Question map
Which of the following statements on Gandhian movements is not correct?
Explanation
The statement that leadership had no role in Gandhian movements is incorrect. Gandhi was the central figure who reshaped the Indian National Congress into a mass movement [t6]. He provided strategic direction, such as forming the Passive Resistance Association [c1] and deciding when to suspend movements like the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements based on the masses' capacity for sacrifice [c4][t7]. His 'servant leadership' model emphasized integrity and modeling behavior for followers [t5]. Conversely, other statements are accurate: Gandhi was a pioneer of mass movements [t1], his philosophy was fundamentally non-violent (ahimsa) [c1][t2][t10], and he explicitly advocated for passive resistance, which he evolved into the concept of Satyagraha [c1][t4][t7]. Leadership was essential to maintain the non-violent discipline required for these movements to succeed [c5][t6].
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 15: Emergence of Gandhi > Phase of Passive Resistance or Satyagraha (1906-1914) > p. 313
- [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Was Gandhi-Irwin Pact a Retreat? > p. 380
- [3] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/mahatma-gandhi-changed-political-protest