Question

Assertion (A): Early nationalists asked for constitutional reforms within the colonial government.

Reason (R): This is because they believed in Gandhi's vision, and were strictly against violent protest.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation for (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation for (A).
• C. (A) is true and (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false and (R) is true.

Answer 1

The correct option is C (A) is true and (R) is false.

Early nationalists asked for constitutional reforms under British rule because they did not want to overthrow the rulers through violence. They believed that reform through law was the way forward.

However, the Gandhian era of nationalism came a few decades after this phase. It would thus be inaccurate to claim that the early nationalists were influenced by Gandhi. Also, although non-violence was central to Gandhi's vision, his programme also called for complete swaraj, satyagraha, boycott, and mass participation in public protests.