Gandhian Era & Satyagrahas — Set 5

Correct Answer: A. Right to free speech against the war policy

The Individual Satyagraha of 1940-41 was launched to assert the right of Indians to freedom of speech, specifically against supporting Britain's involvement in World War II without India's consent. Gandhi carefully chose individuals to offer satyagraha in a controlled, non-mass manner. The movement was a limited and symbolic protest rather than a full mass agitation.

Correct Answer: B. Soul force or truth force

Satyagraha is a Sanskrit compound word meaning 'truth force' or 'soul force,' derived from 'satya' (truth) and 'agraha' (insistence or force). Gandhi coined this term to distinguish his method of resistance from passive resistance. It implied an active, courageous, and morally grounded resistance to injustice.

Correct Answer: C. South Africa

Gandhi first used the method of Satyagraha in South Africa, where he lived and worked from 1893 to 1915. He organized resistance against discriminatory laws targeting the Indian community in South Africa. The success of these early campaigns gave Gandhi the experience and confidence to apply satyagraha in India.

Correct Answer: D. Ahimsa (non-violence)

Ahimsa, or non-violence, is the central principle of Gandhi's concept of Satyagraha. Gandhi believed that suffering willingly endured could purify the satyagrahi and convert the oppressor. Non-violence was not merely a tactic but a deeply held moral and spiritual commitment for Gandhi.

Correct Answer: A. Non-violence

Ahimsa means non-violence in Gandhi's philosophy, encompassing not just physical non-violence but also non-violence in thought and speech. Gandhi regarded ahimsa as the highest moral virtue and the foundation of satyagraha. He believed a satyagrahi must be willing to suffer violence without retaliating.

Correct Answer: B. Khadi and village industries

Gandhi's constructive programme included the promotion of khadi (hand-spun and hand-woven cloth) and village industries as central activities. He believed economic self-reliance at the village level was essential for true independence. The spinning wheel (charkha) became the symbol of this programme and of national self-sufficiency.

Correct Answer: C. Deliberate, non-violent breaking of unjust laws

By civil disobedience, Gandhi meant the deliberate, open, and non-violent breaking of specific unjust laws as a form of protest. A civil disobedient accepts the legal consequences such as arrest and imprisonment to demonstrate the injustice of the law. This approach was designed to appeal to the moral conscience of the opponent and the public.

Correct Answer: D. Quit India Movement

Gandhi called the Quit India Movement of 1942 the 'Do or Die' movement in his speech at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay. He urged Indians to either free India from British rule or die in the attempt. The movement led to mass arrests and a significant suppression by the British government.

Correct Answer: A. 1942

The Quit India Movement was launched on August 8, 1942, when the All-India Congress Committee passed the Quit India Resolution in Bombay. Gandhi gave his 'Do or Die' call to the Indian people. The British responded by arresting Gandhi, Nehru, and virtually the entire Congress leadership the very next day.

Correct Answer: B. Economic self-reliance and resistance to British goods

The spinning wheel (charkha) became a symbol of Gandhi's constructive programme, representing economic self-reliance and active resistance to British manufactured goods. Gandhi encouraged every Indian to spin cotton daily as an act of self-sufficiency and solidarity. The charkha was prominently featured in the original design of the Indian National Congress flag.