Who gave the slogan 'Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it'?

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Kolkata-2015

Explanation

Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent leader in the Indian Independence Movement, is credited with this powerful slogan.
The slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it' was a call to action for Indians to demand self-rule and complete freedom from British colonial rule.
He was popularly known as Lokmanya, meaning 'accepted by the people as their leader', highlighting his influence and connection with the masses.

Option A: Mahatma Gandhi's famous slogan was 'Do or Die', which he gave during the Quit India Movement in 1942.
Option B: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, is associated with the phrase 'Aram Haram Hai' (Rest is forbidden), emphasizing the need for hard work in nation-building.
Option C: Subhash Chandra Bose's iconic slogan was 'Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom', used to motivate Indians to join the Indian National Army (INA).

Visual 1: Portrait - A portrait of Bal Gangadhar Tilak to help students associate the face with the name and slogan.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Indian History: Freedom Fighters and Slogans as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This slogan became a cornerstone of the Indian independence struggle, inspiring millions and shifting the focus of the movement towards the demand for complete self-governance.
The concept of 'Swaraj' or self-rule, as articulated by Tilak, was not just about political independence but also about self-reliance and cultural pride.
What if the question was about the 'Poorna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) declaration? The answer would then point to the Indian National Congress session in Lahore in 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from Indian history.
Identify the key phrase in the question: 'Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it'.
Recall or associate this famous slogan with the correct freedom fighter from the options provided.
Review the slogans of other major leaders to confirm the correct match and rule out the distractors.
Recognize that each leader had distinct slogans that represented their ideology and the context of their time.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full RRB Staff Nurse Kolkata-2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.