12th Standard History — Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement Online Test

About Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement

Medium ~60 min study

Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement is the second unit of the Tamil Nadu State Board Class 12 History book. It explains why the extremist or militant trend led by Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai grew critical of the moderates' mendicant policy of prayers and petitions.

The lesson follows the partition of Bengal, the Swadeshi and Boycott campaigns of 1905-1911, the Surat split, revolutionary groups such as the Anushilan Samity and the British repression that followed. Its final section turns to Tamil Nadu: the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, the Coral Mill strike, Subramania Bharati's journalism and the Ashe murder.

This page gives the book-back one mark questions with answers checked against the lesson, plus additional questions on dates, persons, acts and organisations, each with a short explanation.

What you'll learn

• Explain the causes of the rise of extremism in the Indian National Congress.
• Describe Curzon's partition of Bengal and its real aims.
• Outline the Swadeshi and Boycott programmes, including atmashakti, national education and samitis.
• Trace the events that led to the Surat split of 1907.
• Describe revolutionary extremism in Bengal and the repressive laws that followed.
• Assess the roles of V.O.C., Subramania Siva, Subramania Bharati and V.V. Subramaniam in Tamil Nadu.

Before you start

• The founding of the Indian National Congress in 1885 and the moderate phase from Unit 1.
• Basic map knowledge of Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu.

Rise of Extremism and Swadeshi Movement explained

What this lesson covers

Partition of Bengal

Lord Curzon, Viceroy from 6 January 1899, cut elected Indians in the Calcutta Corporation, passed the University Act of 1904 and amended the Official Secrets Act. His scheme, published as the Risley Papers, aimed at a Hindu-Muslim divide. Partition was declared on 19 July 1905 and took effect on 16 October 1905, a day of mourning.

Swadeshi and Boycott

Surendranath Banerjee called for boycott on 17 July 1905 and Swadeshi was proclaimed at the Calcutta Town Hall on 7 August. Tagore preached atmashakti, the Dawn Society led to the National Council of Education, and samitis mobilised volunteers.

Militant nationalism and the Surat split

Lal-Bal-Pal made Maharashtra, Bengal and Punjab its centres. After the 1906 Calcutta session under Dadabhai Naoroji, the moderates moved the next session to Surat, where it ended in chaos in 1907.

Revolutionary extremism and repression

The Anushilan Samity, the Kingsford plot of Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki and the Alipore Bomb case were met by the Morley-Minto reforms and new press and criminal laws.

Swadeshi in Tamil Nadu

V.O.C. founded the SSNC in 1906, led the Coral Mill strike with Subramania Siva, and was given two life sentences. Bharati edited Swadesamitran and India. Vanchinathan shot Collector Ashe at Maniyachi in June 1911.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Taking 16 October 1905 as the date partition was declared. It was declared on 19 July 1905 and took effect on 16 October.
• Thinking Vivekananda was Bharati's Gurumani. It was Sister Nivedita.
• Confusing the Calcutta Anushilan Samity (Jatindernath Banerjee and Barindrakumar Ghose) with the Dhaka one (Pulin Behari Das).
• Saying the militants' candidate at Surat was Rash Behari Ghosh. He was the moderates' candidate; the militants proposed Lala Lajpat Rai.
• Assuming Aurobindo Ghose was convicted in the Alipore Bomb case. He was acquitted.

Test yourself on these with the practice test, then check the worked reasoning in the solved MCQs.

Frequently asked questions

Why did the extremists criticise the moderates?

They called the moderates' cautious approach of appealing to the British through prayers and petitions a mendicant policy. Factionalism in the Congress, frustration with moderate politics and anger at Curzon for dividing Bengal led to the extremist trend.

What were the real aims of the partition of Bengal?

Curzon wanted to suppress political activity in Bengal and create a Hindu-Muslim divide. He rejected a linguistic division because it would strengthen Bengali politicians, and promised Muslims at Dhaka in 1904 a unity they had not enjoyed since old Muslim rule.

How was the Swadeshi Movement launched?

At a Calcutta meeting on 17 July 1905 Surendranath Banerjee called for the boycott of British goods and institutions, and on 7 August 1905 a formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement was made at the Calcutta Town Hall.

What led to the Surat split?

The moderates moved the 1907 session from Poona to Surat, put up Rash Behari Ghosh as president and tried to drop the four 1906 resolutions on Swadeshi, Boycott, National Education and Self-Government. The militants opposed them and the session ended in chaos.

What was the Alipore Bomb case?

After Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki's attempt on Kingsford in 1908, Aurobindo Ghose, Barindra Kumar Ghose and others were arrested. Chittaranjan Das defended them; Aurobindo was acquitted, and the year-long trial made the revolutionaries heroes.

What was the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company?

V.O. Chidambaram registered the SSNC in 1906 with a capital of Rs 10 lakh in 40,000 shares of Rs 25 to break the British monopoly of coastal shipping. He bought S.S. Gallia and S.S. Lawoe.

Why was Collector Ashe killed?

The repression in Tuticorin and the humiliation of swadeshi leaders angered the youth. Vanchinathan of the Bharata Mata Association shot Ashe at Maniyachi in June 1911 to avenge the Tirunelveli events, then shot himself.