SSC
Which association, founded in Calcutta in 1838 to protect the interests of landlords, is regarded as the first political association of modern India?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option A — Zamindari Association (Landholders' Society)
Detailed Solution
The Zamindari Association, also known as the Landholders' Society, was founded in Calcutta in 1838; it is regarded as the first political association of modern India.
About the Landholders' Society:
- It was founded by leading landlords of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, such as Dwarkanath Tagore, Prasanna Kumar Tagore, Radhakanta Deb and Raja Rajkumar Roy, along with some Englishmen, such as William Theobald.
- Its main aim was to protect the interests of the landlords (zamindars), especially to defend the Permanent Settlement and oppose any attempt by the government to increase land revenue or resume rent-free lands.
- It used constitutional methods, such as petitions and memorials to the government.
- It was the first organisation in India to use organised political agitation and constitutional methods to put forward demands to the government.
Its importance:
- Although it represented the narrow interests of the landlords, it was the first step towards organised political activity in modern India.
- It showed that Indians could work together for common goals through constitutional methods.
Other early associations:
- The Bengal British India Society (1843), formed by the members of the "Young Bengal" group and others, with George Thompson, to collect information about the condition of the people.
- In 1851, the Landholders' Society and the Bengal British India Society merged to form the British Indian Association, which became the leading political body of the upper classes of Bengal.
- Similar associations were formed in Bombay and Madras in the 1850s.
NCERT on political associations:
NCERT notes that in the second half of the 19th century, many political associations came into being, and they paved the way for the formation of the Indian National Congress.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The British Indian Association (1851), the Indian Association and the Bengal British India Society (1843) came later.
Quick tip
Remember: first political association of modern India = Landholders' Society (Zamindari Association), Calcutta, 1838 (Dwarkanath Tagore); British Indian Association formed in 1851.
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Swadeshi Movement & Early Nationalism — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Swadeshi Movement & Early Nationalism, 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 growth of Indian nationalism from the early 1900s to the First World War: the partition of Bengal in 1905, the Swadeshi and Boycott movement, the rise of extremist leaders such as Lal, Bal and Pal, the Surat split of 1907, and the Home Rule Leagues of Tilak and Annie Besant. Typical questions cover the year the partition of Bengal was announced and annulled (1905 and 1911), the slogans and leaders of the Swadeshi movement, and the founders of the two Home Rule Leagues (1916). Be clear about the difference between the moderates, who used petitions, and the extremists, who called for swaraj and mass action. Practise the Swadeshi movement and early nationalism 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.