What did the Congress think of the threat of a Japanese attack on India in 1942?

Accepted Answer

Gandhiji observed, 'The presence of British in India is an invitation to Japan to invade India. Their withdrawal removes the bait.' The Indian leaders were anxious to save their country from the Japanese invasion but their slavery was a hindrance. Gandhiji and other leaders were convinced that this situation called for complete independence from the British immediately. Gandhiji said, 'India's safety, and Britain's too, lies in the orderly and timely British withdrawal from India'.

Question 7

Question 10What was meant by the Quit India Movement?

Accepted Answer

The Congress Working Committee met at Wardha in July, 1942. It adopted a resolution, known as the 'Quit India Resolution'. The resolution stated: 'British rule in India must end immediately.'

Question 8

Question 11Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:Govt. Decides to Meet Congress "Challenge"—Indian Express, August 10, 1942Which "Challenge" is referred to in the above newspaper article? What 'Action' did the Government take?

Accepted Answer

The challenge referred to in the article is the Quit India Movement.The Government took the following actions:Mahatma Gandhi and all prominent Congress leaders were arrested to prevent the movement from spreading.The Congress was declared an unlawful organization.Gandhiji was detained at the Agha Khan Palace in Pune while the others leaders were sent to jail in Ahmednagar Fort.

Question 9

Question 1The Congress Working Committee passed the famous Quit India Resolution at Wardha in July 1942. With reference to this answer the following questions:(a) What were the reasons for the passing of this resolution?(b) What was the British Government's reaction to the Quit India Movement.(c) How did the Quit India Movement show that national feelings had become too deep-rooted?

Accepted Answer

(a) Reasons for the passing of Quit India resolution:In 1942, the failure of the Cripps' Mission left no further meeting ground between the British Government and the Congress.The War situation was discouraging in 1942.The Japanese Army had attacked Burma (Myanmar) and was marching towards Assam.Gandhiji observed, 'The presence of British in India is an invitation to Japan to invade India. Their withdrawal removes the bait'.The Indian leaders were anxious to save their country from the Japanese invasion but their slavery was a hindrance.Gandhiji and other leaders were convinced that this situation called for complete independence from the British immediately.Gandhiji said, 'India's safety, and Britain's too, lies in the orderly and timely British withdrawal from India'.So they decided to launch Quit India Movement, calling upon the British to quit India.(b) British Government's reaction to the Quit India Movement:Before the Congress could start the movement, the Government struck hard.Early in the morning of August 9, Gandhiji and other Congress leaders were arrested and taken to unknown destinations and the Congress was once again declared illegal.The Government resorted to severe measures to crush the 1942 Movement.The Press was completely muzzled.The demonstrating crowds were machine-gunned and even bombed from the air.Prisoners were tortured.The police and secret police reigned supreme.Nearly ten thousand people were killed and 60,000 people were arrested by the end of 1942.The military took over many towns and cities.Rebellious villages had to pay huge sums as punitive fines and the villagers had to undergo mass floggings.Gandhiji was detained at the Agha Khan Palace in Pune while the other leaders were sent to jail in Ahmednagar Fort.In the end, the government succeeded in crushing the movement.(c) Quit India Movement demonstrated the depth of the nationalist feeling in India and the capacity of Indians for struggle and sacrifice. It made it clear that the British would no longer find it possible to rule India against the wishes of its people. People of all sections of society participated in this movement to fight for freedom.

Question 10

Question 2Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:“I, therefore, want freedom immediately, this very night, before dawn, if it can be had.... Fraud and untruth today are stalking the world. .... You may take it from me that I am not going to strike a bargain with the Viceroy for ministeries and the like. I am not going to be satisfied with anything short of complete freedom. .... Here is a mantra, a short one, that I give you. You may imprint it on your hearts and let every breath of yours give expression to it. The mantra is: “Do or Die”. We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery.(Mahatma Gandhi addressing the Congress delegates on the night of 8 August, 1942)(a) State briefly the reasons that led Mahatma Gandhi to assert that he would not strike a bargain with the Viceroy.(b) Which movement was stared as a consequence of Mahatma Gandhi's call for ‘Do or Die’? Explain briefly what all happened during this movement.(c) Was this movement a success or a failure? Give reasons to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

(a) Mahatma Gandhi was not interested in partial autonomy or power-sharing arrangements. He sought complete freedom for India from British rule. He felt that the presence of British in India is an invitation to Japan to invade India. Their withdrawal removes the bait. Hence, he did not want to compromise freedom for any kind of political settlement. Gandhiji believed that once freedom was attained, the power would belong to the people of India.(b) The movement that started as a consequence of Mahatma Gandhi’s call for ‘Do or Die’ was the Quit India Movement.On 8th August 1942, at the session of the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai, Mahatma Gandhi gave a clear call to end British rule and launched the Quit India Movement. Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan ‘Do or Die’ to the people of India in a final push to make the British quit. Following the start of the Quit India Movement, many Congress leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Abul Kalam Azad and others along with Mahatma Gandhi were jailed for sedition. Despite the arrests of the leaders, the protest initially remained peaceful but later on homes of freedom fighters and Congress offices were raided, and many were jailed. When all the leading freedom fighters were in jail, Aruna Asaf Ali presided over the Congress session despite warnings from the British government. The movement was brutally crushed by the British rule but its roots were shaken with this movement. This movement was a significant milestone in India’s journey to independence.(c) The Quit India Movement did not achieve its immediate goal of forcing the British to leave India but it played a crucial role in mobilizing the masses and intensifying the struggle for independence. The movement was a major success in terms of large-scale participation and mobilization of people from all over the country. It served as an important demonstration of anti-colonial sentiment in Indian society directed toward the British rule. It shook the British government from the roots. Therefore, we can say that though a failure in achieving its goal, the Quit India Movement was successful to weaken the British rule and give a clear and loud message asking the British to leave.

Question 11

Question 3The British put down the Quit India Movement with ruthless brutality and the movement, unlike its predecessor, was short-lived. Despite all this, the Quit India Movement made the British realise that their days are numbered in India. What was the reason for it?

Accepted Answer

Quit India Movement made the British realise that their days are numbered in India because of the following reasons:It demonstrated the depth of the nationalist feeling in India and the great capacity for struggle and sacrifice that the people had developed.It was the spontaneous participation of the masses. People from all parts of India took part in processions and demonstrations.It made it clear that the British would no longer find it possible to rule India against the wishes of its people.

Quit India Movement

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