In the context of the decline in the revolutionary, consider the following statements:

1. Gandhi’s ideas of Mass Nationalism

2. Morley Minto reforms

3. Khilafat Issue

4. Release of Political prisoners

5. Singapore mutiny

Which of the above statements were responsible for the decline in the revolutionary terrorism before the end of the World War I?

Solution

● Statement 1 is correct: Gandhi’s idea of Satyagraha and non-violence provided an alternative to the revolutionaries who saw a new hope. His idea of revolt involved active participation of the masses and touched every section of the Indian society. ● Statement 2 is incorrect: The Morley Minto reforms referred to the Government of India Act, 1909 which came much before the end of world war I. However, it was Montagu's statement in 1917 which talked of Swaraj and the Montagu Chelmsford reforms or the Government of India Act, 1919 that calmed the revolutionary activity to a certain extent. ● Statement 3 is incorrect: The Khilafat issue arose post the end of the World War I after the Treaty of Sevres completely dismembered Turkey, which was the seat of Khalifa, recognized by all the Muslims throughout the world. This had no role in the decline of revolutionary activism. ● Statement 4 is correct: The release of the political prisoners arrested because of the provisions of the Defense of India Act, 1915 also calmed the atmosphere to a great extent and suppressed the revolutionary activities. ● Statement 5 is incorrect: There were numerous mutinies witnessed at several places during the revolutionary activism. One such important mutiny was the Singapore mutiny under the Jamadar Chisti Khan, Jamadar Abdul Ghani, and Subedar Daud Khan. They were a part of revolutionary activism and were in no way related to its decline.