Question

The commodity used by Gandhiji to relate the abstract idea of freedom to the more concrete issues of life was ________.
a. Food
b. Sugar
c. Indigo
d. Salt

Answer 1

Hint: The philosophy of Gandhiji was based on truth, non-violence and peace. His strategy was mainly composed of satyagraha, truth and honesty, non-violence, cooperation and peace and love. He used to guide people using philosophies related to the simplest things of life.

Complete answer: An essential commodity which was consumed both by the rich and poor alike was salt. Before the British created artificial trade barriers in the eighteenth century, India had deposits of affordable and readily available salt.
The first rebellion against salt tax was started in Orissa in 1888. It was pointed out that impoverished Indians had more tax burden than the people of England. The tax on salt was unfair as the taxed salt was imported from abroad.
So, Gandhiji thought an ordinary thing like salt could give the struggle for independence a grand success and ultimately dethrone the British. Therefore, he wrote to the then viceroy of India, Lord Irwin about abolishing the salt tax or else he would disregard the provisions of the salt tax and begin the Dandi March.
Let us study the given options.
Option a- Though food is an essential commodity of life, the taxes greatly varied according to the type and Gandhiji could not have food as the commodity to relate the abstract idea of freedom and unite the people. So, this is not the right answer.
Option b- Sugar was not the essential item on which there was any major issue for opposition by Gandhiji. Gandhiji wanted to unite people by taking a commodity that everyone could relate to and that was not sugar. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option c- Gandhiji did oppose the British policies related to indigo in the Champaran district of Bihar. He carried out various satyagraha movements and ultimately the British had to meet the demands. But, this did not make the whole country have a sense of freedom and neither indigo is an essential commodity. This is the wrong answer.
Option d- Salt is one of the most essential items of food. It is consumed both by the rich and poor in a similar manner. Gandhiji declared and revealed the most oppressive face of British rule because of the salt tax and the monopoly of the government over its production. He demanded to abolish the salt tax. It is the correct option.
Therefore, the right answer is the option ‘d’.

Note: India had salt taxes from ancient times. However, the rates were quite modest and did not raise the price of salt to the victimization of consumers or dislocate traditional salt trading. But the British did not have any such intention of light touch. Their intervention in salt was clearly ham-handed and exploitative. So, Gandhiji started Dandi March on 12th of March, 1930 to oppose the salt tax.