Which of the following statements accurately reflects Mahatma Gandhi’s view on machinery as expressed in Young India? 1. He sought to destroy all machinery. 2. He objected to the "craze" for labour-saving machinery that threw thousands out of work. 3. He considered the Charkha as an exquisite piece of machinery. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct option is 2 and 3 only. Explanation Mahatma Gandhi’s views on machinery were nuanced and often misunderstood. While he was a staunch critic of modern industrial civilization, his opposition was not to machinery per se, but to the socio-economic consequences of its indiscriminate application, particularly in the Indian context of labor surplus. Statement-wise Analysis - Statement 1 is Incorrect. Gandhi did not seek to destroy all machinery. In Young India (1924), he explicitly stated, "How can I be [against all machinery] when I know that even this body is a most delicate piece of machinery?" He clarified that he was not fighting against machinery as such, but against the abuses associated with it. - Statement 2 is Correct. Gandhi objected to the "craze" for machinery, specifically labor-saving devices in a country teeming with unemployed hands. He argued that machinery should not be used to displace human labor and concentrate wealth in the hands of a few, but rather to lighten the burden of the worker. He famously remarked, "Men go on 'saving labour' till thousands are without work and thrown on the open streets to die of starvation." - Statement 3 is Correct. Gandhi considered the spinning wheel (Charkha) to be a piece of machinery. He often cited the Singer sewing machine and the Charkha as examples of beneficial machinery that aid the individual worker without exploiting them. He viewed the Charkha as a tool for economic independence and a "grand piece of machinery." Key Takeaway Gandhian View on Technology: Gandhi opposed mass production (which concentrates wealth and displaces labor) but advocated for production by the masses using appropriate, human-centric machinery like the Charkha.

NCERT Class 12 History — Chapter 3: Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement - Civil Disobedience and Beyond

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Which of the following statements accurately reflects Mahatma Gandhi’s view on machinery as expressed in Young India?

He sought to destroy all machinery.
He objected to the "craze" for labour-saving machinery that threw thousands out of work.
He considered the Charkha as an exquisite piece of machinery.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A2 only
B2 and 3 only
C1, 2 and 3
D1 and 2 only

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is 2 and 3 only.

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi’s views on machinery were nuanced and often misunderstood. While he was a staunch critic of modern industrial civilization, his opposition was not to machinery per se, but to the socio-economic consequences of its indiscriminate application, particularly in the Indian context of labor surplus.

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Incorrect. Gandhi did not seek to destroy all machinery. In Young India (1924), he explicitly stated, "How can I be [against all machinery] when I know that even this body is a most delicate piece of machinery?" He clarified that he was not fighting against machinery as such, but against the abuses associated with it.
Statement 2 is Correct. Gandhi objected to the "craze" for machinery, specifically labor-saving devices in a country teeming with unemployed hands. He argued that machinery should not be used to displace human labor and concentrate wealth in the hands of a few, but rather to lighten the burden of the worker. He famously remarked, "Men go on 'saving labour' till thousands are without work and thrown on the open streets to die of starvation."
Statement 3 is Correct. Gandhi considered the spinning wheel (Charkha) to be a piece of machinery. He often cited the Singer sewing machine and the Charkha as examples of beneficial machinery that aid the individual worker without exploiting them. He viewed the Charkha as a tool for economic independence and a "grand piece of machinery."

Key Takeaway

Gandhian View on Technology: Gandhi opposed mass production (which concentrates wealth and displaces labor) but advocated for production by the masses using appropriate, human-centric machinery like the Charkha.

Your note

More from Chapter 3: Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement - Civil Disobedience and Beyond

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Which of the following pairs regarding Mahatma Gandhi’s early local struggles is/are correctly matched? 1. Champaran (1917) : Security of tenure for peasants and freedom to cultivate crops of choice. 2. Ahmedabad (1918) : Demand for remission of taxes following harvest failure. 3. Kheda (1918) : Intervention in a labour dispute demanding better working conditions. 4. Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919) : First countrywide campaign against detention without trial. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Consider the following statements regarding the Khilafat Movement: 1. It sought to restore the Caliphate which had been abolished by the Turkish ruler Kemal Ataturk. 2. Mahatma Gandhi supported the movement to forge Hindu-Muslim unity. 3. The movement demanded that the Khalifa must retain control over Muslim sacred places in the erstwhile Ottoman Empire. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the termination of the Non-Cooperation Movement, consider the following statements: 1. Mahatma Gandhi called off the movement solely due to the arrest of the Ali Brothers. 2. The Chauri Chaura incident involved peasants attacking and torching a police station. 3. Following the incident, the British government decided not to arrest Gandhi to avoid further unrest. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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The correct option is 2 and 3 only.

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Incorrect. Gandhi did not seek to destroy all machinery. In Young India (1924), he explicitly stated, "How can I be [against all machinery] when I know that even this body is a most delicate piece of machinery?" He clarified that he was not fighting against machinery as such, but against the abuses associated with it.
Statement 2 is Correct. Gandhi objected to the "craze" for machinery, specifically labor-saving devices in a country teeming with unemployed hands. He argued that machinery should not be used to displace human labor and concentrate wealth in the hands of a few, but rather to lighten the burden of the worker. He famously remarked, "Men go on 'saving labour' till thousands are without work and thrown on the open streets to die of starvation."
Statement 3 is Correct. Gandhi considered the spinning wheel (Charkha) to be a piece of machinery. He often cited the Singer sewing machine and the Charkha as examples of beneficial machinery that aid the individual worker without exploiting them. He viewed the Charkha as a tool for economic independence and a "grand piece of machinery."