Modern Indian History

Chittaranjan Das, popularly known as 'Deshabandhu' (friend of the nation), was a prominent freedom fighter and political leader from Bengal. He founded the Swaraj Party and was a key figure in the Non-Cooperation Movement. The title 'Deshabandhu' was affectionately given to him by the people.

Debendranath Tagore revitalized the Brahmo Samaj in 1842 after Ram Mohan Roy's death, giving it new institutional structure and direction. He formalized the creed (Brahmo Dharma) in 1850 and established the Brahmo Samaj as a structured religious movement.

Ram Mohan Roy began his campaign against Sati around 1818, building public opinion through petitions, pamphlets, and debates. His efforts led to Lord William Bentinck's regulation (1829) banning Sati in British India. Roy's advocacy was grounded in Hindu scriptures and humanitarian principles.

The All India Women's Conference (AIWC) was founded in 1927 in Poona under the leadership of Margaret Cousins, with prominent members like Sarojini Naidu, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur. It advocated for women's education, legal rights, political participation, and social reform across India.

Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar became Principal of Sanskrit College, Calcutta in 1851, where he introduced modern subjects, reformed curriculum, and promoted widow remarriage. As an educator and administrator, he modernized Sanskrit education while respecting traditional learning, becoming a key figure in the Bengal Renaissance.

The Hindu Widow Re-marriage Act was indeed passed in 1856. This landmark social legislation was championed by Lord Dalhousie and strongly supported by social reformer Ishwar Chundy. The act legalized the remarriage of Hindu widows, marking a significant step toward women's rights in colonial India.

Mahatma Gandhi was indeed the editor of Young India, which he started in 1919. Through this journal, he articulated his views on non-violent resistance, Swadeshi, and the freedom movement. Young India served as a powerful medium for communicating his political philosophy to both the masses and the British authorities.

Correct Answer: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Universities were indeed established in the presidency towns (Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras) in 1857, following the Woods Despatch of 1854. This marked the beginning of modern university education in India. These universities were modeled after the University of London and focused on Western education.

Correct Answer: Rowlatt Act

Fasting was indeed Gandhi's most effective weapon against injustice, which he called 'satyagraha' or 'soul force'. He used fasting effectively in various contexts - against the separate electorates for Harijans, during communal riots, and as a means of self-purification and moral persuasion. His fasts could mobilize millions and force authorities to address grievances.

Mahatma Gandhi first tried satyagraha in South Africa (1893-1914), particularly during the campaigns against discriminatory laws like the Asiatic Law Amendment Ordinance. The 1906-1913 satyagraha against the Asiatic Registration Act was his first large-scale application of this method. He only brought satyagraha to India later, starting with Champaran (1917), Bardoli (1918), and the Non-Cooperation Movement.

The Lucknow Pact was indeed concluded in 1916 between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. This agreement was significant for Hindu-Muslim cooperation, with Congress accepting separate electorates and the League supporting Congress's demand for self-government. The pact was reached during the joint session of both parties in Lucknow.

All three high courts (Calcutta, Madras, Bombay) were established in 1861 through the Indian High Courts Act. This was a major judicial reform during Lord Canning's tenure that created the modern high court system in India.