UPSC Prelims 2011 Q60: Modern History – Gandhian Mass Movements (1915 - 1942)
What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to organize a satyagraha on behalf of the
peasants of Kheda?
1. The Administration did not suspend the land revenue collection in spite of a drought.
2. The Administration proposed to introduce Permanent Settlement in Gujarat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Kheda Satyagraha, 1918
In Kheda district of Gujarat the crops failed in 1918.
Under the revenue rules, peasants could ask for remission if the yield was below one-fourth of the normal.
The Government refused and insisted on full collection.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Administration did not suspend the land revenue collection in spite of a drought | Correct | This was the cause of the satyagraha |
| 2. The Administration proposed to introduce Permanent Settlement in Gujarat | Incorrect | No such proposal was made; Gujarat was under the Ryotwari system |
Gandhi's early satyagrahas:
| Year | Place | Issue | Called |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Champaran | Indigo planters (tinkathia) | First civil disobedience |
| 1918 | Ahmedabad | Mill workers' wages | First hunger strike |
| 1918 | Kheda | Land revenue | First non-cooperation |
At Kheda: Vallabhbhai Patel and Indulal Yagnik worked with Gandhi.
The Government finally agreed to collect only from those who could pay.
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The cause was the refusal to suspend land revenue collection after crop failure.
- (b) Incorrect. No Permanent Settlement was proposed for Gujarat.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is false; Permanent Settlement was not the issue at Kheda.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 is true; the drought and revenue demand caused the satyagraha.
Key point
Kheda 1918: crop failure, revenue not remitted, Gandhi with Vallabhbhai Patel. Champaran 1917: indigo. Ahmedabad 1918: mill workers.
Remember
Kheda 1918 = no revenue remission after crop failure.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up Kheda (revenue) with Champaran (indigo).
- Assuming the Permanent Settlement was being extended; it stayed in eastern India.
- Forgetting that Kheda brought Vallabhbhai Patel into public life.
Exam tip
Champaran = indigo, Ahmedabad = wages, Kheda = revenue. Three places, three issues.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence, Ch 13 (Gandhi's Early Career and Activism)
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India, Ch on Emergence of Gandhi