During the Swadeshi Movement that followed the partition of Bengal (1905), which of the following social groups is generally considered to have had the least significant participation?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the social history of the Indian national movement. The Swadeshi Movement, launched in response to the partition of Bengal in 1905, saw participation from various sections of society—students, women, middle-class professionals and sometimes peasants. However, the involvement of different communities varied. Understanding which groups were actively involved and which were less engaged helps you grasp the social base and limitations of early nationalism.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The movement in focus is the Swadeshi Movement, especially in Bengal.
• We are asked which group did not have an important role, i.e., had relatively limited participation.
• Options: Muslims, Students, Women, Peasants.
• We rely on widely accepted historical analyses of participation patterns.

Concept / Approach:
The Swadeshi Movement involved large numbers of students who boycotted government schools and colleges, women who participated in picketing and domestic use of swadeshi goods, and peasants who, in some regions, supported boycott of foreign cloth. However, Muslim participation, particularly in Bengal, was relatively limited because the colonial authorities encouraged communal divisions and many Muslim elites did not fully align with the largely Hindu bhadralok leadership of the movement. Therefore, compared to the other three listed groups, Muslims as a community had less significant involvement in the Swadeshi agitation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that students formed the core activist group, engaging in boycotts and protests. Step 2: Remember that many women in Bengal came out of their homes to support swadeshi, spinning and picketing shops selling foreign cloth. Step 3: Note that peasants participated to some extent by supporting the boycott and sometimes resisting zamindari and colonial policies. Step 4: Consider that Muslim participation was comparatively limited, partly due to separate political mobilisation encouraged by the British. Step 5: Conclude that Muslims, as a group, are generally considered to have had the least important role among the options given.

Verification / Alternative check:
Scholarly works on the Swadeshi Movement often point out that it was led mainly by the Hindu middle classes in Bengal and did not fully integrate Muslim masses. British policies of separate electorates and patronage of certain Muslim elites deepened this divide. Textbooks highlight vigorous roles for students and women, and at least some involvement by peasants in particular areas. In contrast, they frequently mention limited Muslim participation and even Muslim opposition in some localities, corroborating this answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b (Students) is wrong because they played a crucial role by boycotting educational institutions and spreading the movement's message. Option c (Women) is incorrect as many women took part in public protests, spinning, and symbolic acts of swadeshi, making their involvement a notable feature of the movement. Option d (Peasants) also had some involvement, especially where economic grievances overlapped with swadeshi appeals. None of these groups can be described as not having an important role in the same relative sense as Muslims in the given context.

Common Pitfalls:
A pitfall is to interpret the question as asking which group did not participate at all, rather than which had the least significant role among those listed. Another mistake is to assume that peasants were almost absent because the movement was largely urban—while their participation was uneven, it was still more visible than that of Muslims considered collectively. To avoid confusion, always read such questions comparatively, asking “who participated the least among these options?” rather than “who did not participate at all?”

Final Answer:
Among the groups listed, Muslims are generally regarded as having had the least important role in the Swadeshi Movement.