UPSC Prelims 2011 · Question 30 of 100
UPSC Prelims 2011 question on Kheda Satyagraha
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2011
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectModern History
- TopicIndian National Movement
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeStatement
What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to organize a satyagraha on behalf of the peasants of Kheda?
1. The Administration did not suspend the land revenue collection in spite of a drought.
2. The Administration proposed to introduce Permanent Settlement in Gujarat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: A. 1 only
Verdict
Correct Answer: 1 only
Analysis
The Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 was organised by Mahatma Gandhi in support of peasants who were unable to pay land revenue due to crop failure caused by drought and plague.
Statement by statement
1. The administration did not suspend land revenue collection despite drought — Correct
Kheda district in Gujarat suffered from severe drought, crop failure and plague in 1918. Under revenue rules, if crop production fell below a certain level, peasants were entitled to remission or suspension of land revenue.
However, the British administration refused to suspend revenue collection and insisted on full payment. Gandhi advised peasants to withhold revenue through non-violent resistance.
2. The administration proposed to introduce Permanent Settlement in Gujarat — Incorrect
There was no proposal to introduce Permanent Settlement in Gujarat in 1918. Permanent Settlement was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 and was mainly associated with Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.
Gujarat was largely under the Ryotwari system, where revenue was collected directly from cultivators and revised periodically.
Extra UPSC info
Kheda Satyagraha was a major early Gandhian peasant movement.
It followed Champaran Satyagraha, 1917 and Ahmedabad Mill Strike, 1918.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a major role and emerged as an important peasant leader.
The Gujarat Sabha helped organise the movement.
The movement used non-payment of revenue as a method of peaceful resistance.
It strengthened Gandhi’s method of satyagraha in Indian politics.
How to crack it
The Kheda Satyagraha was caused by the British refusal to suspend land revenue despite crop failure and distress. Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.