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.
A sociologist trying to place this movement within the typology of social movements would most likely conclude that it:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → has redemptive, reformist and revolutionary elements together
Option (1) is redemptive, since its core lies in members changing their own habits — Incorrect. Members giving up liquor and gambling is a redemptive element, since it seeks change in members' own actions. It is only one wing, so calling the whole movement redemptive leaves out its petitions and its call to overturn power holders.
Option (2) is reformist, since its main method is petitioning the assembly for a law — Incorrect. Petitioning the assembly for a forest-rights law is a reformist element, a gradual step within existing arrangements. It is one part of the movement, and the other two wings do not fit a reformist label.
Option (3) is revolutionary, since one wing calls for overturning local power holders — Incorrect. Calling for the overturning of moneylenders and forest officials and for people's councils is a revolutionary element. One wing alone does not make the whole movement revolutionary.
Option (4) has redemptive, reformist and revolutionary elements together — Correct. Social movements are classified as redemptive, reformist and revolutionary, yet most movements have a mix of these elements. Here the pledge on habits is redemptive, the petition for a law is reformist and the call to overturn local power is revolutionary.
NCERT (2026-27): “Reformist, Redemptive, Revolutionary … |