UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha and contribution of Birsa Munda (Week 55)

QUESTION 2

Discuss the significance of Birsa Munda’s contributions in shaping India’s socio-political landscape during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.

— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.

Way forward/ conclusion

— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.

— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.

Self Evaluation

— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.

THOUGHT PROCESS

You may enrich your answers by some of the following points

QUESTION 1: Discuss the significance of Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha in South Africa and how this event marked a turning point in Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

Introduction:

— On June 7, 1893, a young lawyer named Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was rudely booted from a train’s first class cabin allocated for ‘whites exclusively’ at South Africa’s Pietermaritzburg railway station. This inspired Gandhi’s first act of civil disobedience or Satyagraha.

— Gandhians consider the Pietermaritzburg incident to be among the most significant events in Gandhi’s life. As he wrote in his autobiography, what happened to him was “only a symptom of the deep disease of colour prejudice,” and he felt it was his “duty” to fight it.

Body:

— Gandhi’s whole experience in South Africa had a significant impact on his personal and philosophical development.

— He debated Christians who questioned his own orthodoxy, prompting him to develop a more inclusive spirituality.

— He defended Indian traders against prejudice, fought moves to disenfranchise Indian voters in Natal, and wrote a ‘guidebook’ for Indian students, demonstrating his dedication to personal and professional development.

— Ramachandra Guha stated in Gandhi Before India (2012), “The South African years were crucial to Gandhi, and to the distinctive form of political protest that is his most enduring legacy to India and the world.”

— Gandhi both theorised and practised satyagraha in South Africa, from writing letters, articles, and petitions to mass mobilisation and seeking incarceration if demands were not satisfied, before using the same nonviolent protest approach against the British in India.

— From the Non-Cooperation Movement (1919-22) to the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34), to the Quit India Movement (1942), his nonviolent resistance beliefs were crucial to India’s quest for independence.

(Source: Explained: 131 years ago, Gandhi’s first satyagraha by Saima Mehta)

Points to Ponder

Non-Cooperation Movement

Quit India Movement

Related Previous Year Questions

What was the difference between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in their approach towards education and nationalism? (2023)

Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement. (2021)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the significance of Birsa Munda’s contributions in shaping India’s socio-political landscape during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.”

Introduction:

— Birsa Munda was born on November 15, 1875, during a time when his society was experiencing significant transformation. The Mundas, a nomadic-hunting-turned-farmer tribe living in the Chotanagpur district of today’s Jharkhand, were subjected to a series of harsh policies and occurrences.

— Prior to colonial administration, the dominant system of land ownership in this region was known as “khuntkatti.” It was based on customary rights and did not involve landlords.

— However, the passage of the Permanent Settlement Act (1793) resulted in a shift and aided colonialism’s incursions into rural India. To optimise its earnings, the East India Company used the law to legitimise the zamindari system of land revenue collection. This resulted in two classes: land-owning zamindars, who were considered as outsiders or “dikus” by indigenous populations, and “ryots” or tenants.

Body:

— The Act permitted the dikus to claim ownership rights through a deed that defined a specific territory. This uprooted indigenous people and denied them access to the land they had been cultivating for centuries.

— A variety of other crippling policies exacerbated the community’s problems, including the exploitation of tribal people through the “begar” system of forced work, the forced reliance on money lenders for credit, and the replacement of traditional clan councils with courts.

— Finally, mass hunger was the outcome of the famines that began in 1896–1897 and 1899–1900.

— The impact of British administration, as well as the increased activity of Christian missionaries in the area, turned many tribals against the existence of the dikus.

— Munda spent the majority of his time between 1886 and 1890 in Chaibasa, in the epicentre of the Sardari revolt. The Oraon and Munda tribes led a peaceful resistance to British control.

— This encouraged him to join the anti-missionary and anti-colonial movements. By the time he left Chaibasa in 1890, Birsa was deeply involved in the fight against British tyranny of tribal people.

— Birsa Munda launched the Ulgulan movement in 1899, using weapons and guerrilla warfare to drive out foreigners. He encouraged the tribals to follow the Birsa Raj and to not comply with colonial laws and rent payments.

— However, the British were able to halt the movement quickly due to their greater strength. Munda was caught by British police on March 3, 1900, while sleeping with his tribal guerilla force in the Jamkopai jungle in Chakradharpur.

— The movement also contributed to the government’s repeal of the begar system, and led to the Tenancy Act (1903) which recognised the khuntkhatti system. The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908) later banned the passage of tribal land to non-tribal folks.

(Source: Birsa Munda’s 124th death anniversary: Significance of the tribal leader’s contributions by Anagha Jayakumar)

Points to Ponder

Ulgulan movement

Other tribal movements

Related Previous Year Question

How did the colonial rule affect the tribals in India and what was the tribal response to the colonial oppression? (2023)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 53)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 54)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 54)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 55)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 55)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 54)

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