History & Civics
Describe the role of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in the Anti-Partition and Home Rule Movements.
Answer
Bal Gangadhar Tilak played a significant role in the Anti-Partition and Home Rule Movements.
His Role in the Anti-Partition Movement —
- Partition of Bengal gave him a big opportunity to expose evil designs of the government.
- Leaders like Tilak, Bipin Chandra and Lajpat Rai transformed the anti-partition movement into a Movement for Swaraj.
His Role in the Home Rule Movement —
- The year 1916 saw the establishment of the Home Rule Leagues in Madras (Chennai) and Maharashtra.
- The two Leagues were led by Mrs. Besant and Tilak respectively.
- Together they launched the Home Rule Movement which infused the nation with new strength and vigour.
- Tilak's contribution made him a hero of the masses.
- He earned the epithet 'Lokmanya' (respected by the people) and was almost worshipped as a God.
Related Questions
Name the leaders who constituted the Assertive/Radical Nationalist trio in the early years of the 20th century.
Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:
Rabindranath Tagore endorsed the Swadeshi movement through his songs and poems. There was a change in his attitude as noted by Sumit Sarkar in his book, Swadeshi Movement in Bengal. He says: "[From] trying in vain to placate the foreign ruler and talking big in a foreign tongue, he (Tagore) urges volunteers to the villages instead, spreading social and political enlightment in the melas and through magic lantern lectures, and, above all to revive our traditional samaj, channelling all constructive work through it once again."
(a) What was the impact of the Anti-Partition Movement?
(b) How did the people react to the Partition of Bengal?
(c) What was Lord Curzon's argument in favour of the Partition of Bengal? How did the nationalists interpret Lord Curzon's motives?
Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:
Rabindranath Tagore endorsed the Swadeshi movement through his songs and poems. There was a change in his attitude as noted by Sumit Sarkar in his book, Swadeshi Movement in Bengal. He says: "[From] trying in vain to placate the foreign ruler and talking big in a foreign tongue, he (Tagore) urges volunteers to the villages instead, spreading social and political enlightment in the melas and through magic lantern lectures, and, above all to revive our traditional samaj, channelling all constructive work through it once again."
(a) What was the impact of the Anti-Partition Movement?
(b) How did the people react to the Partition of Bengal?
(c) What was Lord Curzon's argument in favour of the Partition of Bengal? How did the nationalists interpret Lord Curzon's motives?
Read the two statements given below about the Partition of Bengal and select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (B).
(A) The partition of Bengal "was a mere readjustment of administrative boundaries."
(B) The nationalists believed that the Government did not intend to strike at the roots of Indian nationalism.
- (B) contradicts (A).
- (B) is the reason for (A).
- (A) is true, but (B) is false.
- (A) and (B) are independent of each other.