In 1921, during which tour in India did Mahatma Gandhi shave his head and begin wearing a simple loincloth to identify with the poor?

Introduction / Context:
Mahatma Gandhi is remembered not only for his political strategies but also for his personal lifestyle choices, which he used as powerful symbols. In 1921, he made a dramatic decision to adopt a very simple style of dress, shaving his head and wearing only a loincloth and shawl, in order to identify more closely with poor Indian peasants. This question asks during which tour in India this transformation took place, a detail often tested in modern Indian history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The year mentioned is 1921, a key period in the Non Cooperation Movement.
• The event involves Gandhi shaving his head and adopting a loincloth as clothing.
• Several tours are suggested: Champaran, Ahmedabad, Chauri Chaura, South India and Kheda.
• We must recall which region and specific journey led to this change.

Concept / Approach:
The important concept is Gandhi's effort to identify with the poorest sections of Indian society. During his tour of South India in 1921, especially after his experiences in Madurai, he felt that his earlier dress still reflected elite status. He therefore decided to change to the very simple clothing of a poor villager. Recognising the link between this decision and his South Indian tour helps us choose the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification is to match the timeline of Gandhi's major campaigns. Champaran and Kheda were agrarian satyagrahas before 1920, while the Ahmedabad mill strike involved urban labour issues. The dramatic adoption of a loincloth came later, once Gandhi had become a national leader and was consciously shaping his personal image to reflect peasant life. Historical accounts consistently locate this decision in Madurai during a South Indian tour in 1921, confirming the chosen option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• His tour of Champaran in Bihar: This was an earlier indigo peasant struggle in 1917 and did not coincide with the change of dress in 1921.
• His tour of Ahmedabad mill areas: Related to workers wage disputes and Gandhi's hunger strike, not this symbolic change in clothing.
• His tour of Chauri Chaura in United Provinces: Chauri Chaura is linked to a violent incident in 1922 that led Gandhi to suspend the Non Cooperation Movement.
• His tour of the Kheda district in Gujarat: Another important peasant satyagraha before 1920, but not associated with the loincloth decision.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse the various locations of Gandhi's early satyagrahas and assume that any famous campaign might have been the moment of personal change. Another pitfall is to focus only on the movement, such as Non Cooperation, rather than on the specific regional tour where Gandhi drew direct inspiration from the clothing of poor villagers. Remembering the name Madurai and connecting it with the South Indian tour in 1921 helps avoid this confusion.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: His tour of South India including Madurai.