Modern History : Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934)

Q 3 / 20

UPSC CSE Prelims 2019

With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements :

  1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of 'indentured labour'.
  2. In Lord Chelmsford's 'War Conference', Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.
  3. Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option

Statement 1 is correct. The indentured labour system was a form of bonded labour under which Indian workers were sent to various British colonies such as South Africa, Fiji, and the Caribbean. Mahatma Gandhi played a significant role in campaigning against this exploitative system, particularly during his stay in South Africa. His efforts contributed to its abolition in 1917.

Statement 3 is correct. Following the Salt Satyagraha initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 and the subsequent launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement, the British colonial administration declared the Indian National Congress an illegal body. This declaration led to the arrest of numerous Congress leaders and activists throughout India.

Incorrect Options

Statement 2 is incorrect. At Lord Chelmsford's War Conference held in 1918, Mahatma Gandhi supported the resolution advocating for the recruitment of Indians into the British army for service in World War I. He adopted this stance with the belief that Indian cooperation in the war effort would strengthen India's demand for self-rule and political reforms after the war.

Therefore, options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect because Statement 2 is factually inaccurate.

SOURCEIndia's Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra, Chapter 15: The Rise of Gandhi, Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement