Question Discussion & Solution

During the period of crisis and confusion, there emerged saints in the country who strengthened the faith of the people in the cultural ethos of the nation. Various saints appeared all over India as well as in Rajasthan. They offered a liberal approach to Hinduism, which was mainly targeted at the lower castes. They used local language for preaching.

Important Points

Dadu was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in 1544 AD.

• He founded the Dadu sect/cult.
• He is also known as 'Kabir of Rajasthan'.
• He travelled extensively in Rajasthan and lived at Sirohi, Kalyanpur, Sambhar, Ajmer, etc.
• His teachings are collected in 'Daduvani', which comprises 5000 verses.
• As Dadu used local language for preaching and because of the thoughts he propagated, he is called 'Kabir of Rajasthan'.

Additional Information  

Lets' look at the other famous saints:

• Meera is called 'Radha of Rajasthan'. She devoted all her attention to Krishna Bhakti.
• Dhannaji was the disciple of Ramanand. He opposed casteism and discrimination based on high and low in society and believed that the guidance of guru necessary to acquire knowledge.
• Jambhoji was the founder of the Bishnoi sect. He criticised hypocrisy, deceit and ostentation that prevailed in the society in the name of dharma and laid stress on purity of conduct and fundamental virtues.

The correct answer is Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

Key Points

• Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by 'Swami Dayanand Saraswati'.
  • Dayanand Saraswati had inspired the Arya Samaj from Swami Virjanand of Mathura in Bombay in 1875.
  • Arya Samaji believed in pure Vedic tradition and rejected idol worship, avatars, sacrifice, false rituals, and superstitions.
  • In this, untouchability and caste discrimination were opposed and women and Shudras were also given the right to wear Yagyopaveet and read the Vedas.

Additional Information

• Nanak -
  • He was the first Guru of the Sikhs. It was he who laid the foundation of Sikhism.
  • His followers address him by the names Nanak, Nanak Dev Ji, and Nankashah.
  • Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated as "Prakash Parva".
• ​Swami Vivekananda -
  • Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863 in Kolkata.
  • His childhood name was Narendra Dutt.
  • In Chicago, Swami Vivekananda had spread the spiritually-filled Indian Vedanta philosophy to the horizons of America and Europe.
• The book titled "Satyarth Prakash" composed by Swami Dayanand Saraswati is the original book of Arya Samaj.
• The motto of the Arya Samaj is - Krishnamanto Vishvamaryam, which means - Make the word Arya.

The correct answer is Gujarat

Key Points

• The British in 1882 prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt, a staple in their diet, and called it as Salt Law.
• Defying the Salt Act, Gandhi simply made Indians break the British law nonviolently.
• The Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March), which took place from March to April 1930 in India.
• It was an act of civil disobedience led by M.K Gandhi to protest British rule in India.
• During the march, thousands of Indians followed Gandhi from his religious retreat near Ahmedabad (Gujarat).
• The march resulted in the arrest of nearly 60,000 people, including Gandhi himself.

Additional Information

• About Mahatma Gandhi:
  • Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) was born on October 2, 1869.
  • He died January 30, 1948, in Delhi, and the day is celebrated as Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs' Day.
• His autobiography is titled My Experiments with Truth.
• Other Important movements led by Mahatma Gandhi:
  • ​Champaran Movement (1917)
  • Kheda Movement (1918)
  • Khilafat Movement (1919)
  • Non Cooperation Movement (1920-22)
  • Quit India Movement (1942)

Surkotada is situated in Kutchh district of Gujarat.

• It is the only Indus Valley site where the remains of a horse have actually been found.
• Kalibangan is situated in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan.
• Banawali is situated in Hisar, Haryana.
• Mohenjo Daro is situated in Larkana, Sindh.

The correct answer is 1906.

• The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded by Allan Octavian Hume on 28th December 1885.
• The first session of INC was held in Bombay at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit Collegeram.
• The first President of the INC session held in Bombay was Womesh Chandra Banerjee.
• 72 delegates attended the session.
• The important leaders during the foundation of INC were Dadabhai Naoroji, Badruddin Tyyabji, Anand Mohan Bose, R.C Dutt, Pherozshah Mehta, G.K Gokhale, G. Subramaniyam Aiyyar, Dinshaw Vacha, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Madan Mohan Malviya, etc.
• Formerly Indian National Congress was known as Indian National Union.
• The INC was formed during the tenure of Lord Dufferin (Viceroy of India from 1884-1888).
• The word swaraj means Self-rule or Independence.
• Swaraj was first articulated in the presidential address of Dadabhai Naoroji as the Congress's goal in its Calcutta Session in 1906.
• The great freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak said "Swaraj is my birthright and I will have It".