Gandhian Era & Satyagrahas — Set 13

Correct Answer: A. Lord Chelmsford

Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy (Governor-General) of India during the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917. The local British administration tried to remove Gandhi from Champaran but eventually the central government allowed the inquiry to proceed. The Champaran episode was an early indication that organized, non-violent resistance could yield results even under British rule.

Correct Answer: B. Be organized on a nationwide scale by Gandhi

The Rowlatt Satyagraha of 1919 was the first movement organized by Gandhi on a nationwide scale in India. It demonstrated Gandhi's ability to mobilize Indians across different regions simultaneously through hartals and protests. The movement, though ultimately violently suppressed through events like Jallianwala Bagh, established Gandhi as the pre-eminent national leader.

Correct Answer: C. The doctrine of means-ends unity

Gandhi's doctrine of means-ends unity held that the means and ends are inseparable—immoral means cannot lead to moral ends. He argued that a tree bears the same fruit as the seed planted: violence would produce a violent society even if aimed at a just goal. This principle fundamentally distinguished his approach from revolutionary violence.

Correct Answer: D. Salt March

The Dandi March is popularly known as the Salt March because it was a march to protest the British salt monopoly and salt tax by making salt from seawater. The march began at Sabarmati Ashram on March 12, 1930 and ended at the coastal village of Dandi on April 5, 1930. It became one of the most iconic events in the Indian independence movement.

Correct Answer: A. Rajendra Prasad

Rajendra Prasad, who participated in the Champaran Satyagraha, said that the episode 'gave us a Mahatma' because it was at Champaran that Gandhi first demonstrated his transformative leadership in India. Gandhi's empathy with peasants, his willingness to defy the British, and his practical approach to injustice made a deep impression on all who participated. The event marked Gandhi's emergence as a truly national leader.

Correct Answer: B. Appointment of the all-British Simon Commission in 1927

The slogan 'Simon Go Back' was raised when the all-British Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928 to review constitutional reforms. Indians were outraged that no Indian was included in the commission to review India's political future. Congress and the Muslim League both boycotted the commission, and mass protests greeted its arrival across major cities.

Correct Answer: C. Lahore

Lala Lajpat Rai was fatally injured during the Simon Commission protests in Lahore in 1928 when police charged the demonstrators with lathis. He died of his injuries in November 1928. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru subsequently assassinated British police officer John Saunders in Lahore to avenge Lala Lajpat Rai's death.

Correct Answer: D. Non-violent persistence combined with negotiations by Gandhi

The Vaikom Satyagraha succeeded through non-violent persistence combined with Gandhi's personal intervention and negotiations with the Travancore government in 1925. Gandhi visited Vaikom and met with the Maharani's representative and religious authorities, persuading them to open some roads to all castes. The combination of sustained peaceful protest and skilled negotiation achieved the partial victory.

Correct Answer: A. Retaliate with violence even when attacked

A true satyagrahi was not allowed to retaliate with violence even when physically attacked by opponents or police. The willingness to absorb violence without retaliation was considered the highest test of a satyagrahi's commitment to non-violence. Gandhi believed this moral courage was far greater than the physical courage required for armed combat.

Correct Answer: B. It was the first industrial dispute Gandhi mediated with his satyagraha methods

The Ahmedabad Mill Strike is significant as the first industrial dispute in which Gandhi applied his satyagraha methods in India. It demonstrated that satyagraha could be effective in labour relations, not just political campaigns against the government. The strike also led to the founding of the Textile Labour Association (Majoor Mahajan Sangh) in Ahmedabad.