Comprehension

”The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind”
It is no use saying that we ask for separate electorates, because it is good for us. We have heard it long enough. We have heard it for years, and as a result of this agitation we are now a separate nation ... Can you show me one free country where there are separate electorates? If so, I shall be prepared to accept it. But in this unfortunate country if this separate electorate is going to be persisted in, even after the division of the country, woe betide the country; it is not worth living in. Therefore, I say, it is not for my good alone, it is for your own good that I say it, forget the past. One day, we may be united ... The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind. We do not want to perpetuate that mischief. (Hear, hear). When the British introduced this element they had not expected that they will have to go so soon. They wanted it for their easy administration. That is all right. But they have left the legacy behind. Are we to get out of it or not?

Question: 1

Who is the speaker of this passage?

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Sardar Patel was one of the strongest voices in the Constituent Assembly against any measure that could further divide the nation, including separate electorates, which he saw as the root cause of the partition.
Updated On: Feb 16, 2026
  • Mahatma Gandhi
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  • B. Pocker Bahadur
  • R.V. Dhulekar
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The objective is to identify the orator of a notable speech delivered in the Constituent Assembly of India during discussions concerning minority rights.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
This fervent plea to discontinue separate electorates was delivered by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He held the position of chairman for the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas. In the debates of August 27, 1947, he strongly contended that separate electorates, introduced by the British, had been a detrimental factor that contributed to the country's partition, and their abolition was essential for forging a unified nation in independent India. B. Pocker Bahadur, a representative from Madras, advocated for the retention of separate electorates for Muslims, and Patel's speech served as a robust counter-argument to this proposal.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is the speaker of this passage.
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Question: 2

According to the speaker, what was the consequence of the policy of a separate electorates?

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In reading comprehension, look for cause-and-effect language. Phrases like "as a result of" are clear indicators of a stated consequence.
Updated On: Feb 16, 2026
  • Free and fair election
  • Increase in nationalism in India
  • Freedom for India
  • The partition of India
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Comprehend the Inquiry:
The query seeks to identify the speaker's stated direct outcome of the sustained policy of separate electorates.
Step 2: Elaborate on the Passage:
The speaker asserts in the text, "We have heard it for years, and as a result of this agitation we are now a separate nation..." The phrase "separate nation" unequivocally refers to the establishment of Pakistan, which occurred via the division of India. The speaker directly attributes this outcome to the advocacy for separate electorates.
Step 3: Conclude with the Answer:
The speaker identifies the division of India as the direct consequence of the policy of separate electorates.
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Question: 3

What is opposed by the speaker in the above passage?

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To find the main point of a passage, look for the idea that is repeated most often and with the most emotional or logical force. Here, "separate electorate" is the recurring subject of the speaker's criticism.
Updated On: Feb 16, 2026
  • The division of the country
  • The demand for separate electorate
  • The lapse of the British element
  • The demand for easy administration
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The objective is to pinpoint the primary objection in the speaker's discourse.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The entirety of the text constitutes a strong contention against a particular policy. The speaker's statements, such as "It is no use saying that we ask for separate electorates...", "Can you show me one free country where there are separate electorates?", and "if this separate electorate is going to be persisted in... woe betide the country", underscore this. The core subject is a fervent opposition to the perpetuation of separate electorates in a free India. While the partition of the nation is cited as an outcome, the direct policy under scrutiny is the proposition for separate electorates itself.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The speaker is forcefully rejecting the proposal for separate electorates.
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Question: 4

The mischief of separate electorates was left behind by:

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Identify the key actors mentioned in the text. The speaker explicitly names "The British element" as the source of the problem they are discussing.
Updated On: Feb 16, 2026
  • The Muslim League
  • The British Government
  • People leaving due to partition
  • The Nawabs and the Rajas
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identify the Core Question: The query seeks to determine the party credited by the speaker for initiating the "mischief" of separate electorates. Step 2: Extract Supporting Evidence: The speaker explicitly states: "The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind." Further elaboration includes: "When the British introduced this element they had not expected that they will have to go so soon." These statements unequivocally assign the origin and lasting impact of this policy to the British. Step 3: Conclude the Responsibility: The British Government is identified as the entity responsible for introducing and leaving behind the "mischief" of separate electorates.
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Question: 5

Why, according to the speaker, the British introduced the separate electorates?

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When a question asks "Why, according to the speaker...", search the text for explicit statements of motive or reason. The answer is often stated directly.
Updated On: Feb 16, 2026
  • For their easy administration
  • To strengthen the Indian polity
  • To protect the rights of the Indians
  • To provide a balanced political framework
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Concept Identification:
The inquiry seeks the speaker's stated rationale for the British implementation of separate electorates.
Step 2: Explanatory Detail:
The text directly addresses this query. The speaker states, "When the British introduced this element... They wanted it for their easy administration. That is all right." This explicitly conveys the speaker's perception of the British objective.
Step 3: Conclusive Response:
The speaker asserts that the British implemented separate electorates to facilitate their own administration.
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