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Question 43 of 69 · Gandhian Era & Struggle for Independence
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Who was the only martyr of the Quit India Movement in Assam to be hanged by the British, for allegedly derailing a military train?

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Answer: Option C — Kushal Konwar

Detailed Solution

Kushal Konwar of Assam is regarded as the only martyr of the Quit India phase of the freedom movement (1942) who was hanged by the British.

About Kushal Konwar:

  • He was a Gandhian and a believer in non-violence, and worked as a clerk in a tea estate.
  • He took part in the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements.
  • He was a leader of the Congress in the Sarupathar area of Golaghat.

The incident:

  • In October 1942, during the Quit India Movement, a military train carrying Allied soldiers was derailed near Sarupathar, and many soldiers were killed.
  • Kushal Konwar was accused of planning the sabotage, though he denied the charge and there was little evidence against him.
  • He was tried, found guilty and sentenced to death.
  • He was hanged in Jorhat jail on 15 June 1943.
  • He went to the gallows calmly, reading the Gita.
  • He is remembered as a martyr in Assam; 15 June is observed as "Martyrs' Day" (Kushal Konwar Divas) in Assam.

Other heroes of Assam in the Quit India Movement:

  • Kanaklata Barua, a 17-year-old girl, was shot dead by the police at Gohpur (Darrang district) on 20 September 1942, while leading a procession to hoist the national flag at the police station.
  • Mukunda Kakati was shot dead along with her.
  • Bhogeswari Phukanani, an elderly woman, was killed while leading a procession at Barhampur (Nagaon district).

Earlier martyrs of Assam:

Maniram Dewan, a tea planter and noble, was hanged in 1858 for his role in the Revolt of 1857.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Kanaklata Barua and Bhogeswari Phukanani were shot during processions.
  • ✗Maniram Dewan was hanged in 1858.

Quick tip

Remember: Kushal Konwar = only martyr hanged during Quit India (Sarupathar train derailment; hanged at Jorhat jail, 15 June 1943); Kanaklata Barua shot at Gohpur (1942).

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Gandhian Era & Struggle for Independence — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Gandhian Era & Struggle for Independence, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the freedom struggle from Gandhi's return to India in 1915 to independence in 1947: the Champaran, Kheda and Ahmedabad movements, the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh, the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements, the Round Table Conferences, the Cripps Mission, the Cabinet Mission and the partition of India. Most questions ask about the year, cause or result of a movement, or the event that ended it. For example, the Chauri Chaura incident (1922) led Gandhi to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement, and the Dandi March (1930) started the Civil Disobedience Movement. Learning these events on a timeline is the best way to avoid confusion. Practise the Gandhian era questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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