Question

The Swadeshi movement was started because _________.
a. the British massacred innocent people at Jallianwala Bagh
b. the British government did not grant responsible government in India
c. Lord Curzon divided Bengal
d. of de-industrialization in India

Answer 1

Hint: Swadeshi Movement got its formal proclamation on August 7th, 1905 in Calcutta Town Hall during a meeting. This movement was suggested by the journal named Sanjivani written by Krishan Kumar Mitra. The movement was a great success throughout the country.

Complete answer: The Swadeshi Movement was an important part of the independence struggle. In the Swadeshi movement, The Swadeshi leaders appealed in front of the people to boycott government services, schools, courts and foreign goods. They encouraged people to use Swadeshi goods and promote national education through the establishment of schools and colleges. This brought about not only political but also economic changes.
The Swadeshi movement began in protest against the Partition of Bengal. Many leaders were arrested like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo Ghosh, etc. This was the first instance where locally made goods were given importance.
Let us look at the options:
Option a- The Swadeshi movement was started in the year 1906 while the Jallianwala Bagh massacre happened in the year 1919. So, the Swadeshi movement was not started because of the Jallianwala tragedy. This is the wrong answer.
Option b- The British never had actually granted a responsible government in India until independence. The Swadeshi movement was a part of the freedom struggle but it was started specifically for another reason. Thus, it is the wrong answer.
Option c- Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India divided Bengal on the pretext of their Divide and Rule policy. They divided the Muslims populated areas and Hindu populated areas. The Swadeshi movement was hence started as a method of protest against the partition. In 2011, the British had to unit Bengal again. Hence, it is the right answer.
Option d- Deindustrialisation is an economic change in which there is a decline in employment in the manufacturing sector due to political and economic changes. The process of deindustrialization was observed in India during British rule. But the Swadeshi movement did not begin due to deindustrialization in India. So, it is the wrong answer.
Therefore, the option ‘c’ is correct.

Note: An important part of the Swadeshi movement was the importance placed on self-reliance or Atmashakti. Due to the Swadeshi movement, several new business ventures opened like Bengal Chemical Swadeshi Stores (opened by Acharya PC Ray), Mohini Mills, National Tannery, Lakshmi Cotton Mills, etc.