Question

Given below are two statements: Assertion (A): Gandhi thought that the village was the safe, sane unit of human association. Reason (R): Gandhi was the apostle of decentralisation. Choose the most appropriate answer.

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

Hint:

Gandhi's ideal social vision was based on decentralisation, village self-rule, and self-sufficient communities.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1 : Understanding the Question:
This question consists of an Assertion (A) and a Reason (R) regarding Mahatma Gandhi's social and political philosophy. We must determine the accuracy of both statements and whether the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.

Step 2 : Key Formulas and Approach:
The logical approach involves analyzing Mahatma Gandhi's socio-economic vision. We must evaluate his views on village-level organization and his political stance on the decentralization of power, and then verify if the decentralized political framework serves as the conceptual foundation for his preference for village life.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
$\bullet$ Mahatma Gandhi's social philosophy was deeply centered around the idea of Gram Swaraj (village self-rule), which emphasized self-sufficient, localized communities.
$\bullet$ Assertion (A) is correct because Gandhi firmly believed that the rural village represents a safe, sane, and balanced unit of human association, contrasting it with the exploitative nature of large industrialized cities.
$\bullet$ Reason (R) is correct because Gandhi was a major proponent of political and economic decentralization, arguing that decentralized power prevents the concentration of authority and promotes true democratic participation.
$\bullet$ The relationship between the two statements is direct: Gandhi's commitment to decentralization is the primary reason why he championed the village as the ideal and most appropriate social unit for human cooperative living. Thus, (R) is indeed the correct explanation for (A).

Step 4 : Final Answer:
Therefore, both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the proper and logical explanation of (A).
The correct option is (A) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).