UPSC Prelims 2023 Q83: Modern History – Early Nationalism & Indian National Congress (1885 - 1915)
Consider the following statements :
Statement - I :
7th August is declared as the National Handloom Day.
Statement - II :
It was in 1905 that the Swadeshi Movement was launched on the same day.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- (a) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement - I
- (b) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is not the correct explanation for Statement - I
- (c) Statement - I is correct but Statement - II is incorrect
- (d) Statement - I is incorrect but Statement - II is correct
Answer: (a) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement - I
Explanation
National Handloom Day — 7 August
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Declared | 2015, first celebrated in Chennai, by the Government of India |
| Why 7 August | The Swadeshi Movement was launched on 7 August 1905 at a meeting in Calcutta Town Hall |
| Aim | Honour handloom weavers and promote Indian handloom |
The Swadeshi Movement (1905):
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Trigger | Partition of Bengal announced by Lord Curzon |
| Method | Boycott of British goods; use of Indian-made goods |
| Leaders | Surendranath Banerjee, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh |
| Handloom link | Indian handloom cloth replaced Manchester mill cloth |
Statement I — correct. Statement II — correct, and it explains I: the date was chosen to mark the Swadeshi launch.
Answer: (a) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement - I.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. 7 August was chosen as National Handloom Day because the Swadeshi Movement began that day in 1905.
- (b) Incorrect. The Swadeshi date is the reason for the choice, so II does explain I.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement II is true; the movement was launched on 7 August 1905.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement I is true; National Handloom Day has been marked on 7 August since 2015.
Key point
National Handloom Day (7 August, since 2015) marks the launch of the Swadeshi Movement on 7 August 1905.
Remember
National Handloom Day is 7 August because the Swadeshi Movement began on that day in 1905.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up 16 October 1905 (when partition took effect) with 7 August (Swadeshi launch).
- Choosing (b) without seeing that the date was picked because of the Swadeshi launch.
- Confusing National Handloom Day with Khadi days linked to Gandhi.
Exam tip
Swadeshi = Indian cloth, so Handloom Day takes its date. The link is direct.
Sources
- Ministry of Textiles — National Handloom Day
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India (Swadeshi Movement)