Forest-dwelling families in a hill district started a movement. In village meetings, members pledged to give up liquor and gambling and to change their own habits at home. At the same time, the movement's leaders sent petitions to the state assembly asking for a law to secure their rights over forest produce. A third wing of the same movement called for overturning the power of moneylenders and forest officials and for setting up people's councils in their place. For several years the movement relied on marches, sit-ins and village assemblies.
If this movement follows the life cycle that social scientists describe, which change would be expected later in its course?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → It would become more institutionalised after its phase of mass protest
Option (1) It would split into separate redemptive, reformist and revolutionary groups — Incorrect. Having redemptive, reformist and revolutionary elements together is normal, since most movements carry such a mix. The life cycle that social scientists describe ends in a more institutionalised form, with no split into separate groups.
Option (2) It would shift its focus to quality-of-life issues such as a clean environment — Incorrect. A focus on quality-of-life issues such as a clean environment marks the new social movements. It is a different kind of movement, so it is no stage in a movement's life cycle.
Option (3) It would become more institutionalised after its phase of mass protest — Correct. Social scientists who study the life cycles of movements find that a movement may start with mass mobilisation and collective protest and later become more institutionalised. This movement is now in its protest phase of marches, sit-ins and assemblies, so its next stage would be a move towards social movement organisations.
Option (4) It would narrow its work to changing the personal habits of members — Incorrect. Changing members' personal habits is the aim of a redemptive movement, and it is only one wing of this movement. The life cycle predicts a move towards a more institutionalised form, with no narrowing to that aim.
NCERT (2026-27): “Reformist, Redemptive, Revolutionary … |