During the nationalist movement in India in the 1920s and 1930s, which tactic was emphasized as a primary method of pressuring British rule?

• A. Seeking support from the League of Nations.
• B. Staging guerrilla raids on British garrisons.
• C. Forging alliances with other countries under colonial rule.
• D. Organizing boycotts, strikes, and mass demonstrations.

Answer: (D)

The tactic being tested is mass nonviolent mobilization to pressure the British. In the 1920s and 1930s, Indian nationalists led by Gandhi centered on organizing large groups of people to refuse cooperation with colonial rule. This included boycotts of British goods and institutions, strikes by workers, and massive demonstrations and marches. The idea was to disrupt the economy, undermine the legitimacy of British authority, and show that Indians could govern themselves through peaceful means. This approach drew broad participation across Indian society and aimed to make imperial rule costly and unsustainable without resorting to violence.

Other strategies, like seeking international support, carrying out guerrilla attacks, or forming alliances with other colonial powers, were not the primary method emphasized during this period. The dominant emphasis was on organized, peaceful resistance that mobilized the masses.