Module 3: The Yunus Ministry and the Congress Ministry (1937-39)
Concept
Subtopic 3.1: The Yunus Ministry and the Congress Ministry (1937-39)
- Governor M.G. Hallett invited Congress leader Shri Krishna Singh to form a government, but would not assure non-interference in ministers' constitutional work, so Shri Krishna Singh declined.
- Mohammad Yunus of the Muslim Independent Party (the second-largest party) then formed the first Indian ministry on 1 April 1937; he was Bihar's first Indian 'Prime Minister', the title then used for a provincial head.
- The first Congress ministry was formed on 20 July 1937 under Shri Krishna Singh. Ramdayalu Singh became Speaker and Prof. Abdul Bari Deputy Speaker.
- Its work: Harijan education and welfare, the Bihar Tenancy Amendment Act (1938), release of prisoners, lifting bans on books, and an education reorganisation committee under K.T. Shah; a Wardha training school was set up at Patna.
- The ministry resigned on 15 February 1938 over political prisoners and withdrew the resignation once release was ordered; the Haripura Congress, presided over by Subhas Chandra Bose, endorsed the resignation. Political Prisoners' Day was observed on 30 January 1938.
- It resigned on 31 October 1939 against Britain dragging India into the Second World War, and on 3 November 1939 the Governor took over the administration under Section 93 of the 1935 Act.
- Who was the Governor of Bihar when the government was formed after the 1937 elections? M.G. Hallett.
- Mohammad Yunus; the Governor had invited Shri Krishna Singh, but would not promise not to interfere in the ministers' constitutional work, so Shri Krishna Singh declined.
- Mohammad Yunus; 'Prime Minister' was then the title of a provincial head of government. He belonged to the Muslim Independent Party, the second-largest party.
- When was the first Indian ministry formed in Bihar? On 1 April 1937.
- An elected popular government was first formed in Bihar in: 1937.
- When was the first Congress ministry formed in Bihar? On 20 July 1937.
- Shri Krishna Singh, Bihar's first Congress Prime Minister (Chief Minister).
- Ramdayalu Singh; Prof. Abdul Bari became Deputy Speaker. Sultan Ahmad was appointed Advocate General but resigned and Shri Sahay replaced him.
- What did the Bihar Congress ministry (1937-39) do? All of the above.
- Who chaired the education reorganisation committee formed by the Shri Krishna Singh government? K.T. Shah.
- Where was a Wardha training school set up to start a literacy campaign and train women teachers? At Patna.
- On 15 February 1938; after the release of the prisoners was ordered, the ministry withdrew its resignation.
- When was Political Prisoners' Day observed in Bihar province? On 30 January 1938.
- Subhas Chandra Bose. Haripura was the 51st session; one reading calls it the 52nd, but that was Tripuri (1939).
- On 31 October 1939; the Congress governments of all provinces resigned in protest.
- Under which section of the Government of India Act did the Governor of Bihar take over the entire administration on 3 November 1939? Section 93.
- Question: Who was the Governor of Bihar when the government was formed after the 1937 elections? Answer: M.G. Hallett.
- Question: Who formed the first government in Bihar after the 1937 elections? Answer: Mohammad Yunus.
- Question: Who was the first Indian Prime Minister (Chief Minister) of Bihar? Answer: Mohammad Yunus.
- Question: When was the first Indian ministry formed in Bihar? Answer: 1 April 1937.
- Question: An elected popular government was first formed in Bihar in: Answer: 1937.
- Question: When was the first Congress ministry formed in Bihar? Answer: 20 July 1937.
- Question: Under whose leadership was the first Congress ministry formed in Bihar? Answer: Shri Krishna Singh.
- Question: When the first Congress government was formed in Bihar on 20 July 1937, who was elected Speaker of the Assembly? Answer: Ramdayalu Singh.
- Question: What did the Bihar Congress ministry (1937-39) do? Answer: All of the above.
- Question: Who chaired the education reorganisation committee formed by the Shri Krishna Singh government? Answer: K.T. Shah.
- Question: Where was a Wardha training school set up to start a literacy campaign and train women teachers? Answer: Patna.
- Question: When did the Bihar Congress ministry resign over the issue of political prisoners? Answer: 15 February 1938.
- Question: When was Political Prisoners' Day observed in Bihar province? Answer: 30 January 1938.
- Question: At the Haripura session of the Congress (1938), who, as its president, endorsed the resignation of the Bihar ministry? Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose.
- Question: When did the Bihar ministry resign in protest against Britain making India a party to the Second World War? Answer: 31 October 1939.
- Question: Under which section of the Government of India Act did the Governor of Bihar take over the entire administration on 3 November 1939? Answer: Section 93.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Who was the Governor of Bihar when the government was formed after the 1937 elections?
Question 2: Who formed the first government in Bihar after the 1937 elections?
Question 3: Who was the first Indian Prime Minister (Chief Minister) of Bihar?
Question 4: When was the first Indian ministry formed in Bihar?
Question 5: An elected popular government was first formed in Bihar in:
Question 6: When was the first Congress ministry formed in Bihar?
Question 7: Under whose leadership was the first Congress ministry formed in Bihar?
Question 8: When the first Congress government was formed in Bihar on 20 July 1937, who was elected Speaker of the Assembly?
Question 9: What did the Bihar Congress ministry (1937-39) do?
Question 10: Who chaired the education reorganisation committee formed by the Shri Krishna Singh government?
Question 11: Where was a Wardha training school set up to start a literacy campaign and train women teachers?
Question 12: When did the Bihar Congress ministry resign over the issue of political prisoners?
Question 13: When was Political Prisoners' Day observed in Bihar province?
Question 14: At the Haripura session of the Congress (1938), who, as its president, endorsed the resignation of the Bihar ministry?
Question 15: When did the Bihar ministry resign in protest against Britain making India a party to the Second World War?
Question 16: Under which section of the Government of India Act did the Governor of Bihar take over the entire administration on 3 November 1939?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Who was the Governor of Bihar when the government was formed after the 1937 elections?
M.G. Hallett.Who formed the first government in Bihar after the 1937 elections?
Mohammad Yunus.Who was the first Indian Prime Minister (Chief Minister) of Bihar?
Mohammad Yunus.When was the first Indian ministry formed in Bihar?
1 April 1937.An elected popular government was first formed in Bihar in:
1937.When was the first Congress ministry formed in Bihar?
20 July 1937.Under whose leadership was the first Congress ministry formed in Bihar?
Shri Krishna Singh.When the first Congress government was formed in Bihar on 20 July 1937, who was elected Speaker of the Assembly?
Ramdayalu Singh.What did the Bihar Congress ministry (1937-39) do?
All of the above.Who chaired the education reorganisation committee formed by the Shri Krishna Singh government?
K.T. Shah.Where was a Wardha training school set up to start a literacy campaign and train women teachers?
Patna.When did the Bihar Congress ministry resign over the issue of political prisoners?
15 February 1938.When was Political Prisoners' Day observed in Bihar province?
30 January 1938.At the Haripura session of the Congress (1938), who, as its president, endorsed the resignation of the Bihar ministry?
Subhas Chandra Bose.When did the Bihar ministry resign in protest against Britain making India a party to the Second World War?
31 October 1939.Under which section of the Government of India Act did the Governor of Bihar take over the entire administration on 3 November 1939?
Section 93.