Gandhi and his Early Movements (Part-I)

31. During India’s struggle for Independence, who was the first to start ‘Satyagraha’? [Uttarakhand P.C.S.(Pre) 2005]

(a) Sardar Patel
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Vinoba Bhave
(d) Mahatma Gandhi

Correct Answer: (d) Mahatma Gandhi

Solution:Satyagraha is a term comprising two words; Satya or truth, and Agrah or insistence. Hence, in its loose English interpretation, Satyagraha means ‘insistence on truth’. The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was Mahatma Gandhi’s first successful Satyagraha in India.

32. Which of the following was Gandhiji’s first Satyagraha Movement in India in which he used Civil Disobedience? [66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (a) Champaran

Solution:Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was the first Civil Disobedience Movement led by Gandhiji in India. In 1917, in the Champaran of Bihar, farmers were protesting against having to grow indigo with barely any payment for it from British. On the invitation of Raj Kumar Shukla, Gandhiji went there and started non-violent protest against this, which eventually led to acceptance of the demands of farmers. This was the first victory of Satyagraha in India.

33. During the Champaran Satyagraha, the cultivation of Indigo was known as [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

(a) Tinkathia system
(b) Ryotwari system
(c) Slash and burn agriculture
(d) Neelkar

Correct Answer: (a) Tinkathia system

Solution:During the Champaran Satyagraha, the cultivation of Indigo was known as the Tinkathia system. Tinkathia was the most prevalent system in Champaran. According to it, the factory owners convinced the tenant to grow indigo in a specific area of his holding for which a fixed price was paid. In this, the ryot was under an obligation to cultivate three kathas per beegha of his land with indigo i.e. 3/20th of his landholding.

34. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is best known for which of the following? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]

(a) Use of passive resistance to achieve Indian Independence.
(b) Desire to establish an Islamic nation.
(c) Opposition to Hindus holding political office.
(d) Encouragement of Violence to end British rule.

Correct Answer: (a) Use of passive resistance to achieve Indian Independence.

Solution:Struggle done by Gandhi in South Africa was termed as 'Inactive resistance' but later Gandhi chose the word 'Satyagraha' in place of inactive resistance. Satyagraha was the term, which was used most during the freedom struggle. But Gandhi differentiated between Satyagraha and inactive resistance. As per him, inactive resistance is a political tool, whereas Satyagraha is moral power. He differentiated Inactive Resistance and Satyagraha by comparing it with the north and the south pole.

35. What is the correct chronological sequence of the following events in the political life of Mahatma Gandhi? [I.A.S. (Pre) 1993, Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Champaran Satyagraha
Ahmedabad Mill strike
Kheda Satyagraha
Non-cooperation Movement
Code:

(a) 2, 4, 3, 1
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4
(c) 4, 3, 2, 1
(d) 3, 4, 2, 1

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2, 3, 4

Solution:The chronological sequence of the political life of Mahatma Gandhi is as follows:

Event	Year
Champaran Satyagraha	1917
Ahmedabad Mill strike	February-March, 1918
Kheda Satyagraha	March-June, 1918
Non-cooperation movement	1920-1922