Passage Based Questions: Mahatma Gandhi & The Nationalist Movement | History Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Passage - 1

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Why was salt chosen as a symbol of protest? This is what Mahatma Gandhi wrote:
The volume of information being gained daily shows how wickedly the salt tax has been designed. In order to prevent the use of salt that has not paid the tax, which is at times even fourteen times its value, the government destroys the salt it cannot sell profitably. Thus it taxes the nation’s vital necessity; it prevents the public from manufacturing it and destroys what nature manufactures without effort. No adjective is strong enough for characterizing this wicked dog-in-the-manager policy. From various sources, I hear tales of such wanton destruction of the nation’s property in all parts of India. Maunds if not tons of salt are said to be destroyed on the Konkan coast. The same tale comes from Dandi. Wherever there is likelihood of natural salt being taken away by the people living in the neighborhood of such areas for their personal use, salt officers are posted for the sole purpose of carrying on destruction. Thus valuable national property is destroyed at national expense and salt taken out of the mouths of the people. The salt monopoly is thus a fourfold curse. It deprives the people of a valuable easy village industry; it involves wanton destruction of property that nature produces in abundance; the destruction itself means more national expenditure, and fourthly, to crown this folly, an unheard-of tax of more than 1,000 percent is exacted from a starving people. This tax has remained so long because of the apathy of the general public. Now that it is sufficiently roused, the tax has to go. How soon it will be abolished depends upon the strength of the people.

Q1: Why was the British salt monopoly regarded as a curse by the Indians?
Ans: The salt monopoly was considered a fourfold curse for the following reasons:

• The government destroyed salt that could not be sold profitably.
• Laws prevented the manufacturing of salt and led to the destruction of naturally produced salt.
• Salt officers were posted to prevent locals from collecting natural salt, and large quantities of salt were destroyed.
• It deprived people of a valuable village industry.

Q2: How did Gandhiji demonstrate his strategic wisdom regarding the salt monopoly?
Ans: Gandhiji pointed out that the salt tax had persisted for so long due to the unawareness of Indian citizens. He believed that as people became more aware and sufficiently aroused, they would break the salt law. Since salt is essential for everyone, he foresaw that a national movement centered around salt would lead to large-scale participation by the masses.

Q3: What was the importance of Gandhiji's challenge to the salt law?
Ans: Gandhiji targeted the salt law to mobilize widespread discontent against British rule. By focusing on salt, a necessity for all, he connected everyone to the national movement. The salt law caused deep resentment, and people responded enthusiastically to the call for protest. There was overwhelming participation, with parallel marches and salt production occurring in many places.

Passage - 2

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

“Tomorrow we shall break the salt tax law.”
On 5 April 1930, Mahatma Gandhi spoke at Dandi:

When I left Sabarmati with my companions for this seaside hamlet of Dandi, I was not certain in my mind that we would be allowed to reach this place. Even while I was at Sabarmati, there was a rumor that I might be arrested. I had thought that the Government might perhaps let my party come as far as Dandi, but not me certainly. If someone says that this betrays imperfect faith on my part, I shall not deny the charge. That I have reached here is in no small measure due to the power of peace and non-violence; that power is universally felt. The Government may, if it wishes, congratulate itself on acting as it has done, for it could have arrested every one of us. In saying that it did not have the courage to arrest this army of peace, we praise it. It felt ashamed to arrest such an army. He is a civilized man who feels ashamed to do anything which his neighbors would disapprove. The Government deserves to be congratulated on not arresting us, even if it desisted only from fear of world opinion. Tomorrow we shall break the salt tax law. Whether the Government will tolerate that is a different question. It may not tolerate it, but it deserves congratulations on the patience and forbearance it has displayed in regard to this party. What if I and all the eminent leaders in Gujarat and in the rest of the country are arrested? This movement is based on the faith that when a whole nation is aroused and on the march, no leader is necessary.

Q1: What were Mahatma Gandhi's concerns when he began the Dandi March?
Ans: Gandhiji was concerned that he might not be allowed to reach Dandi. He believed the government might permit the group to reach Dandi but would arrest him before he arrived.

Q2: Why did Gandhiji commend the government?
Ans: Gandhiji commended the government for showing patience and forbearance by allowing him to reach Dandi without being arrested. He believed that the government acted this way, possibly out of fear of world opinion, and thus deserved congratulations.

Q3: Why was the 'Salt March' a significant event?
Ans: The Salt March was significant because:

• It brought Gandhiji into the global spotlight and attracted international attention.
• Women actively participated in the movement.
• It forced the British to realize that their rule in India might not continue.
• Gandhiji successfully mobilized widespread discontent against British rule, awakening the entire nation.