On 15 August 1947, Mahatma Gandhi marked the day of independence by: 1. Hoisting the flag at the Red Fort. 2. Addressing the Constituent Assembly. 3. Observing a 24-hour fast in Calcutta. 4. He was engaged in efforts to bring peace to riot-torn areas. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct option is 3 and 4 only. Explanation On August 15, 1947, the transfer of power from the British to Indian hands took place. However, this event was accompanied by the partition of the country and severe communal violence. Mahatma Gandhi's activities on this historic day reflected his deep distress over the partition and the ensuing riots. Statement-wise Analysis - Statement 1 is Incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi did not hoist the flag at the Red Fort. The tradition of the Prime Minister hoisting the flag at the Red Fort began with Jawaharlal Nehru (who actually hoisted it there on August 16, 1947, though he hoisted the flag at Princess Park and the Constituent Assembly on August 15). Gandhi was not present in New Delhi during the independence celebrations. - Statement 2 is Incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi did not address the Constituent Assembly. The historic "Tryst with Destiny" speech was delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru to the Constituent Assembly on the midnight of August 14-15, 1947. Gandhi was absent from these official ceremonies. - Statement 3 is Correct: On August 15, 1947, Mahatma Gandhi was in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He marked the independence of India by observing a 24-hour fast, engaging in prayer, and spinning khadi. He stayed at Hyderi Manzil in the riot-affected area of Beliaghata. - Statement 4 is Correct: Gandhi was in Calcutta specifically to bring peace to the riot-torn areas. Bengal had witnessed horrific communal violence (such as the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946 and subsequent riots). Lord Mountbatten later described Gandhi's success in calming the violence in Bengal as the work of a "One Man Boundary Force," contrasting it with the 55,000 soldiers in Punjab who struggled to maintain order. Key Takeaway While the political leadership celebrated the birth of the nation in New Delhi, Mahatma Gandhi chose to stay in Calcutta to mitigate communal violence through non-violent means, marking the day with fasting and prayer rather than celebration.

NCERT Class 12 History — Chapter 3: Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement - Civil Disobedience and Beyond

mcqeasy

On 15 August 1947, Mahatma Gandhi marked the day of independence by:

Hoisting the flag at the Red Fort.
Addressing the Constituent Assembly.
Observing a 24-hour fast in Calcutta.
He was engaged in efforts to bring peace to riot-torn areas.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A3 and 4 only
B2 and 3 only
C1, 2, 3 and 4
D1 and 2 only

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is 3 and 4 only.

Explanation

On August 15, 1947, the transfer of power from the British to Indian hands took place. However, this event was accompanied by the partition of the country and severe communal violence. Mahatma Gandhi's activities on this historic day reflected his deep distress over the partition and the ensuing riots.

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi did not hoist the flag at the Red Fort. The tradition of the Prime Minister hoisting the flag at the Red Fort began with Jawaharlal Nehru (who actually hoisted it there on August 16, 1947, though he hoisted the flag at Princess Park and the Constituent Assembly on August 15). Gandhi was not present in New Delhi during the independence celebrations.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi did not address the Constituent Assembly. The historic "Tryst with Destiny" speech was delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru to the Constituent Assembly on the midnight of August 14-15, 1947. Gandhi was absent from these official ceremonies.
Statement 3 is Correct: On August 15, 1947, Mahatma Gandhi was in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He marked the independence of India by observing a 24-hour fast, engaging in prayer, and spinning khadi. He stayed at Hyderi Manzil in the riot-affected area of Beliaghata.
Statement 4 is Correct: Gandhi was in Calcutta specifically to bring peace to the riot-torn areas. Bengal had witnessed horrific communal violence (such as the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946 and subsequent riots). Lord Mountbatten later described Gandhi's success in calming the violence in Bengal as the work of a "One Man Boundary Force," contrasting it with the 55,000 soldiers in Punjab who struggled to maintain order.

Key Takeaway

While the political leadership celebrated the birth of the nation in New Delhi, Mahatma Gandhi chose to stay in Calcutta to mitigate communal violence through non-violent means, marking the day with fasting and prayer rather than celebration.

Your note

More from Chapter 3: Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement - Civil Disobedience and Beyond

Why did the talks between Sir Stafford Cripps and the Congress break down in 1942?

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At the Second Round Table Conference in London on 1931, Mahatma Gandhi’s claim to represent all of India was challenged by which of the following parties? 1. The Muslim League 2. The Princes fully supported Gandhi's claim to represent all of India. 3. B.R. Ambedkar Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Which of the following pairs regarding Mahatma Gandhi’s early local struggles is/are correctly matched? 1. Champaran (1917) : Security of tenure for peasants and freedom to cultivate crops of choice. 2. Ahmedabad (1918) : Demand for remission of taxes following harvest failure. 3. Kheda (1918) : Intervention in a labour dispute demanding better working conditions. 4. Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919) : First countrywide campaign against detention without trial. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

medium

Consider the following statements regarding the Khilafat Movement: 1. It sought to restore the Caliphate which had been abolished by the Turkish ruler Kemal Ataturk. 2. Mahatma Gandhi supported the movement to forge Hindu-Muslim unity. 3. The movement demanded that the Khalifa must retain control over Muslim sacred places in the erstwhile Ottoman Empire. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

With reference to the termination of the Non-Cooperation Movement, consider the following statements: 1. Mahatma Gandhi called off the movement solely due to the arrest of the Ali Brothers. 2. The Chauri Chaura incident involved peasants attacking and torching a police station. 3. Following the incident, the British government decided not to arrest Gandhi to avoid further unrest. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

easy

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The correct option is 3 and 4 only.

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi did not hoist the flag at the Red Fort. The tradition of the Prime Minister hoisting the flag at the Red Fort began with Jawaharlal Nehru (who actually hoisted it there on August 16, 1947, though he hoisted the flag at Princess Park and the Constituent Assembly on August 15). Gandhi was not present in New Delhi during the independence celebrations.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi did not address the Constituent Assembly. The historic "Tryst with Destiny" speech was delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru to the Constituent Assembly on the midnight of August 14-15, 1947. Gandhi was absent from these official ceremonies.
Statement 3 is Correct: On August 15, 1947, Mahatma Gandhi was in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He marked the independence of India by observing a 24-hour fast, engaging in prayer, and spinning khadi. He stayed at Hyderi Manzil in the riot-affected area of Beliaghata.
Statement 4 is Correct: Gandhi was in Calcutta specifically to bring peace to the riot-torn areas. Bengal had witnessed horrific communal violence (such as the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946 and subsequent riots). Lord Mountbatten later described Gandhi's success in calming the violence in Bengal as the work of a "One Man Boundary Force," contrasting it with the 55,000 soldiers in Punjab who struggled to maintain order.