Against which of the following were ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ used as the means of protest and struggle, for the first time in India?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Partition of Bengal.
The Swadeshi and Boycott movements were first used as tools of protest during the Partition of Bengal in 1905, announced by Lord Curzon. The partition was seen as a British strategy to divide Bengal on communal lines and weaken the growing nationalist movement. In response, Indian nationalists launched the Swadeshi Movement, promoting the use of Indian-made goods, and the Boycott Movement, encouraging people to avoid British products and services. These movements marked a significant shift towards mass mobilization and economic nationalism in India’s freedom struggle, laying the foundation for future protests against British colonial rule.
Other options:
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Rowlatt Act: Protested mainly through Hartals and Satyagraha in 1919, not through Swadeshi/Boycott.
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Simon Commission: Faced protests in 1928 with slogans like “Simon Go Back,” but not primarily through Swadeshi or Boycott.
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Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: Led to nationwide outrage and further protests, but Swadeshi/Boycott were not the immediate responses.