16 November 2022

MAINS QUESTIONS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q1. After the third Carnatic War, the English gained complete control over India because all of their European adversaries had been destroyed. Examine the causes of England’s victory. (250 words)

Paper & Topic: GS I  National Movement

Introduction:

• About 20 years of Anglo-French fighting in India eventually resulted in the establishment of British rule there. The most fierce anglo-french rivalry took place in Bengal and the Carnatic region. Their antagonism has lessened in Bengal as a result of Alivardi Khan’s effective involvement. But when a fleet from Mauritius landed in the south, it strengthened the French position and led to a French attack on the English base at Madras.

Body:

• The Seven Years War (1756–1833) started in Europe when Austria attempted to retake Silesia in 1756. France and Britain were on opposing sides once more.

Details of the War:

• The English forts of St. David and Vizianagaram were taken by the French army in 1758, under the leadership of French General Count Thomas Arthur de Lally.
• The English were active at this time and severely hurt the French naval forces under the leadership of Admiral D’Acheat Masulipatnam.

The Wandiwash Battle:

• On January 22, 1760, the English won an important battle in Tamil Nadu during the Third Carnatic War known as Wandiwash (or Vandavasi).
• The French army, led by Count de Lally, was routed by General Eyre Coote of the English, who also seized Marquis de Bussy.
• Lally bravely fought Pondicherry for eight months until surrendering up on January 16, 1761.
• Pondicherry, Gingee, and Mahe were lost, and the French had no more sway in India.
• Lally finally made his way back to France after being taken prisoner of war there in London, where he was hanged in 1766.

Result:

• The Third Carnatic War was important in the end.
• The Treaty of Peace of Paris (1763), which returned Pondicherry and Chandannagar to France with the restriction that only trade could take place there, put an end to the third war.
• The pact allowed them to regain control of their Indian businesses, but after the war, French political authority vanished.
• The French, like their Portuguese and Dutch ancestors in India, then restricted their operations to trade and a small number of enclaves.
• In the Indian subcontinent, the English rose to become the dominant European power.

Causes of French Failure and British Success

• Less Control of the British Subjects by the Government: The English Company was a private company.
• The population consequently became more enthusiastic and assured.
• This company can make decisions when they are necessary without waiting for approval from the authorities because the government has less control over it.
• However, the French business was a state-owned enterprise.
• It was governed by the French government, subject to restrictions, and subject to delays in decision-making.
• Larger cities under British administration and a stronger British navy: The English navy, which was stronger than the French fleet, assisted in severing the crucial sea link between France and the French holdings in India.
• Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras were important cities that the English held in their power, as opposed to the French who only held Pondicherry.
• The French corporation became cash-strapped as a result of giving up their corporate interests for geographical ambition, whereas the British were good with money.
• The British never neglected their commercial interests despite their imperialist goals.
• The British always had the resources and a stable financial situation needed to help them out significantly when they faced off against their opponents.
• In the Indian campaign, the British commanders enjoyed an edge, which was largely attributable to their superior leadership.
• In contrast to a long list of English leaders including Sir Eyre Coote, Major Stringer Lawrence, Robert Clive, and many more, there was just Dupleix on the French side.

Conclusion:

• The English East India Company had no European rivals in India after conquering at Wandiwash. As a result, they were prepared to rule the entire country. Native Americans were instrumental in the Battle of Wandiwash by acting as sepoys in both armies. It leads one to believe that regardless of the outcome, European invaders would eventually conquer India.

Q2. Gandhi’s decision to keep the salt issue at the forefront of the civil disobedience movement was well thought out, carefully calculated, and had a broad appeal, despite the fact that it baffled many people. Substantiate. (250 words)

Paper & Topic: GS I National Movement

Introduction:

• The 11 demands made by Gandhiji, which were based on the resolution of the Lahore Congress session, had to be granted by the British by January 31st, 1930. When the government disregarded these requests, Gandhi was given full permission by the Congress Working Committee to start the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) whenever and wherever he pleased. Gandhi made the decision that salt would play a significant role in the CDM by the end of February.

Body:

Protests are centered on the salt issue:

• Every Indian home required salt, but since domestic salt production was illegal, people had to pay a high price to purchase it from stores.
• “There is no other article, other than water, like salt, by taxing which the Government may reach the starving millions, the sick, the wounded, and the absolutely helpless,” claimed Gandhi.
• It is the unfairest poll tax ever conceived by human reason.
• In contrast to a no-rent campaign, Salt made the association between the concept of swaraj and a very real and common complaint of the rural poor right away.
• Similar to how khadi provided a small but psychologically significant income for the underprivileged, salt did the same.
• Urban followers of Salt had the chance to metaphorically relate to widespread adversity.
• Higher national spending resulted from the British destroying people’s sea salt excavations in the past.
• Despite how unpopular it was, Gandhiji made the state’s monopoly on salt his goal in order to stir up more opposition to British rule.
• Salt was a quiet component of “Unity in Diversity” because it lacked any characteristics that distinguished people based on caste, religion, or class.
• The beginning of the civil disobedience campaign was symbolised by salt because it was thought that every Indian had a fundamental right to it.
• Before beginning the Dandi March, Gandhiji declared that the movement’s primary goal would be to oppose British salt policies.

Conclusion:

• The nonviolent tactics of the Salt March astounded the British populace and helped it gain recognition both at home and abroad. The extensive journalistic coverage led to widespread public awareness of the Indian Independence Movement. Even today, peaceful nonviolent protest is a powerful weapon against repressive governmental policies.