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National Movement 1885–1947 — REET Notes (Social Studies)

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From the founding of the Congress in 1885 to independence in 1947, the National Movement is the single heaviest history topic in REET Social Studies. REET asks pan-Indian events (the Home Rule League, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact) alongside Rajasthan's own peasant movements and social reformers with exactly the same weight.

  • 4 questions in REET 2024
  • Class 8 level
  • 11 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: Wikipedia — Bijolia movement

How REET asks this topic

REET 2024 carried four distinctly different questions on this topic — one pure pan-Indian fact (who founded the Home Rule League), one pure Rajasthan social-reform fact (which sangh Alwar's Harinarayan Sharma did NOT form), one Rajasthan peasant movement (Bharatpur, and its leader Bhoji Lambardar), and one pan-Indian pact (Gandhi-Irwin). In other words, this topic needs to be studied in two halves — the mainstream national movement, and the parallel movement that ran through Rajasthan's own princely states — and both deserve equal weight in your preparation. Note carefully that Rajasthan-focused questions often come in a 'who did NOT found it' elimination format, so it isn't enough to memorise a list of names; you also need to remember precisely which leader did NOT found a given organisation, since that is exactly the kind of trap REET sets.

National Movement: key events (chronology)

YearEvent
1885Founding of the Indian National Congress (on A.O. Hume's initiative; first session in Bombay; president W.C. Bonnerjee)
1905Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon — start of the Swadeshi and boycott movement
1906Founding of the Muslim League (Dhaka)
April 1916Bal Gangadhar Tilak founds the 'Indian Home Rule League' at Belgaum
September 1916Annie Besant founds a separate Home Rule League at Madras
December 1916The Lucknow Pact — an agreement between the Congress and the Muslim League
1919The Rowlatt Act, and on 13 April the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (Amritsar)
1920–22The Non-Cooperation Movement (alongside the Khilafat Movement), suspended after the Chauri Chaura incident (February 1922)
1927Formation of the Simon Commission — nationwide protest at the absence of any Indian member ('Simon Go Back')
December 1929The 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) resolution passed at the Lahore session (president: Jawaharlal Nehru)
March 1930The Dandi March launches the Civil Disobedience Movement
5 March 1931The Gandhi-Irwin Pact — Civil Disobedience Movement suspended; Gandhiji agrees to attend the Second Round Table Conference
1932The Poona Pact (Gandhi-Ambedkar) — reserved seats for depressed classes replace separate electorates
August 1942The Quit India Movement (the 'Do or Die' call)
1946Arrival of the Cabinet Mission in India
15 August 1947India becomes independent

From Non-Cooperation to Purna Swaraj

After the First World War, the Rowlatt Act (1919) gave the government the power to arrest people without trial. During the protests against this Act, General Dyer ordered his troops to fire on an unarmed crowd at Amritsar's Jallianwala Bagh on 13 April 1919. This massacre pushed Gandhiji to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, in alliance with the Khilafat Movement — a movement he himself called off in February 1922, after violence flared up at Chauri Chaura (Uttar Pradesh).

The Simon Commission, formed in 1927, contained not a single Indian member, and its formation triggered protest across the entire country. Amid this discontent, the Congress declared 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) as its goal at the Lahore session of December 1929, and the first Independence Day was observed on 26 January 1930. Carrying this momentum forward, Gandhiji broke the salt law in March 1930 with the Dandi March, which launched the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Rajasthan's major peasant movements

MovementPrincely stateKey leadershipNotable fact
Bijolia Peasant Movement (1897–1941)Mewar (Bijolia thikana)Sadhu Sitaram Das, Vijay Singh Pathik, Manikya Lal VermaRan for nearly half a century; a settlement was reached on 11 February 1922
Begun Peasant MovementMewar (Begun thikana)Ramnarayan Chaudhary, Vijay Singh PathikDirected against rent increases and forced labour (begar)
Bharatpur Peasant Movement (1931)BharatpurBhoji LambardarPeasants gathered on 23 November 1931 to protest the rent increases from a new land-revenue settlement
Meo Peasant MovementAlwar-BharatpurThe Meo peasant communityResistance by the Meo community against heavy rents and forced labour

Social reform and the Prajamandal movement in Rajasthan

Alongside the national movement, work on social reform and political awakening was also underway in Rajasthan's princely states. Alwar's Pandit Harinarayan Sharma set up organisations such as the Asprishyata Nivaran Sangh (Untouchability Removal Society), the Valmiki Sangh and the Adivasi Sangh in the 1920s to eradicate untouchability and uplift disadvantaged communities.

From the 1930s onward, a 'Prajamandal' movement began across the princely states, demanding responsible government — a government accountable to the people. Nearly every major princely state, including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Udaipur, had its own Prajamandal organisation, and these were affiliated to the All India States' Peoples' Conference. This very movement went on to lay the ground for the integration of Rajasthan in 1948–49.

How to teach children

Classroom activity (Class 8)

Building a timeline on the wall works well — students stick chits of the major events from 1885 to 1947 onto it in the correct order. Using a different colour for the national movement and Rajasthan's parallel movements (Bijolia, Prajamandal) helps children see that the freedom struggle was never confined to Delhi and Calcutta — it reached every princely state.

Teaching aid

Showing students an old newspaper clipping, or a reproduction of a freedom-movement poster, and asking them how the language and slogans of that time differ from today's — this makes history feel 'alive' rather than abstract.

Common misconception

Children often assume independence came only through non-violent movements — whereas Subhas Chandra Bose's Azad Hind Fauj (INA) and the revolutionary stream also played a parallel role. Teachers should present both streams side by side, without diminishing either.

Assessment idea

A quick 'match the event to the year' activity, followed by asking students which event occurred in Rajasthan and which at the national level — this clarifies the distinction between local and national history.

Memory trick

Remember the 1916 'Home Rule pair' this way: 'Tilak in April, Besant in September' — T comes before B, just as April comes before September, so the alphabetical order and the calendar order match up. And for the 1929-30-31 sequence, remember: 'Purna Swaraj (29) → Dandi March (30) → Gandhi-Irwin Pact (31)' — each year takes one big step forward from the last.

REET 2024 questions asked (with solutions)

Question 146

Who founded the ‘Indian Home Rule League’ in April 1916 ?

  1. Aमहात्मा गाँधी
  2. Bसर आगा खाँ
  3. Cअरविन्द घोष
  4. Dबाल गंगाधर तिलक

Explanation

बाल गंगाधर तिलक ने 28 अप्रैल 1916 को बेलगाँव (वर्तमान कर्नाटक) में 'इंडियन होम रूल लीग' की स्थापना की थी। एनी बेसेंट ने सितम्बर 1916 में अलग होम रूल लीग शुरू की। इसलिए अप्रैल 1916 वाली लीग के संस्थापक तिलक हैं और सही उत्तर (D) है।

Question 101

Which of the following association was not founded by Pt. Harinarayan Sharma of Alwar ?

  1. Aचरखा संघ
  2. Bअस्पृश्यता निवारण संघ
  3. Cवाल्मीकि संघ
  4. Dआदिवासी संघ

Explanation

अलवर के समाज-सुधारक पं. हरिनारायण शर्मा ने 1923 के आसपास अस्पृश्यता निवारण संघ, वाल्मीकि संघ और आदिवासी संघ की स्थापना की थी। उन्होंने खादी और स्वदेशी का प्रचार भी किया, पर चरखा संघ की स्थापना उनसे नहीं जोड़ी जाती। अतः सही उत्तर (A) चरखा संघ है।

Question 109

Which Peasant Movement of Rajasthan was led by Bhoji Lambardar ?

  1. Aअलवर किसान आन्दोलन
  2. Bमेव किसान आन्दोलन
  3. Cभरतपुर किसान आन्दोलन
  4. Dबेगूं किसान आन्दोलन

Explanation

भरतपुर रियासत में 1931 के नए भू-राजस्व बंदोबस्त से लगान बढ़ने के विरोध में भरतपुर किसान आन्दोलन हुआ, जिसमें 23 नवम्बर 1931 को भोजी लम्बरदार के नेतृत्व में किसान एकत्र हुए। मेव किसान आन्दोलन अलवर-भरतपुर क्षेत्र के मेवों से सम्बंधित था, और बेगूं किसान आन्दोलन का नेतृत्व रामनारायण चौधरी व बाद में विजयसिंह पथिक ने किया। अतः सही उत्तर (C) है।

Question 114

When did the Gandhi-Irwin pact take place ?

  1. A1931
  2. B1921
  3. C1933
  4. D1935

Explanation

गांधी-इरविन समझौता 5 मार्च 1931 को महात्मा गांधी और वायसराय लॉर्ड इरविन के बीच हुआ था। इसके तहत सविनय अवज्ञा आंदोलन स्थगित किया गया और कांग्रेस ने द्वितीय गोलमेज सम्मेलन में भाग लेने पर सहमति दी, जबकि सरकार ने अहिंसक राजनीतिक बंदियों को रिहा करने पर सहमति दी।

Practice questions

Question 1

In which year was the Indian National Congress founded?

  1. A1885
  2. B1905
  3. C1906
  4. D1916

Explanation

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 on A.O. Hume's initiative. Its first session was held in Bombay, presided over by W.C. Bonnerjee.

Question 2

When and where did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place?

  1. A13 अप्रैल 1919, अमृतसर
  2. B6 अप्रैल 1919, दिल्ली
  3. C13 अप्रैल 1920, लाहौर
  4. D1 अगस्त 1919, कलकत्ता

Explanation

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 at Amritsar, when General Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed crowd that had gathered as part of the protest against the Rowlatt Act.

Question 3

After which incident did Gandhiji suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement?

  1. Aजलियाँवाला बाग कांड
  2. Bचौरी-चौरा कांड
  3. Cसाइमन कमीशन का विरोध
  4. Dपूना पैक्ट

Explanation

Gandhiji suspended the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 after a violent incident at Chauri Chaura in Uttar Pradesh (a police outpost was set on fire and policemen killed), staying firm on his principle of non-violence.

Question 4

At which Congress session was the 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) resolution passed?

  1. A1929 का लाहौर अधिवेशन
  2. B1927 का मद्रास अधिवेशन
  3. C1931 का कराची अधिवेशन
  4. D1916 का लखनऊ अधिवेशन

Explanation

The 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) resolution was passed at the Congress's Lahore session in December 1929, under Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency, and the first Independence Day was observed on 26 January 1930.

Question 5

The Poona Pact (1932) was signed between which two leaders?

  1. Aगांधीजी व डॉ. अंबेडकर
  2. Bगांधीजी व जिन्ना
  3. Cनेहरू व अंबेडकर
  4. Dगांधीजी व इरविन

Explanation

The Poona Pact (1932) was between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Under it, separate electorates for the depressed classes were replaced with reserved seats within general constituencies.

Question 6

Who were the main leaders of the Bijolia Peasant Movement?

  1. Aभोजी लम्बरदार
  2. Bसाधु सीताराम दास व विजयसिंह पथिक
  3. Cरामनारायण चौधरी अकेले
  4. Dपं. हरिनारायण शर्मा

Explanation

The Bijolia peasant movement (Mewar) was led mainly by Sadhu Sitaram Das, and later by Vijay Singh Pathik and Manikya Lal Verma. Bhoji Lambardar, by contrast, was associated with the Bharatpur peasant movement.

Question 7

What were the organizations that campaigned for responsible government in the princely states of Rajasthan called?

  1. Aकिसान सभा
  2. Bप्रजामंडल
  3. Cआर्य समाज
  4. Dसर्व सेवा संघ

Explanation

Organisations formed in Rajasthan's princely states demanding responsible (accountable-to-the-people) government were called 'Prajamandals', and these were affiliated to the All India States' Peoples' Conference.

Question 8

While teaching the National Movement in Class 8, a teacher has children paste chits of events from 1885 to 1947 in the correct order. What is the main purpose of this activity?

  1. Aकेवल कक्षा को सजाना
  2. Bकालानुक्रमिक (chronological) समझ विकसित करना
  3. Cचित्रकला सिखाना
  4. Dसमय व्यतीत करना

Explanation

Timeline activities help children develop a chronological understanding of events — their correct order and how they connect to one another — which is an effective approach to teaching history.

Question 9

When did the Quit India Movement begin?

  1. Aअगस्त 1942
  2. Bमार्च 1930
  3. Cअप्रैल 1919
  4. Dअगस्त 1947

Explanation

The Quit India Movement began in August 1942 with the call to 'Do or Die' — one of the most widespread mass movements demanding that the British quit India immediately, launched during the Second World War.

Question 10

Which institutions did Pt. Harinarayan Sharma of Alwar establish?

  1. Aचरखा संघ व खादी भंडार
  2. Bअस्पृश्यता निवारण संघ, वाल्मीकि संघ व आदिवासी संघ
  3. Cआर्य समाज व गौरक्षिणी सभा
  4. Dप्रजामंडल व किसान सभा

Explanation

Alwar's social reformer Pandit Harinarayan Sharma founded the Asprishyata Nivaran Sangh, the Valmiki Sangh and the Adivasi Sangh to eradicate untouchability and uplift disadvantaged communities.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions come from the National Movement (1885–1947) in REET?+

REET 2024 carried 4 questions on this topic, with roughly half based on national-level events and half on Rajasthan's own peasant and social-reform movements.

When and by whom was the Indian National Congress founded?+

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 on A.O. Hume's initiative. Its first session was held in Bombay, presided over by W.C. Bonnerjee.

Which princely state is the Bijolia peasant movement associated with?+

The Bijolia peasant movement is associated with the Bijolia thikana of the Mewar princely state, and it is one of India's longest-running peasant movements (1897–1941).

What was the Prajamandal movement?+

Prajamandals were organisations formed in Rajasthan's princely states demanding responsible government. They were affiliated to the All India States' Peoples' Conference, and later helped enable the integration of the princely states.

Why was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact important?+

This pact, signed on 5 March 1931, suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement, secured the release of non-violent political prisoners, and brought the Congress to the table for the Second Round Table Conference.

Who started the Home Rule League, and when?+

Bal Gangadhar Tilak started a Home Rule League at Belgaum in April 1916, and Annie Besant started a separate one at Madras in September 1916 — both aimed at securing self-government (home rule) for India on the British model.

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All of REET 2024's solved questions, by subject.

Official Sources

  1. Wikipedia — Bijolia movement

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked