Q1. Who said first : “Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it”.
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) M.K. Gandhi
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
(d) Sardar Patel
(UPSC Prelims 1979)
Answer: (a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the first to declare “Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it”, igniting a nationalist spirit among Indians. This slogan became a rallying cry for independence, emphasizing self-rule as a fundamental right.
Q2. Who led the extremists before the arrival of Gandhiji on the political scene for freedom struggle ?
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(d) Subhash Bose
(UPSC Prelims 1979)
Answer: (a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a prominent leader of the extremist faction in the Indian National Congress, advocating Swaraj, mass mobilization, and assertive nationalism. His slogan “Swaraj is my birthright” inspired future revolutionaries.
Q3. Who among the following was not a moderate ?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) W. C. Bannerjee
(c) G. K. Gokhale
(d) B. G. Tilak
(UPSC Prelims 1982)
Answer: (d)
Explanation: B. G. Tilak was a radical nationalist, advocating for direct action and self-rule, unlike the moderates who preferred constitutional methods. His slogan “Swaraj is my birthright” reflects his assertive approach.
Q4. “The Arctic Home of the Vedas” was written by
(a) Minoo Masani
(b) Acharya Vinoba Bhave
(c) S. Radhakrishnan
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(UPSC Prelims 1986)
Answer: (d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak authored “The Arctic Home of the Vedas”, proposing that the Aryans originated in the Arctic region before migrating to India. It reflects his scholarly engagement with Vedic literature and history.