Statement I: The early nationalists within the Indian National Congre...
Statement I- Correct : The early nationalists within the Indian National Congress (INC) did indeed focus on immediate constitutional reforms to bring about self-government. They aimed to get more power for Indians in the colonial administration through reforms in the British political structure in India.
Statement II- Correct : The demand for self-government was inspired by the models of dominion status granted to colonies like Canada and Australia. The early nationalists in the INC looked at these models as potential frameworks for India. Dominion status meant self-governance with allegiance to the British Crown, which was a system that the early nationalists hoped to achieve for India.
- Both statements are correct: the early nationalists sought reforms, and the dominion models influenced their demands, making Statement-II the correct explanation for Statement-I.
Therefore,Correct Answer- Option B
Statement I: The early nationalists within the Indian National Congre...
Understanding the Statements
The two statements provided discuss the early nationalists in the Indian National Congress and their demands for self-government.
Statement I: Focus on Constitutional Reforms
- The early nationalists, including leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji and Gopal Krishna Gokhale, primarily sought constitutional reforms.
- Their goal was to achieve self-government through gradual and peaceful means, aiming for an increase in Indian representation within the British colonial administration.
Statement II: Inspiration from Dominion Status
- The demand for self-government among Indian nationalists was indeed inspired by the dominion status models from countries like Canada and Australia.
- These countries had achieved a level of autonomy while still being part of the British Empire, which served as a reference point for Indian leaders advocating for similar reforms.
Assessment of the Correctness
- Both statements are correct. The early nationalists did focus on immediate constitutional reforms to achieve self-government (Statement I).
- Additionally, their aspirations were influenced by the successful models of dominion status in other British colonies (Statement II).
- Statement II provides a solid explanation of the motivations behind the demands articulated in Statement I.
Conclusion
Given that both statements are correct and Statement II explains the rationale behind Statement I, the correct answer is option 'B': Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.