UPSC Prelims 2002 Q111: Modern History – Key Personalities & Ideologies
- (a) Hakim Ajmal Khan was one of the leaders to start a nations list and militant Ahrar movement
- (b) When the Indian National Congress was formed, Sayyid Ahmad Khan opposed it
- (c) The All - India Muslim League which was formed in 1906 vehemently opposed the partition of Bengal and separate electorates
- (d) Maulana Barkatullah and Maulana Obeidullah Sindhi were among those who formed a Provisional Government of India in Kabul
Answer: (c) The All - India Muslim League which was formed in 1906 vehemently opposed the partition of Bengal and separate electorates
Explanation
Indian freedom struggle: the statement that is NOT correct
| Statement | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Hakim Ajmal Khan was among the leaders of the nationalist, militant Ahrar movement | Correct — the young Muslim nationalists of the Khilafat period |
| Sayyid Ahmad Khan opposed the Congress when it was formed | Correct — he advised Muslims to stay away |
| The Muslim League (1906) vehemently opposed the partition of Bengal and separate electorates | Not correct — the League supported the partition of Bengal and demanded separate electorates |
| Barkatullah and Obeidullah Sindhi formed a Provisional Government of India at Kabul | Correct — in 1915, with Raja Mahendra Pratap as President |
The question asks for the statement that is NOT correct. The All-India Muslim League, formed in 1906, did not oppose the partition of Bengal; it welcomed it and demanded separate electorates, which were granted in 1909. The other statements are correct. The bank had dropped the word NOT, and the stored key (c) fits only the NOT reading.
Answer: (c) The All-India Muslim League which was formed in 1906 vehemently opposed the partition of Bengal and separate electorates.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. This statement is accurate, so it is not the answer.
- (b) Incorrect. Sayyid Ahmad Khan indeed opposed the Congress.
- (c) CORRECT. This is the false statement; the League supported partition and separate electorates.
- (d) Incorrect. The Provisional Government was formed at Kabul in 1915.
Key point
Muslim League: founded Dhaka 1906; supported Bengal's partition; got separate electorates in 1909 (Morley-Minto).
Remember
The League welcomed the 1905 partition and wanted separate electorates.
Common mistakes
- Reading the stem as 'correct' and choosing (b), a true statement.
- Believing the League opposed the partition of Bengal.
- Confusing the Kabul government with the Indian National Army.
Exam tip
Which statement contradicts what the League wanted? Opposing separate electorates does.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India