The Non-Cooperation resolution was officially ratified at which Congress session?
- Nagpur Session
- Madras Session
- Calcutta Session
- Lahore Session
Explanation: While proposed in the special Calcutta session, it was formally ratified at the regular Nagpur Session in December 1920.
In which country did Gandhi first develop and use the concept of Satyagraha?
- South Africa
- Mauritius
- India
- Great Britain
Explanation: Gandhi first forged the weapon of Satyagraha (truth-force) during his struggle against racial discrimination in South Africa.
In 1913, the 'Great March' of protesting miners in South Africa crossed into?
- Transvaal
- Orange Free State
- Natal
- Cape Colony
Explanation: Gandhi led thousands of striking Indian miners across the border from Natal into the restricted territory of the Transvaal.
In which year was the controversial Rowlatt Act passed?
Explanation: The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, popularly known as the Rowlatt Act, was passed in March 1919.
Which South African law restricting movement did Gandhi vehemently oppose?
- Immigration Restriction Act
- Asiatic Registration Act
- Rowlatt Act
- Vernacular Press Act
Explanation: Gandhi organized a massive march of miners into the Transvaal to protest the severe Immigration Restriction Act.
The 1913 Cape Supreme Court ruling invalidated which type of marriages?
- Inter-caste Marriages
- Non-Christian Marriages
- Child Marriages
- Widow Remarriages
Explanation: Justice Searle's ruling essentially invalidated all marriages not conducted according to Christian rites, deeply offending Indians.
Who is credited with first conferring the title 'Mahatma' upon Gandhi?
- Subhas Chandra Bose
- Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation: Rabindranath Tagore first referred to Gandhi as 'Mahatma' (Great Soul) in 1915, honoring his sacrifices in South Africa.
On what date did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place?
- February 5 1922
- August 9 1942
- March 12 1930
- April 13 1919
Explanation: General Dyer ordered troops to fire upon a peaceful gathering at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919.
Which horrific event forced Gandhi to withdraw the Rowlatt Satyagraha?
- Kakori Train Robbery
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
- Chauri Chaura Incident
- Khilafat Movement Ends
Explanation: The immense violence and the massacre in Amritsar led Gandhi to suspend the Rowlatt Satyagraha, calling it a 'Himalayan blunder'.
Champaran planters eventually agreed to refund what percentage of illegal extractions?
- 75 percent
- 50 percent
- 100 percent
- 25 percent
Explanation: Although Gandhi initially demanded 50%, he accepted a 25% refund to break the planters' prestige and resolve the deadlock.
Which organization was created by Gandhi to promote hand-spinning nationwide?
- Spinners Association
- Khadi Board
- Swadeshi League
- Weaver Society
Explanation: Gandhi established the All India Spinners Association to coordinate the massive production and distribution of Khadi.
What was the primary protest method used during the Rowlatt Satyagraha?
- Armed Rebellion
- Boycott of Elections
- Boycott of Schools
- Nationwide Hartal
Explanation: Gandhi called for a nationwide strike (Hartal) on April 6, 1919, against the unjust Rowlatt Act.
Which Gujarati periodical was concurrently launched by Gandhi in 1919?
- Navjivan
- Gujarat Samachar
- Bombay Chronicle
- Sandesh
Explanation: Gandhi launched the Gujarati weekly 'Navjivan' to communicate his political and social ideas to the regional masses.
Who was the Secretary of State for India during the passage of the Rowlatt Act?
- Winston Churchill
- Lord Birkenhead
- Lord Morley
- Edwin Montagu
Explanation: Edwin Montagu served as the Secretary of State for India from 1917 to 1922, during the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms.
Which movement formally merged with the Khilafat agitation in 1920?
- Civil Disobedience
- Quit India
- Swadeshi Movement
- Non Cooperation Movement
Explanation: Gandhi brilliantly combined the Khilafat issue with the demand for Swaraj, launching the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Which title did Gandhi return to the British in 1920?
- Kaisar-i-Hind
- Sir
- Knighthood
- Rai Bahadur
Explanation: Gandhi returned the Kaisar-i-Hind gold medal to protest the Khilafat wrongs and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Gandhi translated John Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' into Gujarati as?
- Antyodaya
- Swaraj
- Satyagraha
- Sarvodaya
Explanation: Gandhi translated the work as 'Sarvodaya', which translates to the 'welfare of all' or 'universal uplift'.
In which province was the village of Chauri Chaura located?
- Central Provinces
- Madras Presidency
- Bengal Presidency
- United Provinces
Explanation: Chauri Chaura was located in the Gorakhpur district of the United Provinces (modern-day Uttar Pradesh).
Which English weekly newspaper did Gandhi take over in 1919?
- Young India
- Harijan
- Indian Opinion
- The Hindu
Explanation: Gandhi assumed the editorship of 'Young India' in 1919 to spread his ideology of Satyagraha and non-violence.
What term was used for Indian indentured laborers in South Africa?
- Zamindars
- Girmitiyas
- Ryots
- Harijans
Explanation: The laborers were called 'Girmitiyas', a corrupted pronunciation of the 'agreement' they signed to work in plantations.
Who invited Gandhi to speak at the BHU inauguration in 1916?
- Annie Besant
- Madan Mohan Malaviya
- S Radhakrishnan
- Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of the university, invited Gandhi, where he delivered a sharply critical speech.
Which unfair tax on ex-indentured Indians did Gandhi successfully fight to abolish?
- Income Tax
- Three Pound Tax
- Land Revenue
- Salt Tax
Explanation: The Smuts-Gandhi agreement of 1914 finally abolished the oppressive £3 annual tax levied on ex-indentured Indians.
Who primarily managed the Phoenix Settlement during Gandhi's political absences?
- Henry Polak
- Hermann Kallenbach
- Albert West
- Charles Andrews
Explanation: Albert West, an English printer and close associate, managed the press and the Phoenix Settlement for Gandhi.
Who was Gandhi's prominent local associate during the Kheda Satyagraha?
- Rajendra Prasad
- J B Kripalani
- Indulal Yagnik
- Mahadev Desai
Explanation: Indulal Yagnik, a local leader and journalist, closely assisted Gandhi and Sardar Patel during the Kheda agitation.
Gandhi's Tolstoy Farm was established in 1910 near which South African city?
- Cape Town
- Pretoria
- Johannesburg
- Durban
Explanation: Tolstoy Farm was located about 21 miles outside Johannesburg, serving as a headquarters for the Satyagrahis.
Which 1916 pact united the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League?
- Gandhi Irwin Pact
- Delhi Pact
- Poona Pact
- Lucknow Pact
Explanation: The Lucknow Pact forged an alliance between the Congress and the Muslim League to demand self-government.
Which epidemic triggered the wage dispute in the Ahmedabad mills?
- Cholera Epidemic
- Spanish Flu
- Smallpox Outbreak
- Bubonic Plague
Explanation: A severe outbreak of the bubonic plague led mill owners to offer a 'plague bonus', whose subsequent withdrawal sparked the strike.
Which prominent lawyer renounced his lucrative legal practice during Non-Cooperation?
- Subhas Chandra Bose
- Motilal Nehru
- Bhagat Singh
- B R Ambedkar
Explanation: Top lawyers like Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, and C. Rajagopalachari boycotted the British courts to support the movement.
Who founded the Gujarat Vidyapith in 1920 as a nationalist university?
- Sardar Patel
- Swami Vivekananda
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation: Gandhi founded the Gujarat Vidyapith during the Non-Cooperation Movement to boycott British educational institutions.
What was Gandhi's proposed scheme of basic, craft-centered education called?
- Nai Talim
- Western Education
- Vocational Training
- Gurukul System
Explanation: Nai Talim (New Education) focused on holistic development through manual labor and learning practical crafts.
Maganlal Gandhi initially suggested what term for the non-violent struggle?
- Duragraha
- Sarvodaya
- Sadagraha
- Ahimsa
Explanation: Maganlal suggested 'Sadagraha' (firmness in a good cause), which Gandhi later modified to 'Satyagraha' (truth-force).
What was the name of Gandhi's very first ashram established in India?
- Kochrab Ashram
- Wardha Ashram
- Sabarmati Ashram
- Sevagram Ashram
Explanation: Before moving to the banks of the Sabarmati river, the Satyagraha Ashram was first established in Kochrab, Ahmedabad.
Who was the British Lieutenant Governor of Bihar during the Champaran Satyagraha?
- John Simon
- George Curzon
- Lord Chelmsford
- Edward Gait
Explanation: Sir Edward Gait was the Lieutenant Governor who eventually formed the Agrarian Committee and invited Gandhi to be a member.
Who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer in London to avenge the massacre?
- Chandrashekhar Azad
- Udham Singh
- Rajguru
- Bhagat Singh
Explanation: In 1940, Indian revolutionary Udham Singh assassinated Michael O'Dwyer, who was the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab during the massacre.
Which prominent festival was being celebrated during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
- Holi
- Baisakhi
- Diwali (Deepavali)
- Lohri
Explanation: Thousands of villagers had gathered in Amritsar to celebrate the harvest festival of Baisakhi, unaware of martial law.
Who was appointed by the Congress to officially investigate the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
- Subhas Chandra Bose
- Motilal Nehru
- Vallabhbhai Patel
- Rajendra Prasad
Explanation: The Indian National Congress appointed its own unofficial inquiry committee, which included prominent leaders like Motilal Nehru and Gandhi.
In which year did Gandhi establish his first ashram in India?
Explanation: Gandhi founded the Satyagraha Ashram in the Kochrab area of Ahmedabad in 1915, upon his return to India.
What is the title of Mahatma Gandhi's famous autobiography?
- Experiments with Truth
- Indian Opinion
- Hind Swaraj
- Discovery of India
Explanation: 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth' details Gandhi's early life and the development of his philosophy.
Where did Gandhi deliver his first major public speech in India (1916)?
- Bombay University
- Aligarh Muslim University
- Banaras Hindu University
- Calcutta University
Explanation: Gandhi gave a landmark, highly critical speech criticizing the Indian elite at the opening of Banaras Hindu University.
Which text did Gandhi repeatedly refer to as his 'spiritual dictionary'?
- Bhagavad Gita
- Upanishads
- Ramayana
- Vedas
Explanation: The Bhagavad Gita heavily influenced Gandhi's philosophy of selfless action (Nishkama Karma) and non-violence.
In which year did Gandhi permanently leave South Africa for India?
Explanation: Gandhi left South Africa in July 1914, traveling first to London before finally arriving in India in early 1915.
Which movement is considered Gandhi's first civil disobedience in India?
- Rowlatt Satyagraha
- Salt March
- Kheda Satyagraha
- Champaran Satyagraha
Explanation: The 1917 Champaran Satyagraha was Gandhi's first experiment with civil disobedience on Indian soil.
What is Gandhi's foundational concept of self-rule or self-governance called?
- Satyagraha
- Ahimsa
- Swaraj
- Sarvodaya
Explanation: Swaraj means self-rule. For Gandhi, it meant not just political independence from the British, but also personal self-mastery.
Which Indian leader bestowed the title 'Deenabandhu' upon C.F. Andrews?
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- Rabindranath Tagore
- Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Gandhi gave his close friend Charles Freer Andrews the title 'Deenabandhu' (Friend of the Poor) for his immense contributions.
Who chaired the Champaran Agrarian Committee that investigated the indigo planters?
- W G Archer
- F G Sly
- Lord Willingdon
- Edward Gait
Explanation: The government appointed a committee headed by F.G. Sly, a senior British official, in which Gandhi was made a member.
Which Indian National Congress session did Gandhi first attend?
- 1924 Belgaum
- 1907 Surat
- 1901 Calcutta
- 1916 Lucknow
Explanation: Gandhi attended the 1901 Calcutta session of the INC, where he moved a resolution supporting the Indian struggle in South Africa.
During which event did Gandhi undertake his first hunger strike in India?
- Kheda Movement
- Champaran Issue
- Chauri Chaura
- Ahmedabad Mill Strike
Explanation: Gandhi used the fast unto death for the first time in 1918 to support the striking textile workers of Ahmedabad.
Which South African general and statesman negotiated with and jailed Gandhi?
- Lord Milner
- Jan Smuts
- Winston Churchill
- Louis Botha
Explanation: General Jan Smuts was Gandhi's primary adversary in South Africa, though the two men developed a deep mutual respect.
Which committee recommended the draconian provisions of the Rowlatt Act?
- Sedition Committee
- Muddiman Committee
- Simon Commission
- Hunter Commission
Explanation: The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the Sedition Committee, chaired by British judge Sir Sidney Rowlatt.
What was Gandhi's economic philosophy regarding capitalist wealth?
- Trusteeship
- State Ownership
- Wealth Redistribution
- Complete Confiscation
Explanation: Gandhi proposed 'Trusteeship', suggesting wealthy people should hold their wealth in trust for the welfare of the society.
Who was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed?
- Lord Reading
- Lord Chelmsford
- Lord Hardinge
- Lord Irwin
Explanation: Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India from 1916 to 1921, overseeing the passage of the Rowlatt Act.
Where was Gandhi's historic 1922 sedition trial held?
- Ahmedabad
- Delhi
- Calcutta
- Bombay
Explanation: The famous 'Great Trial' of Mahatma Gandhi took place at the Circuit House in Ahmedabad.
Who served as Mahatma Gandhi's personal secretary for 25 years?
- J B Kripalani
- Narhari Parikh
- Pyarelal Nayyar
- Mahadev Desai
Explanation: Mahadev Desai was an immensely loyal and capable aide who served as Gandhi's private secretary from 1917 to 1942.
How long was Gandhi's prison sentence in the historic 1922 trial?
- Two Years
- Ten Years
- Life Imprisonment
- Six Years
Explanation: Gandhi was sentenced to six years of simple imprisonment, though he was released early in 1924 due to medical reasons.
Where was Gandhi traveling to when he was evicted at Pietermaritzburg?
- Durban
- Pretoria
- Johannesburg
- Cape Town
Explanation: Gandhi was on a train journey from Durban to Pretoria when he was thrown out of the first-class compartment.
Who was the British judge that convicted Gandhi of sedition in 1922?
- Lord Reading
- Judge Broomfield
- General Dyer
- Judge Rowlatt
Explanation: Justice R.S. Broomfield presided over the historic trial, noting Gandhi's noble character despite having to sentence him under the law.
What tragic event caused the abrupt suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
- Jallianwala Bagh
- Moplah Rebellion
- Kakori Conspiracy
- Chauri Chaura
Explanation: The burning of a police station by a mob at Chauri Chaura in February 1922 deeply distressed Gandhi, leading to the movement's halt.
Which movement was Gandhi's first non-cooperation experiment in India?
- Ahmedabad Strike
- Bardoli Satyagraha
- Kheda Satyagraha
- Rowlatt Protest
Explanation: During the Kheda Satyagraha (1918), Gandhi asked peasants to withhold revenue, initiating his first non-cooperation movement.
During the Boer War, Gandhi served the British military as a?
- Logistics Officer
- Armed Soldier
- Stretcher Bearer
- Medical Doctor
Explanation: Gandhi organized and led an Indian Ambulance Corps, serving on the front lines as a stretcher-bearer under heavy fire.
Who hired Gandhi for legal work in South Africa in 1893?
- Dada Abdulla Co
- Birla Brothers
- Wadia Group
- Tata and Sons
Explanation: Gandhi went to South Africa initially on a one-year contract to assist the law firm of Dada Abdulla & Co.