UPSC Prelims 2005 Q63: Modern History – Revolutionary & Communist Movements
- (a) A political party based in Taiwan
- (b) Peasant communist leader of China
- (c) A naval ship on voyage to China
- (d) A Chinese village where Mao Tse Tung began his Long March
Answer: (c) A naval ship on voyage to China
Explanation
> Note for students: The exam printed 'a naval ship on voyage to China', but the Komagata Maru's destination was Canada. Option (c) is still the only option naming a ship, so choose (c) in the exam; the word 'China' is the paper's slip.
Komagata Maru
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it was | A Japanese steamship chartered by Gurdit Singh |
| Voyage | Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada, 1914, carrying about 376 Indians |
| Outcome | Passengers denied entry; ship returned; clash at Budge Budge near Calcutta |
The Komagata Maru was a ship carrying Indian passengers whose destination was Canada. Option (c) is the only option naming a ship; its printed words 'on voyage to China' misstate the destination, which was Canada, but the other options (a party, a leader, a village) are clearly wrong, so (c) is the answer.
Answer: (c) A naval ship on voyage to China (the only ship option; the real destination was Canada).
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. It was not a political party.
- (b) Incorrect. It was not a Chinese leader.
- (c) CORRECT. It was a ship; its real destination was Canada, not China, as printed.
- (d) Incorrect. It was not a village.
Key point
Komagata Maru: 1914, Vancouver, Gurdit Singh, Budge Budge.
Remember
Komagata Maru was a ship that carried Indians towards Canada in 1914.
Common mistakes
- Reading it as a Japanese or Chinese political entity.
- Forgetting that the destination was Canada.
- Confusing the incident with the Ghadar rebellion itself.
Exam tip
Ship, 1914, destination Canada, Gurdit Singh, Budge Budge.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Komagata Maru incident