Passage 1
Mahatma Gandhi on Satyagraha
‘It is said of “passive resistance” that it is the weapon of the weak, but the power which is the subject of this article can be used only by the strong. This power is not passive resistance; indeed, it calls for intense activity. The movement in South Africa was not passive but active … ‘Satyagraha is not physical force. A satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does not seek his destruction … In the use of satyagraha, there is no ill-will whatever. ‘Satyagraha is pure soul-force. Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why this force is called satyagraha. The soul is informed with knowledge. In it burns the flame of love. … Nonviolence is the supreme dharma … ‘It is certain that India cannot rival Britain or Europe in force of arms. The British worship the war-God and they can all of them become, as they are becoming, bearers of arms. The hundreds of millions in India can never carry arms. They have made the religion of non-violence their own …’
Questions / Answer:
Question 1: What distinguishes Satyagraha from passive resistance according to Mahatma Gandhi?
Answer: Satyagraha, as described by Gandhi, is not passive resistance but an active form of resistance that requires intense activity. It is not about being weak or passive; rather, it demands strength and engagement.
Question 2: How does Gandhi characterize the nature of Satyagraha in terms of physical force and ill-will?
Answer: Gandhi emphasizes that Satyagraha does not rely on physical force or the infliction of pain on adversaries. Additionally, there is no ill-will involve in its use; instead, it is based on the principles of truth and soul-force.
Question 3: What is the essence of Satyagraha, according to Gandhi?
Answer: Gandhi asserts that Satyagraha is rooted in soul-force, which is characterized by truth and love. It is a form of nonviolent resistance that embodies the very substance of the soul, guided by knowledge and fueled by love.
Question 4: What role does nonviolence play in Gandhi’s concept of Satyagraha?
Answer: Nonviolence, Gandhi believes, is the supreme dharma or duty. It is a fundamental aspect of Satyagraha, reflecting the commitment to resist injustice without resorting to violence or hatred.
Question 5: How does Gandhi address the military capabilities of India compared to Britain or Europe?
Answer: Gandhi acknowledges that India cannot match Britain or Europe in terms of military strength. Instead, he highlights the adoption of non-violence as a core principle embraced by millions in India, contrasting it with the war-oriented culture of the British.
Passage 2
The Independence Day Pledge, 26 January 1930
‘We believe that it is the inalienable right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil and have the necessities of life, so that they may have full opportunities of growth. We believe also that if any government deprives a people of these rights and oppresses them, the people have a further right to alter it or to abolish it. The British Government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually. We believe, therefore, that India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence.’
Questions / Answer:
Question 1: What fundamental rights do the Indian people believe they are entitled to, according to the Independence Day Pledge of 26 January 1930?
Answer: The Indian people believe that they have the inalienable right to freedom, the enjoyment of the fruits of their labor, and the necessities of life, ensuring full opportunities for growth.
Question 2: What action do the people believe they have the right to take if a government deprives them of their rights and oppresses them?
Answer: The people believe they have the further right to alter or abolish any government that deprives them of their rights and oppresses them.
Question 3: How does the Independence Day Pledge characterize the British Government’s rule in India?
Answer: The British Government in India is described as having deprived the Indian people of their freedom, based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and caused economic, political, cultural, and spiritual ruin in India.
Question 4: What is the ultimate goal advocated by the Independence Day Pledge regarding India’s relationship with the British Government?
Answer: The Independence Day Pledge asserts that India must sever its connection with the British Government and achieve Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence.
Question 5: What term is used to describe the desired state of India according to the Independence Day Pledge?
Answer: The desired state of India is termed as Purna Swaraj, which translates to Complete Independence, indicating the aspiration for full autonomy and self-governance.
Passage 3
Quit India Movement
The failure of the Cripps Mission and the effects of World War II created widespread discontentment in India. This led Gandhiji to launch a movement calling for complete withdrawal of the British from India. The Congress Working Committee, in its meeting in Wardha on 14 July 1942, passed the historic ‘Quit India’ resolution demanding the immediate transfer of power to Indians and quit India. On 8 August 1942 in Bombay, the All-India Congress Committee endorsed the resolution which called for a non-violent mass struggle on the widest possible scale throughout the country. It was on this occasion that Gandhiji delivered the famous ‘Do or Die’ speech. The call for ‘Quit India’ almost brought the state machinery to a standstill in large parts of the country as people voluntarily threw themselves into the thick of the movement. People observed hartals, and demonstrations and processions were accompanied by national songs and slogans. The movement was truly a mass movement which brought into its ambit thousands of ordinary people, namely students, workers and peasants. It also saw the active participation of leaders, namely, Jayprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali and Ram Manohar Lohia and many women such as Matangini Hazra in Bengal, Kanaklata Barua in Assam and Rama Devi in Odisha. The British responded with much force, yet it took more than a year to suppress the movement.
Questions / Answer:
Question 1: What were the circumstances that prompted the launch of the Quit India Movement?
Answer: The failure of the Cripps Mission and the effects of World War II created widespread discontentment in India, prompting Gandhiji to launch a movement calling for the complete withdrawal of the British from India.
Question 2: What was the demand put forth by the historic Quit India resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee?
Answer: The Quit India resolution demanded the immediate transfer of power to Indians and the complete withdrawal of the British from India.
Question 3: What was the significance of the All-India Congress Committee’s endorsement of the Quit India resolution on 8 August 1942?
Answer: The endorsement marked the official call for a non-violent mass struggle on the widest possible scale throughout the country, with Gandhiji delivering the famous “Do or Die” speech on this occasion.
Question 4: How did the Quit India Movement affect the state machinery and ordinary people in India?
Answer: The call for Quit India brought the state machinery to a standstill in many parts of the country as people voluntarily joined the movement. Hartals, demonstrations, and processions accompanied by national songs and slogans became widespread.
Question 5: Who were some of the prominent leaders and individuals who actively participated in the Quit India Movement?
Answer: Prominent leaders such as Jayprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali, and Ram Manohar Lohia, along with numerous women like Matangini Hazra in Bengal, Kanaklata Barua in Assam, and Rama Devi in Odisha, actively participated in the Quit India Movement.
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