Introduction / Context:
The Kamagata Maru incident is an important episode in the history of the Indian freedom struggle and in the history of immigration laws. Many competitive exams include at least one question about what Kamagata Maru was and why it became a symbol of racial discrimination and colonial oppression. Knowing the basic fact that it was a ship helps you understand the broader historical event.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The term used is Kamagata Maru also known as Komagata Maru in many sources.
- Options describe it as an army unit, a harbour, a ship, or an industrial township.
- The question asks only what it was, not the full story of the incident.
- We assume the standard nationalist history of the early twentieth century.
Concept / Approach:
Komagata Maru was actually the name of a Japanese steamship chartered in 1914 by Gurdit Singh, a Sikh entrepreneur. The ship carried Indian passengers mainly Sikhs attempting to immigrate to Canada. Canadian authorities refused to allow most of them to disembark due to discriminatory laws, and the ship was forced to return to India. The incident led to unrest and became an important symbol of the struggle against colonial and racist policies. Therefore, identifying Kamagata Maru as a ship is the correct approach.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Kamagata Maru Komagata Maru is usually mentioned in connection with Indian emigrants to Canada in 1914.
Step 2: Remember that the incident involved a vessel stranded for weeks because passengers were denied entry.
Step 3: From this context, recognise that Kamagata Maru refers to a ship, not to a land based location or military unit.
Step 4: Look at the options and identify A ship that carried Indian passengers as the only one consistent with this narrative.
Step 5: Select that option as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
Any standard modern Indian history textbook that covers the nationalist movement before World War One explains the Komagata Maru incident as a story centred around a ship carrying Indian migrants that was turned away at Vancouver. The ship s forced return and the subsequent events at Budge Budge near Calcutta are also discussed. This widespread coverage confirms that Kamagata Maru was indeed a ship.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
An army unit of Indian soldiers: There were many regiments and units in the colonial army, but Kamagata Maru is not the name of one of them.
A harbour on the Canadian coast: The harbour involved was at Vancouver, but Kamagata Maru itself was the ship, not the harbour.
An industrial township: The incident has nothing to do with industrial town planning or economic zones, so this is clearly incorrect.
Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to confuse the name of the ship with the port or the location of the incident. Another pitfall is not remembering whether the term refers to a ship or to some organisation. Keeping a simple one line summary in memory, such as Komagata Maru was a Japanese ship carrying Indian migrants to Canada, can help avoid confusion in the exam hall.
Final Answer:
Kamagata Maru was
a ship that carried Indian passengers and became famous due to a major immigration controversy.
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