LIWA

Second Phase of the Indian National Movement

ICSE Class 10 · History & Civics · Chapter 10

What this chapter covers

Key points

Questions answered

Who were the Assertive Nationalists?
The Assertive Nationalists were the leaders who, from about 1905, demanded Swaraj and sought it through the active participation of the people, using swadeshi, boycott, national education and passive resistance.
Name the three leaders known as Lal, Bal and Pal.
Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.
When did the Partition of Bengal come into effect, and who was the Viceroy at the time?
It came into effect on 16 October 1905, when Lord Curzon was the Viceroy.
What was the official reason given for the Partition of Bengal?
The government said that Bengal was too large to be administered efficiently by one Lieutenant-Governor.
Give two reasons why the nationalists opposed the Partition of Bengal.
They saw it as a deliberate attempt to weaken Bengali nationalism, and as a plan to divide Hindus and Muslims through the policy of divide and rule.
When was the Partition of Bengal annulled?
In December 1911, at the Delhi Durbar.
Which four resolutions were passed at the Calcutta session of 1906?
Resolutions on Swaraj, swadeshi, boycott and national education.
Give two reasons for the Surat Split of 1907.
The Moderates and the Assertive Nationalists differed on their aims (self-government within the Empire versus Swaraj) and on their methods (constitutional appeals versus boycott and passive resistance).

Past board exam questions

ICSE 2027 sample paper · 1 mark

Who among the following is NOT an Assertive Nationalist Leader?

  1. Bipin Chandra Pal
  2. Dadabhai Naoroji
  3. Lala Lajpat Rai
  4. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Show answer
Dadabhai Naoroji

ICSE 2026 board paper · 2 marks

Look at the picture given and answer the question that follow. Map: the province of Bengal divided into two parts. The western part is labelled Bengal; the eastern part, labelled Eastern Bengal, is joined to Assam in the north-east. In which year did this Partition happen? Who was responsible for this Partition?

Show answer
The Partition of Bengal took place in 1905 (announced in July, effective 16 October 1905). Lord Curzon, the Viceroy, was responsible for it.

ICSE 2025 board paper · 1 mark

Identify the odd one out of the following Assertive Nationalists Leaders.

  1. Bipin Chandra Pal
  2. Lala Lajpat Rai
  3. Dadabhai Naoroji
  4. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Show answer
Dadabhai Naoroji

ICSE 2025 board paper · 1 mark

Read the statements given below and select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (R). Assertion (A): Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905. Reason (R): The Nationalists felt that the British wanted to divide the Hindus and the Muslims.

  1. (A) is true and (R) is false.
  2. (R) is true but (A) is false.
  3. Both (A) and (R) are independent of each other.
  4. (A) is the reason for (R).
Show answer
(A) is the reason for (R).

ICSE 2025 board paper · 1 mark

The market of a small industrial town X has been dominated by many products of foreign companies. The local residents decide to save the Indian industries by helping them increase their sales. Which method of the Assertive Nationalists must they follow to become self-reliant?

  1. Passive Resistance
  2. National Education
  3. Swadeshi
  4. Revivalism
Show answer
Swadeshi

ICSE 2024 sample paper · 2 marks

Mention any two methods of the Assertive Nationalists.

Show answer
Any two: 1. Boycott of foreign goods, schools, courts and government jobs. 2. Swadeshi: use of Indian-made goods and promotion of Indian industries. 3. National education: setting up national schools and colleges. 4. Passive resistance: refusal to cooperate with the government and to obey unjust laws; mass agitation, public meetings and processions to involve the masses.

ICSE 2024 board paper · 2 marks

In which year did the Surat Split happen? What was the result of this split?

Show answer
The Surat Split happened in 1907 (at the Surat session of the Congress). Result: the Congress split into two groups – the Early Nationalists (Moderates), who retained control of the Congress, and the Assertive Nationalists, who were expelled; this weakened the national movement and the British took advantage of it to suppress the Assertive Nationalists.

ICSE 2024 board paper · 3 marks

The Indian National Movement is divided into three phases. With reference to the Second Phase of the Indian National Movement, answer the following questions: Who partitioned Bengal? Mention any two points to explain the perspective of the Nationalists regarding the actual motive behind the decision of Partition.

Show answer
Bengal was partitioned by Lord Curzon (1905). The Nationalists believed the actual motive was (any two): 1. To weaken Bengal, the nerve centre of Indian nationalism, by dividing the Bengali-speaking people. 2. To divide Hindus and Muslims by creating a Muslim-majority province in East Bengal ('divide and rule'). 3. To reduce the Bengalis to a minority in their own province (in the western part, with Bihar and Orissa).