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 Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Contents16
- A1 and 2 only
- B1 and 3 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (B) 1 and 3 only
The correct answer is (B) — 1 and 3 only.
Statement 1 is correct — Gandhi played a key role in ending the indentured labour system, particularly during his time in South Africa.
Statement 2 is wrong — Gandhi actually SUPPORTED the resolution to recruit Indians for World War I at Lord Chelmsford's War Conference (1918), believing cooperation would help India's cause for self-rule.
Statement 3 is correct — after Indians broke the Salt Law during the Civil Disobedience Movement, the British declared the Indian National Congress illegal.
Tip: Gandhi supported WW1 recruitment (hoping for self-rule). He opposed indentured labour in South Africa.
Gandhi's support for British recruitment in World War I demonstrates his early strategy of cooperation hoping to gain self-rule, contrasting with his later complete non-cooperation approach.
The indentured labour system was a form of bonded labor that sent Indians to work in British colonies like Fiji, Mauritius, and the Caribbean under harsh contracts that Gandhi fought against during his South Africa years.
The question tests whether students can distinguish between Gandhi's cooperative phase (1918 War Conference support) versus his resistance phase (Salt Satyagraha leading to Congress being banned).
Indentured Labour System & Gandhi's Role
Modern Indian History indentured labour Mahatma Gandhi
Indentured Labour System: Gandhi's Campaign Against Colonial Exploitation
Gandhi was instrumental in abolishing the indentured labour system through his South Africa campaigns
Officially abolished in 1917 due to sustained pressure from Gandhi and others
System involved 5-year contracts with harsh working conditions on plantations
What Was It
The indentured labour system was a form of contract labour where Indians worked under harsh conditions on British plantations worldwide. Workers signed 5-year contracts but faced severe restrictions on movement and poor working conditions.
Key Features vs Reality
Promised | Reality | Impact |
|---|---|---|
5-year contract with fixed wages | Low wages, debt bondage | Workers trapped in cycle of poverty |
Free return passage to India | Many couldn't afford return | Permanent settlement abroad |
Basic accommodation & food | Overcrowded barracks, poor food | High mortality rates |
Legal protection | No real legal recourse | Exploitation continued unchecked |
Gandhi's Campaign
South Africa (1893-1915): Gandhi experienced discrimination firsthand and organized resistance
Satyagraha technique: Developed non-violent resistance against discriminatory laws affecting Indian labourers
International pressure: Gandhi's campaigns brought global attention to the system's exploitation
1917 abolition: British government officially ended new indenture contracts
Trap: Don't confuse indentured labour with bonded labour — indentured involved contracts and overseas migration
Trap: Gandhi's role was primarily through South Africa campaigns, not direct India-based movements
Timing: System abolished in 1917, before Gandhi's major India movements began
Chelmsford War Conference & Gandhi's Support
Modern Indian History Lord Chelmsford's War Conference World War recruiting Indians
Chelmsford War Conference 1918: Gandhi's Controversial Support for WWI Recruitment
Gandhi supported recruitment of Indians for WWI at Chelmsford War Conference (1918)
Believed cooperation would earn India self-rule after the war
This was Gandhi's cooperation phase before turning to non-cooperation
Gandhi's Strategic Cooperation
In 1918, Gandhi believed that supporting Britain in WWI would demonstrate India's loyalty and earn political concessions after victory. This was his cooperation phase — quite different from his later non-cooperation approach.
Gandhi's Logic Chain
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**War Crisis**
Britain needs Indian soldiers for WWI`"]
s2["`**Strategic Support**
Gandhi supports recruitment at **Chelmsford Conference**`"]
s3["`**Expected Reward**
Hopes for **self-rule** or dominion status`"]
s4["`**Reality Check**
**Rowlatt Act (1919)** instead of rewards`"]
s5["`**Policy Shift**
Gandhi turns to **Non-Cooperation Movement**`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5Conference Context
Lord Chelmsford was Viceroy of India (1916-1921) during critical WWI period
Conference aimed to increase Indian military recruitment for European battlefront
Gandhi's support surprised many Congress leaders who expected opposition
1.3 million Indians eventually served in WWI, many due to such recruitment drives
Major Trap: Statement says Gandhi did NOT support — this is FALSE. He DID support recruitment
Timing confusion: This was 1918 cooperation, not 1920s non-cooperation period
Logic trap: Gandhi's early cooperation contradicts his later anti-British stance — both are historically accurate for different periods
Salt Satyagraha & Congress Declared Illegal
Modern Indian History Salt Law Indian National Congress illegal colonial rulers
Salt Satyagraha 1930: Breaking Laws & British Repression
Salt Law breaking during Civil Disobedience led to Congress being declared illegal
Dandi March (1930) marked the beginning of mass civil disobedience
British response included arrests, lathi charges, and banning political organizations
The Salt Strategy
Gandhi chose salt as the symbol of resistance because every Indian used it daily, making the salt tax a universal grievance. The Dandi March (March 1930) transformed a simple law-breaking act into mass civil disobedience.
From March to Repression
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Dandi March**
**12 March - 6 April 1930**: Gandhi's 390 km march to coast`"]
s2["`**Salt Making**
**6 April**: Gandhi picks up salt, breaks Salt Law symbolically`"]
s3["`**Mass Participation**
**Millions across India** start making salt illegally`"]
s4["`**British Panic**
**Mass arrests** begin - over 60,000 imprisoned`"]
s5["`**Congress Banned**
**Indian National Congress declared illegal organization**`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5British Repressive Measures
Action | Target | Impact |
|---|---|---|
Congress declared illegal | Political organization | Leadership went underground |
Mass arrests | 60,000+ activists | Jails overflowing |
Lathi charges | Peaceful protesters | Dharasana Satyagraha brutality |
Press censorship | Newspapers | Information blackout |
Economic boycott ban | Foreign goods protest | Trade disruption controlled |
Dandi March Route
Source: Microsoft Flight Simulator Forums — Mahatma Gandhi's Salt March from 1930 from Ahmedabad to ... · forums.flightsimulator.com
Chronology: Salt Satyagraha was 1930, part of Civil Disobedience Movement — not 1919-22 Non-Cooperation
Causation: Congress banned AFTER salt law breaking spread, not before
Scope: Not just salt — entire Civil Disobedience Movement included tax refusal, foreign goods boycott
Gandhi's Evolution: Cooperation to Resistance
Modern Indian History Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi's Strategic Evolution: From Cooperation (1918) to Civil Disobedience (1930)
Gandhi's approach evolved from cooperation (1918) to non-cooperation (1920) to civil disobedience (1930)
Rowlatt Act (1919) was the turning point that ended Gandhi's cooperation phase
Each phase had different strategies: support, boycott, then law-breaking
Gandhi's Three Strategic Phases
Phase | Period | Strategy | Key Events | British Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cooperation | 1915-1919 | Support British rule | Chelmsford War Conference support | Rowlatt Act instead of rewards |
Non-Cooperation | 1920-1922 | Boycott institutions | Khilafat Movement, boycotts | Chauri Chaura incident ends movement |
Civil Disobedience | 1930-1934 | Break unjust laws | Salt Satyagraha, tax refusal | Congress banned, mass arrests |
What Changed Gandhi's Mind
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**WWI Cooperation**
Gandhi supports recruitment, expects **self-rule reward**`"]
s2["`**Rowlatt Betrayal**
**Rowlatt Act (1919)** instead of political concessions`"]
s3["`**Jallianwala Shock**
**Jallianwala Bagh massacre** reveals British brutality`"]
s4["`**Strategy Shift**
Gandhi adopts **Satyagraha** against colonial rule`"]
s5["`**Mass Movements**
**Non-Cooperation → Civil Disobedience** campaigns begin`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5Trap: Don't assume Gandhi was always anti-British — he supported WWI recruitment in 1918
Phase confusion: 1918 cooperation vs 1920 non-cooperation vs 1930 civil disobedience — three different strategies
Turning point: Rowlatt Act, not WWI itself, ended Gandhi's cooperation with British rule