Consider the following statements about the different meanings of ‘Swaraj’ as articulated by Mahatma Gandhi : 1. Swaraj is intimately linked with Ahimsa (non-violence) and Salyagraha (adherence to truth). 2. Swaraj has two senses—one political and one beyond the realm of politics. 3. Swaraj is something that requires time and patience to acquire. 4. With determination, Swaraj could be obtained easily and quickly. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Mahatma Gandhi's concept of Swaraj is fundamentally rooted in the principles of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (truth-force), as he believed these were essential for both personal and collective liberation [2]. Swaraj possesses two distinct senses: a political sense involving freedom from British rule and a spiritual sense involving 'rule over the self' or self-mastery [1]. Gandhi emphasized that true Swaraj is not merely a transfer of power but a transformative process requiring time and patience to awaken the masses and cultivate moral integrity [2]. While he occasionally suggested Swaraj could be obtained quickly with absolute determination and adherence to non-violence (as seen in his 1920-21 promise of 'Swaraj in one year'), this was always conditional on the people's disciplined commitment to his methods [2]. Thus, statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct, while statement 4 reflects his conditional optimism regarding collective determination.

Sources

1. [2] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > a) Rowlatt Act > p. 46
2. [1] Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Freedom > SWARAJ > p. 20