Partition of Bengal and Swadeshi Movement

21. The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until – [I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]

(a) The First World War, when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended
(b) King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911
(c) Gandhi launched his Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) The Partition of India in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan

Correct Answer: (b) King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911

Solution:A ceremonial welcome was organized on the arrival of King George V and Queen Mary at the Delhi Durbar in 1911, where they were presented to an assembled audience of Indian dignitaries and princes as the Emperor and Empress of India on 12 December, 1911. During Delhi Durbar on December 12, 1911, the King abolished the partition of Bengal and declared the transfer of the Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi. As declared, Bengal was reorganized as the new province. Orissa and Bihar were separated from Bengal.

22. In which year partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon was cancelled? [48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008 U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993 U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]

(a) 1911
(b) 1904
(c) 1906
(d) 1907

Correct Answer: (a) 1911

Solution:A ceremonial welcome was organized on the arrival of King George V and Queen Mary at the Delhi Durbar in 1911, where they were presented to an assembled audience of Indian dignitaries and princes as the Emperor and Empress of India on 12 December, 1911. During Delhi Durbar on December 12, 1911, the King abolished the partition of Bengal and declared the transfer of the Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi. As declared, Bengal was reorganized as the new province. Orissa and Bihar were separated from Bengal.

23. When was Bengal reunited due to the protests by Indians? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

(a) 1905
(b) 1911
(c) 1947
(c) 1947

Correct Answer: (b) 1911

Solution:A ceremonial welcome was organized on the arrival of King George V and Queen Mary at the Delhi Durbar in 1911, where they were presented to an assembled audience of Indian dignitaries and princes as the Emperor and Empress of India on 12 December, 1911. During Delhi Durbar on December 12, 1911, the King abolished the partition of Bengal and declared the transfer of the Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi. As declared, Bengal was reorganized as the new province. Orissa and Bihar were separated from Bengal.

24. Who was the leader of the Swadeshi Movement in Madras? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008]

(a) Srinivas Shastri
(b) Rajagopalachari
(c) Chidambaram Pillai
(d) Chintamani

Correct Answer: (c) Chidambaram Pillai

Solution:The Swadeshi Movement had its genesis in the anti-partition movement, which was started to oppose British decision on the partition of Bengal. The formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement was made on August 7, 1905, at a meeting held at the Town Hall in Calcutta. In 7 August 1905 meeting, the famous Boycott resolution was passed, which was first suggested by Krishna Kumar Mitra. Lokmanya Tilak led the Presidency of Mumbai and Pune, Ajit Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, Syed Haidar Raja Lajpat Rai led the presidency of Delhi. Chidambaram Pillai in Madras Presidency.

25. Who among the following led the Swadeshi Movement at Delhi? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]

(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Ajit Singh
(c) Lajpat Rai
(d) Syed Haidar Raja

Correct Answer: (d) Syed Haidar Raja

Solution:The Swadeshi Movement had its genesis in the anti-partition movement, which was started to oppose British decision on the partition of Bengal. The formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement was made on August 7, 1905, at a meeting held at the Town Hall in Calcutta. In 7 August 1905 meeting, the famous Boycott resolution was passed, which was first suggested by Krishna Kumar Mitra. Lokmanya Tilak led the Presidency of Mumbai and Pune, Ajit Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, Syed Haidar Raja Lajpat Rai led the presidency of Delhi. Chidambaram Pillai in Madras Presidency.

26. Which of the following classes was mainly unaffected by Swadeshi Movement of 1905? [40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]

(i) Women
(ii) Farmers
(iii) Muslim
(iv) Intellectuals
Select your answer to the following codes –

(a) i and ii
(b) i, ii and iii
(c) ii and iii
(d) i and ii

Correct Answer: (c) ii and iii

Solution:On 20 July, 1905, Curzon issued an order of partitioning of Bengal. On 7 August, 1905, one of the first mass protests was organized in Calcutta's Town Hall, which was known as "Swadeshi Movement". From this Movement, people started opposing the British office, institute, and boycotting foreign goods. A remarkable aspect of the Swadeshi Movement was seen in the active participation of women. To collect the public support, Aswani Kumar Dutt organized the committee, which is known as Swadeshi Bandhav Society. Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Aurobindo Ghosh played leading roles in the fabrication of the Movement's character. In this Movement, women actively participated but farmers and Muslims were not involved in this Movement. They separated themselves from this Movement. Thus, option (c) is the correct answer.

27. Vande Mataram became the theme song of the Indian National Movement during – [U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010 Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006 U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005 U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]

(a) Swadeshi Movement
(b) Champaran Movement
(c) Anti-movement of Rowlatt Act
(d) Non-cooperation movement

Correct Answer: (a) Swadeshi Movement

Solution:During the Swadeshi Movement, the actual day of partition, October 16, 1905, was declared a day of mourning throughout Bengal, and the hearths in the houses were kept unlit. People tied rakhi on each other’s wrists as a symbol of brotherhood. In Calcutta, most of the offices were kept closed, and a strike was observed in some jute mills and railway workshops. The streets were reverberated with Vande Mataram, which became the overnight National Song of Bengal and later, the Theme Song of the National Movement.

28. With reference to the period of extremist nationalist movement in India with its spirit of Swadeshi, which one of the following statements is not correct? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]

(a) Liyakat Hussain led the Muslim peasants of Barisal in their agitations
(b) In 1889, the scheme of national education was formulated by Satish Chandra Mukherjee
(c) The Bengal National College was founded in 1906 with Aurobindo as the Principal
(d) Tagore preached the cult of Atmasakti, the main plank of which was social and economic regeneration of the villages.

Correct Answer: (a) Liyakat Hussain led the Muslim peasants of Barisal in their agitations

Solution:Statement (a) is not correct. Liyakat Hussain did not lead the Muslim peasants of Barisal in their agitation. It was led by Ashwani Kumar Dutta.

29. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]

It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries.
The National Council of Education was established as a part of Swadeshi Movement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Solution:Swadeshi Movement was complementary to the Boycott movement. With the boycott of foreign goods, the use of 'Swadeshi' or indigenous goods increased. The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement contributed a lot to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries. It promoted the establishment of Swadeshi industries - Textile mills, banks, chemical works, and insurance companies, Swadeshi stores were opened. National education and Indian languages were encouraged. The National Council of Education was established as a part of Swadeshi Movement.

30. The British journalist H.W. Nevinson was associated with: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

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

Correct Answer: (c) Swadeshi Movement

Solution:Henry Woodd Nevinson was a British journalist and was related to the Swadeshi Movement. Nevinson's brief was to "discover the causes of the present discontent and to report, without prejudice, the opinion of leading Indians as well as officials." Nevinson travelled across India for four months, and his reports were carried by Manchester Guardian, Glasgow Herald, and Daily Chronicle. He re-edited these pieces into a book, The New Spirit in India.