Which of the following ideal was envisaged by Gandhiji as a model of social transformation?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Gram swarajya
Option (2) Gram panchayat — Incorrect. The gram panchayat is the elected council of a village, the lowest tier of the Panchayati Raj system that the 73rd Amendment gave constitutional status in 1992. It is an institution, not the ideal Gandhiji held up.
Option (4) Gram swarajya — Correct. Local government was dear to Gandhiji. He envisaged each village as a self-sufficient unit conducting its own affairs and saw gram-swarajya, village self-rule, as the ideal model to be continued after independence.
NCERT (2025-26): “Ideals of Panchayati Raj … When the constitution was being drafted, panchayats did not find a mention in it. At this juncture, a number of members expressed their sorrow, anger and disappointment over this issue. At the same time, drawing on his own rural experience, Dr. Ambedkar argued that local elites and upper castes were so well entrenched in society that local self-government only meant a continuing exploitation of the downtrodden masses of Indian society. The upper castes would no doubt silence this segment of the population further. The concept of local government was dear to Gandhiji too. He envisaged each village as a self-sufficient unit conducting its own affairs and saw gram-swarajya to be an ideal model to be continued after independence.” |