Question

Why was Congress known as a rainbow-like social coalition ? Explain.

Hint:

Think of how the Congress included people of many classes, castes, religions, languages and political views. Give two such points.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the term.
A coalition is a joining together of different groups under one roof. The Congress was called a rainbow-like social coalition because, like the many colours of a rainbow, it held people of very different kinds together in one party.

Step 2: Reason 1, it united many social groups.
The Congress began as a body of the educated urban elite. Later it grew into a mass movement during the national struggle. It then drew in peasants, workers, industrialists, the middle class and the urban poor. It also included people of many castes, religions, languages and regions.

Step 3: Reason 2, it held many ideologies.
The party made room for moderates and extremists, for conservatives and radicals, and for people of the left, right and centre. All of them worked inside the Congress for the common goal of freedom. Because it represented the diversity of India in this way, it was seen as a rainbow-like coalition.

Final Answer:
The Congress was a rainbow-like social coalition because it brought together varied social groups (classes, castes, religions, languages) and varied ideologies under one umbrella.