UPSC Prelims 2012 Q25: Modern History – Gandhian Mass Movements (1915 - 1942)
The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939, because
- (a) the Congress could not form ministries in the other four provinces
- (b) emergence of a 'left wing' in the Congress made the working of the ministries impossible
- (c) there were widespread communal disturbances in their provinces
- (d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct
Answer: (d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct
Explanation
Why the Congress ministries resigned in 1939
On 3 September 1939, Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared India a party to the Second World War without consulting Indian leaders.
In protest, the Congress ministries resigned in October-November 1939.
| Option | Verdict |
|---|---|
| (a) The Congress could not form ministries in the other four provinces | Incorrect |
| (b) A 'left wing' in the Congress made the working of ministries impossible | Incorrect |
| (c) Widespread communal disturbances in their provinces | Incorrect |
| (d) None of the above | Correct |
Timeline:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1937 | Elections under the 1935 Act; Congress forms ministries |
| September 1939 | War declared on India's behalf |
| October-November 1939 | Congress ministries resign |
| 22 December 1939 | Muslim League observes the 'Day of Deliverance' |
| August 1940 | The August Offer |
Answer: (d) None of the statements given above is correct.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Failure to form ministries elsewhere was not the reason.
- (b) Incorrect. The left wing did not make the ministries unworkable.
- (c) Incorrect. Communal disturbances were not the cause of the resignations.
- (d) CORRECT. They resigned because India was dragged into the war without consultation.
Key point
Congress ministries (1937-39) resigned in late 1939 after Linlithgow declared India at war without consulting Indians; League's Day of Deliverance followed.
Remember
1939 resignations: war declared without consent.
Common mistakes
- Picking a plausible-sounding internal reason.
- Forgetting the Viceroy's name: Linlithgow.
- Not linking the resignations to the Day of Deliverance.
Exam tip
1939 = war. The real reason is not listed, so the answer is 'None'.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence, Ch 34 (The Crisis at Tripuri to the Cripps Mission)
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India (Congress rule in provinces and the Second World War)