Anand’s overtly political novel Two Leaves and a Bud culminates in the tragic and legally unpunished shooting of the protagonist, Gangu, by the British official Reggie Hunt. Which specific exploitative colonial industry and geographic region serves as the setting for this novel?

The correct answer is Tea plantations in Assam. Key Points Mulk Raj Anand's novel Two Leaves and a Bud is set against the backdrop of tea plantations in Assam during British colonial rule. The novel highlights the exploitation of Indian laborers working under harsh conditions in tea estates controlled by British officials. The protagonist, Gangu, represents the plight of the oppressed labor class subjected to both economic and social injustices. The story culminates in Gangu's tragic death, symbolizing the unchecked and brutal authority of colonial powers. Anand's work is a critique of colonial exploitation and sheds light on the socio-political realities of the time. Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3. Additional Information Indigo farming in Champaran: This was a significant issue in Bihar during Gandhi's early activism, but it is not the setting of Anand's novel. Jute manufacturing in Bengal: While Bengal was prominent for its jute industry during colonial times, this is unrelated to the novel's theme. Coal mining in Bihar: Though coal mining was an important colonial industry, it does not serve as the backdrop for Two Leaves and a Bud .