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The slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it' was given by:
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Answer: Option A — Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Detailed Solution
The slogan "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it" was given by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
About the slogan:
- Tilak used this slogan in his speeches, especially during the Home Rule Movement (1916-1918).
- It is popularly associated with a speech at Belgaum in 1916, and with his speeches across Maharashtra and other regions.
- In Marathi, it is "Swarajya ha majha janmasiddha hakka aahe ani to me milavnarach".
- It expressed the confidence and determination of the Extremists, who wanted self-rule as a right, not as a favour from the British.
- It became one of the most famous slogans of the Indian national movement.
The Home Rule Movement:
- Tilak founded the Indian Home Rule League in April 1916, at Belgaum, for Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, the Central Provinces and Berar.
- Annie Besant founded the All-India Home Rule League in September 1916, at Madras, for the rest of India.
- The two leagues worked together, demanding self-government (Home Rule) for India within the British Empire.
- They organised meetings, published newspapers and pamphlets, and set up branches across India.
- The movement prepared the ground for the mass movements led by Gandhi.
About Tilak:
- He was called "Lokmanya".
- He was the leading Extremist leader, along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal ("Lal-Bal-Pal").
- He edited the newspapers "Kesari" and "Mahratta".
- He popularised the public celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi and the Shivaji festival.
- He wrote "Gita Rahasya" in Mandalay jail.
Other slogans of the Extremists:
- Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh developed the ideas of passive resistance and Swadeshi.
- Lala Lajpat Rai was called "Punjab Kesari" (Lion of Punjab).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh were other Extremist leaders.
Quick tip
Remember: "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it" = Bal Gangadhar Tilak ("Lokmanya"; Home Rule League, April 1916, Belgaum; Kesari and Mahratta).
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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.