Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
How to Use This Page
1. Read the textbook chapter first. These solutions supplement — not replace — the Samacheer Kalvi textbook. 2. Attempt every exercise question on your own before checking the answers here. 3. Use the Key Concepts section for quick revision before exams. 4. Focus on the explanations after each answer, not just the correct option — they contain exam-worthy details. 5. Revisit the Common Mistakes and Exam Checklist the night before your exam.
Key Concepts (Quick Recap)
- August Offer (1940): Britain promised dominion status and a constituent assembly after the war — rejected by Congress as inadequate.
- Cripps Mission (1942): Offered dominion status after the war with the right to secede; rejected by both Congress (no immediate transfer) and the League (no separate Pakistan).
- Quit India Movement (8 August 1942): Gandhi's "Do or Die" call; mass uprising; all Congress leaders arrested; underground networks operated; violent in many areas.
- Indian National Army (INA): Formed by Mohan Singh (1942), revived by Subhas Chandra Bose (1943); fought alongside Japan; reached Indian soil (Moirang, Manipur); surrendered after Japan's defeat (1945).
- INA Trials (1945–46): Trials of Shah Nawaz Khan, G.S. Dhillon, and Prem Sehgal aroused national sentiment; led to the RIN Mutiny.
- Royal Indian Navy Mutiny (February 1946): Ratings in Bombay (HMIS Talwar) struck work over poor conditions and racial discrimination; spread to other cities; suppressed but showed that even the armed forces were no longer reliable for British rule.
- Cabinet Mission (1946): Proposed a federal India with grouping of provinces; accepted by Congress initially; rejected by the League, then accepted, then rejected — leading to Direct Action Day.
- Direct Action Day (16 August 1946): Muslim League's call for mass action; triggered the Great Calcutta Killing and communal violence across India.
- Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947): Accepted Partition; India and Pakistan to become dominions; rapid transfer of power.
- Indian Independence Act (1947): Passed by British Parliament; India became independent on 15 August 1947; Pakistan on 14 August.
- Partition violence: Massive displacement (10–12 million), death toll estimated at 1–2 million, communal riots, and refugee crises.
I. Choose the Best Answer
Q1. The Quit India Resolution was passed on
- (a) 8 August 1942
- (b) 26 January 1942
- (c) 15 August 1942
- (d) 23 March 1942
Q2. Who formed the Indian National Army (INA) in Southeast Asia?
- (a) Subhas Chandra Bose
- (b) Mohan Singh
- (c) Rash Behari Bose
- (d) Captain Shah Nawaz Khan
Q3. The famous slogan "Do or Die" was given by
- (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
- (b) Subhas Chandra Bose
- (c) Mahatma Gandhi
- (d) Sardar Patel
Q4. The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny took place in the year
- (a) 1942
- (b) 1944
- (c) 1946
- (d) 1947
Q5. The Cabinet Mission arrived in India in
- (a) 1942
- (b) 1945
- (c) 1946
- (d) 1947
Q6. Direct Action Day was observed by the Muslim League on
- (a) 16 August 1946
- (b) 26 January 1946
- (c) 23 March 1946
- (d) 14 August 1947
Q7. The Mountbatten Plan for Partition was announced on
- (a) 3 June 1947
- (b) 15 August 1947
- (c) 26 January 1947
- (d) 20 February 1947
Q8. Who was the last Viceroy of British India?
- (a) Lord Wavell
- (b) Lord Linlithgow
- (c) Lord Mountbatten
- (d) Lord Cripps
Q9. Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Provisional Government of Free India at
- (a) Rangoon
- (b) Singapore
- (c) Bangkok
- (d) Tokyo
Q10. The Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament in
- (a) 1946
- (b) 1947
- (c) 1948
- (d) 1950
II. Fill in the Blanks
1. The Quit India Movement was launched on 8 August 1942. 2. Gandhi's famous slogan during Quit India was "Do or Die" (Karenge ya Marenge). 3. The first INA was formed by Captain Mohan Singh in 1942. 4. The Provisional Government of Azad Hind was established by Subhas Chandra Bose at Singapore. 5. The RIN Mutiny began at HMIS Talwar in Bombay on 18 February 1946. 6. The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed a federal structure for India with grouping of provinces. 7. Direct Action Day was observed on 16 August 1946, leading to communal violence in Calcutta. 8. The Mountbatten Plan was announced on 3 June 1947. 9. India achieved independence on 15 August 1947; Pakistan on 14 August 1947. 10. The boundary commission that drew the Partition line was headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe.
III. True or False
1. The Cripps Mission (1942) was accepted by the Indian National Congress. — False. The Congress rejected the Cripps Mission because it offered dominion status only after the war and allowed provinces to opt out. Gandhi called it a "post-dated cheque on a failing bank."
2. The Quit India Movement was a peaceful, non-violent movement throughout. — False. Although Gandhi gave a non-violent call, the movement turned violent in many areas — government buildings were burned, railways and telegraph lines were cut, and there were clashes with police. This was because all Congress leaders were arrested, leaving no one to guide the movement.
3. Subhas Chandra Bose reached Indian soil during the INA campaign. — True. The INA, along with the Japanese army, reached Moirang in Manipur and planted the Indian flag on Indian soil on 14 April 1944. However, the offensive stalled after the Japanese defeat at Imphal and Kohima.
4. The RIN Mutiny was supported by the Congress and the Muslim League. — False. Initially, both the Congress and the Muslim League expressed sympathy, but ultimately both leaders (Gandhi and Jinnah) advised the ratings to surrender, fearing the mutiny could lead to uncontrolled violence.
5. The Cabinet Mission recommended the partition of India. — False. The Cabinet Mission recommended a united India with a federal structure and grouping of provinces. Partition was not part of their original plan — it came later when the Mission's proposals failed.
6. Lord Mountbatten was both the last Viceroy and the first Governor-General of independent India. — True. Mountbatten served as Viceroy of British India (March–August 1947) and then as the first Governor-General of independent India (1947–48).
7. The Indian National Army fought alongside British forces. — False. The INA fought alongside the Japanese against British forces. Its goal was to liberate India from British rule with Japanese assistance.
8. The Quit India Movement saw the participation of students, workers, and peasants even without Congress leaders. — True. After the arrest of all Congress leaders, the movement was carried forward by students, workers, peasants, and underground networks. It demonstrated that the freedom struggle had become a truly mass movement.
9. The Radcliffe Line divided only the provinces of Punjab and Bengal. — True. The Radcliffe Line divided Punjab and Bengal between India and Pakistan. Other provinces were allocated entirely to one dominion or the other based on religious majority.
10. Jinnah's two-nation theory stated that Hindus and Muslims are one nation. — False. Jinnah's two-nation theory stated that Hindus and Muslims are two distinct nations with different religions, cultures, and histories, and therefore Muslims deserve a separate nation — Pakistan.
IV. Match the Following
Set 1
| Column A | Column B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (i) | Quit India Movement | (1) | 18 February 1946 |
| (ii) | INA | (2) | 8 August 1942 |
| (iii) | RIN Mutiny | (3) | Captain Mohan Singh |
| (iv) | Cabinet Mission | (4) | 16 August 1946 |
| (v) | Direct Action Day | (5) | March 1946 |
- (i) — 2: Quit India Movement → 8 August 1942
- (ii) — 3: INA → Captain Mohan Singh (first INA)
- (iii) — 1: RIN Mutiny → 18 February 1946
- (iv) — 5: Cabinet Mission → March 1946
- (v) — 4: Direct Action Day → 16 August 1946
Set 2
| Column A | Column B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (i) | Subhas Chandra Bose | (1) | Last Viceroy of India |
| (ii) | Lord Mountbatten | (2) | "Do or Die" |
| (iii) | Mahatma Gandhi | (3) | "Give me blood, I shall give you freedom" |
| (iv) | Sir Cyril Radcliffe | (4) | Boundary Commission |
| (v) | Jinnah | (5) | Two-nation theory |
- (i) — 3: Subhas Chandra Bose → "Give me blood, I shall give you freedom"
- (ii) — 1: Lord Mountbatten → Last Viceroy of India
- (iii) — 2: Mahatma Gandhi → "Do or Die"
- (iv) — 4: Sir Cyril Radcliffe → Boundary Commission
- (v) — 5: Jinnah → Two-nation theory
V. Short Answer Questions
Q1. Why was the Cripps Mission (1942) rejected by both the Congress and the Muslim League?
- Congress rejected it because: (a) it offered no immediate transfer of power — dominion status was only promised after the war; (b) it allowed provinces to secede, threatening India's unity; (c) Gandhi called it a "post-dated cheque on a failing bank."
- Muslim League rejected it because: (a) it did not explicitly accept the demand for Pakistan; (b) the right to secede was not clear enough to guarantee a separate Muslim nation.
Q2. Describe the main features of the Quit India Movement.
Q3. What was the role of Subhas Chandra Bose in the freedom struggle?
Q4. What were the causes and consequences of the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny?
Causes: 1. Poor conditions and food on naval ships. 2. Racial discrimination by British officers — Indian ratings were treated as inferiors. 3. INA trials inspired naval ratings to protest against colonial rule. 4. Nationalist sentiments — the ratings shouted slogans like "Jai Hind" and "Hindustan Azad."
Consequences: 1. The mutiny spread from Bombay to Karachi, Calcutta, and Madras, involving over 20,000 ratings and 78 ships. 2. It demonstrated that even the armed forces were no longer loyal to the British — a decisive sign that colonial rule was untenable. 3. Both the Congress and the Muslim League advised the ratings to surrender, fearing uncontrolled violence. 4. The mutiny ended on 23 February 1946, but it shook British confidence and accelerated the decision to transfer power.
Q5. What were the main proposals of the Cabinet Mission (1946)?
4. Constituent Assembly: Elected by provincial legislatures to frame the constitution. 5. Interim government: A coalition government at the Centre with both Congress and League members.
- Section A: Hindu-majority provinces (Madras, Bombay, UP, etc.)
- Section B: Muslim-majority provinces in the northwest (Punjab, NWFP, Sindh, Baluchistan)
- Section C: Muslim-majority provinces in the northeast (Bengal, Assam)
The Congress initially accepted it, then rejected the grouping clause. The League initially rejected it, then accepted it, then rejected it again — leading to Direct Action Day and eventually Partition.
Q6. Explain the significance of the INA Trials.
VI. Detailed Answer Questions
Q1. Discuss the causes, course, and significance of the Quit India Movement.
Causes: 1. Failure of the Cripps Mission (1942): The offer of dominion status after the war was seen as inadequate — Gandhi called it a "post-dated cheque on a failing bank." 2. Impact of World War II: Food shortages, inflation, and the Bengal famine (1943) caused immense suffering. Indians were dragged into a war without their consent. 3. Growing nationalist sentiment: The earlier movements (Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience) had built a mass base; people were now ready for a final push. 4. British refusal to grant immediate independence: The British insisted that independence would be considered only after the war. 5. Japanese advance: Japan's rapid conquest of Southeast Asia (including Singapore, February 1942) brought the war to India's doorstep, increasing the urgency.
Course:
- 8 August 1942: AICC passes the Quit India Resolution at Bombay; Gandhi gives the "Do or Die" slogan.
- 9 August 1942: All Congress leaders arrested before dawn; Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and others imprisoned at various locations.
- Spontaneous uprising: Despite leaderless conditions, massive protests erupted — strikes, hartals, attacks on government buildings, cutting of telegraph lines and railways.
- Parallel governments: Established in Satara (Maharashtra), Ballia (UP), Midnapore (Bengal), and other areas.
- Underground activity: Leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan, and Usha Mehta (secret radio broadcaster) operated underground.
- British repression: Lathi charges, firing, mass arrests — over 60,000 arrested, hundreds killed.
- Gradual decline: By 1943, the movement was largely suppressed, though sporadic activity continued.
Significance: 1. Made British position untenable: The scale of the uprising demonstrated that India could no longer be held by force. 2. Mass participation: For the first time, the movement spread to rural areas and involved peasants, workers, and students — not just the urban elite. 3. Shift in British policy: After Quit India, the British recognised that the question was no longer whether to leave, but when and how. 4. Demonstrated Indian resolve: The movement proved that Indians were willing to sacrifice everything for freedom — "Do or Die." 5. Weakened the League's position: The Muslim League did not participate, which strengthened the Congress's claim to represent the national movement, though the League capitalised on the political vacuum in Muslim areas.
Q2. Explain the Mountbatten Plan and the circumstances that led to the Partition of India.
Circumstances Leading to Partition:
1. Failure of the Cabinet Mission (1946): The Mission proposed a united India with provincial grouping, but the Congress and the League could not agree on the grouping clause. 2. Direct Action Day (16 August 1946): The League's call for Direct Action triggered massive communal violence in Calcutta (Great Calcutta Killing), which spread to Noakhali, Bihar, and other regions — hundreds of thousands died. 3. Interim Government breakdown: The Congress and League could not cooperate in the interim government; communal tensions escalated. 4. Attlee's announcement (20 February 1947): British PM Attlee declared that Britain would transfer power by June 1948 at the latest — adding urgency. 5. Mountbatten's assessment: Lord Mountbatten arrived in March 1947 and quickly concluded that Partition was inevitable; a united India was no longer possible given the communal violence and the League's insistence on Pakistan. 6. Communal violence: Widespread riots made it clear that any delay would cause more bloodshed.
The Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947): 1. India would be divided into two dominions — India and Pakistan. 2. Pakistan would include West Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Baluchistan, and East Bengal. 3. The legislatures of Punjab and Bengal would vote on partition; if majority members from Muslim-majority districts voted for partition, the province would be divided. 4. Sylhet (in Assam) would hold a referendum to decide whether to join East Pakistan. 5. The princely states would be free to join either dominion or remain independent (later, almost all acceded to India or Pakistan). 6. The boundary between India and Pakistan would be demarcated by a boundary commission. 7. Power would be transferred by August 1947 — advanced from June 1948.
The Indian Independence Act (18 July 1947):
- Passed by the British Parliament on 18 July 1947.
- Created the dominions of India and Pakistan.
- Set 15 August 1947 as the date of independence.
- Provided for the division of Punjab and Bengal.
- Abolished the office of the Secretary of State for India.
Consequences of Partition:
- Mass migration: 10–12 million people crossed borders — one of the largest mass migrations in history.
- Violence: An estimated 1–2 million people were killed in communal violence.
- Displacement and trauma: Millions lost their homes, property, and livelihoods.
- Kashmir dispute: The princely state of Jammu and Kashmir's accession remains contested, leading to ongoing conflict.
- Economic disruption: Trade routes, irrigation systems, and economic networks were severed.
Q3. Assess the role of Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA in India's freedom struggle.
Formation and Revival of the INA:
- The first INA was formed by Captain Mohan Singh in 1942 from Indian prisoners of war held by the Japanese in Southeast Asia. It was dissolved due to differences with the Japanese.
- Subhas Chandra Bose revived the INA in July 1943 after escaping from house arrest in India and travelling to Germany and then to Japan by submarine.
- Bose reorganised the INA with the motto "Ittehad, Etmad, Qurbani" (Unity, Faith, Sacrifice) and gave the slogans "Delhi Chalo" and "Give me blood, I shall give you freedom."
Military Campaign:
- The INA, alongside the Japanese army, advanced through Burma and entered Indian territory.
- On 14 April 1944, the INA reached Moirang, Manipur, and planted the Indian flag on Indian soil.
- However, the offensive was halted after the Japanese defeat at the Battles of Imphal and Kohima (June–July 1944).
- The INA retreated, and with Japan's surrender in August 1945, the INA was effectively disbanded.
INA Trials (1945–46):
- The British put three INA officers — Shah Nawaz Khan, G.S. Dhillon, and Prem Sehgal — on trial at the Red Fort for treason.
- The trials triggered massive public outrage across India. Indians saw the INA officers as patriots, not traitors.
- The Congress defended the officers; Nehru wore his lawyer's robes for the first time since the 1920s.
- The officers were ultimately court-martialled and cashiered, but the sentences were remitted under public pressure.
Impact on the Freedom Struggle: 1. Eroded British confidence in the military: The INA trials and the RIN Mutiny (1946) showed that even the armed forces were no longer reliable — this was decisive in convincing the British to leave. 2. Mass mobilisation: The trials united Hindus and Muslims in a shared cause — a rare moment of communal solidarity in the 1940s. 3. Political impact: Attlee acknowledged that the INA events were a major factor in the decision to transfer power. 4. Symbolic value: Bose and the INA demonstrated that Indians were willing to take up arms for freedom — complementing Gandhi's non-violent approach. 5. Controversy: Bose's alliance with the Axis powers (particularly Japan and Nazi Germany) remains debated. Critics argue that this collaboration was morally problematic; supporters argue that the enemy's enemy is a friend in a liberation struggle.
Conclusion: Though the INA failed militarily, its political impact was profound. It weakened the British position, inspired mass patriotism, and hastened the end of colonial rule.
Q4. Compare and contrast the approaches of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League during the last phase of the national movement.
| Aspect | Indian National Congress | Muslim League |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | United, independent India | Separate nation of Pakistan (from 1940) |
| Ideology | Secular nationalism; India as a nation of all communities | Two-nation theory; Muslims are a separate nation |
| Leadership | Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Azad | M.A. Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan |
| Approach to the British | Non-violent civil disobedience; Quit India; negotiate from strength | Collaborated with the British (did not support Quit India); negotiated for Pakistan |
| Quit India (1942) | Launched and led the movement | Did not participate; opposed the movement |
| Cabinet Mission (1946) | Initially accepted; then rejected grouping clause | Initially rejected; then accepted; then rejected again |
| Constituent Assembly | Participated actively | Boycotted initially; participated briefly |
| Direct Action Day (1946) | Opposed communal violence | Called for Direct Action Day (16 August 1946), leading to violence |
| Attitude to Partition | Opposed until the last moment; accepted under Mountbatten's plan as the only way to avoid civil war | Demanded and achieved Pakistan |
| Post-independence vision | Secular, socialist, democratic republic | Islamic republic (Pakistan) with secular elements initially |
Key turning points:
- Lahore Resolution (1940): The League officially demanded a separate Pakistan.
- Quit India (1942): The League's non-participation gave it the chance to build support among Muslims while the Congress was in prison.
- 1946 elections: The League won most Muslim seats, establishing its claim to represent Muslims; the Congress won the general seats.
- Cabinet Mission failure (1946): The breakdown of negotiations made Partition increasingly inevitable.
- Direct Action Day (1946): Communal violence convinced many leaders that a united India was no longer viable.
Conclusion: The Congress fought for a united, secular India, while the League fought for a separate Muslim homeland. Their irreconcilable visions, compounded by British divide-and-rule policies and escalating communal violence, led to Partition — a tragedy that cost millions of lives.
Q5. Explain the major events between 1940 and 1947 that led to India's independence.
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | August Offer | Britain promised dominion status after the war and a constituent assembly; Congress rejected it as inadequate |
| 1940 | Lahore Resolution (Muslim League) | The League demanded a separate nation — Pakistan — for the first time |
| 1942 | Cripps Mission | Offered dominion status after the war with right to secede; rejected by both Congress and League |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement | Mass uprising demanding immediate British withdrawal; "Do or Die"; all leaders arrested; widespread violence and repression |
| 1943–44 | INA campaign | Bose's INA reached Indian soil (Moirang) but retreated after Japanese defeats at Imphal and Kohima |
| 1943 | Bengal Famine | 2–3 million died; exposed British neglect and economic exploitation |
| 1945 | End of World War II | Britain economically weakened; Labour government under Attlee more sympathetic to Indian independence |
| 1945–46 | INA Trials | Massive public support for INA officers; eroded British confidence in the loyalty of Indian armed forces |
| Feb 1946 | RIN Mutiny | Naval ratings mutinied; demonstrated that even the armed forces were no longer reliable |
| Mar 1946 | Cabinet Mission | Proposed a united India with grouping; ultimately failed as Congress and League could not agree |
| Aug 1946 | Direct Action Day | Communal violence in Calcutta, Noakhali, Bihar; made united India seem impossible |
| Sep 1946 | Interim Government formed | Congress formed government; League initially boycotted, then joined, then boycotted again |
| Dec 1946 | Constituent Assembly convened | Began drafting the Constitution; League initially boycotted |
| Feb 1947 | Attlee's announcement | Britain would transfer power by June 1948 at the latest |
| Mar 1947 | Mountbatten arrives | Assessed that Partition was inevitable |
| 3 June 1947 | Mountbatten Plan | Announced Partition; India and Pakistan to become dominions |
| 18 July 1947 | Indian Independence Act | Passed by British Parliament |
| 14–15 Aug 1947 | Independence | Pakistan independent on 14 August; India on 15 August |
Key factors that made independence inevitable: 1. World War II weakened Britain economically and militarily. 2. Mass movements (Quit India, INA, RIN Mutiny) demonstrated that British rule was no longer sustainable. 3. Communal violence (Direct Action Day, Noakhali, Bihar) made a united India seem impossible. 4. International pressure: The US and UN supported decolonisation. 5. Labour government (Attlee) was ideologically more sympathetic to Indian independence. 6. Armed forces' unreliability: The INA trials and RIN Mutiny showed that Britain could no longer depend on Indian soldiers and sailors.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Confusing the dates of the two 1917 Russian Revolutions with the 1947 events: Always specify: Quit India — 8 August 1942; RIN Mutiny — February 1946; Cabinet Mission — March 1946; Mountbatten Plan — 3 June 1947; Independence — 15 August 1947.
2. Saying the INA was founded by Bose: The first INA was formed by Captain Mohan Singh (1942). Bose revived and reorganised it in 1943. Give both credit.
3. Confusing the Cripps Mission (1942) with the Cabinet Mission (1946): The Cripps Mission (1942) offered dominion status after the war. The Cabinet Mission (1946) proposed a federal structure with grouping of provinces. They are four years apart and have different proposals.
4. Saying Direct Action Day was a Congress initiative: It was called by the Muslim League under Jinnah on 16 August 1946, demanding Pakistan. The Congress opposed it.
5. Forgetting that the Radcliffe Line divided Punjab AND Bengal: It did not draw a single line across the whole country. It drew two lines — one dividing Punjab and one dividing Bengal — based on religious demographics.
6. Attributing the RIN Mutiny to Gandhi's call: The RIN Mutiny was a spontaneous uprising by naval ratings over poor conditions and racial discrimination. It was not called by any political leader. Both Gandhi and Jinnah advised the mutineers to surrender.
7. Saying India became independent on 26 January 1950: 26 January is Republic Day (when the Constitution came into effect). Independence Day is 15 August 1947.
Exam Checklist
- [ ] Can you explain why the Quit India Movement was launched and describe its course and significance?
- [ ] Can you describe the formation, campaign, and impact of the INA under Subhas Chandra Bose?
- [ ] Can you explain the causes and consequences of the RIN Mutiny?
- [ ] Can you discuss the Cripps Mission (1942) and why it failed?
- [ ] Can you explain the Cabinet Mission proposals (1946) and why they failed?
- [ ] Can you describe the Mountbatten Plan and the Indian Independence Act (1947)?
- [ ] Can you discuss the causes and consequences of Partition?
- [ ] Can you compare the Congress and Muslim League's positions during 1940–47?
- [ ] Can you trace the sequence of key events from 1940 to 1947 in chronological order?
- [ ] Do you remember the key dates: 1940 (August Offer), 1942 (Quit India), 1946 (Cabinet Mission, Direct Action Day, RIN Mutiny), 3 June 1947 (Mountbatten Plan), 15 August 1947 (Independence)?