Modern Indian History

Rabindranath Tagore was the preeminent Indian literary figure before independence, most notably becoming the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for Gitanjali. He wrote extensively before 1947. Bankim Chandra was also important but Tagore's international recognition makes him the most prominent answer. There is a minor typo in option A (BankimChandra).

Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work with the poor in Kolkata. The question's phrasing 'Peace in late '70s' refers to this Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Florence Nightingale was much earlier (19th century), Tilak and Gandhi were Indian independence leaders, not peace prize recipients.

'Jai Hind' was popularized by Subhash Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA) in the 1940s. While Nehru adopted it as India's official greeting after independence, the slogan originated from Bose's Azad Hind Government. It became synonymous with the freedom movement.

Vir Bhoomi is the samadhi (memorial) of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, located in Delhi. The name translates to 'Land of the Brave' and honors his contribution to the nation. Other samadhis like Vijay Ghat (Lal Bahadur Shastri) and Shakti Sthal (Indira Gandhi) commemorate different leaders.

C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) wrote books on Socrates and Marcus Aurelius, showcasing his interest in philosophy and Stoic thought. He was a scholar, writer, and statesman who translated classics and authored philosophical works. His intellectual pursuits extended beyond politics into literature and philosophy.

Dadabhai Naoroji was given the title 'Grand Old Man of India' for his contributions to the Indian independence movement and as one of the first leaders to demand self-rule (Swaraj). He was also the first Indian to be elected to the British Parliament, making him a pivotal figure in India's political history.

The Cabinet Mission arrived in India in March 1946 to discuss the transfer of power from British rule to Indian leadership. This mission proposed the Cabinet Mission Plan for India's constitutional framework, which was a crucial step toward independence in 1947.

The Indian National Congress split into two factions at the Surat session in 1907 - the Extremists led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and the Moderates led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale. This division occurred due to ideological differences regarding methods to achieve independence. Banaras session was where the split was brewing, but the actual split happened at Surat.

Arundhati Roy, the Booker Prize-winning author and activist, made this powerful critique of big dams in her writings opposing the Narmada Dam project. She has been a vocal critic of large dams and their disproportionate impact on the poor. Medha Patkar led the Narmada Bachao Andolan, Sunderlal Bahuguna fought for the Chipko movement, and Anand Patwardhan is a documentary filmmaker.

The Indian National Congress declared 'Poorna Swaraj' (complete independence) as its goal on December 31, 1929, and January 26, 1930 was declared as 'Poorna Swaraj Diwas' (Independence Day) to be celebrated annually. This date was chosen at the Lahore Session of INC under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Shyamji Krishna Varma established India House in London in 1905 as a center for revolutionary activities and nationalist scholarship. It became a hub for Indian revolutionaries including Vinayak Savarkar. Dadabhai Naoroji was the first three-time Congress President, Madam Cama worked from there, and Savarkar was a resident, not the founder.

Gandhi served as Congress President only once, during the 1924 Belgaum session. He generally avoided formal party positions, preferring to work from the grassroots and guide the movement morally rather than administratively.

The 1907 Surat Session witnessed the historic split between Moderates (led by Gokhale) and Extremists (led by Tilak). The Moderates expelled the Extremits from the party, causing a major division that lasted until the 1916 Lucknow Pact.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak started the Home Rule League in 1916 to demand self-rule for India. Annie Besant also started a separate Home Rule League the same year, but Tilak is most prominently associated with founding the movement.

The Deccan Educational Society was founded in 1884 by Mahadev Govind Ranade along with other nationalists. It was established to promote national education. Tilak, Gokhale, and Dadabhai Naoroji were all freedom fighters but not founders of this specific society.