What is the main idea that we can infer from the passage? 1. Untouchability in India has not been taken seriously by political theorists. 2. Historical injustice is inevitable in any society and is always beyond repair. 3. Social discrimination and deprivation have their roots in bad economies. 4. It is difficult, if not impossible, to repair every manifestation of historical injustice.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to repair every manifestation of historical injustice.

Untouchability in India has not been taken seriously by political theorists.

Historical injustice is inevitable in any society and is always beyond repair.

Social discrimination and deprivation have their roots in bad economies.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to repair every manifestation of historical injustice.

Passage

Political theorists, no doubt have to take the history of injustice, for example, untouchability, seriously. The concept of historical injustice takes note of a variety of historical wrongs that continue into the present in some form or the other and tend to resist repair. Two reasons might account for resistance to repair. One, not only are the roots of injustice buried deep in history, injustice itself constitutes economic structures of exploitation, ideologies of discrimination and modes of representation. Two, the category of historical injustice generally extends across a number of wrongs such as economic deprivation, social discrimination and lack of recognition. This category is complex, not only because of the overlap between a number of wrongs, but because one or the other wrong, generally discrimination, tends to acquire partial autonomy from others. This is borne out by the history of repair in India.

QUESTION

CSAT

Easy

Comprehension

Prelims 2019

What is the main idea that we can infer from the passage?

Untouchability in India has not been taken seriously by political theorists.
Historical injustice is inevitable in any society and is always beyond repair.
Social discrimination and deprivation have their roots in bad economies.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to repair every manifestation of historical injustice.

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. Because the passage states that political theorists do take the history of injustice seriously.

Statement 2 is incorrect. It is overly deterministic and not supported by the passage. The author does not argue that historical injustices are inevitable or always beyond repair.

Statement 3 is incorrect. It is incorrect because the passage does not attribute social discrimination and deprivation solely to bad economies; it discusses broader and more complex roots.

Statement 4 is correct. The passage discusses the concept of historical injustice, focusing on how deeply rooted injustices (like untouchability) resist repair due to their complexity. It emphasizes that these injustices involve interconnected wrongs—economic exploitation, discrimination, and misrepresentation—and notes that discrimination often develops a degree of independence, making full repair challenging. This aligns with option D.