CAPF AC 2020 Q104: Modern History – Gandhian Mass Movements (1915 - 1942)
- (a) It was the first national activity in which women participated in large numbers
- (b) Gandhiji allowed the women's participation at the request of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
- (c) The march was fully covered by the Western press
- (d) The march began after the failure of the First Round Table Conference in London
Answer: (d) The march began after the failure of the First Round Table Conference in London
Explanation
The Salt March and its dates
How to think: put the two events on a timeline.
The Salt March began in March 1930.
The First Round Table Conference opened in November 1930.
A march cannot begin after something that came later.
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| (a) First national activity in which women joined in large numbers | True | NCERT says so |
| (b) Gandhiji allowed women at the request of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay | True | She persuaded him not to limit the protest to men |
| (c) The march was fully covered by the Western press | True | Widely covered by the European and American press |
| (d) It began after the failure of the First Round Table Conference | NOT correct | The Conference came after the march |
Timeline:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 12 March 1930 | March begins at Sabarmati Ashram |
| 6 April 1930 | Gandhiji breaks the salt law at Dandi |
| November 1930 | First Round Table Conference; Congress stays away |
| March 1931 | Gandhi-Irwin Pact |
| Late 1931 | Gandhiji attends the Second Round Table Conference |
Answer: (d) The march began after the failure of the First Round Table Conference in London.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. This statement is true: women took part in large numbers for the first time.
- (b) Incorrect. This statement is true: Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay persuaded Gandhiji.
- (c) Incorrect. This statement is true: the European and American press covered the march widely.
- (d) CORRECT. This is the wrong statement: the march of March 1930 came before the Conference of November 1930.
Key point
Salt March: 12 March to 6 April 1930, Sabarmati to Dandi, about 240 miles. First Round Table Conference: November 1930. Gandhi-Irwin Pact: March 1931.
Remember
Salt March (March 1930) came before the First Round Table Conference (November 1930).
Common mistakes
- Putting the Round Table Conference before the Salt March.
- Thinking Gandhiji attended the First Round Table Conference; he attended only the Second.
- Forgetting the role of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay in bringing women into the movement.
Exam tip
Educated guess: when an option links two events with the word after, check the dates first. That is where such questions hide the error.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII History — Themes in Indian History Part III (Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement)
- NCERT Class X History — India and the Contemporary World II (Nationalism in India)