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With reference to World War-II, consider the following statements. In 1939, before the Government of India declared India to be at war with Germany 1. The British Government consulted the Indian National Congress and the elected members of the Central Legislature. 2. Mahatma Gandhi opposed the participation of India in the war. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect because the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, declared India to be at war with Germany on September 3, 1939, without any consultation with the Indian National Congress or the elected members of the Central Legislature [c3][c5][t2]. This unilateral declaration was deeply resented by Indian leaders, leading to the eventual resignation of Congress provincial ministries in October 1939 [c3][c4]. Statement 2 is also incorrect regarding the period before the declaration. Initially, Mahatma Gandhi advocated for providing unconditional moral support to Britain's war efforts due to his sympathy for the victims of Fascist aggression [c1][t5]. While he personally maintained a pacifist stance against all violence, he did not initially oppose India's participation on political grounds; rather, it was the Congress Working Committee that insisted on a conditional offer of cooperation based on the promise of immediate responsible government and post-war independence [c1][c5].
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 22: Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II > Congress Stand on World War II: > p. 445
- [2] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 6: Communalism in Nationalist Politics > 6.5 Observation of Day of Deliverance > p. 79
- [3] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > Fig. 11.10 > p. 302
- [4] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 15: Struggle for Swaraj > NATIONAL MOVEMENT DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR > p. 297