SSC
In 1907, a nationalist leader from Punjab was deported without trial to Mandalay in Burma, along with Sardar Ajit Singh, for leading the peasant agitation in Punjab. This leader was:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option D — Lala Lajpat Rai
Detailed Solution
In May 1907, Lala Lajpat Rai was deported without trial to Mandalay in Burma, under the Bengal State Prisoners Regulation of 1818, along with Sardar Ajit Singh.
Background - the Punjab agitation of 1907:
- In 1907, there was widespread unrest among the peasants of Punjab, especially in the canal colonies (such as Lyallpur).
- The Punjab Colonization Act (1906-07) increased the government's control over the colonists' land and imposed penalties, and the water rates for irrigation were increased.
- Peasants protested strongly against these measures.
- Ajit Singh (the uncle of Bhagat Singh) and Lajpat Rai led meetings and protests.
- The famous song "Pagri Sambhal Jatta" ("Take care of your turban, O peasant") became the anthem of the movement.
The deportation:
- The government feared a revolt and deported Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh to Mandalay without trial.
- The deportation caused great anger across India.
- After six months, they were released (November 1907), because of public protests and the lack of evidence; the government also withdrew the Colonization Act.
About Lala Lajpat Rai:
- He was a leading Extremist leader of the Congress.
- He was a member of the Arya Samaj, and worked for education and social reform.
- He later lived in the United States (1914-1919), where he wrote books and spoke about India's freedom.
- He died in 1928 after being injured in a police lathi charge in Lahore.
About Mandalay:
Mandalay, in Burma (Myanmar), was used by the British to imprison or detain Indian nationalists; Tilak was also imprisoned there later (1908-1914).
About Ajit Singh:
He later went abroad and worked for Indian freedom from various countries; he returned to India in 1947 and died on 15 August 1947.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Tilak was sent to Mandalay later, after a trial.
- ✗Bipin Chandra Pal and Malaviya were not deported in 1907.
Quick tip
Remember: 1907 deportation to Mandalay = Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh (Punjab peasant agitation; "Pagri Sambhal Jatta"); released after six months.
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Swadeshi Movement & Early Nationalism Questions
View all ›- Q1.Lord Curzon announced the Partition of Bengal in:
- Q2.The formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement was made on 7 August 1905 at:
- Q3.The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906 at:
- Q4.In which region was the Swadeshi Movement known as the 'Vande Mataram Movement'?
- Q5.The Indian National Congress split into the Moderates and the Extremists at which session?
More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
Swadeshi Movement & Early Nationalism — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Swadeshi Movement & Early Nationalism, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the growth of Indian nationalism from the early 1900s to the First World War: the partition of Bengal in 1905, the Swadeshi and Boycott movement, the rise of extremist leaders such as Lal, Bal and Pal, the Surat split of 1907, and the Home Rule Leagues of Tilak and Annie Besant. Typical questions cover the year the partition of Bengal was announced and annulled (1905 and 1911), the slogans and leaders of the Swadeshi movement, and the founders of the two Home Rule Leagues (1916). Be clear about the difference between the moderates, who used petitions, and the extremists, who called for swaraj and mass action. Practise the Swadeshi movement and early nationalism questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.