The National Movement (During the First World War) — Important Questions

Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it

Tilak popularized the famous slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it' during the Home Rule Movement. This slogan emphasized the natural right of Indians to self-government. 'Quit India' was the slogan of the 1942 movement led by Gandhi. 'Vande Mataram' was associated with the Swadeshi Movement and earlier nationalist activities. 'Do or Die' was Gandhi's call during the Quit India Movement. Tilak's slogan specifically related to the concept of Home Rule or self-government within the British Empire.

New India and The Commonweal

Annie Besant used the newspapers 'New India' and 'The Commonweal' to spread propaganda in favor of Home Rule. These were her main media tools for reaching the Indian public. 'Kesari' and 'Mahratta' were Tilak's newspapers that he used for similar purposes. 'Young India' and 'Navjivan' were Gandhi's publications used later. 'The Hindu' and 'Indian Express' were established newspapers but not specifically associated with Annie Besant's Home Rule campaign.

Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms

The Government of India Act of 1919 was based on the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms announced in 1918. These reforms were introduced as constitutional concessions to appease nationalist leaders after the Home Rule Movement and wartime pressures. The Morley-Minto Reforms led to the Act of 1909, which was earlier. The Simon Commission came in 1928 and led to different constitutional changes. The Cripps Mission was during World War II (1942) and dealt with different constitutional proposals. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms specifically addressed the demands raised during the Home Rule Movement period.

Dyarchy

The Act of 1919 introduced the system of 'Dyarchy' in the provinces. Under this system, provincial subjects were divided into two categories: 'Reserved subjects' (like finance, law and order) controlled by the Governor with nominated Executive Council, and 'Transferred subjects' (like education, public health) administered by the Governor with elected ministers. This was a dual system of governance, hence called dyarchy. Federal system came later with the Act of 1935. Unitary and Presidential systems were not introduced by this Act. Dyarchy was a compromise between British control and Indian p