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.
The type of social movement that clearly saw reorganization of power relations as a central goal:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Old Social Movements
Option (1) New Social Movements — Incorrect. The new social movements, such as the women’s and environmental movements, grew in the affluent West where class-based exploitation was no longer seen as the central concern. They were not about changing the distribution of power in society but about quality-of-life issues such as a clean environment.
Option (4) Old Social Movements — Correct. The old social movements, such as the working class movements of the capitalist West and the socialist movements, fought for better wages, social security and new kinds of states and societies. They saw reorganisation of power relations as a central goal, and they worked within the frame of political parties, as the Indian National Congress led the national movement.
NCERT (2025-26): “Distinguishing the new social movement from the old social movements … Working class movements in the capitalist west were wresting better wages, better living conditions, social security, free schooling and health security from the state. That was also a period when socialist movements were establishing new kinds of states and societies. The old social movements clearly saw reorganisation of power relations as a central goal. The old social movements functioned within the frame of political parties. The Indian National Congress led the Indian National Movement.…” “…Others argued that in the affluent West with its welfare state, issues of classbased exploitation and inequality were no longer central concerns. So the ‘new’ social movements were not about changing the distribution of power in society but about quality-of-life issues such as having a clean environment.…” “…Environmental and health risks, fears of nuclear warfare are global in nature. Not surprisingly therefore many of the new social movements are international in scope.…” |