2018 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2018 · GS Paper I
Question 69: History and Culture
Which one of the following is a very significant aspect of the Champaran Satyagraha ?
aActive all-India participation of lawyers, students and women in the National Movement
bActive involvement of Dalit and Tribal communities of India in the National Movement
cJoining of peasant unrest to India’s National Movement
dDrastic decrease in the cultivation of plantation crops and commercial crops
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917, Gandhi's first in India, was against the compulsory indigo cultivation (the tinkathia system) forced on peasants by European planters. Its significance was that it joined the peasants' unrest to the national movement and showed Gandhi's method of mass mobilisation. Wider participation by lawyers, students and women, and by Dalit and tribal communities, came with later movements.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: all-India participation of those groups came with later movements.
- (b) Wrong: not a feature of Champaran.
- (c) Right: it linked peasant grievances with the national movement.
- (d) Wrong: it targeted forced indigo cultivation, not a drastic fall in cash crops.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2018, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.