According to Dr. Ambedkar, drawing on his own rural experience, which groups were so well entrenched in society that self-government in villages would only mean continuing exploitation of the downtrodden?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Local elites and upper castes
Option (1) Colonial officials and the police — Incorrect. Colonial officials and the police were outside rulers. Dr. Ambedkar was worried about power inside village society itself, held by local elites and upper castes.
Option (2) Local elites and upper castes — Correct. Drawing on his rural experience, Dr. Ambedkar argued that local elites and upper castes were well entrenched. Local self-government would let them go on exploiting the downtrodden and silence them further.
Option (3) Urban professionals and traders — Incorrect. Urban professionals and traders belong to towns and markets. His argument was about who holds power in villages.
Option (4) Leaders of political parties — Incorrect. Leaders of political parties were outside his point here. He pointed to the caste power that already existed in rural society.
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