UPSC Prelims 2007 Q53: Modern History – Post - Independence India

UPSC Prelims 2007, General Studies Paper I · Modern History

Which one of the following was associated with Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement at the beginning of the movement?

Answer: (c) Pochampalli

Explanation

Bhoodan Movement — where it began

Detail	Fact
Founder	Acharya Vinoba Bhave
Date	18 April 1951
Place	Pochampalli village, Nalgonda district (now Telangana)
Trigger	Telangana peasant struggle; Harijan families asked for land
First donor	V. Ramachandra Reddy offered 100 acres
Extension	Gramdan — whole village land donated (first: Mangroth, UP, 1952)

Pochampalli is also famous for Ikat sarees (GI-tagged) and was named a Best Tourism Village by the UNWTO in 2021.

Answer: (c) Pochampalli.

(a) Incorrect. Udayagiri (Nellore, AP) is known for its hill fort — not linked to Bhoodan.
(b) Incorrect. Rapur (Nellore) has no link to the start of Bhoodan.
(c) CORRECT. Bhoodan began at Pochampalli (Telangana) on 18 April 1951 when V. Ramachandra Reddy donated land.
(d) Incorrect. Venkatagiri is known for handloom sarees, not for Bhoodan.

Bhoodan began at Pochampalli (Nalgonda, Telangana) on 18 April 1951 under Vinoba Bhave.

Bhoodan started at Pochampalli, Telangana, 1951.

Thinking Bhoodan began in Bihar or UP — those became its largest donation States later.
Mixing up Bhoodan (individual land gift) with Gramdan (whole village gift).
Choosing another weaving town (Venkatagiri) just because Pochampalli is also a weaving town.

Pochampalli = Bhoodan + Ikat. One village, two exam facts. Also called Bhoodan Pochampally.