Question map
In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4.
Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were prominent officers of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj. They became household names during the famous Red Fort Trials of 1945-46.
- Why Option 4 is correct: After World War II, the British captured these three officers and charged them with treason and abetment to murder. Their trial at the Red Fort galvanized the Indian nationalist movement, leading to massive public demonstrations and a rare display of communal unity, as the three accused represented the Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities.
- Why other options are incorrect: These individuals were not associated with the 1905 Swadeshi Movement (Option 1). The Interim Government (Option 2) was led by Nehru, and the Drafting Committee (Option 3) was chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar; neither body included these INA officers.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a textbook 'Sitter' found in every standard Modern History resource (Spectrum, Bipin Chandra, TN Board). The INA trials are a pivotal 'Endgame' event of the freedom struggle. If you missed this, your static history revision is critically weak.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: In Colonial India, were Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon leaders of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement?
- Statement 2: In Colonial India, were Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon members of the Interim Government in 1946?
- Statement 3: In Colonial India, were Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon members of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly?
- Statement 4: In Colonial India, were Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon officers of the Indian National Army?
- Identifies the three by name and states they deserted the British-Indian Army to join the Indian National Army (INA).
- Specifies they became senior battlefield commanders in the INA—indicating their role was military (INA), not in the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement.
- This passage provides a clear alternative identification that contradicts the claim.
- Lists Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Prem Kumar Sahgal as defendants in the first INA trial.
- Being defendants in INA trials further supports that their prominent public role was as INA officers, not as leaders of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement.
- Describes a public chant and refers to the three explicitly as "commanders of the Indian National Army (INA)".
- Notes their appearance at the Red Fort military trial, reinforcing their identity as INA members rather than Swadeshi/Boycott leaders.
Identifies Sehgal, Dhillon and Shah Nawaz Khan as defendants in the INA trial (found guilty of treason) and freed in January 1946 — linking them to the 1940s INA episode rather than the early-20th-century Swadeshi period.
A student could use the date (1946) to check the time-frame of the Swadeshi movement (1905–1911) and note the temporal mismatch.
Explicitly groups Prem Kumar Sehgal, Shah Nawaz Khan and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon together at the Red Fort trial in November 1945, reinforcing their association with the INA/post‑World War II anti‑imperial events.
Compare this 1945 trial context with the Swadeshi movement leadership lists and dates to judge whether they were Swadeshi leaders.
Defines the Swadeshi movement as 1905–1911 and describes its objectives and methods (boycott of foreign goods, boycott of government schools, etc.), establishing the canonical period and agenda of the movement.
Use the movement's defined period to see if the INA officers' activities in the 1940s could plausibly make them Swadeshi leaders.
Lists leading figures of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement under the extremists (Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo Ghosh), providing an example roster of recognised Swadeshi leaders — none are the three named individuals.
A student can compare named leaders in this canonical list with the three men in question to see lack of overlap.
Explains that boycott of British goods was adopted as a technique in response to the partition of Bengal and that moderates and militants led different phases — clarifying the social/political milieu and leadership types associated with Swadeshi.
Combine this description of who led Swadeshi phases with the identities/times of the three accused to assess whether they fit those leadership roles.
- Specifies the three were the subjects of a joint court-martial (INA trial), identifying them as INA officers/defendants rather than Interim Government members.
- Places them in the context of military trials (not political office in 1946).
- Lists the three by name as 'defendants in the first INA trial', directly classifying their role.
- Shows their affiliation with the INA and legal proceedings, not membership of the 1946 Interim Government.
- Describes the first INA trial (November 1945) and names the three individuals involved, indicating their identity as trial defendants.
- Provides chronological context (trial in 1945), which contradicts membership in a 1946 Interim Government.
Names Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon together as defendants in the 1945 Red Fort trial, indicating their public role was as INA officers/accused rather than interim ministers.
A student could contrast this public role (INA defendants) with lists of interim ministers to see if the same individuals appear among government appointees.
Gives the list of the 14 invitees to the Interim Government (June 1946) by name and affiliation but does not include the three individuals.
Compare the invitee list here with the three names; absence suggests they were unlikely to have been members unless later additions occurred.
Provides a tabulated list of members of the Interim Government (1946) and portfolios, a primary reference list for who served.
Check this table for the three names; if absent, that is strong indirect evidence they were not members.
Photographic caption naming front- and back-row members of the Interim Government, listing specific persons present and again not naming the three individuals.
Use the photo caption as a contemporaneous roster; absence of the three supports the view they were not interim ministers.
Describes the timeline of the Interim Government (sworn in 2 September 1946, League joining 26 October) and character of its membership, implying it was formed from established political leaders rather than INA figures.
A student can reason that the Interim Government roster comprised party-nominated politicians (Congress/League/Sikh), so compare that pattern against the three being military/INA personalities.
- Explicitly lists the three by name as the defendants in the first INA trial, identifying them with the Indian National Army context.
- Shows their historical role is tied to the INA and the trials, not to the Constituent Assembly drafting process.
- Describes the three as Indian Commissioned Officers who deserted the British-Indian Army to join the Indian National Army.
- States they became senior battlefield commanders in the INA, indicating their primary public role was military rather than constitutional drafting.
- Reports that the three—Prem Kumar Sehgal, Shah Nawaz Khan and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon—were arraigned in the Red Fort show trials, linking them to INA trials.
- Reinforces that their notable public role was as INA soldiers on trial, not as members of the Drafting Committee.
Gives the complete seven‑member list of the Drafting Committee (chaired by B.R. Ambedkar) — none of the three names appear.
A student could compare the three queried names against this fixed list to judge their membership.
Repeats the explicit seven‑member composition of the Drafting Committee, confirming the membership pattern and names.
Use this corroborated list as a primary roster to eliminate or flag the queried individuals as non‑members unless other primary lists include them.
Describes the Constituent Assembly's appointment of a Drafting Committee on 29 August 1947 as the committee responsible for the draft.
A student can use the committee's formal appointment date and remit to search contemporaneous rosters or records for official membership (checking if the three names appear in such records).
States that the Drafting Committee, under Ambedkar, presented a detailed draft — reinforcing Ambedkar's central role and implying the committee membership is well‑documented.
Knowing the committee was prominently chaired by Ambedkar, a student could consult authoritative lists tied to Ambedkar's committee to verify presence or absence of the three individuals.
- Explicitly names Prem Sehgal and G.S. Dhillon as members of the INA.
- Notes these individuals had earlier served as officers in the British Indian Army, linking their identities to INA service.
- Describes the three—Shah Nawaz Khan, P.K. Sehgal and G.S. Dhillon—as 'prominent officers of the INA'.
- Connects their INA status to the political campaign and public reaction in India.
- Places Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon together as defendants in the Red Fort trial, identifying them as INA figures.
- Highlights that the three were singled out by the colonial government, implying recognized INA officer status.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from Spectrum (Ch 24: Post-War National Scenario) and NCERT Class XII (Themes III).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Red Fort Trials' (1945) and the psychological disintegration of British authority over the Indian armed forces.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the Defense Lawyers (Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Nehru, Asaf Ali); The Slogan ('Lal Qile se aayi aawaz, Sahgal, Dhillon, Shah Nawaz'); The Outcome (Auchinleck remitted sentences); The immediate sibling event (RIN Mutiny, Feb 1946, HMIS Talwar).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: History isn't just dates; it's symbolism. UPSC asked about these three specifically because they represented the 'Hindu-Muslim-Sikh' unity that the Congress leveraged against the British in 1945. Always ask: 'Why were these specific individuals chosen for the trial?'
Defines the movement's timeframe, key leaders (Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh) and principal tactics such as boycott of foreign goods and boycott of government schools, courts and services.
High-yield for questions on early nationalist phases: distinguishes moderate vs militant strands, links leaders to tactics and timelines, and helps answer comparison questions about methods used before Gandhian mass movements.
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement > 2.2 Anti-Partition Movement > p. 19
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 12: Era of Militant Nationalism (1905-1909) > The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement > p. 280
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement > c) Passive Resistance > p. 21
Identifies Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon as Indian National Army officers tried at the Red Fort (1945) and notes the trial context and outcome.
Essential for the later-phase nationalist narrative: connects wartime army politics, post-war anti-imperial sentiment and high-profile trials; useful for questions on the endgame of colonial rule and popular reactions to INA trials.
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: Last Phase of Indian National Movement > INA Trial > p. 90
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 24: Post-War National Scenario > Election Campaign for Nationalistic Aims > p. 464
The Interim Government of 1946 consisted of nominated leaders from the Congress, selected Muslim League representatives and community nominees, with named office-holders and portfolios.
High-yield for questions on the transition to independence and constitutional history; knowing the composition clarifies which political actors held executive power before 1947 and connects to study of the Constituent Assembly and Viceroy's Executive Council. Useful for questions asking who was/was not part of interim arrangements and why.
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: Last Phase of Indian National Movement > Nehru and Jinnah > p. 93
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 1: Historical Background > Table 1.1 Interim Government (1946) > p. 10
- THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 12: FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION > 324 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY – PART III > p. 325
Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were tried together at the Red Fort in November 1945 as Indian National Army officers.
Vital for understanding causes of mass nationalist sentiment in 1945–46; links the INA trials to public opinion, Congress pressure on the British, and subsequent political developments. Enables answers on how military and popular events influenced constitutional negotiations.
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 24: Post-War National Scenario > Election Campaign for Nationalistic Aims > p. 464
The Muslim League initially refrained from joining but later agreed and its ministers entered the Interim Government on 26 October 1946.
Important for timeline questions about 1946 negotiations and communal politics; explains shifts in cabinet composition and the fragile working of the interim council, and connects to topics on Direct Action, Cabinet Mission, and partition-era politics.
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: Last Phase of Indian National Movement > Violent Clashes on Direct Action Day > p. 94
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 24: Post-War National Scenario > Interim Government > p. 476
- THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 12: FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION > p. 341
The precise members of the Drafting Committee determine whether any given individual was part of it.
Knowing the seven named members (and replacements) is high-yield for questions on constitution-making bodies; it links to topics on key constitutional actors and helps eliminate incorrect options in factual MCQs and short-answer questions. Mastery enables quick recall of who shaped the final draft and connects to study of individual contributions to constitutional provisions.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > Drafting Committee > p. 15
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > Drafting Committee > p. 15
Dr B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee and led preparation of the detailed draft constitution.
Ambedkar's chairmanship is central to discussions of authorship and stewardship of the Constitution; this is frequently tested in both prelims (identify key figures) and mains (evaluate influence on specific provisions). Understanding his role connects constitutional history to debates on legal reforms and minority rights.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > Drafting Committee > p. 15
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 35: Making of the Constitution for India > After Independence > p. 616
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 35: Making of the Constitution for India > Constituent Assembly > p. 617
The Defense Counsel. While everyone knows the accused, the next logical question is on the 'INA Defence Committee'. Key fact: Bhulabhai Desai was the leading counsel, and Jawaharlal Nehru donned the lawyer's robe after 25 years to join the defense.
Chronology & Role Match. Option A (Swadeshi) is 1905—too early for these modern military ranks. Option C (Drafting Committee) has 7 famous legal luminaries (Ambedkar, Munshi, etc.), not military men. Option B (Interim Govt) comprised politicians. The title 'Officers' in Option D is the only one fitting the military context of 'General/Colonel'.
Mains GS1 (Communalism vs Nationalism): The INA trials were the last major display of communal unity (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh officers defended together) before the partition riots. Use this as a counter-argument in essays about the inevitability of Partition.