Social Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Women played a significant role in the Civil Disobedience Movement. During Gandhiji's salt march, thousands of women came out of their homes to listen to him. They participated in protest marches, manufactured salt, and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many went to jail. In urban areas, these women were mostly from high-caste families; in rural areas, they came from rich peasant households. Moved by Gandhiji's call, they began to see service to the nation as a sacred duty. However, this increased public role did not bring radical change — the Congress was keen only on their symbolic presence and was reluctant to allow women positions of authority.

Source: Chapter 2, Section 3.2 — How Participants saw the Movement

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• The examiner expects specific examples: salt march, picketing shops, going to jail, backgrounds (urban/rural).
• Always mention the limitation at the end — that despite participation, their position within Congress remained symbolic. This shows complete understanding and earns the third mark.
• Avoid writing only positives; the contrast between participation and actual status is a key exam point.