Partition of Bengal and Swadeshi Movement

1. The following programmes were launched by the nationalist against the partition of Bengal: [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

Boycott
Swadeshi
Non-co-operation
National education
Select the correct answer:

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 4

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 4

Solution:The partition of Bengal in 1905 led to the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement. Swadeshi Movement was complementary to the 'Boycott Movement.' With the boycott of foreign goods, the use of "Swadeshi" or indigenous goods increased. "Swadeshi" was not altogether a noble idea. The movement spread to all classes and groups of people, including women and children, school and college students. This made the British reverse the order of partition of Bengal. The boycott and Swadeshi Movements helped in the establishment of Swadeshi industries - textile mills, banks, chemical works, and insurance companies. Swadeshi Stores were opened. National education and Indian languages were encouraged.

2. Partition of Bengal was done mainly for: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998]

(a) To divide the Hindu and Muslims
(b) For administrative convenience
(c) To weaken the growth of Nationalism in Bengal
(d) For the development of Bengal

Correct Answer: (c) To weaken the growth of Nationalism in Bengal

Solution:The Partition of Bengal, said Lord Curzon, was a mere readjustment of administrative boundaries." The argument advocated for the partition was that it would improve the administration of the two provinces. The main motive was to strike at the roots of Bengali Nationalism which was growing in solidarity form. At that time, Bengal was considered to be "the nerve-center" of Indian Nationalism. Curzon decided to ruin the new spirit by dividing the politically advanced communities into separate provinces.

3. Boycott of British goods was adopted as a national policy in - [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014]

(a) 1899
(b) 1901
(c) 1903
(d) 1905

Correct Answer: (d) 1905

Solution:Lord Curzon announced the partition of Bengal on July 20, 1905. As a result, Swadeshi Movement was announced in Townhall, Kolkata on August 7, 1905, and 'Boycott Proposal' was passed. The boycott of British goods was adopted as a national policy in this meeting.

4. Who was the first to suggest the boycott of British goods in Bengal? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011 U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]

(a) Aurobindo Ghosh
(b) Krishna Kumar Mitra
(c) Motilal Ghosh
(d) Satish Chandra Mukherjee

Correct Answer: (b) Krishna Kumar Mitra

Solution:Krishna Kumar Mitra was an Indian freedom fighter, journalist, and leader of Brahmo Samaj. He was an active leader and was against the partition of Bengal. On 13 July, 1905, in his Nationalist Bengali weekly Magazine titled Sanjibani he boldly advocated for the freedom of the press. In his opinion, the manufacturing of British goods should be abolished. He called for a boycott of foreign goods, government officials, and organizations by breaking all connections; people should mourn etc. His ideas were supported in large gatherings in District Bagherhut (Division-Khulna) on 16 July, 1905.

5. Who among the following were the critics of Swadeshi movement and pleaded for a better understanding between the East and the West? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]

(a) W.C. Banerjee
(b) S.N. Bannerjee
(c) R.N. Tagore
(d) B.G. Tilak

Correct Answer: (c) R.N. Tagore

Solution:Tagore's political acumen exhibited a marked ambivalence. On the one hand, he denounced European imperialism, occasionally voicing full support for Indian nationalists. On the other hand, he also shunned the Swadeshi movement, denouncing it in his acrid September 1925 essay “The Cult of the Chakra” (an allusion to elements of Gandhism and the Non-cooperation Movement). In addition, he viewed British control of India as a “Political symptom of our social disease,” urging Indians to accept blind revolution but of steady and purposeful education.

6. Anti-partition movement of Bengal was initiated on: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]

(a) 20-July, 1905
(b) 7-August, 1905
(c) 16-October, 1905
(d) 7-November, 1905

Correct Answer: (b) 7-August, 1905

Solution:On 20 July, 1905, Lord Curzon issued an order to divide Bengal. One of the main objects of the partition of Bengal was to divide the unity among the people of Bengal. Lord Curzon divided the territories of Bengal in such a way that the western part formed the Hindu majority area and the eastern part formed the Muslim majority area. The partition of Bengal finally took place on 16th October, 1905. On 7 August, 1905, one of the first mass protests was organized in Calcutta’s Town Hall, also known as the Anti-partition Movement.

7. In the context of the Indian Freedom Struggle, 16-October, 1905 is well-known for which one of the following reasons? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

(a) The formal proclamation of Swadeshi Movement was made in Calcutta Town Hall.
(b) Partition of Bengal came into effect.
(c) Dadabhai Naoroji declared that the goal of Indian National Congress was Swaraj.
(d) Lokmanya Tilak started Swadeshi Movement in Poona.

Correct Answer: (b) Partition of Bengal came into effect.

Solution:On 20 July, 1905, Lord Curzon issued an order to divide Bengal. One of the main objects of the partition of Bengal was to divide the unity among the people of Bengal. Lord Curzon divided the territories of Bengal in such a way that the western part formed the Hindu majority area and the eastern part formed the Muslim majority area. The partition of Bengal finally took place on 16th October, 1905. On 7 August, 1905, one of the first mass protests was organized in Calcutta’s Town Hall, also known as the Anti-partition Movement.

8. Which movement started after the Partition of Bengal? [59th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]

(a) Civil Disobedience
(b) Swadeshi Movement
(c) Quit India Movement
(d) Non-Cooperation Movement

Correct Answer: (b) Swadeshi Movement

Solution:On 20 July, 1905, Lord Curzon issued an order to divide Bengal. One of the main objects of the partition of Bengal was to divide the unity among the people of Bengal. Lord Curzon divided the territories of Bengal in such a way that the western part formed the Hindu majority area and the eastern part formed the Muslim majority area. The partition of Bengal finally took place on 16th October, 1905. On 7 August, 1905, one of the first mass protests was organized in Calcutta’s Town Hall, also known as the Anti-partition Movement.

9. The Declaration of Partition of Bengal was done on: [63rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (a) 19th July, 1905

Solution:The decision to Partition of Bengal was announced on 20th July 1905 by the British India government. However, few historians have given 19th July 1905 as the date of declaration of partition of Bengal. Because of this, BPSC had given (a) as the correct option.

10. . Name the Viceroy of India concerned with Bengal partition - [42nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997 Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2009]

(a) Lord Hardinge
(b) Lord Curzon
(c) Lord Lytton
(d) Lord Minto

Correct Answer: (b) Lord Curzon

Solution:The partition of Bengal was announced on July 20, 1905 by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon (1899-1905) and came into effect on October 16, 1905. Later on, the decision of partition of Bengal was suspended during the Delhi Durbar in 1911.