Correct Option (A):
The Swadeshi Movement was a direct response to the partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon. The official announcement of the partition was made in 1905, and it was implemented on 16 October 1905. The movement formally commenced with a proclamation at the Calcutta Town Hall on 7 August 1905. Its primary objectives included promoting indigenous goods, boycotting British products, and fostering a spirit of national self-reliance. Prominent leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh were instrumental in its propagation.
Incorrect Options:
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Option 2: The imprisonment of Lokmanya Tilak for 18 months occurred in 1908, linked to his anti-government writings. This event took place after the launch of the Swadeshi Movement and was not its immediate cause.
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Option 3: The arrest and deportation of Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh, along with the passing of the Punjab Colonization Bill, were significant events in the nationalist struggle but did not serve as the immediate trigger for the Swadeshi Movement.
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Option 4: The Chapekar brothers were executed in 1897 for the assassination of British officials. This event predates the Swadeshi Movement by several years and is unrelated to its immediate cause.