Well, Sir, I must congratulate Pandit Nehru for the fine expression he gave to the spirit of the Indian people when he said that no imposition from the British will be accepted by the Indian people. Imposition would be resented and objected to, he said, and he added that if need be we will walk the valley of struggle. But the point is to see when and how are you going to apply that challenge. Well, Sir, the point is that the imposition is here right now.
These lines are from a speech in the Constituent Assembly; the speaker's later lines have been left out. What did the speaker finally propose in those lines?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Proclaim independence at once and call on the country to unite against imperial rule
Option (1) Proclaim independence at once and call on the country to unite against imperial rule — Correct. Somnath Lahiri, a Communist member, said that working out the British Plan would gain nothing. He urged the Assembly to <strong>declare independence here and now</strong> and to unite the people against British imperialism.
Option (2) Walk out of the Assembly and boycott its sittings until the last troops had left — Incorrect. Lahiri spoke inside the Assembly and wanted the Assembly itself to act. His call was for members to declare independence from within it.
Option (3) Demand that the Viceroy hand the army and finances over to the Interim Government — Incorrect. Lahiri said the final power was still in British hands. His remedy was to declare independence at once, without waiting for any step by the Viceroy.
Option (4) Ask the provinces to frame their own constitutions outside the control of London — Incorrect. Lahiri called on the whole people of India to act together. His plan was one united struggle by the Interim Government and the people.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.1 The will of the people … |