Question 1

Consider the following statements regarding the international influences that contributed to the rise of militant nationalism in India:
1. The victory of Russia over Japan in 1905 reinforced the myth of European invincibility.
2. The defeat of the Italian army by Ethiopians in 1896 was one of the events that inspired Indian nationalists.
3. The Boer Wars (1899–1902) resulted in decisive and swift victories for the British, bolstering their image of military superiority.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. It was Japan's victory over Russia in 1905, not the other way around. This event demolished, rather than reinforced, the myth of European invincibility. Statement 2 is correct. The victory of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) over Italy in 1896 is cited as an international event that influenced Indian nationalists by challenging the notion of white/European supremacy. Statement 3 is incorrect. During the Boer Wars, the British faced reverses, which undermined, rather than bolstered, their image of military superiority and invincibility.

Question 2

Consider the following statements about the reactionary policies that fueled militant nationalism:
1. The Indian Universities Act of 1904 was enacted to grant greater autonomy to universities, which were seen as centers of loyalist thought.
2. The Calcutta Corporation Act of 1899 aimed to increase the number of elected Indian members to promote local self-government.
3. The Official Secrets Act of 1904 was passed to protect the freedom of the press from government interference.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

None. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Indian Universities Act of 1904 ensured greater government control over universities, which the government described as 'factories producing political revolutionaries,' not centers of loyalist thought. Statement 2 is incorrect. The number of Indian members in the Calcutta Corporation was reduced in 1899, not increased. This was a move against local self-government. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Official Secrets Act of 1904 curbed the freedom of the press; it did not protect it.

Question 3

Statement-I: By the early 20th century, a growing number of nationalists began to lose faith in the methods of the Moderates and sought more effective modes of political action.
Statement-II: This disillusionment arose because the British government was not conceding any of the important demands made by the nationalists, and was, in fact, taking away existing rights.

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. Statement-I is correct. The rise of militant nationalism was a direct consequence of the disillusionment with the Moderates' approach. Statement-II is also correct and provides the direct reason for this disillusionment. The text explicitly states that the more militant nationalists got disillusioned because the British government was not conceding their important demands and was instead taking away existing rights through repressive acts. Therefore, Statement-II correctly explains Statement-I.

Question 4

Consider the following statements regarding the concept of 'Swaraj' as articulated by nationalist leaders:

Accepted Answer

Only one. {'statement_1': "Statement 1 is incorrect. The definition of Swaraj as 'the fulfilment of the ancient life of India under modern conditions... the resumption by her of her great role of the teacher and guide' was articulated by Aurobindo Ghosh, not B.G. Tilak.", 'statement_2': "Statement 2 is incorrect. The argument that 'Without swaraj there could be no social reform, no industrial progress, no useful education, no fulfilment of national life' was made by B.G. Tilak, not Aurobindo Ghosh.", 'statement_3': "Statement 3 is correct. Surendranath Banerjea made the observation that 'Swadeshism during the days of its potency coloured the entire texture of our social and domestic life.'"}

Question 5

With reference to the sedition trial of B.G. Tilak in 1909, consider the following statements:

Accepted Answer

Only one. {'statement_1': "Statement 1 is incorrect. Tilak did not justify the use of bombs. He wrote about the incident, warning the government that its repressive 'Russian methods' would compel Indians to imitate 'Russian methods' of protest, thereby explaining the context of the violence, not justifying it.", 'statement_2': "Statement 2 is incorrect. Tilak wrote the opposite, stating, 'It is not possible to cause British rule to disappear from this country by such monstrous deeds.' He was analyzing the ineffectiveness of such acts, not advocating for them.", 'statement_3': "Statement 3 is correct. Tilak explicitly wrote that 'the real means of stopping the bombs consisted in making a beginning towards the grant of rights of ‘Swarajya’ to the people,' positioning political reform as the solution."}

Question 6

Consider the following statements regarding the Partition of Bengal:

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. The desire to weaken Bengal as a nerve centre of nationalism was the real motive behind the partition, not the official reason given. The official reasons were administrative. Statement 2 is correct. The plan was to create a Bengal province with 17 million Bengalis and 37 million Hindi and Oriya speakers, thus reducing the Bengalis to a minority. Statement 3 is correct. It was officially stated that Bengal, with a population of 78 million, had become too big to be administered effectively.

Question 7

Consider the following statements regarding the methods used during the Swadeshi Movement:

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The call to boycott schools, colleges, and government service was made during the Extremist-led phase, not the initial Moderate-led phase. Statement 2 is correct. Extremist leaders like Tilak utilized popular festivals and melas to spread the message of Swadeshi. Statement 3 is incorrect. The emphasis on atma shakti (self-reliance) was a core tenet of the Extremist phase led by figures like Aurobindo Ghosh. Surendranath Banerjea and K.K. Mitra were Moderates whose methods included petitions, memoranda, and public meetings.

Question 8

Given below are two statements:

Accepted Answer

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I is correct; the Swadeshi Movement had lost its momentum and largely fizzled out by 1908. Statement-II is incorrect as an explanation for the decline by 1908. The movement's decline was due to severe government repression, the arrest and deportation of its leaders, internal splits in nationalist ranks, and a narrow social base. The annulment of partition occurred later and was a measure to curb revolutionary terrorism, not the cause of the Swadeshi Movement's decline by 1908.

Question 9

Consider the following statements regarding the programme of National Education during the Swadeshi Movement:
1. The National Council of Education was established to organise a system of education exclusively in literary and scientific fields.
2. A key objective was to impart education through the vernacular medium.
3. As part of the programme, funds were raised to send students to Japan for advanced learning.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. The National Council of Education was set up to organise a system of education that was literary, scientific, and technical, not exclusively literary and scientific. Statement 2 is correct. The programme aimed for education to be imparted through the vernacular medium. Statement 3 is correct. The initiative included raising funds to send students to Japan for advanced learning.

Question 10

Consider the following pairs concerning the establishment of national education institutions during the Swadeshi Movement:
1. Aurobindo Ghosh : First President of the Bengal National College
2. Rashbehari Ghosh : First Principal of the Bengal National College
3. Satishchandra Mukherjee : Pioneer of the national education movement through the Dawn Society
4. Raja Subodh Mullick : Contributed Rs 100,000 for a national university in Bengal
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two pairs. Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. Aurobindo Ghosh was the first Principal of the Bengal National College, not its President. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched. Rashbehari Ghosh was the first President of the Bengal National College, not its Principal. Pair 3 is correctly matched. Satishchandra Mukherjee, through his Dawn Society, played a significant role in propagating self-help in education and pioneered the national education movement. Pair 4 is correctly matched. Raja Subodh Mullick contributed Rs 100,000 towards the foundation of a national university in Bengal.

Question 11

Consider the following two statements:
Statement-I: During the Swadeshi movement, a strong emphasis was placed on 'atma shakti' or self-reliance.
Statement-II: In practical terms, this concept of self-reliance was limited to the economic regeneration of villages and the establishment of indigenous enterprises.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I is correct. The Swadeshi movement encouraged self-reliance, or 'atma shakti', to re-assert national dignity and confidence. Statement-II is incorrect. The practical application of 'atma shakti' was not limited to economic aspects. It also included social reform and campaigns against caste oppression, early marriage, the dowry system, and the consumption of alcohol, in addition to the social and economic regeneration of villages.

Question 12

Consider the following statements regarding the reasons for the Swadeshi Movement fizzling out by 1908: 
1. The movement failed to create an effective party structure, although it introduced a range of techniques later associated with Gandhian politics.
2. A key reason for its decline was its inability to garner support from the Muslim peasantry, a situation worsened by the government's divide and rule policy.
3. The movement was rendered leaderless as most of its prominent leaders, including Aurobindo Ghosh and Bipin Chandra Pal, were arrested or deported by the government by 1908.

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. The movement did not succeed in creating an effective organisation or a disciplined party structure. However, it did throw up techniques such as non-cooperation, passive resistance, and constructive work. Statement 2 is correct. The movement was not able to gain the support of Muslims, particularly the Muslim peasantry, which was a significant factor in its decline. This was aided by a conscious government policy of divide and rule. Statement 3 is incorrect. While the movement did become leaderless due to arrests and deportations, the specific examples given are flawed. Aurobindo Ghosh and Bipin Chandra Pal were not arrested or deported in this context; they retired from active politics, which contributed to the leadership vacuum.

Question 13

Consider the following two statements:
Statement-I: The open phase of the Swadeshi and Boycott movement was almost over by 1908.
Statement-II: The annulment of the Partition of Bengal in 1911 was a primary factor that led to the decline of the Swadeshi movement.

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II is NOT the correct explanation for Statement-I. Statement-I is correct. The active, open phase of the Swadeshi movement had largely fizzled out by 1908 due to factors like severe government repression, lack of organisation, and internal splits. Statement-II is also correct as a historical fact; the Partition of Bengal was indeed annulled in 1911. However, Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. The annulment occurred in 1911, three years after the movement had already declined (by 1908). Therefore, it could not have been a cause for the movement's decline.

Question 14

With reference to the legacy of the Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements:
1. The movement was considered a 'leap forward' as it successfully mobilized the peasantry on a mass scale for the first time.
2. The richness of the movement was not confined to the political sphere but also encompassed art, literature, and science.
3. Techniques like non-cooperation and passive resistance, though conceived, remained mere ideas and were not given a disciplined focus during the movement.

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. The movement was considered a 'leap forward' because it brought in new sections like students and women, but it largely failed to reach the masses, especially the peasantry, remaining confined to the upper and middle classes and zamindars. Statement 2 is correct. The movement's impact was multi-faceted, extending beyond politics to cultural and scientific fields, including art, literature, and industry. Statement 3 is correct. While the movement introduced the ideas of non-cooperation and passive resistance, it failed to give these techniques a disciplined focus, and they remained largely as concepts rather than well-executed strategies.

Question 15

Consider the following statements regarding the differences between the Moderates and the Extremists:
1. The Extremists drew their ideological inspiration primarily from Western liberal thought and European history.
2. The Moderates believed that political movements should be limited to the middle-class intelligentsia.
3. For both Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Aurobindo Ghose, the term 'swaraj' signified complete independence from foreign rule.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Extremists drew ideological inspiration from Indian history, cultural heritage, and traditional symbols, whereas the Moderates were inspired by Western liberal thought and European history. Statement 2 is correct. The Moderates believed the masses were not yet ready for participation in political work and that the movement should be confined to the educated middle class. Statement 3 is incorrect. The perception of 'swaraj' differed among Extremist leaders; for Tilak, it meant a form of self-government, while for Aurobindo, it meant complete independence from foreign rule.

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding the ideology of the Extremists:
1. They were considered politically progressive due to their emphasis on broadening the social base of the nationalist movement.
2. Some of their leaders were viewed as social reactionaries because of the revivalist undertones in their methods and thoughts.
3. Bal Gangadhar Tilak's opposition to the Age of Consent Bill was based on the principle that social reforms should not be imposed by a foreign government.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

All three. Statement 1 is correct. The Extremists' emphasis on mass participation and on the need to broaden the social base of the movement was a progressive improvement upon Moderate politics. Statement 2 is correct. Despite being politically progressive, some Extremists were seen as social reactionaries due to having revivalist and obscurantist undertones attached to their thoughts, such as using religious festivals for mobilization. Statement 3 is correct. Tilak's objection to the Age of Consent Bill was primarily based on his view that such reforms must come from people governing themselves and not be imposed by an alien colonial administration.

Question 17

Consider the following two statements:
Statement-I: The political methods of the Moderates, such as petitions and speeches, were rendered obsolete by the time of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement.
Statement-II: The Moderates had failed to secure the support of the younger generation and their political propaganda did not effectively reach the masses.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct; with the advent of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement, it became evident that the Moderate politics of petitions and speeches had become obsolete. Statement-II is also correct; the Moderates' failure was highlighted by their inability to get the support of the youth and the fact that their ideas did not take root among the masses. Statement-II provides the underlying reasons for the outcome described in Statement-I, thus serving as its correct explanation.

Era of Militant Nationalism 1905-1909

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