Consider the following statements about August declaration of 1917. 1...
- It was clear that the British had no intention of handing over power to a predominantly elected legislature within the Indian majority.
- Secretary of State for India, Edwin Samuel Montagu, made a statement on August 20, 1917, in the British House Commons in what has come to be known as the August laration of 1917.
- From now onwards, nationalists' demand for self-government or home rule could not be termed as seditious since the attainment of self-government for Indians now became a government policy, unlike Morley's statement in 1909 that the reforms were not intended to give self-government to India.
Consider the following statements about August declaration of 1917. 1...
The correct answer is option 'A' - 1 Only.
Explanation:
1. From now onwards, the demand by Nationalists for self-government for home rule could not be termed as seditious:
The August Declaration of 1917, also known as the Montagu Declaration, was a significant statement made by the British government regarding its policy towards India. The declaration was made by Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India, and Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy of India, in response to growing demands for self-governance and home rule by Indian nationalists.
The declaration acknowledged that the demand for self-government by Indian nationalists was no longer considered seditious or anti-national. It recognized the nationalist movement led by the Indian National Congress and expressed a willingness to grant more political rights and self-governance to Indians.
This statement is correct because the August Declaration marked a significant shift in the British government's approach towards Indian nationalism. It recognized the legitimacy of the demand for self-government and home rule, indicating that the nationalist movement was no longer considered seditious or anti-national.
2. It was clear that now the British had the intention of handing over power to the predominantly elected legislature within Indian majority:
This statement is incorrect. While the August Declaration expressed a willingness to grant more political rights and self-governance to Indians, it did not clearly indicate an intention to hand over power to a predominantly elected legislature within an Indian majority. The declaration mentioned the principle of responsible government, but the specifics of how power would be transferred or the composition of the legislature were not clearly outlined.
The August Declaration did lead to some limited political reforms in India, such as the introduction of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms in 1919. These reforms expanded the role of Indians in the legislative process and introduced a partial system of self-government, but ultimate power still remained with the British government.
In conclusion, the correct statement is that the demand by Nationalists for self-government for home rule could not be termed as seditious. The August Declaration marked a significant shift in the British government's approach towards Indian nationalism, acknowledging the legitimacy of the demand for self-government. However, the declaration did not clearly indicate an intention to hand over power to a predominantly elected legislature within an Indian majority.