UPSC Prelims 2003 Q111: Modern History – Gandhian Mass Movements (1915 - 1942)
Assertion (A): In 1916, Maulana Mohammad Ali and Abul Kalam Azad resigned from the
Legislative Council.
Reason (R): The Rowlatt Act was passed by the government in spite of being opposed by all Indian
members of the Legislative Council.
- (a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
- (b) Both A and R are individually true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- (c) A is true but R is false
- (d) A is false but R is true
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true
Explanation
Resignations from the Legislative Council and the Rowlatt Act
| Part | Verdict |
|---|---|
| A. In 1916, Maulana Mohammad Ali and Abul Kalam Azad resigned from the Legislative Council | False: neither was a member of the Council in 1916 |
| R. The Rowlatt Act was passed in spite of the opposition of all Indian members | True — 1919 |
A is false, since the two leaders were not members of the Legislative Council to resign; R is true because the Rowlatt Act (1919) was passed despite the opposition of all Indian members.
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. A is false, so R cannot explain it.
- (b) Incorrect. A is false, as the resignations are not recorded.
- (c) Incorrect. R is true, so this code is wrong.
- (d) CORRECT. A is false because the resignations did not take place, while R is true.
Key point
Rowlatt Act: March 1919; Jinnah, Malaviya and Mazhar-ul-Haq resigned from the Council.
Remember
Jinnah, Malaviya and Mazhar-ul-Haq resigned from the Council over the Rowlatt Act.
Common mistakes
- Crediting Mohammad Ali and Azad with the resignations (it was Jinnah and others).
- Dating the Rowlatt Act to the year 1916.
- Mixing the Khilafat leaders up with Council members.
Exam tip
Jinnah resigned over the Rowlatt Act in 1919.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence
- Sumit Sarkar — Modern India, 1885–1947 (Macmillan)