Question

Gandhiji was born in the state of ___________.
A) Madhya Pradesh
B) Maharashtra
C) Gujarat
D) Rajasthan

Answer 1

Hint: After two decades of his residence abroad, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned to his homeland in January 1915. For the most part of this time, had been spent in South Africa by him, where he went as a lawyer, and in some time he became a leader of the Indian community in that territory.

Complete Answer:
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 at Porbandar in the Indian state of Gujarat. He moved to South Africa when he was unable to start a successful law practice in India. South Africa was “the making of the Mahatma'', it shaped Gandhi's personality. It was only in South Africa that he first used the distinctive techniques of nonviolent protest known as Satyagraha, first alerted upper-caste Indians of their discriminatory treatment towards low castes and women, and first promoted harmony between religions.

The India that Mahatma Gandhi returned to in 1915 was much different from the one that he had left in 1893. Although it was still a colony of the British, it was far more active in a political sense. The Indian National Congress now had branches in most major towns and cities. The INC had greatly broadened its appeal among the middle classes through the Swadeshi movement of 1905-07. That movement had thrown up some towering leaders – among them were Lala Lajpat Rai of Punjab, Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Maharashtra, and Bipin Chandra Pal of Bengal. These three were commonly known as “Lal, Bal, and Pal''; this alliteration showed the all-India character of their struggle since their native provinces were very distant from one another.

While these leaders favoured militant opposition to colonial rule and were thus called “Extremists'', there was also a group of “Moderates” who preferred a more persuasive and gradual approach to colonial rule. Gandhiji’s political mentor, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Mohammad Ali Jinnah were among these Moderates. Gandhiji spent a year travelling around British India, getting to know the land, its peoples, and the situation here on Gokhale’s advice.

Thus, option (C) is correct.

Note: In February 1916, Gandhiji made his first major public appearance at the opening of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He had been invited on account of his work in South Africa, and not his status within India.