Question 24 from UPSC CSE 2019 - Modern History

Question

With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements:
1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of 'indentured labour'.
2. In Lord Chelmsford's 'War Conference', Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.
3. Consequent upon the breaking of the Salt Law by the Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 and 3 only

Strategy: - Verify Gandhi's role in abolishing indentured labour to confirm statement 1.
- Recall Gandhi's support for recruitment at the Lord Chelmsford War Conference to invalidate statement 2.
- Confirm that the Congress was declared illegal after the Salt Satyagraha to validate statement 3.
- Conclude that statements 1 and 3 are correct, corresponding to option B.

Key Info: **Indentured Labour Abolition**
Indentured labour was a system in which Indian workers were sent to British colonies (like Fiji, the Caribbean, and South Africa) under contracts that often led to severe exploitation. Mahatma Gandhi led prominent campaigns, notably in South Africa and India, against this system, culminating in its formal abolition in 1917 after consistent pressure led by Indian nationalists and the Indian diaspora.

**Gandhi and the War Conference**
Lord Chelmsford convened the War Conference in 1918 during World War I to enlist Indian support. Mahatma Gandhi attended as a delegate and controversially supported recruitment, urging Indians to join as a way to claim rights after the war, thus, he supported the war effort, not opposed it.

**The Salt Satyagraha and Congress Ban**
The Salt Satyagraha (1930), a central act in the Civil Disobedience Movement, involved mass breaking of the colonial Salt Law and broad nonviolent protests. In response, the British Raj declared the Indian National Congress unlawful to suppress the movement. This step led to a wave of arrests, including that of major leaders. The declaration of the Congress as illegal marked an important phase in the nationalist movement, underscoring colonial attempts to stifle organized resistance.

Answer

Option A: 1 and 2 only

Answer

Option C: 2 and 3 only

Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3