The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement at the beginning of the twentieth century was launched in response to which British decision regarding Bengal?

Introduction / Context:
The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement was one of the earliest mass based agitations against British rule in India in the twentieth century. It combined economic boycott of foreign goods with promotion of indigenous products and institutions. Understanding what specific colonial decision triggered this movement is crucial for tracing the evolution of the Indian national movement from moderate petitioning to more active resistance.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question refers to the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement. - It asks which British decision this movement was related to. - Options include the 1905 Partition of Bengal, the 1947 partitions of Bengal and Punjab, and the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921. - We assume standard chronology of major events in the Indian freedom struggle.

Concept / Approach:
In 1905, Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, implemented the partition of Bengal, ostensibly for administrative convenience but widely seen by Indian leaders as an attempt to divide and weaken the growing nationalist movement by separating largely Muslim eastern districts from Hindu majority western districts. This decision sparked widespread protests, leading to the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement in Bengal and later in other parts of India. The movement encouraged people to refuse foreign goods and promote Indian industry and education. The later partitions of 1947 and the Non-Cooperation Movement belong to different phases and cannot be the correct triggers for Swadeshi in 1905.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement began around 1905 and 1906. Step 2: Connect this time period with Lord Curzon's decision to partition Bengal in 1905. Step 3: Note that the Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in 1920–1921, more than a decade later, so it cannot be the cause of Swadeshi in 1905. Step 4: The partitions of Bengal and Punjab in 1947 were part of the final division of British India and are outside the time frame of this early movement. Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is the Partition of Bengal in 1905.

Verification / Alternative check:
All standard histories of the national movement emphasise that the immediate cause of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement was the announcement and implementation of the partition of Bengal in 1905. Public meetings, processions, burning of foreign cloth and promotion of indigenous industry are all described in this context. The slogan of Swadeshi is repeatedly linked with this specific event, confirming that none of the later partitions or movements can be the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Partition of Bengal in 1947: This refers to the final division of Bengal between India and Pakistan and occurred decades after the Swadeshi Movement.
Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921: A separate nationwide movement under Mahatma Gandhi that came later and responded to different issues, including the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Khilafat question.
Partition of Punjab in 1947: Also a part of the 1947 division of British India, chronologically and politically separate from the Swadeshi upsurge in 1905.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the two partitions of Bengal, one in 1905 and the other linked with 1947, especially when reading quickly. Another pitfall is to associate all major mass movements with Gandhi, leading them to pick Non-Cooperation by mistake. Carefully matching dates and leaders with each phase of the freedom struggle helps maintain clarity in such questions.

Final Answer:
The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement was launched in response to the Partition of Bengal in 1905.