- Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of ‘indentured labour’.
- In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’, Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.
- Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is correct: Indentured labour was bonded labour hired on contract for working on plantations in various colonies of western imperialists. Since India was going through agricultural distress & stagnation, many farmers ended up into the system of indentured labour because of luring advances & good salaries in foreign states. A mass meeting was organised by Mahatma Gandhi on September 11, 1906 at the Imperial Theatre in Johannesburg, where 3,000 people pledged to disregard the law.
Statement 2 is not correct: Lord Chelmsford, the then viceroy of India invited Gandhi to Delhi, at an award conference in order to gain the trust of the empire and Gandhi agreed to move people to enlist in the army for World War I. He agreed to the resolution with the belief that absolutely unconditional and whole-hearted cooperation with the government on the part of educated India will bring us within sight of our goal of Swaraj as nothing else will’. Statement 3 is correct: At the Calcutta congress of 1928, Gandhi declared that the British must grant dominion status to India otherwise a revolution for complete independence would blow up in the country. The Salt March or the Dandi March commenced on March 12th, 1930 and extended for a period of 24 days. The march was from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in Gujarat. The salt law was broken by Gandhi on April 6th when he collected salt from mud. The police resorted to their usual brutal methods in dealing with the breakers of the salt law and the Indian National Congress was declared illegal.
