Aruna Asaf Ali
I. Answer the following in two or three sentences each:
1.What kind of atmosphere existed in the
country when Arun entered politics?
Answer:Aruna entered politics at a time when the freedom struggle was raging
and the youth were laying down their lives for the ‘ country’s independence.
2.Why has she termed a non-conformist?
Answer:Born into an orthodox Hindu Bengali family in 1909 at Kalka in Haryana,
Aruna broke conventions at the age of 19, to marry Asaf Ali, a prominent figure
in the freedom struggle and twenty years her senior. So she was termed a
non-conformist.
3.What was the impact of Aruna’s public
address during the Salt Satyagraha?
Answer:Aruna was prosecuted in Delhi when she addressed a public meeting and
led processions during the Salt Satyagraha. She was sentenced to one year
imprisonment, when she refused to furnish security for good behaviour. A few
months later, when most of the political prisoners were being released, she was
not released until a public agitation was launched in her support.
4.Why had the Committee planned to hoist the
tricolor? What had led to Gandhi’s arrest before the hoisting of the flag?
Answer:Quit India resolution was passed on 8th August 1942. To celebrate this,
the committee had planned to hoist the tricolor at Gowalia Tank Maidan. The
British got wind of the plan and arrested the top leaders including Gandhiji a
few hours before the event.
5.“There’s no arrest warrant for you. Madam.”
Who else was the warrant given to? What did Arun persuade the British sergeant
to do?
Answer:The arrest warrant was given to Asaf Saheb. Aruna persuaded the British
sergeant who had come to a taxi with a couple of policemen to let her accompany
them to the railway station to see of her husband.
II. Answer the following in four-five sentences each:
1.Describe the scene at Victoria Terminus in
the early hours of August 9, 1942, as witnessed by Aruna Asaf Ali. ”
Answer:Dawn was about to break and there was a cordon around Victoria terminus
to keep crowds at bay. As she walked along the platform, she sawMaulanaAzad
sitting at a window in a Compartment of the special train and she stopped to
talk to him. She told him that she was going to unfurl the tricolour in his
place at Gowalia Tank Maidan. This was the scene at Victoria Terminus in the
early hours of August 9, 1942.
2.Narrate an instance from the biography to
justify the fact that the British were extremely autocratic and ruthless?
Answer:In the absence of senior leaders like Maulana Azad, Aruna Asaf Ali
decided to unfurl the tricolour flag at Gowali Tank Maidan. But the meeting was
declared illegal under section 144. Abritish sergeant gave two minutes time for
the crowd to disperse. Aruna scrambled up to the dais, announceed to the people
the arrest of the leaders, and pulled the cord to hoist the national flag.
Hardly had the flag been unfurled, when the police lobbed tear gas shells into
the crowd. Men and women ran helter-skelter with tears streaming down their
cheeks. This instance shows that the British were extremely autocratic and
ruthless.
3.Why was Aruna Asaf Ali considered the Grand
Old Lady of the freedom struggle?
Answer:Aruna Asaf Ali was a fiery leader who plunged headlong into politics at
a time when the freedom struggle was raging and the youth were laying down
their lives for the country’s independence. So she was known as the “Grand old
lady of the independence movement.”
4.What was Arana’s advice to the freedom
fighters?
Answer:In the 1994 issue of the magazine, Aruna advised freedom fighters not to
allow any academic arguments on questions like violence and non-violence to
divert attention from the stern realities of the day. “I want every student and
youth to think, and feel as soldiers of the nation that is to come.”
5.What was Gandhiji’s advice to Aruna? Why
could she not abide by it?
Answer:British Government had announced a reward of ?. 5 000 for the capture of
Aruna Asaf Ali. She had gone underground to avoid arrest and to continue her
work. She became ill also. On hearing about this, Gandhiji advised her to
surrender. “I have sent you a message that you must not die underground.You are
reduced to a skeleton. Do come out and surrender yourself and take the price
offered for your arrest. Reserve the prize money for the great Indian cause”.
This was the advice given by Gandhiji i to Aruna. She was a determined lady,
and so would not surrender meekly to the British. She would not abide by the
advice of Gandhiji i. She surrendered, only when the warrants for her arrest
got cancelled.
6.What were the awards given to Aruna? Why
were they given?
Answer:After India attained independence, Aruna Asaf Ali turned to social work
and helped to establish the National Federation of Indian women in 1954. In
1992, she was awarded the Nehru Award for International understanding. The
country honoured her with its highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna
posthumously for her freedom fighting and social services rendered to the
nation.
III Choose the correct answer:
1.Aruna Asaf Ali was a famous freedom fighter
and champion of the cause.
(a) Rich
(b) Poor
(c) Women
(d) Student.
Answer:(c) Women
2.Aruna’s first major political involvement
was
(a) Salt Sathyagraha.
(b) Non-cooperation movement.
(c) Quit India movement.
(d) Procession against Simon Commission.
Answer:(a) Salt Sathyagraha.
3.The Congress Committee took the decision to
hoist the tricolour flag in:
(a) Bombay Congress Session – 1942
(b) Lahore Congress Session – 1929
(c) Nagapur Congress Session – 1920
(d) Surat Congress Session – 1907.
Answer:(a) Bombay Congress Session – 1942
4.Eventually, Aruna went underground:
(a) To avoid being arrested.
(b) To encourage the freedom fighters
(c) To test the English.
(d) To write something.
Answer:(a) To avoid being arrested.
5.The government announced a reward of for
her capture.
(a) 5000 gold coins
(b) ₹ 5000
(c) ₹ 4000
(d) ₹ 1000
Answer:(b) ₹ 5000
IV Answer in one sentences:-
1.When was Aruna born?
Answer:Aruna was born in 1909.
2.Who was she married to?
Answer:She was married to Asaf Ali, a prominent freedom fighter.
3.Why did Aruna Asaf Ali go underground?
Answer:To avoid being arrested by the British.
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