Question 83 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Modern
History

Question

The 'Swadeshi' and 'Boycott' were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. agitation against the Partition of Bengal

Strategy: Identify the first major use of Swadeshi and Boycott as methods of struggle. The Partition of Bengal in 1905 directly triggered the Swadeshi Movement, establishing these tactics as a primary form of protest. Subsequent movements, such as Home Rule and Non-Cooperation, used these methods but were not their origin point. The correct answer is the agitation against the Partition of Bengal.

Key Info: **Swadeshi and Boycott Movements**
- **Origins:** These methods were adopted for the first time on a significant and organized scale during the agitation against the Partition of Bengal in 1905.
- **Swadeshi (Own Country):** Emphasized the promotion of indigenous industries and the use of Indian-made goods, aiming to foster economic self-reliance.
- **Boycott:** Involved the rejection of British goods, institutions (such as schools, colleges, and courts), and services, serving as a tool of economic and political protest.
- **Significance:** Marked a pivotal shift in nationalist strategy from mere petitions and constitutional appeals to active mass struggle and direct action against British economic and administrative interests. This movement laid the groundwork for future nationalist campaigns.

**Partition of Bengal (1905)**
- **Context:** Announced by Lord Curzon in July 1905 and implemented in October 1905.
- **Official Reason:** Stated as administrative convenience due to the unwieldy size of the Bengal province.
- **Real Reason:** Widely perceived by Indian nationalists as a deliberate attempt to weaken the burgeoning nationalist movement in Bengal by dividing the province along communal lines (Hindu-majority West Bengal and Muslim-majority East Bengal and Assam) and breaking its political unity.
- **Reaction:** Sparked widespread outrage and led to intense protests, giving rise to the Swadeshi and Boycott movements.

**Home Rule Movement (1916-1918)**
- **Leaders:** Initiated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant.
- **Objective:** Aimed to achieve self-government (Home Rule) for India within the British Empire, similar to other British dominions, through constitutional means.
- **Methods:** Primarily involved public meetings, political discussions, lectures, and propaganda through newspapers to spread awareness and demand self-rule. While promoting national sentiment, its primary struggle methods were not the 'first-time' introduction of Swadeshi and Boycott in the same fundamental sense as the anti-Partition movement.

**Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)**
- **Leader:** Launched by Mahatma Gandhi.
- **Context:** A response to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, the Rowlatt Act, and the Khilafat injustice.
- **Methods:** Employed extensive use of boycott (foreign goods, government schools, courts, legislative councils) and promotion of Swadeshi (especially Khadi), surrender of titles, and Hindu-Muslim unity. These methods were integral but had been previously established during the anti-Partition agitation.

**Visit of the Simon Commission to India (1928)**
- **Purpose:** Appointed by the British government to review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and recommend further constitutional reforms.
- **Controversy:** Consisted solely of seven British Members of Parliament with no Indian representation, leading to widespread condemnation and a complete boycott by Indian political parties.
- **Protests:** Characterized by nationwide hartals, black flag demonstrations, and the slogan 'Simon Go Back'. While a form of boycott of the Commission, it was not the 'first-time' adoption of the broader Swadeshi and Boycott methods as defined by the anti-Partition movement.

Answer

Option B: Home Rule Movement

Answer

Option C: Non-Cooperation Movement

Answer

Option D: visit of the Simon Commission to India