Gandhi and his Early Movements (Part-I)

Total Questions: 35

11. What idea is given by Gandhiji for family planning? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]

Correct Answer: (a) Self-control
Solution:Gandhiji told 'Self-Control' as the best means for family planning. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi) was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat. He earned a degree in law from England in 1891. Before entering Indian politics in 1915, he was in South Africa from 1893 to 1914. In the course of his struggle in South Africa, he developed his political philosophy based on non-violence and Satyagraha to give a new direction to the mass movement. The emergence of Mahatma Gandhi in Indian politics marked the beginning of a new phase in the Indian national movement, the phase of mass movements. This made Gandhi become the most important figure in the history of the Indian freedom struggle.

12. Which of the following may be true regarding Gandhi? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]

Correct Answer: (d) An Individualist among Socialist and a Marxist among Socialist
Solution:Gandhi’s thought has been linked to philosophical anarchism and can be compared with strands of Marxist thought. But during present circumstances, he was not in favor of abolishing the state. Human beings are not capable enough to manage their collective affairs on their own. Hence, the state and law are required in society. In addition to this, he also believed that the jurisdiction of the state should be minimal. Gandhi told Louis Fischer, "I am a true socialist. The meaning of my socialism is Sarvodaya." There is a great similarity between Gandhi and Marx. The final aim of both was to establish a stateless and classless society, but their methods were different. For Gandhi, it was through non-violence, but for Marx, it was through violent means.

13. Which one of the following was the last step in the Gandhian strategy of Satyagraha? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]

Correct Answer: (d) Strike
Solution:The strike was the last step in the Gandhian strategy of Satyagraha while fasting was the first step in Gandhian strategy of Satyagraha. He termed fasting as "Fire Arrow." Truth (Satya) and non-violence (Ahimsa) are considered the two pillars of Satyagraha, where truth is the ultimate goal and non-violence is the means to achieve it. Techniques like peaceful protests, strikes, boycotts, fasting, and non-payment of taxes are used to put pressure on the opposing side without resorting to violence. Satyagraha aims to awaken the conscience of the oppressor by demonstrating the moral correctness of the cause and the willingness to suffer for it. A Satyagrahi (a practitioner of Satyagraha) is expected to accept personal suffering and sacrifice during the struggle, which can be a powerful tool to sway public opinion.

14. Which of the following statements is not true as per Gandhian Principle? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]

Correct Answer: (a) The aim of Satyagrahi is to defeat the enemy
Solution:Gandhi’s Satyagraha means non-violence as a force greater than violence. Suffering was its driving force, once let the oppressors use as much force as they can on the non-violent protesters until a stage comes when they can incur no more violence. Hence, there is no motive to defeat the enemy but to change their perception.

15. According to Gandhiji, the Cruelest form of violence is: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2015]

Correct Answer: (a) Persistence of poverty
Solution:According to Gandhiji, the cruellest form of violence is the persistence of poverty. Poverty is a major human rights issue that affects people in developing countries. Poverty can have many negative effects on individuals and society, including hunger, malnutrition, and economic loss. Poverty can also have a negative impact on mental health, leading to depression, anxiety, and other disorders. Poverty can also lead to social issues, such as a lack of social cohesion.

16. Who among the following had told: “destruction is the best method of dealing with the foreign clothes”? [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (b) Mahatma Gandhi
Solution:Mahatma Gandhi told destruction is the best method of dealing with foreign clothes. Gandhi related this destruction with the self-respect of the Nation.

17. Gandhi’s boycott of British made products was effective because the British considered India, a major— [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]

Correct Answer: (c) Market for manufactured goods
Solution:Gandhi’s boycott of British made products was effective as British considered India as a major market for manufactured goods. A boycott of British goods leads to the advancement of the market of Indian-made goods like crafts and homemade items.

18. In which of the following railway stations of South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of the train? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]

Correct Answer: (b) Pietermaritzburg
Solution:Gandhi arrived in Durban, South Africa in 1893 to serve as legal counsel to the businessman Dada Abdulla. In June, he was asked by Dada Abdulla to undertake a trip to Pretoria in the Transvaal, a journey which first took Gandhi to Pietermaritzburg. There Gandhi was seated in the first-class compartment since he had purchased a first-class ticket. A European who entered the compartment was not content with Gandhi’s presence and ordered Gandhi to shift himself to the van compartment since "coolies" and non-whites were apparently not permitted in first-class compartments. Gandhi protested and produced his ticket, but was warned that he would be forcibly removed if he did not make a gracious exit. As Gandhi refused to comply with the order, he was summarily pushed out of the train, and his luggage was tossed out on the platform.

19. Which one of the following sessions of Indian National Congress was the first time attended by M.K. Gandhi? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) Mains 2004 U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003]

Correct Answer: (b) Calcutta Session, 1901
Solution:Mahatma Gandhi attended the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in the year 1901 for the first time.

20. Sabarmati Ashram, established by Mahatma Gandhi during India’s Independence movement, is located on the outskirts of: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]

Correct Answer: (b) Wardha
Solution:Gandhi’s Satyagraha Ashram was originally established at the Kochrab Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai, a barrister, and friend of Gandhi. At that time, the Ashram was called the Satyagraha Ashram. But Gandhi wanted to carry out various activities such as farming and animal husbandry, in addition to other pursuits which required a much larger area of usable land. So two years later, on 17 June 1917, the Ashram was relocated to an area of thirty-six acres on the banks of the River Sabarmati, in Ahmedabad and later came to be known as the Sabarmati Ashram.