I. Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options.
1. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan had started a reform movement among the Muslims called the ________Movement.
(a) Sufi
(b) Aligarh
(c) Jaipur
(d) Wahabi
Ans: b) Aligarh
2. What were Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan's initial views on 'Hindu-Muslim' unity?
(a) He regarded them to be different entities.
(b) He regarded them to be one Quam (nation).
(c) He believed that their interests were different.
(d) He regarded them to be two separate Quams (nations).
Ans: b) He regarded them to be one Quam (nation).
3. The First President of the Muslim League was________.
(a) Shaukat Ali
(b) Aga Khan
(c) Sir Sayyid Ahmad
(d) Nawab Salimullah
Ans: d) Nawab Salimullah
4. A deputation to the Viceroy Lord Minto with a view to secure more political rights for Muslims was led by________.
(a) Aga Khan
(b) Nawab Salimullah
(c) Archibald
(d) Shaukat Ali
Ans: a) Aga Khan
5. Which of the following were the demands made by the Muslim Deputation (1906) to the Viceroy, Lord Minto?
(a) Representation of Muslims in elected bodies on the basis of their numerical strength.
(b) Representation of Muslims in elected bodies on the basis of their political importance.
(c) Nomination of Muslims in elected bodies to ensure representation of the community.
(d) None of the above
Ans: b) Representation of Muslims in elected bodies on the basis of their political importance.
6. Which of the following was NOT an objective of the Muslim League when it was formed?
(a) To promote support for British government
(b) To protect and advance political rights of Indian Muslims
(c) To promote hostility between Indian Muslims and other communities
(d) To represent the needs of Muslims in India to the British in mild and moderate language
Ans: c) To promote hostility between Indian Muslims and other communities
7. Which of the following is NOT true about the role of the Muslim League in the beginning?
(a) It stood apart from the National Movement
(b) It worked against the Congress
(c) It focussed its action on the problems faced by the upper class
(d) Its political activities were directed against the British.
Ans: d) Its political activities were directed against the British
8. Which of the following factors made leaders in the Muslims League realise that rapprochement with the Congress was desirable?
(a) Britain's hostility to Turkey
(b) Provision of separate electorate in the Morley-Minto Reforms
(c) Two-nation Theory of Jinnah
(d) Drain Theory of Dadabhai Naoroji.
Ans: a) Britain's hostility to Turkey
9. Which two leaders were instrumental in the passage of the Lucknow Pact?
(a) Abul Kalam Azad and Shaukat Ali
(b) Lala Lajpat Rai and Anne Besant
(c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant
(d) Nawab Salimullah and Archibald.
Ans: c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant
10. The Muslim League changed its objectives from 'support for the British Government' to ________ leading to the Lucknow Pact.
(a) 'a system of self-government under Turkey.'
(b) 'a system of self-government like Britain.'
(c) 'a system of self-government under the aegis of the British Crown.'
(d) 'a system of self-government together with the Congress.'
Ans: c) 'a system of self-government under the aegis of the British Crown'.
11. From the given list, identify the clauses of the Lucknow Pact.
(a) Minorities should have separate representation in the Indian Council.
(b) Members of the judiciary in every province should be under the control of the British
(c) The India Council of the Secretary of State, operating from England, should be abolished.
(d) In legislative Council, half were to be Muslims selected by the League.
Ans: a) and c) both
12. From the given list identify the statements which reflect the significance of the Lucknow Pact?
(i) It brought about unity between the two factions in the Congress.
(ii) It was confined only to the educated and rich Hindus and Muslims. It did not involve the masses.
(iii) It seemed to have laid stress on the separate interests of the Hindus and the Muslims and their separate political existence.
(iv) It provided for a 'Communal Veto' in legislation.
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(b) (i) only
(c) All of the above
(d) None of the above
Ans: b) (i) only
13. Which of the following is NOT true about Lucknow Session of Congress in 1916?
(a) Moderates and Assertive Nationalists resolved their differences in this session
(b) The Congress and the Muslim League signed Lucknow Pact after the session
(c) B. G. Tilak and Annie Beasant emerged as important figures of Congress party
(d) This session demanded 'Dominion Status' for India.
Ans: d) This session demanded 'Dominion Status' for India.
14. Which of the following was a drawback of the Lucknow Pact?
(a) Acknowledgement of separate political interests of Hindus and Muslims
(b) Necessity to introduce reforms
(c) Separation of the executive from the judiciary
(d) Promotion of support to the British.
Ans: a) Acknowledgement of separate political interests of Hindus and Muslims
II. Short Answer Questions
1. Why did the British treat the Muslims harshly immediately after the Uprising of 1857? Why did the British attitude towards the Muslims change in the later part of the 19th century?
Ans:
- Immediately after the Uprising of 1857, the British treated the Muslims harshly because they held them responsible for the revolt. The Muslims had participated in the uprising and were suspected of trying to restore Mughal rule. Therefore, they were discriminated against in civil and military services.
- In the later part of the 19th century, the British changed their attitude and adopted a policy of appeasing the Muslims. They did so to weaken the growing National Movement by creating divisions between Hindus and Muslims and following the policy of "Divide and Rule."
2. How did the Hindi-Urdu controversy become an important factor in the formation of the Muslim League?
Ans:
- In 1900, the Government of the United Provinces allowed the use of Hindi written in Devanagari script along with Urdu in courts and government offices.
- Many Muslims opposed this decision because they regarded Urdu as an important symbol of their culture and identity.
- The controversy created bitterness between Hindus and Muslims and strengthened the feeling that Muslims needed a separate political organisation to protect their interests.
- As a result, it became one of the factors that led to the formation of the All-India Muslim League in 1906.
3. How did the relative economic backwardness of the Muslims foster communal feelings in India?
Ans:
- Muslims were educationally and economically backward and had a smaller share in government jobs, trade and industry.
- This created a feeling of insecurity among them and led to the growth of communal feelings and demands for separate safeguards.
4. What promises were made by Lord Minto to the Muslim deputation led by Agha Khan in 1906? Why did the British imperialists encourage the formation of the Muslim League?
Ans:
- Lord Minto promised that the Muslims would be given separate representation (separate electorates) in legislative bodies. He assured them that their political rights and interests would be protected.
- British imperialists encouraged the formation of the Muslim League, as they wanted to counter the growing influence of the Indian National Congress. They followed the policy of "Divide and Rule" by creating divisions between Hindus and Muslims.
5. What is meant by Separate (Communal) Electorates?
Ans: Separate (Communal) Electorates meant a system under which the members of each community elected their own representatives. Thus, Muslims could vote only for Muslim candidates and Hindus only for Hindu candidates.
6. What was the Lucknow Pact?
Ans:
- The Lucknow Pact (1916) was an agreement between the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League.
- Through this pact, the two organisations jointly demanded constitutional reforms and greater self-government for India.
III. Structured Questions
1. The growth of communalism in India was encouraged by the British authorities as well as certain trends in Indian society. In the light of this observation, explain:
(a) The Divide and Rule Policy of the British.
Ans:
- The British followed the policy of "Divide and Rule" to weaken the growing National Movement in India.
- They encouraged differences between Hindus and Muslims and treated them as separate political communities.
- They supported Muslim demands for separate representation and separate electorates.
- By creating communal divisions, the British hoped to prevent Indians from uniting against their rule.
(b) The writings and speeches of the Assertive Nationalists.
Ans:
- The Assertive Nationalists glorified India's ancient culture, history and traditions in their speeches and writings.
- Some of their writings created the impression that Hindu culture alone represented Indian nationalism.
- This made many Muslims fear that their interests and identity might be neglected in the National Movement.
- As a result, communal feelings grew, and some Muslims began to support a separate political organisation.
(c) The erroneous interpretation of Indian History.
Ans:
- Some British historians wrongly described Indian History as a continuous struggle between Hindus and Muslims.
- They ignored the long periods of cooperation and harmony between the two communities.
- This distorted view created mistrust and hostility between Hindus and Muslims.
- As a result, communal feelings were strengthened, and national unity was weakened.
2. With reference to the Lucknow Pact, answer the following questions:
(a) Mention any three factors that led to the signing of the Lucknow Pact in 1916.
Ans:
- Britain's hostile attitude towards Turkey made many Muslim leaders realise the need for cooperation with the Congress.
- In 1913, the Muslim League changed its objective and adopted the goal of self-government under the British Crown.
- The reunion of the Moderates and Assertive Nationalists in the Congress created an atmosphere of unity.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant worked to bring the Congress and the Muslim League closer together.
(b) Mention any three clauses of the Pact.
Ans:
- The India Council of the Secretary of State, operating from England, should be abolished.
- The Executive should be separated from the Judiciary.
- Minorities should have adequate separate representation in elected bodies.
- Elected members should form a majority in the Central and Provincial Legislative Councils.
(c) Why was the signing of the Lucknow Pact an important event towards the growth of unity in India?
Ans:
- It brought about unity between the Moderates and the Assertive Nationalists in the Congress.
- It led to cooperation between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
- It promoted Hindu-Muslim unity and strengthened the National Movement.
- It enabled Indians to present common demands before the British Government.