Q. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Most of the early nationalists considered British rule as an act of providence destined to bring modernisation.
Reason (R): They complained only against “Un-British rule” in India.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below.
a) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
b) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
c) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
d) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Question from UPPSC Prelims 2024
The correct answer is (d) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Explanation: The first statement is correct as early nationalists like Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and others did consider British rule as providential for India’s modernization. However, the second statement is incorrect because it claims they “only” complained against “Un-British rule.” This is inaccurate as early nationalists had multiple grievances including economic exploitation, lack of Indian representation, racial discrimination, civil rights restrictions, and various exploitative policies. Their protests and demands were much broader than just complaining about “Un-British rule.”
