Read the following passage and answer the questions. The founder of the Bhoodan Yagna or the Land Gifts Mission was Acharya Vinoba Bhave, a close associate and follower of Mahatma Gandhi. This movement, which was one of the greatest land reform movements in Independent India, was started in the year 1951 in Pochampalli, Telangana. In the spring of 1951, there was a meeting of rural workers in Hyderabad. Since Vinoba Bhave never used money, he decided to walk to this meeting which was some 300 miles away from where he lived. On the way, in every village through which he passed, he came face to face with the misery of the poor, landless farmers. He realized that he should leave no stone unturned in his mission to seek justice and land for his poor countrymen. When he reached Hyderabad he went straight to a village and in one of the prayer meetings he appealed to the landlords. He said. “If you had five sons and a sixth were born to you, wouldn't you give him a portion of your estate? Treat me as your sixth son and give me one-sixth of your land for redistribution to the poor.” His words struck a chord among the landlords. Land was voluntarily donated and within the two months that he spent in Hyderabad, Vinoba received nearly 12,000 acres in trust for the landless. Encouraged by this success, he travelled across India to convince the wealthy landlords to share a small area of their land with the poor, landless neighbours. By 1969, the Bhoodan movement had collected over 4 million acres of land for redistribution.
How can it be said that Vinoba Bhave's movement was successful?
By 1969, he had collected 4 million acres for redistribution.
Understanding the Success of the Bhoodan Movement
The question asks how the success of Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan Yagna or Land Gifts Mission movement can be described based on the provided passage. To answer this, we need to look at the passage for specific details indicating the scale or outcome of the movement.
About the Bhoodan Movement
The passage introduces the Bhoodan Yagna movement, initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 1951 in Pochampalli, Telangana. The core idea was to persuade wealthy landlords to voluntarily donate land for redistribution to poor, landless farmers.
Measuring the Success of Bhoodan
The passage provides details about the progress and results of the movement over time. This information can be used to gauge its success. Let's examine the data points mentioned:
- Initial success in Hyderabad (1951): Within two months in Hyderabad, Vinoba received "nearly 12,000 acres in trust for the landless". This shows early momentum.
- Nationwide expansion: Encouraged by the initial success, Vinoba travelled across India to continue the mission.
- Long-term outcome (by 1969): The passage explicitly states, "By 1969, the Bhoodan movement had collected over 4 million acres of land for redistribution."
Collecting a large amount of land for redistribution to the poor is a direct measure of the movement's impact and scale, hence its success.
Analyzing the Options
Let's evaluate each option based on the information in the passage:
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Option 1: By 1969, he had collected 4 million acres for redistribution.
The passage states exactly this: "By 1969, the Bhoodan movement had collected over 4 million acres of land for redistribution." This figure represents a significant achievement over nearly two decades of the movement.
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Option 2: By 1951, he had persuaded the wealthy landlords to donate their land.
While he did persuade landlords to donate land in Hyderabad in 1951 (leading to 12,000 acres), the passage doesn't state he had persuaded *all* wealthy landlords across India by 1951. This describes the start and initial method, not the overall success by 1951.
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Option 3: By 1969, he had collected 12,000 acres for redistribution.
The passage states 12,000 acres were collected in Hyderabad within two months in 1951, not as the total by 1969. By 1969, the total was 4 million acres.
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Option 4: In 1951, he had walked 300 miles to attend a meeting.
Walking 300 miles shows Vinoba Bhave's dedication and method of travel, but it is not a measure of the movement's success in terms of land collection or impact on the poor. It was a preliminary action leading up to the appeal.
Why 4 Million Acres Indicates Success
The collection of 4 million acres of land by 1969, as mentioned in the passage, demonstrates the large scale and impact of the Bhoodan movement. This substantial amount of land collected through voluntary donation signifies that Vinoba Bhave was successful in convincing many landlords across India to participate in the land redistribution effort, directly addressing the issue of landlessness for many poor farmers.
Therefore, the most accurate way to describe the success of Vinoba Bhave's movement, based on the information provided, is the large amount of land collected for redistribution by a specific date.
Conclusion
Based on the passage, the clearest indicator of the Bhoodan movement's success over the longer term is the total land collected. The figure of 4 million acres by 1969 represents a significant achievement in land reform through non-violent means.
Revision Table: Bhoodan Movement Milestones
| Year | Location/Activity | Outcome related to land |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Pochampalli, Telangana | Movement starts |
| 1951 (within 2 months in Hyderabad) | Hyderabad region | Collected ~12,000 acres |
| 1951 onwards | Across India | Travelled to convince landlords |
| By 1969 | All India total | Collected > 4 million acres for redistribution |
Additional Information: Bhoodan Yagna Context
The Bhoodan Yagna, meaning "land gift sacrifice", was part of a broader movement called Gramdan (village gift), where entire villages were donated. The movement aimed to bring about a social and economic revolution in India through non-violent means (Satyagraha), following the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. While the collection of 4 million acres was a remarkable feat of voluntary action, the actual redistribution and legal transfer of land faced various challenges over the years. Nevertheless, the movement highlighted the issue of land inequality and promoted the idea of equitable distribution through peaceful means.
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