Question

Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:

“You will have observed the word ‘boycott’ attached to the word ‘movement'. It means that it shall move, move from point to point, move from city to city, move from division to division, move from province to province, till we realise the highest destiny of our people as a nation in the comity of nations. I mean swaraj.” - Bipin Chandra Pal, 1906 Calcutta Session of the Congress

1. Mention Bipin Chandra Pal’s political aims.
2. State his ideas on National Education.
3. What remedies did he propose to eradicate India’s poverty and unemployment?

Answer 1

1. Bipin Chandra Pal started his political career as a social reformer associated with the Brahmo Samaj. He visited several European countries and the United States of America.
   1. It was during these visits that he observed how people resisted foreign domination.
   2. In 1886, he joined the Indian National Congress.
   3. He belonged to the Assertive Nationalist group.
   4. He aimed for complete independence from British rule.
   5. As a journalist, he worked for Bengal Public Opinion, The Tribune, and New India to spread his ideas of nationalism.
2. Bipin Chandra Pal wanted education to be organised on nationalist lines so that it could awaken nationalist feelings against foreign rule. Secondly, he believed it would serve as an effective means of social progress.
3. Bipin Chandra Pal was one of the strongest proponents of nationalism. He not only mobilised public opinion for granting political rights to India but also suggested remedies to eliminate India’s poverty and unemployment.
   1. He supported the development of industries in the country to make India self-sufficient both politically and economically.
   2. He suggested imposing higher taxes on the rich so that the collected funds could be used for education and healthcare
   3. He advocated a working week of forty-eight hours along with higher wages.
   4. He promoted Swadeshi and the boycott of foreign goods to remove poverty and unemployment and to improve the economic condition of the people.