SEBA Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 1 Partition of Bengal Question Answers

This post provides complete and accurate question answers for SEBA Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 1 – Partition of Bengal and Swadeshi Movement. Prepared according to the SEBA syllabus, these answers are easy to understand and help students in English medium. Ideal for exam preparation, revision, and homework assistance, this study resource covers all important points to score better in your Class 10 board exams.

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. In which Viceroy’s time did the partition of Bengal take place?

Ans: Partition of Bengal took place during the time of Lord Curzon.

2. On which date in 1905 did the partition of Bengal come into force?

Ans: The partition of Bengal came into force on 16 October 1905.

3. In which meeting was the proposal of giving up foreign commodities accepted?

Ans: The proposal of giving up foreign commodities was accepted in the second protest meeting held at Dinazpur on 20th July, 1905.

4. Who was the editor of the journal Jugaantar published in the time of Swadeshi movement?

Ans: Bhupendra Nath Dutta was the editor of the journal Jugaantar published in the time of Swadeshi movement.

5. When was the institution named National Education Council (Jatiya Siksha Parisad) established in Bengal?

Ans: The institution named National Education Council (Jatiya Siksha Parisad) was established on 11 March 1906 in Bengal.

6. Who was the main introducer of the industry named bengal Chemicals?

Ans: Acharya Prafulla Ray was the main introducer of the industry named bengal Chemicals.

7. Under whose presidentship did the Conference of Indian National Congress accept the proposal of swaraj for Indians?

Ans: Under Dadabhai Naoroji's presidentship the Conference of Indian National Congress accepted the proposal of swaraj for Indians.

8. When did the unification of Bengal take place?

Ans: Unification of Bengal took place on 12th December 1911.

SHORT/LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Mention three main geographical regions of Bengal which were annexed to the province West Bengal and Assam created after the partition of Bengal.

Ans: The three main geographical regions of Bengal which were annexed to the province West Bengal and Assam created after the partition of Bengal were -

• Dhakha
• Chattagram
• Rajshahi

2.Write briefly about what were the intentions of the partition of Bengal.

Ans: Although the official purpose declared by the British government in India for the partition of Bengal was administrative convenience yet the real intentions and aims of this move were different. The main intentions of the partition of Bengal by the British government were:

(i) To stem the tide of nationalism which was fast emerging in the province of Bengal. Bengal was considered to be the hotspot of nationalism.

(ii ) To break the Hindu-Muslim unity which could threaten the stability of the British empire in India.

(iii) To divide the province of Bengal in such a way that Hindus became a minority in the newly created province, while the Muslims became a minority in the retained province of Bengal. This would destroy any chances of both groups joining together and fighting against the government.

(iv) To please Muslim leaders and to weaken the Hindu-Bengalis who were in the forefront of the national movement.

(v) To dominate and control the growing anti-British extremists within the Congress Party.

3.Why was the anti partition of Bengal movement named as Swadeshi movement? Discuss briefly.

Ans: The proposal of the partition of Bengal was raised by the British authorities on 6th December 1903. Soon there emerged a strong anti-partition movement in Bengal by leaders like Surendra Nath Banerjee, Bipin Chandra Paul, Arabinda Ghose, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Rash Behari Bose, Ramendra Sundar Trivedi, etc. They felt that the move was an attempt to break the Hindu-Muslim unity that existed in the province. They started a signature collecting campaign to create strong public opinion and awareness among the people. They submitted protest papers signed by 70,000 Indians to the Secretary General, but the British government remained adamant. The people then rose up unitedly against this plan of the British by launching massive public protests and agitations.

                                       Many places in Bengal were marked by strong protest marches against the move. People irrespective of caste, creed and religion joined the movement. The national congress leaders realising the great potential of this new mass movement decided to turn the movement into a national movement. During its session at Benares in December 1905, they decided to go beyond the partition issue. They termed the new movement as Swadeshi Movement because it went beyond the borders of Bengal and people across the country accepted the idea of boycotting foreign items, using home-made goods and rejecting government given titles and posts. Students were asked to come away from government schools and colleges and join national institutions set up by patriotic Indian leaders. Thus, this phase of the movement against the British in India came to be known as Swadeshi Movement and it lasted for more than six years from 1950 to 1911.

4. Discuss the contributions of Swadeshi movement towards national education.

Ans: The Swadeshi Movement made significant contributions to the development of national education by mobilizing students and establishing indigenous institutions. When R. W. Carlyle, the Chief Secretary of Bengal, issued a circular on October 10, 1905, warning students against participating in the movement, they protested by boycotting classrooms. On November 4, 1905, Rabindranath Tagore organized a massive student rally at Pataldanga Mallikbari, leading to the formation of the Anti-Circular Society to defy the government’s order. Leaders like Bipin Chandra Pal, Tagore, and Abdul Rasul urged students to leave government institutions, while Satish Chandra Mukherjee founded the Dawn Society to oppose Curzon’s University Law (1904) and Carlyle’s circular. Tagore established Banga Jatiya Vidyalaya (November 8, 1905), inspiring others to open national schools across Bengal. The National Education Council (Jatiya Siksha Parishad) was formed on March 11, 1906, under Rash Behari Bose, leading to the establishment of Bengal National College (August 15, 1906). Over 62 secondary schools and 3,000 primary schools were set up, along with the Bengal Technical Institute (later Jadavpur University). Similar institutions like Bihar Vidyapeeth, Samarth Vidyalaya (Maharashtra), and Gujarat Vidyalaya emerged nationwide, promoting self-reliant education aligned with nationalist ideals.

5. How did the national industries develop during Swadeshi movement? Explain in short.

Ans: The Swadeshi Movement led to the emergence of the spirit of self-development which led to

the development of Indian industries. As foreign goods were rejected, people now turned to locally made goods. The result was that several big industries and many small-scale industries came up in different parts of the country. Spinning machines, small and medium handloom industries, industries for producing mustard oil, soap, sugar, match box, biscuit, etc. were established. During this period, national banks and national insurance companies also came into existence. One of the establishments set up during this period was 'The Swadeshi Bhandar which became a reputed textile firm. It was started by Rabindranath Tagore. Yogesh Ch. Choudhury and Krishna Bihari Sen jointly established "Indian Stores' at Bou Bazaar, Calcutta. Sarala Devi Choudhurini started "Lakshi Bhandar' at Cornwallis Street in Calcutta. 'The United Bengal Stores was also established during this period.

The heavy industries sector also witnessed some initiatives during this period. Nilaratan Sarkar started 'Banga Lakshi Cotton Mill' in August 1906 while Acharya Prafulla Ray established 'Bengal Chemicals' in July 1906. A significant initiative was the establishment of Tata Iron factory in Jamshedpur in 1907 by Jamshedji Tata. On 17th December 1905, the first Indian Industrial Summit was held at Benares with R.C. Dutta as the chairman. The summit created awareness among the Indian people about the prospects of the indigeneous industries. Thus, the Swadeshi Movement superred industrial growth in the country.

6.What were the anti-movement measures taken by the British to dominate Swadeshi movement?

Ans: The anti-movement measures taken by the British to dominate Swadeshi Movement were -

• The government offered various titles, posts and medals to moderate leaders of the Indian National Congress in the hope that they would support the government in its various acts. The moderate congress leaders were also offered posts of judges of High Court, membership of British Parliament, membership in Viceroy's Council, etc. The congress leaders such as Surendranath Banerjee, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bipin Chandra Paul, etc. however stood firm and rejected all the concessions offered by the government.

• The British tried to please Muslim leaders to woo them away from the Indian National Congress. They encouraged them to start a political party of Muslims to oppose the moves of the Indian National Congress. To a great extent, they succeeded in this venture.

7. Mention three results of Swadeshi movement.

Ans: Three main results of the Swadeshi Movement are : –

• The Swadeshi Movement had a big influence on the then education system in Bengal. A number of primary and secondary educational institutions came up and gradually students started leaving government schools to study in the national institutions. National colleges and Universities also came up during this period in Bengal

• Swadeshi Movement had a very positive impact on people across the society to start using local, indigenous products thereby increasing the demand and local small and large scale industries ranging from spinning mills, small to medium handlooms, factories producing mustard oil, soaps, sugar, match box, biscuits came up, leading to rapid industrialisation and development of business.

• Women also took part in all the activities equally during the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal. Their active participation and role later played an important part in the national freedom struggle, in the years to come.

8.Mention three contributions of Swadeshi movement.

Ans: Three main contributions of the Swadeshi Movement are as follows : –

 

• Swadeshi Movement had become a mass movement and its effects were felt by the British. It was therefore a movement that had taught the Indian politicians that with a common cause, success against the British government was achievable.

• Values of nationalism and patriotism among the common masses had been inculcated by the Swadeshi movement and this led to the Indian National Congress to take the proposal of demanding Swaraj at the Calcutta session in 1906 under presidentship of Dada Bhai Naoraji.

• Swadesh movement also resulted in armed movement as a section of the activists had resorted to armed methods by violent means.

Write short notes on :

1. Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore

Ans: Rabindranath Tagore was a multifaceted Bengali genius – a renowned poet, playwright, artist, philosopher, and nationalist. During the anti-partition and Swadeshi Movement, he galvanized resistance through his powerful 7th August 1905 Calcutta speech and transformed Partition Day (16th October 1905) into Rakhi-bandhan, symbolizing Hindu-Muslim unity. He composed 23 patriotic songs (including Bangladesh's anthem Amar Sonar Bangla) and wrote inspiring articles like Bhai Bhai Ek Thai. Tagore actively promoted national education by founding Banga Jatiya Vidyalayas and supported indigenous industries by establishing the Swadeshi Bhandar textile shop.

2. Margaret Elizabeth Noble (Bhagini Nibedita)

Ans: Margaret Elizabeth Noble, an Irishwoman who became Sister Nibedita, was a pivotal woman leader in Bengal's Swadeshi Movement. After embracing Hinduism and India as her homeland, she fueled nationalist fervor. She collaborated with groups like the Youngman's Hindu Union, Vivekananda Society, Dawn Society, and Anusilan Sammittee, empowering youth and women through indigenous industries. Her most significant contribution was transforming regional devotion (Banga Mata) into the unifying concept of Bharat Mata (Mother India), cementing her legacy as an immortal figure in India's freedom struggle.

3. Nawab Salimullah

Ans: Nawab Salimullah Khan, the founder of the Muslim League (1906), aimed to protect Muslim interests under British patronage. As Nawab of Dhaka, he allied with Lord Curzon to mobilize East Bengal Muslims against the Hindu majority. He spearheaded the Muslim League's founding meeting in Dhaka on 30th December 1906, outlining its objectives and declaring Muslim loyalty to the British. This move deliberately countered the Congress-led Swadeshi Movement and established the League's initial pro-British, conservative stance, significantly impacting nationalist politics.