Previous Year Question
With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements :
Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of ‘indentured labour’.
In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’, Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.
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?
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct.
Under the indentured labour system, Indian labourers were sent to South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and the Caribbean colonies to work under fixed-period contracts.
The word ‘girmit’ was a popular corruption of the English word Agreement.
Gandhi fought against the inhuman conditions of indentured labourers in South Africa. After returning to India, he conducted a nationwide campaign against the system in 1917 and addressed public meetings in Bombay, Karachi and Calcutta.
As a result of pressure from Gandhi and other Indian leaders, recruitment and emigration of indentured labourers from India were discontinued in 1917. Therefore, Gandhi was instrumental in its abolition.
Statement 2 is incorrect.
Lord Chelmsford convened the War Conference in Delhi on 27 April 1918, during the First World War.
Gandhi did not oppose the resolution concerning the recruitment of Indians; he supported it.
Subsequently, he delivered speeches in the Kheda region in favour of military recruitment and appealed to people to enlist for war service. Therefore, the expression “did not support” in the statement is factually incorrect.
Statement 3 is correct.
Gandhi violated the Salt Law by manufacturing salt at Dandi on 6 April 1930. This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Thousands of people in different parts of the country violated the Salt Law and other colonial laws.
The colonial government arrested Congress leaders and imposed repressive ordinances. During the renewed repression of 1932, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal, and restrictions were imposed to prevent meetings, demonstrations and boycotts.