Blog

Chapter 12 India Gains Independence

Chapter 12 India Gains Independence

Textbook Questions and Answers

1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options :

Question 1.
………………. was the head of the interim Government.
(a) Vallabhbhai Patel
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Barrister Jinnah
Answer:
(c) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Question 2.
The plan of creation of two independent nations, India and Pakistan, was made by ………………… .
(a) Lord Wavell
(b) Stafford Cripps
(c) Lord Mountbatten
(d) Pethick Lawrence
Answer:
(c) Lord Mountbatten

2. Answer the following in one sentence:

Question 1.
Which demand was advocated by Barrister Jinnah?
Answer:
The two nation theory and demand of separate Muslim nation named Pakistan was advocated by Barrister Jinnah.

Question 2.
Write the names of the ministers participating in Cabinet Mission.
Answer:
Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps and A.V. Ale ander were the ministers participating in the Cabinet Mission.

3. Explain the following statements with reasons:

Question 1
The Indian National Congress approved the partition.
Answer:

  1. Lord Mountbatten prepared a plan of creation of India and Pakistan as two independent nations.
  2. Indian National Congress opposed the plan of partition as unity of the Nation was its basic stand.
  3. However, the Muslim League remained adamant on the creation of Pakistan.
  4. So, the Indian National Congress was left with no option but to accept the partition with complete helplessness.

Question 2.
The working of Interim Government could not run smoothly.
Answer:

  1. Muslim League demanded a separate Muslim nation of Pakistan.
  2. The followers of the Muslim League resorted to violent ways.
  3. Though the Muslim League declined to participate initially, they later participated in it.
  4. However, the leaders of the Muslim League adopted the policy of obstruction and therefore the Interim Government could not run smoothly.

Question 3.
The Wavell Plan could not succeed.
Answer:
The Wavell Plan could not succeed because

  1. Barrister Jinnah insisted that only Muslim League should have the right to suggest the names of Muslim representatives to the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
  2. The Congress opposed this and as a result, no consensus could be arrived at the meeting called by Lord Wavell.

4. Write the events on the following timeline:

Question 1.


Answer:

5. Answer the following questions in brief:

Question 1.
Why did the British took steps towards granting freedom to India?
Answer:

  1. The Indian freedom struggle had become very intense during the period of Second World War. The revolt of Navy and Air Force shook the foundation of the British empire.
  2. The demand for independence of India was gaining its strength.
  3. The Muslim League had demanded a separate Muslim nation.
  4. The followers of the Muslim League resorted to violence.
  5. The British government realised that it was necessary to take a serious note of it. They realised that their rule in India will not last long.

Accordingly, the British government started preparing plans for granting Independence to India.

Question 2.
Write information about the Mountbatten Plan.
Answer:

  1. England’s Prime Minister Atlee announced the transfer of power would be before June 1948.
  2. He appointed Lord Mountbatten as the Viceroy of India who was to arrange the transfer of power.
  3. He held discussions with the leaders of India.
  4. Mountbatten prepared a plan for partition of India i.e., creation of two independent nations, India and Pakistan.
  5. The Indian National Congress opposed the plan.
  6. But, due to the adamant behaviour of the Muslim League, the Indian National Congress accepted the Plan, with complete helplessness.
  7. On the basis of Mountbatten Plan, Indian Independence Act was passed.

Question 3.
Why did Muslim League declare to observe 16 August as Direct Action Day? What were its effects?
Answer:

  1. The Muslim League was adamant on the demand of Pakistan.
  2. It was not satisfied with Cabinet Mission plan as it had no provision for a separate Muslim state.
  3. 16th August 1946 was observed as Direct Action Day. ‘
  4. The followers of Muslim League resorted to violent ways.
  5. There were Hindu-Muslim riots in various parts of the country.
  6. There were massacres in the Noakhali region in the province of Bengal.

Project:

Collect information about the response of common people after gaining independence, with the help of various reference books as well as the internet.

Additional Important Questions and Answers

Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options:

Question 1.
……………… put forth the two Nation theory and demanded a separate Muslim nation.
(a) Barrister Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(b) Chaudhary Rahmat Ali
(c) Dr. Muhammad Iqbal
(d) Lord Mountbatten
Answer:
(a) Barrister Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Question 2.
……………., Prime Minister of England, declared that England would leave its dominion on India before June 194 .
(a) Winston Churchill
(b) Linlithgo
(c) Atlee
(d) Mountbatten
Answer:
(c) Atlee

Question 3.
The ……………. initially refused to participate in the Interim Government.
(a) Indian National Congress
(b) Muslim League
(c) Hindu Mahasabha
(d) Kisan Sabha
Answer:
(b) Muslim League

Question 4.
The Muslim League decided to observe 16th August as ……………. Day.
(a) Non Violence
(b) Pakistan
(c) Direct Action
(d) Independence
Answer:
(c) Direct Action

Question 5.
As per ………………, India got independence.
(a) Mountbatten Plan
(b) Wctvell Plan
(c) Indian Independence Act
(d) Cabinet Mission
Answer:
(c) Indian Independence Act

Question 6.
Gandhiji was assassinated on ………………….. .
(a) 30 December 1947
(b) 30 January 194
(c) 30 March 194
(d) 2 October 194
Answer:
(b) 30 January 194

Name the following:

Question 1.
First person to present idea of free Muslim nation.
Answer:
Dr. Muhammad Iqbal

Question 2.
Last Viceroy of India.
Answer:
Lord Mountbatten

Question 3.
One who presented idea of Pakistan.
Answer:
Chaudhary Rahmat Ali

Question 4.
Went to Noakhali to stop violence
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi.

Answer the following in one sentence:

Question 1.
What did Prime Minister Atlee declare in the British Parliament of England?
Answer:
Prime Minister Atlee declared in the British Parliament that England would transfer all of its government responsibility to Indians not later than June 1948.

Question 2.
Why did the Interim Government not work smoothly?
Answer:
The Interim Government could not work smoothly because the Muslim League followed the policy of obstruction.

Answer the following questions in brief:

Question 1.
Which were the important provisions :
of the Wavell Plan?
Answer:

  1. The Wavell Plan provided a proper representation to Muslims, Dalits and minorities in the Central and Provincial Legislatures.
  2. It provided for an equal number of Hindu and Muslim members in Viceroy’s Executive Council.

Question 2.
State the provisions of the Indian Independence Act.
Answer:
The Indian Independence Act was passed on the basis of Mountbatten Plan on 18th July, 1947.
According to the plan :

  1. Two Independent nations of India and Pakistan will come into existence on 15th August, 1947.
  2. Thereafter, the British Parliament would not retain any control over them.
  3. The British supremacy over the princely states would come to an end.
  4. They would be free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent.

Question 3.
Write about the attainment of independence by India.
Answer:

  1. As per the Indian Independence Act, India was granted Independence on 15th August, 1947.
  2. A meeting of the Constituent Assembly was going on in the hall of Parliament House in Delhi in the midnight of 14th August.
  3. At the stroke of midnight, the Union Jack of Britain was lowered and in its place the Indian tricolour flag was unfurled.

Explain the following statements with reasons:

Question 1.
The Cabinet Mission Plan could not satisfy the political parties in India.
Answer:
The Cabinet Mission Plan could not satisfy the political parties in India because,

  1. The Indian National Congress was not happy with some of its provisions.
  2. The Muslim League was also dissatisfied with the plan as it did not provide for the creation of a separate Muslim state of Pakistan.

Question 2.
The joy of attainment of freedom was not untinted:
Answer:

  1. India attained Independence from the slavery of 150 years.
  2. But, the people were grieved due to the partition of the country and the terrible violence during that period.

So, the joy of attainment of freedom was not untinted.

Answer the following in detail:

Question 1.
State the genesis of Pakistan.
Answer:

  1. To weaken the national movement, the British adopted the policy of ‘divide and rule’. Its consequence was the establishment of ‘Muslim League’.
  2. Famous poet, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal put forth the idea of an independent Muslim state.
  3. Later Chaudhary Rahmat Ali coined the name Pakistan.
  4. Barrister Muhammad Ali Jinnah put forth the two nation theory and demanded a separate state for the Muslims naming Pakistan.
  5. Barrister Jinnah and the Muslim League started the propaganda that Indian National Congress was only a Hindu organisation and the Muslims have no benefit of it.
  6. Since their demand was not fulfilled, they observed ‘Direct Action Day’ and resorted to violence.
  7. The nation witnessed Hindu-Muslim riots in various parts.
  8. After the consent of the Indian National Congress to the Mountbatten Plan, the Indian Independence Act provided for the partition.

Question 2.
Why do you think everyone needs freedom?
Answer:

  1. Freedom is liberation from any kind of bondage.
  2. The rights of people are denied under foreign rule.
  3. Lot of restrictions are imposed by a foreign power.
  4. Under a foreign rule or dictatorship, power is not used for the welfare of the people but for the benefit of few.
  5. All round development of the citizens take place in an independent free state.
  6. Equality, Fraternity, Justice, Humanity are values which are cherished in freedom. Therefore, everyone needs freedom.