Indian Independence Movement

Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the historic Lahore Session (1929) where the Indian National Congress declared 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) as its goal. WC Bannerji was an earlier leader (early 1900s), Gandhiji was the guiding force but not president of this session, and Motilal Nehru led the Nehru Report but not this independence declaration.

The incident occurred at the Pietermaritzburg railway station in South Africa in 1893. Despite holding a first-class ticket, Gandhi was ordered to move to the van compartment (third class) reserved for non-whites. His refusal led to him being thrown off the train, which became a turning point in his life.

Gandhiji's first arrest for sedition by the British occurred in Ahmadabad (now Ahmedabad) in 1922 for his articles in Young India. This was after the Chauri Chaura violence when he was tried for sedition. Agra, Delhi, and Amritsar were not locations of his first sedition arrest.

In the 1939 Congress presidential election, Subhash Chandra Bose defeated Pattabhi Sitaramayya, who was Gandhiji's preferred candidate. Bose won by 203 votes, leading to his resignation and formation of the Forward Bloc. Mahadev Desai was Gandhi's secretary, Sushila Nayyar a close associate, and Sarojini Naidu was a leader but not the 1939 candidate.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly.

The Provisional Government of Independent India (Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind) was formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore in 1943 with support from Japan. This government was established as part of the Indian National Army's movement to liberate India from British colonial rule during World War II.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan served as the first Vice-President of India from 1952 to 1962. He later became the second President of India, and his birthday is celebrated as Teacher's Day in the country.

C. Rajagopalachari, also known as Rajaji, was the first and only Indian to hold the office of Governor-General of India after independence. He succeeded Lord Mountbatten in 1948 and served until India became a republic in 1950.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of the Republic of India, serving from 1950 to 1962. He was a key leader in the Indian Independence Movement and remains the only president to serve two terms.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution because he was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and played a pivotal role in its creation.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the primary pioneer of the extremist faction within the Indian National Congress. He advocated for 'Swaraj' (self-rule) and used more radical methods compared to the moderate leaders.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Tej Bahadur Sapru were the prominent Indian leaders who attended all three Round Table Conferences held in London between 1930 and 1932.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly on December 11, 1946. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha had served as the temporary President for the first meeting on December 9.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad served as the first Minister of Education in the Indian government from 1947 to 1958. His birthday, November 11, is celebrated as National Education Day in India. He was a key figure in establishing the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Sir M. Visvesvarayya is credited with first advocating for a planned economy in India through his 1934 book, 'Planned Economy for India.' While Nehru later chaired the National Planning Committee, Visvesvarayya provided the initial conceptual framework.