Question

Which of the following statements regarding the "Swadeshi Movement' is correct? i The Swadeshi movement was launched as a response to the death sentence of the Chapekar brothers. ii. V.O. Chidambaram Pillai was the leader of the Swadeshi movement in South India. iii. Rabindranath Tagore founded the 'Indian Society of Oriental Art' to revive ancient art traditions of India.

• A. Only i
• B. Only ii
• C. Only iii
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Only ii

Understanding the Swadeshi Movement and its Leaders

• The Swadeshi Movement was a powerful nationalist movement that emerged in India, primarily triggered by Lord Curzon's decision to partition Bengal in 1905. Its core principle was self-reliance and the promotion of indigenous goods and institutions, boycotting foreign products.

Evaluating Statement i: Connection to Chapekar Brothers

• Statement i is incorrect. The Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905 in response to the Partition of Bengal.
• The Chapekar brothers (Damodar Hari Chapekar and Balkrishna Hari Chapekar) were revolutionary activists who assassinated W.C. Rand, the British Plague Commissioner of Pune, in 1897. They were subsequently hanged in 1898.
• There is no direct temporal or causal link between the Chapekar brothers' actions and the launch of the Swadeshi Movement. Their actions were an early instance of revolutionary nationalism, preceding the Swadeshi Movement by several years.

Evaluating Statement ii: V.O. Chidambaram Pillai's Role

• Statement ii is correct. V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, popularly known as VOC or 'Kappalottiya Thamizhan' (The Tamil Helmsman), was a prominent leader of the Swadeshi Movement in South India, specifically in the Madras Presidency (modern-day Tamil Nadu).
• He founded the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company (SSNC) in 1906 at Tuticorin, directly challenging the monopoly of the British India Steam Navigation Company (BISNC). This was a significant practical step towards Swadeshi ideals.
• He also played a crucial role in organizing the Coral Mill strikes in Tuticorin in 1908, advocating for the rights of mill workers and promoting the use of Swadeshi goods.
• His efforts in promoting national education and the boycott of foreign goods made him a key figure in the nationalist movement in the South.

Evaluating Statement iii: Indian Society of Oriental Art

• Statement iii is incorrect. The Indian Society of Oriental Art was founded in 1907 by Abanindranath Tagore and Gaganendranath Tagore, along with Ernest Binfield Havell (the Principal of the Calcutta School of Art).
• Its primary objective was to promote and revive indigenous Indian art forms and traditions, moving away from Western artistic influences.
• While Rabindranath Tagore was a towering figure of the era and contributed immensely to the nationalist awakening through his literature, music, and thought (e.g., composing 'Amar Shonar Bangla' during the Swadeshi agitation), he was not the founder of this specific art society.