Q. Which one of the following was the most immediate factor for the spread of Swadeshi and Boycott agitation during the first decade of the present century?
(a) Curzon’s attempt to control the Universities
(b) Curzon’s design to curtail the sphere of local selfgovernment
(c) Curzon’s partition of Bengal
(d) Curzon’s plan to curb the growing popularity of the Indian National Congress
Ans: (c) Curzon’s partition of Bengal
Explanation: The most immediate factor for the spread of the Swadeshi and Boycott agitation during the first decade of the 20th century was (c) Curzon’s partition of Bengal.
Lord Curzon, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905, implemented the partition of Bengal in 1905. The partition divided the province of Bengal into two separate entities: East Bengal and Assam, and the rest of Bengal, which included present-day West Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. The primary motive behind the partition was to weaken the growing nationalist movement in Bengal.
The partition of Bengal was met with strong opposition from Indian nationalist leaders and the general public. They saw it as a deliberate attempt by the British to weaken the Bengali-speaking population, who were at the forefront of the nationalist movement. The division was seen as a tactic to suppress nationalist sentiments and dilute the influence of the educated middle class.
In response to the partition, the Swadeshi (indigenous) movement emerged, advocating for the use of Indian-made products and the boycott of British goods. The movement gained momentum and widespread support, leading to protests, demonstrations, and a sense of national unity among Indians. The Swadeshi and Boycott movement played a significant role in mobilizing the masses and strengthening the nationalist movement across India.
While Curzon’s other policies, such as his attempts to control the universities, curtail local self-government, and curb the Indian National Congress, were also met with opposition, it was the partition of Bengal that became the most immediate and prominent trigger for the spread of the Swadeshi and Boycott agitation.
