Question map
Consider the following statements about Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia : 1. He believed that satyagraha with out constructive work is like a sentence without a verb 2. He wrote his Ph.D. thesis paper on the topic of Salt Satyagraha, focusing on Mahatma Gandhi’s socio-economic theory. 3. He recognized that caste, more than class, was the huge stumbling block to India’s progress. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Explanation
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia was a profound socialist thinker who integrated Gandhian principles with socialist theory. Statement 1 is correct; Lohia famously remarked that 'Satyagraha without constructive work is like a sentence without a verb,' emphasizing the necessity of grassroots social action alongside political protest. Statement 2 is correct; Lohia earned his Ph.D. from Berlin University in 1932, writing his thesis on 'Salt Taxation in India,' which analyzed the socio-economic implications of the salt tax and Gandhi's salt satyagraha. Statement 3 is correct; unlike traditional Marxists who prioritized class, Lohia argued that caste was the primary structural barrier to India's progress [c1]. He advocated for reservations for backward castes and believed that social inequality in India had independent roots that required a specific 'revolution' against the caste system [c1][c5]. Thus, all three statements accurately reflect his life and ideology.
Sources
- [1] Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Equality > SOCIALISM > p. 44
- [2] Politics in India since Independence, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System > Ram Manohar > p. 78