What was the primary objective of Gandhi's campaign of nonviolent disobedience in India during the 1920s and 1930s?

• A. Ending conflict between Muslims and Hindus.
• B. Abolishing laws that discriminated against ethnic minorities.
• C. Securing Indian independence from British rule.
• D. Reforming India's caste system.

Answer: (C)

The essential idea behind Gandhi’s nonviolent struggle was to win political self-rule for India by using peaceful, mass-based resistance to British authority. Through tactics like noncooperation, civil disobedience, and the Salt March, the movement aimed to undermine Britain’s legitimacy and mobilize Indians across religious and caste lines to demand independence. The focus was on ending colonial rule and establishing self-government, not primarily on internal social reforms or resolving communal tensions. While Gandhi did advocate reforms in society and harmony among different groups, the driving goal of these campaigns in the 1920s and 1930s was Indian independence from British rule.