The Struggle For Independence

Question 1

What were some of the demands initially put forth by the Indian National Congress?

Answer 1

Initial demands included constitutional reforms, representation in legislative councils, civil rights, and economic policies benefiting Indians.

Question 2

How did the Indian National Congress evolve over time?

Answer 2

It evolved from a gathering of English-educated elites to a mass movement encompassing people from diverse backgrounds.

Question 3

What were the Indian Councils Acts of 1861?

Answer 3

The Indian Councils Acts of 1861 were legislative measures enacted by the British Parliament to reform the governance structure of British India.

Question 4

How were the legislative councils composed under the Indian Councils Acts of 1861?

Answer 4

The majority of council members were appointed by the British government, including officials and nominated non-official members. A small number of seats were reserved for Indian representatives, chosen through indirect elections or nomination by local bodies.

Question 5

When did The Partition of Bengal take place?

Answer 5

1905

Question 6

When did the British civil servant, Octavian Hume, send the open letter to graduates of Calcutta University?

Answer 6

In March, 1883.

Question 7

How did Muslims feel about The Partition of Bengal?

Question 8

What was the aim of the British in The Partition of Bengal.

Question 9

What happened in 1883?

Answer 9

An event in 1883, probably introduction of Ilbert Bill, made many educated indians become more nationalistic.

Question 10

Who was Lord Ripon?

Answer 10

Viceroy of India.

Question 11

How long was Lord Ripon Viceroy of India?

Answer 11

He was Viceroy from 1880 to 1884, for 4 years.

Question 12

To whom was the Ilbert bill introduced?

Answer 12

British Parliament.

Question 13

Who did the British families form connections with and what did they consult them upon?

Answer 13

They developed close connections with the princes, nobels and landowners of India and consulted most of them over the policies they wanted to implement in India.

Question 14

When the British families moved to India what did they do?

Answer 14

They started a new culture of white sahibs and mem sahibs as they adopted ways of Indian royalty.

Question 15

When was the War of Independence on the Subcontinent?

Answer 15

War of Independence was in 1857.

Question 16

What was the Ilbert Bill, and who introduced it?

Answer 16

The Ilbert Bill was a proposed piece of legislation introduced by Lord Ripon, the Viceroy of India, in 1883. It aimed to amend the Criminal Procedure Code of India, specifically regarding the jurisdiction of Indian magistrates over European offenders.

Question 17

Why did the Ilbert Bill face opposition?

Answer 17

The Ilbert Bill encountered strong opposition from the European community in India, particularly from Anglo-Indians. They feared that the proposed changes would undermine their privileged status in the legal system and argued that Indian magistrates were not impartial or competent enough to try European offenders.
This was a significant departure from the existing system, which granted preferential treatment to Europeans in the legal process.

Question 18

What did the Ilbert Bill propose?

Answer 18

The Ilbert Bill proposed that:

Indian magistrates should get greater legal rights.

Senior Indian magistrates should be allowed to preside over cases involving European offenders along with Indians.