Which of the following statements about the Home Rule League are correct? 1. Lokamanya Tilak set up the Home Rule League at the Bombay Provincial Conference held at Belgaum in April 1916 2. Annie Besant announced the formation of Home Rule League in September 1916 3. To avoid friction, Tilak's League was to work in Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, Central Provinces and Berar and Besant's League was given charge of the rest of India Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)1 and 3 only
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Correct — D, all three statements are true. Bal Gangadhar Tilak set up the first Home Rule League at the Bombay Provincial Conference held at Belgaum in April 1916. Annie Besant announced the formation of her own Home Rule League in September 1916, launching it at Adyar in Madras. To avoid overlap the two leaders divided the country — Tilak's League worked in Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, the Central Provinces and Berar, while Besant's League took charge of the rest of India. Since 1, 2 and 3 are all correct, the code is (d).
- (a)1 and 2 only — Leaves out statement 3, but the territorial division between the two Leagues (Tilak in Maharashtra excluding Bombay city, Karnataka, CP and Berar; Besant elsewhere) is also correct.
- (b)1 and 3 only — Drops statement 2, yet Annie Besant did announce the formation of her Home Rule League in September 1916 — so it should be included.
- (c)2 and 3 only — Omits statement 1, but Tilak genuinely founded his League at Belgaum in April 1916, so leaving it out is wrong.
The Home Rule Leagues of 1916 were two organisations — one led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and one by Annie Besant — that demanded self-government (swaraj) for India within the British Empire. Modelled on the Irish Home Rule movement, they revived political activity during the First World War and drew in a new generation of activists.
The tempting error is to imagine the two Leagues competing everywhere. In fact they deliberately carved up the country into separate spheres so as not to clash. Because all three statements are factually accurate, the 'all of the above' option is the correct one.
- Tilak's Home Rule League was founded at Belgaum in April 1916 and worked in Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, the Central Provinces and Berar.
- Annie Besant announced her Home Rule League in September 1916 and launched it at Adyar, Madras; it covered the rest of India.
- The movement took its name and inspiration from the Irish Home Rule agitation; the demand was self-government within the Empire, not full independence.
- Annie Besant went on to become the first woman President of the Indian National Congress at its Calcutta session in 1917.
- Assuming the two Leagues overlapped or competed across all of India, when they divided territory to avoid friction.
- Mixing up the founding dates — Tilak's League came first (April 1916), Besant's followed (September 1916).
Asked as statement-based or match questions on the founders, dates and the territorial split of the two Home Rule Leagues.
With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the 'Sedition Committee'. 2. In Rowlatt Satyagraha, Gandhiji tried to utilize the Home Rule League. 3. Demonstrations against the arrival of Simon Commission coincided with Rowlatt Satyagraha.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(b) 1 and 2 only
Same Home Rule League theme. There the point is that Gandhi drew on the existing Home Rule League networks (built by Tilak and Besant) to organise the Rowlatt Satyagraha; here you place the founding and territorial division of those very Leagues.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Whose Home Rule League operated in Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, the Central Provinces and Berar?
- (a)Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- (b)Annie Besant
- (c)Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- (d)Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak — his League took that region while Besant's covered the rest of India.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Home Rule League movement in India was inspired by a similar movement in which country?
- (a)Ireland
- (b)United States
- (c)France
- (d)South Africa
Answer(a) Ireland — the demand for Home Rule was modelled on the Irish Home Rule agitation.