Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 13, 1919) evoked strong condemnation across India. As a symbolic act of protest against the brutality of the British government, prominent Indian leaders renounced titles and honors conferred upon them.Analysis:
- Rabindranath Tagore: He renounced his Knighthood (awarded in 1915) immediately after the massacre. In his protest letter to Viceroy Lord Chelmsford, he famously wrote, "The time has come when badges of honour make our shame glaring in the incongruous context of humiliation."
- Mahatma Gandhi: He returned the Kaiser-i-Hind medal (awarded for his humanitarian work in South Africa) later, in 1920, at the onset of the Non-Cooperation Movement. This was done in protest against the "Punjab wrongs" (Jallianwala Bagh), the Khilafat issue, and the denial of Swaraj.
- Subhas Chandra Bose: He resigned from the Indian Civil Service (ICS) in 1921 to participate actively in the national movement; he did not hold a knighthood.
- Surendranath Banerji: A moderate leader, he accepted a Knighthood in 1921 and served as a minister in Bengal under the Dyarchy system; he did not renounce it in protest.
Key Takeaway:
Rabindranath Tagore renounced his Knighthood specifically in response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, while Mahatma Gandhi returned the Kaiser-i-Hind medal during the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement.