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Q69 (CAPF/2013) History & Culture › National Movement (1857–1947) › Gandhian mass movements Answer Verified

Mahatma Gandhi’s severe criticism of the Congress leadership at the opening of the Benaras Hindu University was focused on

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi's first major public appearance in India occurred at the opening of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in February 1916 [2]. During his speech, he criticized the Indian elite, including the Congress leadership, for their disconnect from the masses. He observed that the audience was composed of wealthy princes, lawyers, and doctors, while the peasants and workers—who formed the majority of India—were conspicuously absent [1]. Gandhi characterized Indian nationalism as an 'elite phenomenon' and expressed his intent to make the movement more representative of the common people [2]. This critique was not about specific strategies like office acceptance (which became relevant much later in the 1930s) or general opposition tactics, but specifically targeted the exclusionary, upper-class nature of the nationalist struggle at that time [3]. This speech marked his first public announcement of transforming nationalism into a mass movement [2].

Sources

  1. [1] https://satheessc.iitk.ac.in/sathee-ssc/student-corner/ncert-books/class-12/themes-in-indian-history/chapter-11-mahatma-gandhi-and-the-nationalist-movement-civil-disobedience-and-beyond/
  2. [2] https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/lehs303.pdf
  3. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 20: Debates on the Future Strategy after Civil Disobedience Movement > Gandhi's Position > p. 409
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

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