Q. Swaraj as a national demand was first made by
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Chitaranjan Das
Ans: (a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: The national demand for Swaraj (self-rule) was first made by (a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, also known as Lokmanya Tilak, was a prominent Indian nationalist leader and one of the early advocates of Swaraj in the Indian independence movement. He popularized the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it” during the early 20th century.
Tilak believed in the empowerment of the masses and their active participation in the freedom struggle. He stressed the importance of self-governance and inspired the concept of Swaraj as a national goal, advocating for complete independence from British colonial rule.
Tilak’s efforts were focused on mobilizing the masses, promoting nationalistic sentiments, and encouraging Indians to unite against British rule. He played a crucial role in awakening national consciousness and fostering a sense of self-determination among the Indian population.
While Dadabhai Naoroji was an important figure in the Indian nationalist movement and the first Indian to be elected to the British Parliament, he did not explicitly demand Swaraj as a national demand. Jawaharlal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das, who were prominent leaders in the Indian National Congress and played key roles in the freedom struggle, also supported the idea of Swaraj but were not the first to make the demand. It was Bal Gangadhar Tilak who is credited with being one of the early proponents of Swaraj as a national demand in India.
