The partition of Bengal in 1905 stands as a watershed moment in the Indian freedom struggle, symbolizing both a colonial attempt at “Divide and Rule” and the genesis of mass nationalist action. Initiated by Viceroy Lord Curzon under the pretense of administrative convenience, the division split the vast Bengal province into ‘Eastern Bengal and Assam’ (with Dhaka as capital) and a new Bengal province (with Calcutta as capital). This act was not merely bureaucratic; the deeper intent was to fracture the burgeoning Hindu-Muslim unity and weaken the heart of Indian nationalism thriving in Bengal.
The reaction was swift, intense, and unprecedented. Indian leaders – Surendranath Banerjee, Bipin Chandra Pal, Arabinda Ghose, Rabindranath Tagore, among others – recognized the dangerous implications. Through writings, public meetings, and protest marches, they mobilized people from all social strata, regardless of caste, religion, or gender. The anti-partition agitation soon crystallized into the historic Swadeshi Movement (1905–1911), a campaign urging Indians to boycott British products and embrace indigenous goods.
What made the Swadeshi Movement so powerful was its reach: students left British institutions in protest, women like Sarala Devi Choudhurini and Sister Nivedita broke social barriers to participate and lead, workers and traders organized mass boycotts, and artists and writers poured new life into national literature and art. The Rakhi Bandhan ceremonies led by Tagore, where Hindus and Muslims tied rakhis to each other, became enduring symbols of unity. The protest included events of complete hartal (shutdown), signature campaigns, burning of foreign cloth, and formation of voluntary organizations at grassroots levels.
A direct consequence was the birth and flowering of native industries such as Bengal Chemicals (founded by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray) and the strengthening of national education with new schools, colleges, and technical institutes free from colonial influence. The emergence of the All India Muslim League during this period, encouraged by the British to counterbalance Congress, had profound effects on Indian politics in the decades ahead.
British attempts to suppress the movement – from awarding titles to moderates to enforcement of repressive laws – failed before the unified resistance. The ultimate revocation of Bengal’s partition in 1911 was a victory for mass mobilization and marked a new, self-confident era for Indian nationalism. It shifted the Indian National Congress from petitions and appeals to embracing the path of mass movements. The Swadeshi Movement, with its demands for swaraj (self-rule), economic self-reliance, and social unity, remains a cornerstone of India’s march toward independence.
Here is an expanded set of MCQs based on the chapter “Partition of Bengal (1905-1911 A.D.) and Swadeshi Movement,” including answers and some claim-reason type questions for deeper understanding:
MCQs with Answers
- During whose viceroyalty did the Partition of Bengal take place?
a) Lord Minto
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Northbrook
Answer: b) Lord Curzon - What was the official date when the Partition of Bengal was implemented?
a) 2nd February 1905
b) 19th July 1905
c) 16th October 1905
d) 1st September 1905
Answer: c) 16th October 1905 - The new province created by partition was called:
a) Western Bengal
b) Eastern Bengal and Assam
c) Bihar and Orissa
d) United Bengal
Answer: b) Eastern Bengal and Assam - What was the main hidden objective behind the Partition of Bengal?
a) To improve governance administratively
b) To boost the tea business only
c) To divide Hindu and Muslim unity
d) To unify India politically
Answer: c) To divide Hindu and Muslim unity - Which of the following leaders was NOT associated with the anti-partition movement?
a) Surendranath Banerjee
b) Bipin Chandra Pal
c) J. Bamfylde Fuller
d) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: c) J. Bamfylde Fuller - The movement against the Partition of Bengal turned into a nationwide movement called:
a) Non-Cooperation Movement
b) Quit India Movement
c) Swadeshi Movement
d) Home Rule Movement
Answer: c) Swadeshi Movement - The Swadeshi Movement primarily advocated:
a) Support for British goods
b) Boycott of foreign goods and promotion of Indian goods
c) Migration of workers to Europe
d) Establishment of more British schools
Answer: b) Boycott of foreign goods and promotion of Indian goods - Which event marked the first student participation in the Swadeshi Movement?
a) Boycott of railway services
b) Walkout from Ripon College classrooms
c) Formation of Indian National Congress
d) Establishment of National Education Council
Answer: b) Walkout from Ripon College classrooms - Who gave the patriotic song “Hey Banga Janani, Swarna Prasabini…” to inspire the masses?
a) Mukunda Das
b) Rabindranath Tagore
c) Rajanikanta Sen
d) Swarna Kumari Devi
Answer: a) Mukunda Das - The ‘National Education Council’ (Jatiya Siksha Parisad) was established under the leadership of:
a) Bipin Chandra Pal
b) Rasbihari Bose
c) Rabindranath Tagore
d) Satish Chandra Mukherjee
Answer: b) Rasbihari Bose - Which woman was a prominent leader and inspiration in the Swadeshi Movement?
a) Sarala Devi Choudhurini
b) Kasturba Gandhi
c) Annie Besant
d) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: a) Sarala Devi Choudhurini - The establishment of which political party was a consequence of the Partition of Bengal?
a) Indian National Congress
b) Swaraj Party
c) All India Muslim League
d) Forward Bloc
Answer: c) All India Muslim League - The All India Muslim League demanded:
a) Separate electorate for Muslims
b) Complete independence from British
c) Boycott of foreign goods
d) Reunification of Bengal
Answer: a) Separate electorate for Muslims - The capital of Assam was shifted from Shillong to:
a) Calcutta
b) Dhaka
c) Guwahati
d) Patna
Answer: b) Dhaka - The annulment and reunification of Bengal took place in the year:
a) 1907
b) 1911
c) 1916
d) 1920
Answer: b) 1911 - Which Congress session first passed the demand for Swaraj influenced by the Swadeshi Movement?
a) Calcutta session, 1906
b) Madras session, 1903
c) Bombay session, 1910
d) Lucknow session, 1916
Answer: a) Calcutta session, 1906 - The British opposed the Swadeshi movement by:
a) Offering titles and posts to moderate leaders
b) Increasing the taxes on imported goods
c) Allowing full freedom of speech
d) Supporting the boycott of foreign goods
Answer: a) Offering titles and posts to moderate leaders - Who was the editor of the journal ‘Yugantar’ during the Swadeshi Movement?
a) Bipin Chandra Pal
b) Bhupendra Dutta
c) Bhupendra Nath Dutta
d) Abdul Rassul
Answer: c) Bhupendra Nath Dutta - Which institute later evolved into Jadavpur University, founded with help during the Swadeshi Movement?
a) Bengal National College
b) Bengal Technical Institute
c) Bihar Vidyapeeth
d) Samarth Vidyalay
Answer: b) Bengal Technical Institute - What impact did the Swadeshi Movement have on Indian industries?
a) Decline of national industries
b) Growth of indigenous industries and enterprises
c) Complete domination by British industries
d) No impact
Answer: b) Growth of indigenous industries and enterprises
Claim and Reason Questions
- Claim: The Partition of Bengal aimed to weaken the growing nationalist movement in Bengal.
Reason: The British government wanted to divide Hindu and Muslim populations to control political power.
a) Both claim and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of claim
b) Both claim and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of claim
c) Claim is true but reason is false
d) Claim is false but reason is true
Answer: a) Both claim and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of claim - Claim: The Swadeshi Movement had a significant effect on Indian education.
Reason: Students and teachers boycotted British institutions and promoted national schools and universities.
a) Both claim and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of claim
b) Both claim and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of claim
c) Claim is true but reason is false
d) Claim is false but reason is true
Answer: a) Both claim and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of claim - Claim: The All India Muslim League was formed with British support.
Reason: The British wanted to divide Indian political opinions along religious lines.
a) Both claim and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of claim
b) Both claim and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of claim
c) Claim is true but reason is false
d) Claim is false but reason is true
Answer: a) Both claim and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of claim
True or False Questions
- The capital of the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam was Calcutta.
Answer: False (It was Dhaka) - The Swadeshi Movement began as a boycott of foreign goods but later included economic, educational, and political protests.
Answer: True - Dadabhai Naoroji was the first president of the Indian National Congress to call for Swaraj during the Swadeshi Movement period.
Answer: True - The Partition of Bengal was perpetuated because the British government believed Bengal was too small to govern as a single unit.
Answer: False (They claimed it was too large)
Conclusion
The Partition of Bengal (1905-1911) and the Swadeshi Movement mark a turning point in India’s freedom struggle, uniting people across religions, regions, and genders in a powerful resistance against British colonial policies. The Swadeshi Movement not only fueled the growth of indigenous industries and national education but also laid the foundation for India’s demand for self-rule and social unity. For students of Assam NCERT Social Science Class 10, understanding this chapter provides essential insight into the origins of Indian nationalism, the significance of mass movements, and the enduring legacy of collective action in shaping modern India.
