Question

Name the leader who was killed during the protest against Simon Commission?
1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
2. Lala Lajpat Rai
3. Bipin Chandra
4. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Lala Lajpat Rai

Simon Commission:

• The Government of India Act 1919 introduced a dyarchy structure to control the provinces of British India.
• In November 1927 the British Government had appointed a commission under the chairmanship of John Simon to report on the condition of India under its new constitution.
• This act provided that after 10 years, a commission would be formed to review the progress of the government scheme and to recommend new measures for reform.
• The Simon Commission was opposed mainly because it did not have any Indian representation in the assembly.
• The purpose of the Simon Commission was to provide an account of how the Indian constitution worked.

Lala Lajpat Rai:

• Lala Lajpat Rai immensely contributed to attaining the independence of the nation.
• Besides, a great freedom fighter and leader, Lala Lajpat Rai was also a noted writer.
• He died after the police lathi-charged on the activists, protesting the arrival of Simon Commission. 
• On October 30, 1928, to boycott the arrival of the members of the Simon Commission in Lahore, a peaceful procession, headed by Lajpat Rai was launched.
• Intercepting the march, Superintendent of Police, Scott ordered his police force to ’lathi-charge at the activists.
• To take avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of Scott.
• But, the revolutionaries, mistaking J.P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as Scott, killed him instead.

Thus, Lala Lajpat Rai was killed during the protest against Simon Commission.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak:

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak was also known as Lokmanya Tilak.
• He established a prominent organization Deccan Education Society to promote modern learning.

Bipin Chandra:

• Bipin Chandra Pal was an Indian nationalist, writer, orator, social reformer, and Indian independence movement freedom fighter.
• He was one-third of the “Lal Bal Pal” triumvirate.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale:

• Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a great social reformer and educationist who provided exemplary leadership to India's freedom movement.
• He became president of INC in 1905 in the Banaras session.