Topic:4(c)British government in the subcontinent

S.Q.

1.How was the population of Bengal in nineteenth century?

Ans:85 million(54 million Hindus and 31 million muslim)

2.What were the areas of Bengal?

Ans:East Bengal,West Bengal,Bihar,Orissa.

3.Which viceroy partitioned Bengal?

Ans:Curzon

4.What was the reason for partition of Bengal presented by British?

Ans: To administer the huge artea properly.

5.What was the capital of east Bengal?

Ans:Dhaka

6.What was the capital of west Bengal?

Ans:Calcutta.

7.How many public meetings were held to protest partition of Bengal?

Ans:Two thousand

8.Who wrote Banglar mati Banglar jol?

Ans:Rabindranath Tagore

9.What is Sweadeshi movement?

Ans:The movement which is related to use Indian product

10.What is botcott movement?

Ans:The movement which is related to reject British product

11.Who was boycott?

Ans:The agent of an Irish landlord.

Page 1 of 17
12.Who was Aga khan?

Ans:Muslim leader who presented some muslim demand to Lord Minto

13.Where did Muhammadan Education Conference held in 1906?

Ans:Dhaka

14.Who reversed partition of Bengal?

Ans:Lord Hardinge

15.Who announced the reverse of partition?

Ans:King George v

16.Which demand is called a joint demand for hindu and Muslim?

Ans:Lucknow pact

18.Which pact is called high water mark?

Ans:Lucknow pact

19.Who was Mr.Edwin Montagu?

Ans:Secretary of state of India

20.Who was Lord Chelmsford?

Ans:Viceroy of Bengal

21.What is Montagu Chelmsford reform?

Ans:The reform is related to association of Indian in every branch of administration

22.Which country was related to Khalifat movement?

Ans:Turkey

23.What is treaty of Sevres?

Ans:the treaty which is related to the split up of Turky

24.Who is the leader of noncooperation programme?

Ans:Gandhi

Page 2 of 17
25. Who became the new leader of Turkey in 1922?

Ans:Kemal Attaturk

26.Who was C.R.Das?

Ans:Leader of Swarajya party,who worked for muslim demand.

27. What is Bengal pact?

Ans:The pact which is related to muslim demand

28.What is Simon commission?

Ans: According to this commission no Indian can participate in British parliament.

29.Which Indian leader arranged a boycott programme against Simon commission?

Ans:Jawaharlal Nehru

30.Which report is considered as a constitution by Indian?

Ans:Nehru report

31.Who is the leader of kpp?

Ans:A.K.Fazlul Haque

32.Which political party called day of deliverance?

Ans:Muslim league

33.What is Lahore resolution?

Ans:Demand of Sher e Bangla in Lahore about to consider a separate muslim state.

34. What is Quit India Resolution?

Ans:Demand for immediate withdrawal of the British (demand of hindu)

35.When second world war started?

Ans:3 september,1939

36. When second world war ended?

Ans:In 1945

Page 3 of 17
37.Who was Clement Attlee?

Ans:Prime minister of Britain in 1945

38.What is ditrect action day?

Ans:on 16 August 1946Muslim league called for a direct action day to show the strength of Muslim
feelings.4ooo people died .It was considered as great Calcutta killing.

39.Who was Viscount Mountbatten?

Ans:A new viceroy who was appointed to workout a plan for the transfer of power.

40.When India became independent?

Ans:15 August,1947

41.Who was chief minister of Bengal in 1947?

Ans:H.S.Suhrawardi.

Others Short answers

1.What was the main religious group in east Bengal?

Ans:Muslim
2.Which British person visited Simla at 1906?
Ans:Lord Minto
3.In which conference Muslim leaders met in 1906 in Dhaka?
Ans:Muhammadan Educational conference
4. Who was the chairperson to form all India Muslim league?
Ans:Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk.
5.When partition of Bengal reversed?
Ans:In 1911 it was reversed by viceroy Lord Hardinge announced by King George V at a durbar in Delhi.
6.Where did the capital moved to in 1911?
Ans:Calcutta to Delhi
7.Which system was related to Mhontagu Chemsford reform?
Ans:Dyarchy
8.Which treaty was related to Khalifat movement?
Ans:Treaty of Sevres
9.Which programme is linked with Khalifat movement?
Ans:Non cooperation programme.
10.In which place 21 police was killed in 1922?
Ans:Chaauri-Chaura.
11.Which areas were effected by non cooperation programme?
Ans: Madras,Calcutta,Bombey.
12.Who put forward to put resolution against Simon commission?
Ans:Jawaharial Nehru.
13.Where did the first round table conference held?
Ans:London in 1930

Page 4 of 17
14.Where did the second round table conference held?
Ans:London in 1931
15.When Gandhi Irwin pact was signed?
Ans:5 March,1931.
16.When Gandhi and Nehru arrested?
Ans:1932
17.Which act was called Charter of Slavery?
Ans:Government of India act.
18.Who put forward the two nation theory?
Ans:Jinnah
20.What was the new name of Krishak Praja party?
Ans:Krishak Sramik party
21.Who called Day of Deliverence in 1939?
Ans:Muslim league to show strength against Congress about their oppression and injustice.
22.Who was Sir Stafford Cripps?
Ans:Member of the Cabinet.
23.Where did Gandhi spoke at a congress meeting in 1939?
Ans:Allahabad
24. Who was the British prime minister in 1945?
Ans:Clement Attlee.
25. Who was chief minister of Bengal in 1947?
Ans:HS Suhrawardy

Page 5 of 17
British Government in the subcontinent and events leading to independence

The Simla Deputation

On 8 October 1906 a deputation of prominent Muslims led by the Aga Khan visited Viceroy Minto at
Simla.There they requested that the Muslims position in India should be estimated as a political
importance.
Their demands were set out in what has become known as The Simla Deputation.In it they asked that:
•In all local and provincial elections Muslim should have their own representative,who would be elected
only by Muslim voters.
•In the councils,the muslim should have a higher percentage of seats than their percentage of their
population.
Lord Minto accepted their arguments and he agreed to separate representation for the Muslims.

The Lucknow Pact

The failure of the British to grant more right to the Indians in the period to up to 1914,at their policy of
repression during the first world war,had moved congress and the Muslim League closer together.In
1916,they held their annual session in the same city and drewup the Lucknow pact.Congress agreed
that:
•Muslim had theright to separate electorates in electing representatives to the imperial and provincial
legislative council.
•Although they represented only one quarter of the population ,Muslim should be given one third of
their seats in the council.
•No act affecting a community should be passed unless three quarters of that community’s members on
the council supported it.
The Lucknow pact was a significant moment in the movement towards self rule and was the first time
that the Hindus and the Muslim had made a joint demand for political reform to the British.The pact
marked the high water mark of Hindu Muslim unity.

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reform:1919

Mr.Edwin Montagu,Secretary of State for India announced in the British Parliament that a new policy
would be adopted.It would involve the increasing association of Indians in every branch of the
administration and the gradual development of self governing institutions.Motagu along with the
viceroy Lord Chelmsford published a report on Indian constitutional reforms.This report formed the
basis of the government of India act,1919,more commonly known as the ‘Montford Reforms’

Non-Cooperation Programme
On 22 June 1920, the Muslims of India sent a message to the viceroy warnin that if the terms of the
unfair treaty ofSevres were imposed on Turkey,then a policy of non-cooperation in the country would
begin on 1 August.Gandhi began a tour of India to rally support for the Khalifat cause.The non
cooperation programme was greeted with enthusiasm by both Hindus and Muslim alike.It involved
•Surrendering of titles and resigning from seats in local bodies
•Withdrawing children from government school.
•Boycotting British court and goods
•Refusing to volunteer to join the armed forces
•Refusing to stand for election
These measures helped to turn the Khalifat movement into a general anti British protest movement.

Page 6 of 17
Government of India Act
In March 1933 the British government announced its proposals for how India should be governed.In
August 1935,the proposals were made legal by the government of India act and became law.This was
the last major legislation passed before independence was granted.Its main terms were:
India was to be federation,two houses of parliament at central government level,defence foreign affairs
were to be administered exclusively by the governor general,At provincial level dyarchy was replaced
with a system of autonomy
What are the consequences of partition of India?
•The partition of India radically changed the map of subcontinent.

•Muslim migrate to Pakistan and Hindu to India create refugee problem.

•The politics of tension and mistrust of the pre-independence period grew more serious.

Which of the following do you think was the most important consequences of the partition of Bengal?
Explain your answer by writing about all three choices provided.

•the formation of Muslim League

•the Boycott and Swadeshi programmes
•increased communal tension
The muslim were encouraged by their success in persuading Lord Minto to allow separate electorates
and they decided that the time was now right to form their own political party.The objectives of the
league were to:

1. Protect right and interest of Muslim

2. Represent Muslim needs to Indian Government
3. Promote feelings of loyalty to British government
4. Remove the misunderstanding among Muslim
5. Prevent the rise of hostility in Muslim towards other communities in India.

After partition of Bengal the Indian leaders did not stop with words and protests were followed by
action in the form of the Swadeshi and Boycott movement.The Bengali people were urged to boycott
British cloth and other goods and to use Indian products instead. The aims were:

•to put economic pressure on the British in order to force them to undo the partition.

•to promte Indian industry

The washermen of Kalighat refused to wash foreign clothes,the cobblers of Faridpur would not mend
English shoes and all over Bengal English cloth, cigarettes and other goods were bought up and burnt in
public.boycotting soon became part of the peoples campaign against all unpopular landlords.

On 22 December 1939, the Muslim League called a Day of Deliverance across the subcontinent to
celebrate the end of the oppression and injustice that had occurred under congress rule. Congress was
deeply offended by this and Nehru was moved to comment on how Congress and Muslim league now
seemed to agree on very little.In Calcutta, however, the demonstration turned to violence in which up to
4000 people died in the Great Calcutta Killing.

Page 7 of 17
In my opinion Boycott and Swadeshi movement is the important consequence of partition of Bengal
because the people of Bengal became more united about these issues against British rulers. These
movement became part of peoples campaign to highlight their rights and demands.

2. Which of the following do you think played the greatest part in encouraging Bengalis to seek
independence from Britain? Explain your answer by writing about all three choices provided.

•the Government of India Act

•the outbreak of World War Two

•the Cabinet Mission Plan

In August 1935 British proposal about the government of India were made legal by the Government of
India Act. It was the last major legislation of British government. Its main terms were: India was to be a
federation, two house of parliament at central government level,defence,foreign affairs were to be
administered by governor general.

On 3 September 1939 Britain announced that it was at war with Nazi Germany. Congress objected to
this announcement and decided to resign from government.

In March 1946 A three man delegation was sent to India to try find a settlement acceptable to all. They
met with MuslimLeague,Congress, the Sikhs and the Hindu Mahasabha. The cabinet declared their final
plan which included : It rejected the idea of establishing Pakistan, three different territories:
Hindu,Muslim, Bengal and Asam, local autonomy with constitution, Foreign affairs,defence and
communation will be controlled by central Indian Union.The plan was dropped due to the opposition of
Congress and Muslim league.

In my opinion Cabinet mission issue is most important issue to seek independence from British because
both Congress and Muslim league were in the against position of the plan.

Page 8 of 17
Ans: At the end of nineteenth century, Bengal had a population of 85 million(54 million Hindus and 31
million Muslims). The province of Bengal included west and east Bengal,Bihar,Orissa. The British found it
too difficult to administer efficiently and in 1905 Viceroy Curzon Partitioned Bengal by detaching east
Bengal and added it to Assam to form a new province with Dhaka as the capital. The capital of west
Bengal was Calcutta.

When the British tried to take territory of Turkey Sultan after world war one,Muslim in India were
outraged and formed the Khalifat movement to protect the sultan and their religion. Turkey had been
defeated Muslim feared in about their position. One treaty concerning Turkey(the treaty of Sevres)were
announced. The treaty said that the Turkish Empire was to be split up.

At the annual session of muslim league held in 22 March 1940,the premier of Bengal,Fazl ul Haq put
forward a resolution demanding that :North western and eastern zone of India basically Mulim majority
area should be grouped to constitute independent states with autonomous and sovereign constituent
unit.

In my opinion, Lahore resolution is the most important issue to create separate Muslim state because
the resolution was passed and the Muslim of the subcontinent had finally got their rallying call.[2012]

Which of the following do you think the most important in raising the pres tige of Muslim in India
under the British rule? Explain your answer by writing about three choices provided. [10]

•The formation of Muslim League

•The Khalifat Movement
•Direct action day
The muslim were encouraged by their success in persuading Lord Minto to allow separate electorates
and they decided that the time was now right to form their own political party.The objectives of the
league were to:

6. Protect right and interest of Muslim

7. Represent Muslim needs to Indian Government
8. Promote feelings of loyalty to British government

Page 9 of 17
 9. Remove the misunderstanding among Muslim
10. Prevent the rise of hostility in Muslim towards other communities in India.

The Khalifat movement started because of the treatment of Turkey by the British after the first world
war. Turkey was a Muslim country and its ruler,the Sultan was considered to be the head of of the
worldwide Islamic community. When the British tried to take territory of Turkey Sultan after world war
one,Muslim in India were outraged and formed the Khalifat movement to protect the sultan and their
religion. Turkey had been defeated Muslim feared in about their position.

In July 1946, the Muslim league passed a resolution declaring that it should prepare for a final struggle
amongst both the British and the Congress. On 16 August, the Muslim League called for a Direct Action
Day to show the strength of Muslim feelings. In Calcutta, however, the demonstration, turned to
violence in which up to 4000 people died in the Great Calcutta Killing.

In my opinion formation of Muslim league is important issue for the rising of prestige of Muslim in India
because the British welcomed the formation of Muslim League .it was led by land owners and princes
who were moderate in their views who could help to counter the Hindu protest particularly after the
partition of Bengal .[2009]

Which of the following do you think was the most important consequences of the partition of Bengal?
Explain your answer by writing about all three choices provided.

•the formation of Muslim League

•the Boycott and Swadeshi programmes
•increased communal tension
The muslim were encouraged by their success in persuading Lord Minto to allow separate electorates
and they decided that the time was now right to form their own political party.The objectives of the
league were to:

1. Protect right and interest of Muslim

2. Represent Muslim needs to Indian Government
3. Promote feelings of loyalty to British government
4. Remove the misunderstanding among Muslim
5. Prevent the rise of hostility in Muslim towards other communities in India.

After partition of Bengal the Indian leaders did not stop with words and protests were followed by
action in the form of the Swadeshi and Boycott movement.The Bengali people were urged to boycott
British cloth and other goods and to use Indian products instead. The aims were:

•to put economic pressure on the British in order to force them to undo the partition.

•to promote Indian industry

Page 10 of 17
The washermen of Kalighat refused to wash foreign clothes,the cobblers of Faridpur would not mend
English shoes and all over Bengal English cloth, cigarettes and other goods were bought up and burnt in
public.boycotting soon became part of the peoples campaign against all unpopular landlords.

On 22 December 1939, the Muslim League called a Day of Deliverance across the subcontinent to
celebrate the end of the oppression and injustice that had occurred under congress rule. Congress was
deeply offended by this and Nehru was moved to comment on how Congress and Muslim league now
seemed to agree on very little.In Calcutta, however, the demonstration turned to violence in which up to
4000 people died in the Great Calcutta Killing.

In my opinion Boycott and Swadeshi movement is the important consequence of partition of Bengal
because the people of Bengal became more united about these issues against British rulers. These
movement became part of peoples campaign to highlight their rights and demands.[2006]

Which of the following do you think played the greatest part in encouraging Bengalis to seek
independence from Britain? Explain your answer by writing about all three choices provided.

•the Government of India Act

•the outbreak of WorldWar Two

•the Cabinet Mission Plan

In August 1935 British proposal about the government of India were made legal by the Government of
India Act. It was the last major legislation of British government. Its main terms were: India was to be a
federation, two house of parliament at central government level,defence,foreign affairs were to be
administered by governor general.

On 3 September 1939 Britain announced that it was at war with Nazi Germany. Congress objected to
this announcement and decided to resign from government.

In March 1946 A three man delegation was sent to India to try find a settlement acceptable to all. They
met with MuslimLeague,Congress, the Sikhs and the Hindu Mahasabha. The cabinet declared their final
plan which included : It rejected the idea of establishing Pakistan, three different territories:
Hindu,Muslim, Bengal and Asam, local autonomy with constitution, Foreign affairs,defence and
communation will be controlled by central Indian Union.The plan was dropped due to the opposition of
Congress and Muslim league.

In my opinion Cabinet mission issue is most important issue to seek independence from British because
both Congress and Muslim league were in the against position of the plan.

Page 11 of 17
Explain the political importance of the following after 1937
•AK Fazlul Huq and the KPP
•The Muslim League
Which of these affected the people of Bengal more?Explain your answer.

Ans:The Krishak Praja Party (KPP)was founded in 1936 by A K Fazlul Huq.As the leader of rural society
Fazlul Huq understood the importance of appealing to the rural masses.So the KPP programme for the
election included:abolition of permanent settlement system for revenue,right of land,freeing from
mahajan class,free loan,irrigation facilities,free primary education.Fazlul Huqs approach was
noncommunal and he commandedrespect from the scheduled caste Hindu peasantly as well.The KPP
election manifesto was finally reduced to one election slogan:Dhal-Bhat (rice and pulse)for all.

The muslim were encouraged by their success in persuading Lord Minto to allow separate electorates
and they decided that the time was now right to form their own political party.The objectives of the
league were to:

1. Protect right and interest of Muslim

2. Represent Muslim needs to Indian Government
3. Promote feelings of loyalty to British government
4. Remove the misunderstanding among Muslim
5. Prevent the rise of hostility in Muslim towards other communities in India.

In my opinion the Muslim league effected people positively.This party secured second position in the
election.It was led by landlord and princes,who were moderate in their views who could help to counter
the Hindu protest particularly after the partition of Bengal.[2015]

Descriptive Ans:[2015]

1.What were the demands of the Nehru Report?

Ans:Pandit Motilal Nehru chaired a committee which devised this constitution which was contained in
the Nehru report approved by all party conference in September 1928.The Nehru Report called for:

•Immediate Domonion Status for India(India would become independent but remain a member of the
commonwealth)
•India to be a federation with a two Chamber parliament.
•The protection of minorities through a system of reserving seats in the two chambers
•The vote for all adult men and women.
2.Explain the importance of the partition of Bengal in1905 for Muslims in Bengal.
Ans:The partition of Bengal created a relatively prosperous West Bengal with a mainly Hindu population
and a backward East Bengal with largely Muslim.The agitation against the partition of Bengal had been
almost entirely run by the Hindu middle class and did not represent the sentiment of the Muslims of
eastern Bengal.Many of whom thought that the partitionwould led to economic and social development
of their region.Therefore,Muslim felt that they should set up a separate political organization to
represent their views and demands.As a result Muslim league was formed.

Page 12 of 17
Descriptive Ans:[2012]
1.What do you know about Swarajya party?
Ans: Swarajya party was started by CR Das,a man of vision who sincerely believed the principle of
sharing political power with the majority Muslin community of the province.This party became very
popular within a short period of time. CR Das made an agreement with prominent muslim leaders of
Bengal which became known as Bengal pact.
•The terms of Bengal Pact are:population basis separate election with 60%majority community and
40%minority community.
•80% appointment would go to Muslim and 20% would go to Hindu.
•Music in procession would not be allowed in front of mosque.
•Cow killing should be taken up as a religious manner.
2.Why was there resentment among many muslims in India against Hindu leaders in the year 1920-
40?
Ans:The British were concerned that Khalifat movement was a threat to law and order.it is true that
there were disturbance in India.For example,in Chauri Chaura,a village in Gorakpur district 21 police
men were killed after they fired on a political procession.Gandhi decided to called off his non
cooperation campaign.This decision upset many congress and muslim leader and declined the support
of Gandhi.A few weeks after Gandhi was arrested and sentenced to six years imprisonment.The decline
of non cooperation movement broke down the unity between hindu muslim and created bitterness and
mistrust in Indian subcontinent.
2.Why did the British introduced the Cabinet Mission Plan in 1946?
Ans:In March 1946 the British made their final effort to settle the differences within India.A three man
delegation was sent to India to try find a settlement acceptable to all.This mission met with the
members of Muslim league,Congress,the Sikhs,and Hindu Mahasabha.The mission proposed that an
interim government should be set up to rule India.
The mission announced their final plan which were as follows:It rejected the idea of establishing
Pakistan
Three different part(Hindu majority,Muslim majority,Bengal and Asam)
Foreign affairs,defence and communication would be dealt with a central Indian Union.
Neither Congress nor Muslim league agreed to the new plan.But the mission continued their work .
3.What do you know about Simon Commission?
Ans:Viceroy Lord Irwin announced that a commission under sir Jhon Simon would be visiting India for
the constitutional change of India.According to the commission no Indian will be included in British
parliament.The Indian leader protested strongly.jawaharial Nehru put forward a resolution for complete
independence and called for a boycott of the commission.When Simon commission arrived in India it
was boycotted by every political party and greeted with black flags and cries of Simon go back.
4.What do you know about Cripps mission?
Ans:In 1941 the British sent Sir Stafford Cripps a member of cabinet to India to make a compromise with
Indian about the support in British Participation in world war.Cripps mission proposed that Indian will
get dominion status,new constitution will be formed after war,election will be held after the war.Muslim
league rejected the plan immediately.Congress also rejected the proposal,they did not trust the
promise.Gandhi called the proposal as a post dated cheque on a falling bank.
Short ans from o level[2015]

1.Which British viceroy partitioned Bengal?

Ans:Viceroy Curzon
2.Name the pact between Muslim and Hindus in 1916?
Ans:Lucknow pact

Page 13 of 17
3.What were the reform of 1919 known as?
Ans:Montagu-Chelmsford reform
4.Name the leader of Muslim league?
Ans:Jinnah
5.In what year was an independent Muslim state created?
Ans:1947
Short ans from o level[2012]

1.Which viceroy introduced the partion of Bengal?

Ans:Viceroy Curzon
2.When was the Lucknow pact?
Ans:1916
3.Who led the Swarajya party?
Ans:C.R.Das
4.Which country did the Khalifat movement wish to support?
Ans:Turkey
5.Who led the Muuslim league in the period of its rapid growth 1937-40?
Ans:Jinnah

Short ans from o level[2011]

1.What was the purpose of the Government of India Act?

Ans:To govern India
2.What was the Wardha Scheme?
Ans:Education Scheme
3.What was the Bande Matram?
Ans:Patriotic song
4.Who proposed the Lahore Resolution?
AnsA.K.Fazlul Haque
5.What office did Mountbatten hold?
Ans:Viceroy

Short ans from o level[2006]

1.Which viceroy announced the partition of Bengal?

Ans:Viceroy Curzon

2.Which city became the capital of the province of East Bengal and Assam?
Ans:Dhaka

3.Who wrote Banglar Mati,Banglar Jal?

Ans:Rabindranath Tagore

4.In which year partition of Bengal reversed?

Ans:1911
5.Which British King announced the reversal of partition?
Ans:King George V

Page 14 of 17
Page 15 of 17
The Khalifat movement started because of the treatment of Turkey by the British after the first world
war. Turkey was a Muslim country and its ruler,the Sultan was considered to be the head of of the
worldwide Islamic community. When the British tried to take territory of Turkey Sultan after world war
one,Muslim in India were outraged and formed the Khalifat movement to protect the sultan and their
religion. Turkey had been defeated Muslim feared in about their position.

In 1930-32 British called a round table conference to discuss about the recommendations for Hindu and
Muslim.The first round table conference was held in London in 1930.It was attended by muslim
league,leberals and representatives of princely states.Congress refused to attend the
conference.Princed demanded their right and they will participate in the future federation of
India.British decided that representative government should be introduced from provincial
level.Jinnah,Aga khan left the conference with the feeling of some achievement.

British invited Gandhi in the second round table conference and influence Gandhi to stop the
movement.Irwin agreed to lelease most of the political prisoner.Gandhi agreed to join the
conference.But the conference failed for two reasons.Firstly,The labour party had lost power in Britain
and new government was less keen to reach a compromise in India.Secondly Gandhi took a hard line in
the talk about the problems of minorities in the subcontinent.

The third round table conference stood little chance to success.By this time noncooperation movement
restarted,Gandhi and Nehru arrested.None of the parties involved in the conference.Congress and all
princess boycotted the talks.Jinnah and Aga Khan joined,but there were only 46 delegates the meeting
broke up with nothing of any substance agreed.

....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................

Page 16 of 17
Page 17 of 17