UPSC Prelims 2009 Q63: Modern History – Gandhian Mass Movements (1915 - 1942)
During the freedom struggle, Aruna Asaf Ali was a major woman organizer of underground
activity in
- (a) Civil Disobedience Movement
- (b) Non - Cooperation Movement
- (c) Quit India Movement
- (d) Swadeshi Movement
Answer: (c) Quit India Movement
Explanation
Aruna Asaf Ali's role as an underground organizer
This notable woman freedom fighter led underground resistance during a specific, intense phase of the struggle.
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Civil Disobedience Movement | Incorrect | Not the specific movement where she led underground activity |
| (b) Non-Cooperation Movement | Incorrect | Also not the context for her underground organizing role |
| (c) Quit India Movement | Correct | Aruna Asaf Ali became a major underground organizer during the Quit India Movement (1942), famously hoisting the flag at Gowalia Tank |
| (d) Swadeshi Movement | Incorrect | Not the context for her specific underground role |
Aruna Asaf Ali facts:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | Underground organizer during Quit India |
| Famous act | Hoisting the flag at Gowalia Tank, Bombay |
Answer: (c) Quit India Movement.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Civil Disobedience Movement is not the context for her underground organizing.
- (b) Incorrect. The Non-Cooperation Movement is also not the relevant context.
- (c) CORRECT. Aruna Asaf Ali's underground activity is specifically tied to the Quit India Movement.
- (d) Incorrect. The Swadeshi Movement is not the relevant context.
Key point
Aruna Asaf Ali was a major woman underground organizer during the Quit India Movement (1942), famous for hoisting the flag at Gowalia Tank.
Remember
Aruna Asaf Ali: major woman underground organizer during the Quit India Movement.
Common mistakes
- Confusing her Quit India-era underground activity with other movements she may have been loosely associated with.
- Not knowing the Gowalia Tank flag-hoisting episode specifically.
- Mixing up different women freedom fighters' specific movement associations.
Exam tip
Aruna Asaf Ali = Quit India Movement's underground organizer, famous for the Gowalia Tank flag-hoisting.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — Modern India (NCERT textbook for Class XII)
- Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee et al. — India's Struggle for Independence (the Quit India Movement: underground activity)