Gandhian Era & Satyagrahas — Set 8

Correct Answer: C. Just and non-violent, as important as the end

Gandhi firmly believed that the means of achieving freedom must be just and non-violent, arguing that the means and ends are inseparable. He rejected the argument that immoral means could lead to moral ends. This philosophical position distinguished him from those who justified violence in the freedom struggle.

Correct Answer: D. A form of self-purification and moral pressure on opponents

Gandhi's use of fasting was a form of self-purification and moral pressure on opponents, rooted in his belief in the power of suffering to appeal to conscience. He undertook fasts to move people or resolve social crises, not as mere political threats. His fasts carried moral weight because of his established credibility and spiritual seriousness.

Correct Answer: A. Motihari

Gandhi was served with a notice to leave Champaran district when he arrived at Motihari in 1917. He defied the order and appeared in court, leading to a significant moment when the British magistrate had to withdraw the case due to public pressure. This was one of the first instances of successful civil disobedience against British administrative orders in India.

Correct Answer: B. It mobilized peasants, workers, and women across India

The Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-22 was the first truly mass movement because it mobilized peasants, workers, students, and women across India in unprecedented numbers. It transformed the freedom movement from an elite, urban-centric activity to a mass national struggle. Gandhi's genius lay in connecting economic grievances with political resistance to colonial rule.

Correct Answer: C. Salt was a universal necessity used by all Indians regardless of class or religion

Gandhi chose salt as the vehicle for civil disobedience because it was a universal necessity consumed by every Indian regardless of caste, class, or religion. The British salt monopoly and salt tax were tangible symbols of colonial exploitation that all Indians could relate to. The issue united Indians across regional and social divisions in a single, powerful act of defiance.

Correct Answer: D. A member

The Champaran Agrarian Committee was set up by the British government to investigate the conditions of indigo farmers, and Gandhi was included as one of its members. This was significant as it marked an official acknowledgment of Gandhi's role and the legitimacy of the farmers' grievances. The committee's findings led to the Bihar Planters' Act of 1917, which abolished the tinkathia system.

Correct Answer: A. Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Khilafat issue

Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 in response to two major grievances: the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 and the treatment of Turkey's Caliph following World War I (the Khilafat issue). By combining Hindu and Muslim grievances, Gandhi hoped to build a united movement against British rule. The combined Hindu-Muslim participation in 1920-22 represented a high point of communal unity.

Correct Answer: B. Representation of depressed classes in legislatures

The Poona Pact of 1932 was signed between Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar concerning the representation of depressed classes (scheduled castes) in provincial legislatures. Gandhi had undertaken a fast unto death against separate electorates for untouchables proposed by the British Communal Award. The Poona Pact replaced separate electorates with reserved seats within general constituencies.

Correct Answer: C. Champaran Satyagraha

The Bihar Planters' Act of 1917 abolished the tinkathia system as a direct result of the Champaran Satyagraha. The Champaran Agrarian Committee's investigation, which included Gandhi as a member, found the system exploitative and recommended its abolition. This was one of Gandhi's earliest legislative successes in India.

Correct Answer: D. Protection of the Ottoman Caliph's temporal powers post World War I

The Khilafat Movement was launched by Indian Muslims to protect the institution of the Ottoman Caliphate, which was threatened by the post-World War I peace settlement. Gandhi saw this as an opportunity to forge Hindu-Muslim unity and actively supported the Khilafat cause. The Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements merged in 1920, creating a powerful combined national movement.