Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Sevagram
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to modern Indian history and focuses on Mahatma Gandhi and his ashrams. It asks about the village to which Gandhi shifted from Sabarmati in 1936 and what new name he gave to that village. Knowing the locations and names of Gandhian ashrams is useful for exams that test detailed knowledge of the national movement and freedom struggle.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The key concept is remembering that after suspending political activity for some time, Gandhi chose a quiet village near Wardha, originally called Segaon, as his new base. He renamed it Sevagram, meaning the village of service, reflecting his philosophy that life should be devoted to service of the poor and of truth. Sevagram later became an important centre for the freedom movement and Gandhian constructive programmes.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Sabarmati Ashram was Gandhi main centre in Gujarat until the mid 1930s.
Step 2: In 1936 he decided to shift to a rural setting near Wardha in present day Maharashtra, to be closer to the villages of India.
Step 3: The original village name was Segaon, which Gandhi felt did not fully capture his vision of a service oriented community.
Step 4: Gandhi renamed Segaon as Sevagram, literally the village of service, and this is the name by which the place is historically remembered.
Verification / Alternative check:
Standard history books on Gandhi and the Indian national movement, as well as museum websites related to Sabarmati and Sevagram Ashrams, clearly mention the move from Sabarmati to Segaon and the renaming of the village as Sevagram. Exam oriented notes on Gandhian ashrams also list Phoenix Settlement, Tolstoy Farm, Sabarmati and Sevagram as important centres associated with his life and work.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Wardhagram – Suggests a name based on Wardha district, but historically the village was not renamed this way.
Satya Ashram – While Gandhi life was dedicated to truth or satya, this was not the official new village name in this context.
Satyagraha Gram – Gandhi coined the term satyagraha much earlier in South Africa, yet he did not use this as the village name.
Sarvodaya Nagar – Sarvodaya refers to upliftment of all, but again this is not the historically recorded name of Segaon.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Sevagram with Sabarmati or mix up different Gandhian centres like Wardha, Champaran and Dandi. Another common error is assuming any name connected to satya, satyagraha or sarvodaya must be correct, without remembering that Gandhi chose a very specific term, Sevagram, for this village. Careful reading of basic modern history chapters helps avoid this confusion.
Final Answer:
Gandhi renamed the village of Segaon as Sevagram after shifting his ashram there in 1936.
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