Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is The partition of Bengal done by Lord Curzon.

Key Points

• The immediate cause for the launch of the Swadeshi Movement was the partition of Bengal done by Lord Curzon.
• Swadeshi Movement
  • This was a comprehensive movement that lasted 6 years.
  • Although this was regarded as a cultural movement celebrating the rich harvest of history, the rich traditions like folk music, paintings, the culture of Bengal were highlighted.
  • But very soon, it got integrated with the political upheavals that followed after the partition of Bengal. Krishna Kumar Mitra, in his newspaper, ‘Sanjivani’ highlighted the prospects of national education and ‘Economic Swadeshi’.
  • Very soon, this movement started gaining momentum with the help of the entire Bengali middle-class intelligentsia.
  • After the partition of Bengal, the Swadeshi movement got a big boost, because of the integration of the boycott movement with the Swadeshi movement.
  • Tilak called this movement “Bahishkar Yoga“ and most of the Bengali intelligentsia that was initially not in favor of the boycott movement got integrated with the Swadeshi movement.
  • This was primary learning for the national movement.
  • According to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Lala Lajpat Rai, it was training in ‘self-determination’, ‘self-help’, and ‘self-reliance’.

Additional Information

• Lord Curzon
  • Curzon came up with the idea to suppress the rising tide of nationalism.
  • With the publication of the book, ‘Indian Musalman’, by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, and with his active alliance, the attitude of the British towards Muslims changed significantly.
  • Thus Curzon wanted to ensure that the minority consciousness should be used against the majority and that this would then break the solidarity of Indian society, and in turn, break the solidarity of the Indian National Movement as well.
  • Thus, his active agenda was to create a feeling of minority consciousness.
  • The ‘Partition of Bengal’ was at the core of his policies.
  • The population of Bengal was balanced - where Hindus and Muslims were numerically almost equal.
  • Their consciousness was that of a Bengali consciousness and not at all a religious contradiction between Hindus and Muslims, and the Bengali intelligentsia was primarily responsible for the spread of nationalism in different parts of India.

Bhimbetka caves in Madhya Pradesh are the finest example of pre-historic cave paintings and murals. This archaeological site of central India is situated near Bhopal and spans the prehistoric Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods. Few paintings at the Bhimbetka rock shelters are about 3,000 years old.

The correct answer is Five.

Key Points

• The first sermon was delivered to his 5 disciples at Sarnath in a deer park.
• The first sermon delivered by Buddha was on deliverance from suffering.
• The event of the first sermon is known as "Dharmachakra Pravartana" which means turning the wheel of dharma.
• In the first sermon, Buddha gave two elements of the Holy Trinity of Buddhism.
  • Dhamma: Teachings
  • Sangha: Order of Buddhist monks and nuns
• His five disciples became Arhats.
• Buddha obtained Mahaparinirvana at the age of 80 in Kushinagar.

Additional Information

• After attaining Enlightenment Buddha discovered four noble truths:
  • The truth of suffering (Dukkha)
  • The truth of the cause of suffering (Samudaya)
  • The truth of the end of suffering (Nirodha), and
  • The truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering (Astangika-Marga).
• Buddha attained Enlightenment at the age of 35 at Gaya under a Peepal tree at Uruvela.
• The Peepal tree under which Buddha attained Enlightenment is the famous Bodhi tree.

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

• The Hindu Widow Remarriage Act came into force on 16th July 1856 which legalize the marriage of a widow.
• The act was enacted on July 26th, 1856.
• The main personality who fought for Widow Remarriage was Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Veerasalingam Pantulu.
• The first Governor-General of India Lord William Bentick had also abolished Sati Custom.
• The Hindu Remarriage Act 1856 or Act XV, 1856 not only provide protection but also aimed at safeguarding the condition of men who married widows.
• It was one of the most important social reforms towards the empowerment of women.
• The Act was passed by Lord Canning and was drafted by Lord Dalhousie.
• The act was popular among both rich and poor classes in the history of India.

Image of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar:

Image of Veersalingam Pantulu:

The correct answer is All the above.

Additional Information 

• In 1927, the All India States People’s Conference was held in Bombay after which the congress allowed people from the different Princely States to join the party and the Indian Freedom Struggle.
• In 1927 itself, the Akhil Bhartiya Desi Rajya Lok Parishad or All India Native States Public Council was established in Bombay and Vijay Singh Pathik became its chairperson.
• In Rajasthan, Rajputana Desi Lok Parishad or Rajputana Native States Public Council was established.
• These councils laid the foundation for the Praja Mandal movement in Rajasthan.
• Nature of the Praja Mandal Movements:
  • The people of Praja Mandal fought against Feudalism and colonialism.
  • The people of the Praja Mandal movement fought against their feudal princes and the British administration simultaneously for their rights.
  • The main demand of the Praja Mandal movements was democratic (fundamental) rights.