Read the below passage and answer the question :
The repertoire of Satyagraha
The fusion of foreign power and capital was the focus of social protest during India's nationalist struggle. Mahatma Gandhi wore khadi, hand-spun, hand-woven cloth, to support Indian cotton growers, spinners and weavers whose livelihoods had been destroyed by the government policy of favouring mill-made cloth. The legendary Dandi March to make salt was a protest against British taxation policies that placed a huge burden on consumers of basic commodities in order to benefit the empire. Gandhi took items of everyday mass consumption like cloth and salt, and transformed them into symbols of resistance.
Choose the statement that is not a characteristic feature of Social Movement:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Varied objectives and ideologies
Option (1) Varied objectives and ideologies — Not a feature (Correct). Those who take part in a social movement have shared objectives and ideologies, and the movement has a general orientation towards bringing about (or preventing) change. Members pulling in different directions with varied aims would not make a movement at all.
Option (2) Sustained collective action — A feature (Incorrect). A social movement requires sustained collective action over time. An isolated protest that flares up and dies down, such as damaging a bus after an accident, is not a social movement.
Option (3) Distinct modes of protest — A feature (Incorrect). Social movements also develop distinct modes of protest, such as candle and torch light processions, black cloth, street theatre, songs and poetry. Gandhi’s ahimsa, satyagraha and the charkha are examples from the freedom movement.
Option (4) Aim of bringing about a change in Society — A feature (Incorrect). Social movements often arise with the aim of bringing about changes on a public issue, such as the right of tribal people to use the forests or the right of displaced people to compensation.
NCERT (2025-26): “8.1 Features of a Social Movement … A social movement requires sustained collective action over time. Such action is often directed against the state and takes the form of demanding changes in state policy or practice. Spontaneous, disorganised protest cannot be called a social movement either. Collective action must be marked by some degree of organisation. This organisation may include a leadership and a structure that defines how members relate to each other, make decisions and carry them out. Those participating in a social movement also have shared objectives and ideologies. A social movement has a general orientation or way of approaching to bring about (or to prevent) change. These defining features are not constant. They may change over the course of a social movement’s life. Social movements often arise with the aim of bringing about changes on a public issue, such as ensuring the right of the tribal population to use the forests or the right of displaced people to settlement and compensation.…” “…Social movements also develop distinct modes of protest. This could be candle and torch light processions, use of black cloth, street theatres, songs, poetry. Gandhi adopted novel ways such as ahimsa, satyagraha and his use of the charkha in the freedom movement.…” |