How did Gandhiji broaden the basis of Nationalism:
(A) New branches of Congress were set up in various parts of India
(B) A series of 'Praja Mandals' were established to promote nationalist creed in the princely states
(C) Gandhiji encouraged communication of nationalist message in the mother tongue
(D) Gandhiji was not able to gather support of Indian entrepreneurs and industrialists
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A), (B), (C) only
Gandhiji’s success in broadening the basis of nationalism rested on careful organisation, which took the national movement to the farthest corners of the country.
(A) New branches of Congress were set up in various parts of India Correct. Setting up new branches of the Congress across India was one part of this organisation.
(B) A series of ‘Praja Mandals’ were established to promote nationalist creed in the princely states Correct. The Praja Mandals carried the nationalist creed into the princely states.
(C) Gandhiji encouraged communication of nationalist message in the mother tongue Correct. He wanted the message given in the mother tongue rather than in English, so the provincial committees of the Congress were based on linguistic regions.
(D) Gandhiji was not able to gather support of Indian entrepreneurs and industrialists Incorrect. Among the supporters of the Congress were some very prosperous businessmen and industrialists; some, such as G.D. Birla, supported the national movement openly.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.2 A people’s leader … While Mahatma Gandhi’s mass appeal was undoubtedly genuine – and in the context of Indian politics, without precedent – it must also be stressed that his success in broadening the basis of nationalism was based on careful organisation. New branches of the Congress were set up in various parts of India. A series of ‘Praja Mandals’ were established to promote the nationalist creed in the princely states. Gandhiji encouraged the communication of the nationalist message in the mother tongue, rather than in the language of the rulers, English. Thus the provincial committees of the Congress were based on linguistic regions, rather than on the artificial boundaries of British India. In these different ways nationalism was taken to the farthest corners of the country and embraced by social groups previously untouched by it.… 2.2 A people’s leader … By now, among the supporters of the Congress were some very prosperous businessmen and industrialists. Indian entrepreneurs were quick to recognise that, in a free India, the favours enjoyed by their British competitors would come to an end. Some of these entrepreneurs, such as G.D. Birla, supported the national movement openly; others did so tacitly.…” |