In 1920, which of the following changed its name to "Swarajya Sabha"?
Contents13
- AAll India Home Rule League
- BHindu Mahasabha
- CSouth Indian Liberal Federation
- DThe Servants of India Society
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Answer: (A) All India Home Rule League
Correct Answer: (a) All India Home Rule League
In 1920, Mahatma Gandhi became the President of the All India Home Rule League.
Under his leadership, the organization's name was changed from 'All India Home Rule League' to 'Swarajya Sabha.'
Background:
The Home Rule League was originally started in 1916 by
- Annie Besant (All India Home Rule League)
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Indian Home Rule League — separate from Besant's).
Their goal was to demand self-governance (Home Rule) for India within the British Empire.
When Gandhi took over, the name was changed to reflect the goal of 'Swaraj' (self-rule/independence).
Why not the others:
- Hindu Mahasabha — A Hindu nationalist organization, not renamed to Swarajya Sabha.
- South Indian Liberal Federation (Justice Party) — A political party in Madras, not renamed.
- Servants of India Society — Founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, not renamed.
REMEMBER: Home Rule League → renamed to Swarajya Sabha in 1920 by Gandhi.
Annie Besant started it in 1916, Gandhi renamed it in 1920.
'Home Rule' to 'Swaraj' — same idea (self-rule), different name.
The All India Home Rule League was renamed to Swarajya Sabha in 1920 when Gandhi became its president, marking his early leadership transition from supporting dominion status to demanding complete self-rule.
This name change from 'Home Rule' to 'Swarajya' reflected the ideological shift from seeking self-governance within the British Empire to demanding complete independence.
UPSC tests whether students can distinguish between the two Home Rule Leagues - Annie Besant's All India Home Rule League (1916) and Tilak's separate Indian Home Rule League.
Home Rule Movement (1916-1920)
Modern Indian History Home Rule League Swarajya Sabha
Home Rule Movement: Gandhi's Transformation of Besant's League
All India Home Rule League renamed to Swarajya Sabha in 1920 under Gandhi's leadership
Annie Besant founded All India Home Rule League in 1916
Movement demanded self-governance within British Empire, not complete independence initially
Tilak started separate Indian Home Rule League in 1916
Context & Genesis
The Home Rule Movement emerged in 1916 during World War I when moderate leaders adopted more assertive methods. Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak launched separate Home Rule Leagues to demand self-governance for India within the British Empire, following the Irish Home Rule model.
Two Home Rule Leagues
League | Founder | Year | Area of Operation | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
All India Home Rule League | Annie Besant | September 1916 | Rest of India (except Maharashtra, Karnataka, Berar, Central Provinces) | More organized, had The New India newspaper |
Indian Home Rule League | Bal Gangadhar Tilak | April 1916 | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Berar, Central Provinces | First to start, focused on Tilak's stronghold |
Evolution Timeline
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**April 1916**
**Tilak** starts Indian Home Rule League in Maharashtra`"]
s2["`**September 1916**
**Annie Besant** launches All India Home Rule League for rest of India`"]
s3["`**1917-1918**
Movement peaks with massive membership and propaganda campaigns`"]
s4["`**1920**
**Gandhi** becomes President of All India Home Rule League, renames it **Swarajya Sabha**`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4Methods & Impact
Constitutional methods: petitions, meetings, lectures, and propaganda through newspapers
Mass appeal: first movement to systematically involve common people in political activity
Membership growth: All India Home Rule League reached 40,000 members by 1918
Government response: Besant was interned in 1917, making her a national hero
Foundation for Non-Cooperation: prepared ground for Gandhi's mass movements
Gandhi's Takeover
In 1920, when Gandhi became President of the All India Home Rule League, he changed its name to Swarajya Sabha. This marked a shift from demanding 'Home Rule' (self-governance within the Empire) to 'Swaraj' (complete self-rule), aligning with Gandhi's vision of full independence.
Trap: Confusing Tilak's league with Besant's — only Besant's All India Home Rule League was renamed to Swarajya Sabha
Trap: Wrong year — rename happened in 1920, not 1916 when the leagues were founded
Trap: Wrong leader — Gandhi renamed it, not Annie Besant who founded it
Trap: Mixing up with other organizations — Hindu Mahasabha, Justice Party, and Servants of India Society were never renamed
Contemporary Political Organizations
Modern Indian History Hindu Mahasabha South Indian Liberal Federation Servants of India Society
Key Political Organizations Contemporary to Home Rule Movement
Hindu Mahasabha founded in 1915 by Madan Mohan Malviya for Hindu interests
Servants of India Society established by Gokhale in 1905 for social service
South Indian Liberal Federation (Justice Party) formed in 1916 in Madras Presidency
Organizations Comparison
Organization | Founded | Founder/Leader | Primary Goal | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hindu Mahasabha | 1915 | Madan Mohan Malviya | Protect Hindu interests | Communal/Religious |
South Indian Liberal Federation | 1916 | Dr. T.M. Nair, P. Theagaroya Chetty | Non-Brahmin rights in South India | Regional/Social Justice |
Servants of India Society | 1905 | Gopal Krishna Gokhale | Social service and constitutional reform | Moderate/Social Service |
All India Home Rule League | 1916 | Annie Besant | Self-governance within Empire | Nationalist/Constitutional |
Key Distinctions
Hindu Mahasabha: Focused on communal politics, later led by Savarkar; advocated Hindu nationalism
Justice Party: Anti-Congress, anti-Brahmin party in Madras; supported British rule initially
Servants of India Society: Gokhale's moderate approach - constitutional methods, social reform, education
None of these organizations changed their names to Swarajya Sabha - that was unique to Home Rule League
Trap: Justice Party was anti-Congress and pro-British initially — opposite of Home Rule League's goals
Trap: Hindu Mahasabha focused on religious identity, not self-governance like Home Rule League
Trap: Servants of India Society was about social service, not political independence
Trap: All these were separate organizations with different goals — only Home Rule League became Swarajya Sabha
Gandhi's Early Political Leadership (1920)
Modern Indian History Gandhi Swarajya Sabha
Gandhi's Transformation of Indian Politics in 1920
1920 marked Gandhi's emergence as supreme leader of Indian nationalism
Gandhi transformed Home Rule League into Swarajya Sabha, shifting from constitutional to mass methods
Non-Cooperation Movement launched same year, marking new phase of struggle
Context of Leadership Change
By 1920, Gandhi had established himself through successful satyagrahas in Champaran, Kheda, and Ahmedabad. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Khilafat issue provided him the opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims under his leadership, taking over from the moderate Home Rule approach.
Gandhi's Political Evolution
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**1915-1919**
Local satyagrahas - Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad mill strike`"]
s2["`**1919**
Anti-Rowlatt Act agitation - first all-India movement led by Gandhi`"]
s3["`**1920**
Takes over **Home Rule League** → renames to **Swarajya Sabha**`"]
s4["`**August 1920**
Launches **Non-Cooperation Movement** with new mass-based methods`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4Significance of Name Change
'Home Rule' to 'Swaraj': Shift from self-governance within Empire to complete self-rule
Organizational continuity: Used existing Home Rule League structure for new movement
Mass appeal: 'Swaraj' was more relatable to common people than 'Home Rule'
Strategic timing: Coincided with Non-Cooperation launch, unifying nationalist forces
Trap: Gandhi took over existing organization, didn't found it — Annie Besant was the founder
Trap: 1920 was the year of takeover and rename, not 1916 when Home Rule League started
Trap: Swarajya Sabha was renamed organization, not a completely new one Gandhi created