Q1. [4] medium exam-ready
Read the following source and answer the questions that follow:
'We believe that it is the inalienable right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil … We believe also that if any government deprives a people of these rights and oppresses them, the people have a further right to alter it or to abolish it. The British Government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually. We believe, therefore, that India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence.'
— The Independence Day Pledge, 26 January 1930
(i) What natural rights does this pledge claim for the Indian people, and on what philosophical basis does it justify resistance to British rule? (1 mark)
(ii) The pledge was read out on 26 January 1930, yet it initially attracted very little public attention. What major action did Mahatma Gandhi take shortly afterwards to give concrete meaning to this abstract declaration? (1 mark)
(iii) The pledge accuses British rule of ruining India 'economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually.' Using your knowledge of the period, explain any two of these forms of ruin as experienced by Indians. (2 marks)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:38 · grounding rag
Model Answer
(i) The pledge claims freedom and the right to enjoy the fruits of one's toil as inalienable rights of all people. It justifies resistance on the philosophical basis that if a government deprives people of these rights and oppresses them, the people have the right to alter or abolish that government.
(ii) Since the Independence Day celebrations attracted very little attention, Gandhi launched the famous Salt March (Dandi March) on 12 March 1930 — marching 240 miles from Sabarmati to Dandi — where he ceremonially manufactured salt by boiling sea water, thus giving concrete meaning to the abstract demand for Purna Swaraj and launching the Civil Disobedience Movement.
(iii)
- Economic ruin: British rule exploited Indian masses through heavy taxation (e.g., salt tax), ruined Indian industries, and caused agricultural prices to collapse, making it impossible for peasants to pay revenue.
- Political ruin: Indians were denied any real political freedom or self-governance. The Simon Commission had no Indian member, showing Indians were kept out of decisions about their own country.
Source: Chapter 2 — The Nationalist Movement in Indo-China; Sections 3 and 3.1
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Explanation
- (i) Quote directly from the pledge — "inalienable right," "alter or abolish" — these are the key phrases examiners look for.
- (ii) The passage explicitly states celebrations "attracted very little attention," so Gandhi needed a concrete act — the Salt March is the direct answer. Mention Dandi and the date for full marks.
- (iii) Pick any two well-explained points. Economic and political are easiest to support from the passage and your knowledge. Avoid vague statements — link to specific examples like the salt tax or Simon Commission.