Previous Year Question
With reference to the book “Desher Katha” written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements :
It warned against the Colonial State’s hypnotic conquest of the mind.
It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs.
The use of ‘desh’ by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
Desher Katha was written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar in Bengali and published in 1904. Its objective was to make the Indian public aware of its history, contemporary conditions and the exploitation of the Indian economy under British rule.
The book explained that colonial rule was not confined to political and economic control; it also attempted to influence Indian consciousness and thought. In this sense, it warned against the Colonial State’s “hypnotic conquest of the mind.” Therefore, statement 1 is correct.
The ideas contained in the book inspired swadeshi street plays and folk songs. These cultural media helped communicate the ideas of swadeshi, economic self-reliance and opposition to colonialism to the wider public. Therefore, statement 2 is correct.
During the Swadeshi Movement, the book had a widespread impact on the youth. Because it exposed the exploitation of the Indian economy under British rule, the colonial government banned the book on 28 September 1910.
Although the book was written in Bengali and was particularly influential in Bengal, Deuskar did not use the word ‘desh’ exclusively for Bengal. Its broader reference was to the Indian nation or India as a whole. Therefore, statement 3 is incorrect.