Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bardoli Satyagraha is correct ?

Question

Accepted Answer

C. The Eka Movement (1921) and the Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) were pivotal but distinct peasant uprisings. The Eka Movement, located in Awadh (UP), was a grassroots protest against local landlords and contractors extracting illegal, excessive rents. Conversely, the Bardoli Satyagraha in Gujarat was a highly organized campaign led by Sardar Patel protesting an arbitrary 22% enhancement of land revenue directly by the British government.

Let us contrast these two major agrarian movements based on **Bipan Chandra's historical analysis**:

*   **Option A is Incorrect:** It reverses the political dynamic. The **Eka Movement** (Unity Movement) began with Congress support but lost it when it turned militant under the grassroots leadership of Madari Pasi. The **Bardoli Satyagraha** was deeply integrated with Congress (spearheaded by Sardar Patel) from day one.
*   **Option B is Incorrect:** The **Eka Movement** was a revolt *against* the oppressive taluqdars of Awadh, not led by them. The **Bardoli Satyagraha** was driven by landowning peasant castes (like the Patidars), not landless labourers.
*   **Option C is Correct:** This identifies the distinct economic triggers. The **Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)** was a direct political strike against the British government's arbitrary 22% hike in "land revenue" (taxes). The **Eka Movement (1921)** was a socio-economic revolt in Awadh against Indian landlords and contractors who were illegally extorting "rents" that were often 50% higher than the recorded rates.
*   **Option D is Incorrect:** Geographically, the Eka Movement was centered in Awadh (Hardoi, Bahraich, Sitapur), not Varanasi/Mirzapur. Bardoli is located in the Surat district of South Gujarat, not the Saurashtra peninsula.

**Conclusion:** Only Option C correctly defines the economic objectives of both movements.

Answer

A. The Eka Movement was throughout supported and organized by the Congress while Bardoli Satyagraha was initially independent of Congress influence and was only in the last stages supported by the Congress.

Incorrect because: The examiner swaps the characteristics of the two movements across multiple options. Option A flips the Congress support dynamic (Eka lost it, Bardoli had it). Option B flips the demographics (Bardoli was landowning Patidars, Eka was low-caste grassroots). Option D flips the geography.

Answer

B. The Eka Movement was provided leadership by the taluqdars of Awadh, whereas the Bardoli Satyagraha was a movement of the landless labourers.

Incorrect because: The examiner swaps the characteristics of the two movements across multiple options. Option A flips the Congress support dynamic (Eka lost it, Bardoli had it). Option B flips the demographics (Bardoli was landowning Patidars, Eka was low-caste grassroots). Option D flips the geography.

Answer

D. The Eka Movement was located in the Varanasi and Mirzapur districts of the present-day U.P., while the Bardoli Satyagraha took place in Saurashtra.

Incorrect because: The examiner swaps the characteristics of the two movements across multiple options. Option A flips the Congress support dynamic (Eka lost it, Bardoli had it). Option B flips the demographics (Bardoli was landowning Patidars, Eka was low-caste grassroots). Option D flips the geography.

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 PYQ

Topic Clusters

Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bardoli Satyagraha is correct ?

Detailed Solution & Authority Citations

🚨 The Examiner's Trap

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Concept Flow Mapping