UPSC Prelims 2011 Q67: Modern History – Key Personalities & Ideologies
Mahatma Gandhi said that some of his deepest convictions were reflected in a book titled
"Unto this Last" and the book transformed his life. What was the message from the book that
transformed Mahatma Gandhi ?
- (a) Uplifting the oppressed and poor is the moral responsibility of an educated man
- (b) The good of individual is contained in the good of all
- (c) The life of celibacy and spiritual pursuit are essential for a noble life
- (d) All the statements (a), (b) and (c) are correct in this context
Answer: (b) The good of individual is contained in the good of all
Explanation
The message of "Unto This Last" that transformed Gandhi
John Ruskin's book *Unto This Last* deeply influenced Gandhi's philosophy of Sarvodaya (welfare of all).
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Uplifting the oppressed/poor is an educated man's moral duty | Incorrect | This is close to Gandhi's broader ethic, but not the specific core message credited to the book |
| (b) The good of the individual is contained in the good of all | Correct | This is the central idea Gandhi drew from Ruskin's book, which became the foundation of his concept of Sarvodaya |
| (c) Celibacy and spiritual pursuit are essential for a noble life | Incorrect | This reflects Gandhi's personal practice (brahmacharya), but is not the book's stated message |
| (d) All of (a), (b) and (c) are correct | Incorrect | Since only (b) is the specific credited message, 'all three' is wrong |
'Unto This Last' and Sarvodaya:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author | John Ruskin |
| Core message to Gandhi | Individual good tied to the good of all |
| Resulting philosophy | Gandhi's Sarvodaya ('welfare of all') |
Answer: (b) The good of individual is contained in the good of all.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. While consistent with Gandhi's values, this is not the specific message credited to Ruskin's book.
- (b) CORRECT. Ruskin's book's central idea — that individual good is contained in the good of all — became the basis of Gandhi's Sarvodaya philosophy.
- (c) Incorrect. Celibacy/spiritual pursuit reflects Gandhi's personal vows, not this book's message.
- (d) Incorrect. Since only option (b) is the correct, specific message, combining all three is wrong.
Key point
Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' gave Gandhi the idea that the good of the individual is contained in the good of all — the foundation of his Sarvodaya philosophy.
Remember
John Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' gave Gandhi the Sarvodaya idea: the individual's good is contained in the good of all.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Gandhi's personal spiritual practices (celibacy) with this specific book's message.
- Picking a broader, vaguer moral statement instead of the book's precise core idea.
- Not connecting the book directly to Gandhi's Sarvodaya concept.
Exam tip
'Unto This Last' → Sarvodaya: individual good = good of all. A direct, well-known pairing in Gandhi's biography.
Sources
- John Ruskin — Unto This Last (1860)
- M. K. Gandhi — Sarvodaya (Gujarati paraphrase of Unto This Last, 1908)