PPSC Excise and Taxation Inspector 2018 Question Paper

Practice Mode:
2.

"Kamagata Maru" was the name of a :

A: Hill
B: Aeroplane
C: Train
D: Ship

The answer is: D

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Explanation

Answer: D - Ship


Explanation:

Komagata Maru was a Japanese steam ship that in 1914 carried 376 passengers - mostly Punjabi Sikhs - from Hong Kong, attempting to immigrate to Canada.
Canada at the time had discriminatory immigration laws (specifically the "continuous journey" regulation) designed to block South Asian immigrants. The ship was refused entry at Vancouver and forced to return to India after being anchored offshore for 2 months.


Upon return to Calcutta (Budge Budge), British authorities attempted to arrest the passengers, leading to a violent confrontation in which 19 passengers were killed.

Why this matters for UPSC:

  • It is a key example of racial discrimination against Indians in the British Empire.
  • It fuelled anti-colonial sentiment and nationalist movements in India.
  • The Canadian government formally apologized for the incident in 2016.