Gandhian Era & Satyagrahas — Set 10

Correct Answer: C. Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act

The Rowlatt Act was formally known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919. It empowered the British government to arrest and imprison persons without trial and without the right to bail. The act was widely condemned and unanimously opposed by all elected Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council.

Correct Answer: D. Mohammad Ali Jinnah

Mohammad Ali Jinnah famously described the Rowlatt Act with the phrase referring to no appeal, no wakeel, no daleel (no lawyer, no appeal, no argument). This highlighted the arbitrary nature of the law that allowed detention without due process. Jinnah resigned from the Imperial Legislative Council in protest against the act.

Correct Answer: A. Non-violently resist unjust laws and accept suffering willingly

The Satyagraha pledge bound participants to non-violently resist unjust laws and accept suffering, including arrest and imprisonment, without retaliation. A true satyagrahi was expected to maintain non-violence even when provoked. This voluntary acceptance of suffering was central to Gandhi's method of moral confrontation with injustice.

Correct Answer: B. Suspend revenue collection from the poorest farmers

The Kheda Satyagraha ended when the government privately instructed revenue officers to recover revenue only from those farmers who could afford to pay, leaving the poorest farmers untouched. Although not a complete formal victory, it effectively met the core demand of the peasants. Gandhi and Patel declared the satyagraha successful and called it off.

Correct Answer: C. Vaikom Satyagraha

The Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924-25 is considered the forerunner of temple entry movements in South India. It was one of the first organized campaigns to challenge caste-based restrictions on public roads and later on temple entry. The movement inspired similar agitations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, eventually culminating in Travancore's Temple Entry Proclamation of 1936.

Correct Answer: D. 48

The Dandi March passed through approximately 48 villages from Sabarmati Ashram to the Dandi coast in Gujarat. Gandhi and his followers stopped at villages along the way, organizing meetings and inspiring locals to join the movement. The march attracted growing crowds and international media attention as it progressed.

Correct Answer: A. Webb Miller

Webb Miller, an American journalist from the United Press, covered the Dandi March and subsequent raids on the Dharasana Salt Works, bringing international attention to the Indian freedom struggle. His vivid accounts of British police brutality against non-violent protesters shocked the Western world. Miller's reports significantly influenced international public opinion in favour of Indian independence.

Correct Answer: B. To boycott British courts

In Gandhi's Non-Cooperation programme, lawyers were asked to boycott British courts as part of withdrawing cooperation from colonial institutions. Many prominent lawyers, including Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das, gave up their lucrative legal practices in response. This sacrifice demonstrated the commitment of the educated class to the movement's goals.

Correct Answer: C. Arbitration by a neutral judge who awarded 35% increase

The Ahmedabad Mill Strike of 1918 was resolved through arbitration, with a neutral arbitrator awarding the workers the full 35% wage increase they had demanded. Gandhi's fast had pressured both sides to accept arbitration as a resolution mechanism. The successful outcome established Gandhi's reputation as an effective leader of labour disputes.

Correct Answer: D. It established the method of fact-finding before action

Gandhi described Champaran as a significant experiment because it established the method of thorough fact-finding through first-hand investigation before taking any political action. He spent weeks gathering testimonies from hundreds of farmers before drawing conclusions. This disciplined approach became a model for his subsequent campaigns.