UPSC Prelims 2021 Q47: Modern History – Revolutionary & Communist Movements
- (a) leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
- (b) members of the Interim Government in 1946
- (c) members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly
- (d) officers of the Indian National Army
Answer: (d) officers of the Indian National Army
Explanation
Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon: INA Officers
All three were senior officers of the Indian National Army (INA / Azad Hind Fauj) under Subhas Chandra Bose. They were the accused in the famous Red Fort Trials (INA Trials) of 1945-46, defended by a legal team including Bhulabhai Desai, Jawaharlal Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Asaf Ali and K.N. Katju.
| Officer | INA Rank | Community |
|---|---|---|
| Shah Nawaz Khan | Major General | Muslim |
| Prem Kumar Sehgal | Colonel | Hindu |
| Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon | Colonel | Sikh |
The Congress deliberately chose officers of three different communities to symbolise unity. All three were sentenced to life transportation by Court Martial but sentences were remitted due to massive public outrage. Answer: (d).
Answer: (d) officers of the Indian National Army.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Swadeshi and Boycott Movement (1905-08) leaders were Tilak, Aurobindo, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai.
- (b) Incorrect. Interim Government 1946 members were Nehru, Patel, Rajendra Prasad, John Mathai and others.
- (c) Incorrect. Drafting Committee had Ambedkar (chair), Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Muhammad Saadulla, K.M. Munshi, D.P. Khaitan (later T.T. Krishnamachari) and B.L. Mitter (later Madhava Rau).
- (d) CORRECT. Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were senior officers of the Indian National Army (INA / Azad Hind Fauj). They were the accused in the Red Fort Trials (1945-46).
Key point
Shah Nawaz Khan + Prem Kumar Sehgal + Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon = INA officers accused in Red Fort Trials (1945-46). Deliberately chosen to represent Muslim, Hindu, Sikh unity. Defended by Bhulabhai Desai, Nehru, Sapru. Public outrage forced sentence remission - major nationalist moment.
Remember
Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were officers of the Indian National Army (INA / Azad Hind Fauj) under Subhas Chandra Bose. They were the three accused in the Red Fort Trials (1945-46), symbolising Muslim-Hindu-Sikh unity. Correct answer: (d).
Common mistakes
- Confusing INA officers with Congress leaders. INA was Bose's military organisation, distinct from Congress.
- Not knowing the symbolic choice of three community representatives (Muslim + Hindu + Sikh) to symbolise national unity.
- Missing the political impact: INA trials galvanised public opinion, RIN Mutiny (Feb 1946) followed, hastening British withdrawal.
Exam tip
INA Trials (Nov 1945 - May 1946): Shah Nawaz Khan (Muslim), Prem Kumar Sehgal (Hindu), Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon (Sikh) - the trio. Defended by Bhulabhai Desai + Nehru + Sapru + Asaf Ali + Katju. Trial venue: Red Fort. Outcome: Life transportation, then remitted after mass protest.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra - India's Struggle for Independence (Chapter on INA)
- NCERT Themes in Indian History Part III - Chapter on Freedom Movement