Question

The phrase “mood music” is used in the second paragraph to indicate that the Second World War is viewed as:

• A. setting the stage for the emergence of the India–Pakistan rivalry in the subcontinent.
• B. a tragic period in terms of loss of lives and national wealth.
• C. a backdrop to the subsequent independence and partition of the region.
• D. a part of the narrative on the ill-effects of colonial rule on India.
• A. independence of the subcontinent and its partition into two countries.
• B. US recognition of India’s strategic location and role in the War.
• C. large-scale deaths in Bengal as a result of deprivation and famine.
• D. the large financial debt India owed to Britain after the War.
• A. a reflection of the academic and popular view of India’s role in the War.
• B. appropriate as their names can always be included in the India Gate memorial.
• C. a reflection of misplaced priorities of the post-independence Indian governments.
• D. is something which can be rectified in future by constructing a separate memorial.
• A. blames the War for leading to the momentous partition of the country.
• B. wants to forget the human and financial toll of the War on the country.
• C. has been focused on building an independent, non-colonial political identity.
• D. views the War as a predominantly Allied effort, with India playing only a supporting role.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The term "mood music" in the passage refers to the Second World War being used as a narrative background rather than a focal point in the history of India's independence and partition. The comprehension passage describes how India's significant contributions and experiences during the Second World War have been overshadowed by its journey to independence and partition in 1947. Here are the logical steps leading to this interpretation:

• The passage indicates that the Indian government has not fully acknowledged India's role in the Second World War by excluding it from the new war memorial's scope. This omission conveys that the war is seen as a secondary element compared to the independence and partition.
• The statement "continues to be seen as little more than mood music in the drama of India’s advance towards independence and partition" directly highlights that the war is perceived as a backdrop to the later events.
• The passage explains the crucial role of the war in leading to independence, noting India's large military and financial commitments. Despite these efforts, the narrative focuses more on the political changes post-war, aligning with the conclusion that the war is viewed as background in historical storytelling.
• The comprehension also discusses the shared wartime experiences being overshadowed by new national narratives post-partition, further supporting the idea that the war serves as a narrative backdrop rather than a focal historical memory.

Thus, the correct answer is that the Second World War is viewed as "a backdrop to the subsequent independence and partition of the region."

Answer 2

The Second World War left significant impacts on India, as described by the author. To identify the outcome not listed, we need to analyze the given options with reference to the passage content:

Analysis of Options:

• Independence of the subcontinent and its partition into two countries:
  The passage discusses how the Second World War played a crucial role in India’s independence and partition, making this outcome consistent with the passage.
• US recognition of India’s strategic location and role in the War:
  The text mentions that India’s contribution led the US to take considerable interest, aligning this option with the passage’s narrative.
• Large-scale deaths in Bengal as a result of deprivation and famine:
  The Bengal famine is highlighted as a wartime deprivation resulting in millions of deaths, thus it is an acknowledged outcome in the passage.
• The large financial debt India owed to Britain after the War:
  Contrary to this statement, the passage states that India ended the war as a significant creditor to Britain, not in debt.

Conclusion: Based on the analysis, the outcome not listed in the passage is "the large financial debt India owed to Britain after the War." This option does not align with the author's account of the Second World War’s implications for India.

Answer 3

The question addresses the omission of Indians who served in the Second World War from the new National War Memorial. To determine the author's claim, we should analyze the comprehension provided.

The passage explains:

• The new National War Memorial honors Indian soldiers from 1947 onwards, excluding those from the Second World War.
• This exclusion is intentional and reflective of both academic history and popular memory, which have not fully acknowledged India’s role in the Second World War.
• The omission aligns with the narrative that India's contributions to the war are overshadowed by the focus on independence and partition.
• Despite the significant contributions of India during the war, these efforts have not been substantially recognized in the national discourse.

Given this context, the answer can be derived by evaluating the options:

• Option A: a reflection of the academic and popular view of India’s role in the War.
• Option B: appropriate as their names can always be included in the India Gate memorial.
• Option C: a reflection of misplaced priorities of the post-independence Indian governments.
• Option D: is something which can be rectified in future by constructing a separate memorial.

Option A accurately captures the author's perspective that the omission reflects the prevailing view of India’s role in WWII in both academic and popular spheres. The other options do not align with this interpretation as directly.

Answer 4

The question asks why India has not acknowledged its role in the Second World War. To answer this, we must understand the context provided:

The passage discusses India's lack of commemoration for its participation in the Second World War, indicating that this is not due to oversight but reflects a broader sentiment. The government focuses on memorials post-independence, suggesting a deliberate move to emphasize a national narrative after 1947.

Key points from the passage include:

• The war's impact on India, including large military involvement and significant material and financial contributions.
• The lack of memory associated with the war is linked to the need for post-independence self-legitimization rather than shared wartime experiences with Pakistan.
• The war influenced India's independence and subsequent partition, but this relationship has not been central to India's national narrative.
• Extraordinary mobilization and the subsequent political unrest were pivotal in the decision for India’s independence, rather than the war itself.

Analyzing these points, the most fitting option is: India has been focused on building an independent, non-colonial political identity. This is because the emphasis is on establishing a post-colonial narrative, marginalizing wartime contributions as part of colonial history.

The correct answer is that India has been focused on building an independent, non-colonial political identity.