A researcher records the memories of an old peasant from Gujarat in the 1970s. He recalls that, in the early 1920s, several national leaders visited his district, and that the villagers felt closest to Gandhiji among them. He also remembers 1928 well. That year, people across India protested against a commission sent from England to enquire into conditions in the country, and the peasants of Bardoli taluka launched a satyagraha. The researcher wants to place these memories in the history of the national movement.
What was Gandhiji's own part in the two 1928 events that the peasant remembers?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → He did not take part in either himself, but gave both of them his blessings.
Option (1) He did not take part in either himself, but gave both of them his blessings. — Correct. For some years Gandhiji had focused on <strong>social reform work</strong>, and in 1928 he only began to think of re-entering politics. He did not join the campaign against the Simon Commission or the Bardoli satyagraha, but <strong>gave both his blessings</strong>.
Option (2) He led the protest against the commission but kept away from the satyagraha. — Incorrect. Gandhiji did not lead the protest against the all-White Simon Commission. He only blessed it.
Option (3) He led the Bardoli satyagraha himself but kept away from the protest against the commission. — Incorrect. Gandhiji did not lead the Bardoli satyagraha either. He blessed it, as he blessed the protest against the commission.
Option (4) He took part in both and was arrested during the protest against the commission. — Incorrect. He took no direct part in either event in 1928, so there was no arrest. He returned to active politics only with the Salt Satyagraha of 1930.
NCERT (2026-27): “3. The Salt Satyagraha |