Previous Year Question
Who among the following had resigned from the Viceroy's Executive Council protesting Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?
Rabindranath Tagore
Madan Mohan Malviya
Sir Shankar Nair
All three above
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 at Amritsar. Within days, Martial Law was imposed in different parts of Punjab and was accompanied by severe repressive measures.
At that time, Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair was a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council. He resigned his membership in protest against the developments in Punjab and, in particular, the undue prolongation of Martial Law.
According to the official chronology, his resignation occurred in July 1919; on 23 July 1919, he resigned as an Ordinary Member of the Governor-General's Council.
An important distinction should be made with Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore also strongly protested against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, but he renounced his Knighthood; he did not resign from the Viceroy's Executive Council.
Madan Mohan Malaviya was also a critic of the developments in Punjab, but the specific office mentioned in the question—the Viceroy's Executive Council—was resigned by Shankaran Nair.