In Lucknow Session of Congress in 1916, both the Moderates and Extremist leaders were united. It was presided over by ___________.

Correct option is B

Ans. (b) Ambika Charan Majumdar

Sol. The Lucknow Session of the Indian National Congress (1916) was a historic event where the Moderates and Extremists reunited after their split in the Surat Session of 1907. This session also marked the Congress-League Pact (Lucknow Pact) between the Indian National Congress (INC) and the All India Muslim League (AIML). It was presided over by Ambika Charan Majumdar, a veteran Congress leader and nationalist. His leadership played a crucial role in bridging the ideological divide between the two factions and strengthening the national movement against British rule.

Information Booster:

• The Lucknow Pact (1916) was an agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, fostering Hindu-Muslim unity.
• The session marked the return of the Extremists, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, into the Congress.
• The pact demanded greater Indian self-governance and constitutional reforms.
• This was the first instance where the British government was forced to acknowledge Indian political aspirations.
• The pact ensured that Muslims were granted separate electorates, strengthening the League’s influence.
• It was an important step toward the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919), which introduced dyarchy in Indian provinces.
• Ambika Charan Majumdar was an advocate for national unity and emphasized the importance of collective resistance against colonial rule.

Additional Information:

• CR Das (a) – Incorrect:Chittaranjan Das was a key Congress leader but did not preside over the 1916 Lucknow Session. He later founded the Swaraj Party (1923) with Motilal Nehru.
• Motilal Nehru (c) – Incorrect:Motilal Nehru was active in the Congress but did not preside over the Lucknow Session of 1916. He played a significant role in later events, such as drafting the Nehru Report (1928).
• Jawaharlal Nehru (d) – Incorrect:Jawaharlal Nehru was a young Congress leader at the time and did not hold any key leadership position in the 1916 session. He later became the first Prime Minister of independent India in 1947.