[very_short_answer] Dalit participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement was notably limited, especially in…

Question

[very_short_answer] Dalit participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement was notably limited, especially in areas where their organisations were well established. What was the main reason dalit leaders and communities were cautious about joining a Congress-led movement?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer Dalit leaders feared that joining a Congress-led movement would not secure them political rights; they instead demanded separate electorates and reserved seats to achieve political empowerment and overcome social disabilities. ## Explanation The examiner expects you to state that dalits were focused on political safeguards (separate electorates, reserved seats) rather than abstract swaraj, and distrusted a Congress that had historically ignored them to avoid upsetting high-caste Hindus. Mention of Dr Ambedkar or the Depressed Classes Association adds precision but is not strictly required for 1 mark.

Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question