UPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper I · Q28 of 99 History hard

The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by

  1. (a) Gopal Baba Walangkar ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) Jyotiba Phule
  3. (c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
  4. (d) Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

Why the answer is (a)

• Gopal Baba Walangkar, a retired Mahar soldier and disciple of Jyotiba Phule, published 'Vital-Vidhvansak' (Destroyer of Brahmanical Pollution) in 1888 — the first periodical addressed to the untouchable communities — option (a).

• He argued that untouchability had no basis in Hindu scripture and petitioned against the ban on Mahar recruitment in the army.

• Phule (b) founded Satyashodhak Samaj and wrote 'Gulamgiri'; Gandhi (c) launched 'Harijan' in 1933; Ambedkar (d) started 'Mooknayak' in 1920 and 'Bahishkrit Bharat' in 1927.

• Hence option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) Jyotiba Phule
Phule's works were Gulamgiri and Satyashodhak Samaj, not this journal.
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Gandhi's journal for untouchables was Harijan (1933).
(d) Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Ambedkar's journals were Mooknayak and Bahishkrit Bharat.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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