This article contains the following items regarding the Partition of Bengal along with the significance of Partition of Bengal.
Contents
v INTRODUCTION
v BACKGROUND OF PARTITION OF BENGAL
v REASONS
BEHIND PARTITION
v MAP
AFTER PARTITION
v THE
NEW PROVINCES AFTER PARTITION
v WHY
WAS BENGAL PARTITIONED IN 1905?
v WEST
BENGAL’S REACTION AFTER PARTITION
v EAST
BENGAL’S REACTION AFTER PARTITION
v AFTERMATH
OF PARTITION
v ANNULMENT
OF PARTITION OF BENGAL
v WHY
PARTITION OF BENGAL REVERSED IN 1911?
v DELHI
DURBAR 1911
v AFTERMATH
OF ANNULMENT
v DEVISION
OF BENGAL 1947
v CONCLUSION
v REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
The decision to effect the
Partition of Bengal was announced on July 19, 1905 by the Viceroy of India, Lord
George Curzon. The partition took place
on 16 October 1905 and separated the largely Muslim eastern areas from the
largely Hindus western areas. The Hindus of West Bengal who dominated Bengal’s
business and rural life complained that the division would make them a minority
in a province that would incorporate the province of Bihar and Orissa.
Background of partition of Bengal
Partitioning Bengal was first
considered in 1903.There were also additional proposals to separate Chittagong
and the districts of Dhaka and Mymensingh
from Bengal and attaching them to the province of Assam. In similar way, Chhota
Nagpur was to be incorporated with the central provinces.
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The government officially
published the idea in January 1904, and in February, Lord Curzon made an
official tour to eastern districts of Bengal to assess public opinion on the partition. He consulted with leading
personalities and delivered speeches at Dhaka, Chittagong and Mymensingh
explaining the government’s stand on partition.
The idea of Partition of Bengal was opposed by Henry John Stedman Cotton, Chief
Commissioner of Assam (1896-1902)
REASONS BEHIND PARTITION
q
The main reason for the partition was purely
political.
q
Weaken the national movement and the policy of
Divide and Rule.
q
The Hindus were in better position in terms of
economic status, professional qualities etc. than the Muslims.
q
The motive was to break the growing solidarity
of Bengali nationalism. Bengal at the time was considered to the nerve-center
of India nationalism. Lord Curzon decided to crush the new sprit by dividing
the politically advanced communities into separate provinces.
q
During the pre-Sepoy Mutiny period, section of
Hindu traders greatly helped the British while their Muslim counterparts did
not.
q The British were angry with the spread of Western education Hindus made a big way but Muslims could not.
MAP AFTER PARTITION
The new provinces after partition
Western Province
q West
Bengal, Bihar, Orissa
q Hindu
Majority
q Hindi
and Oriya speaking Majority
Eastern Province
q East
Bengal, Assam, Tripura
q Chittagong,
Dhaka, Rajshahi, Malda
q Muslim
Majority
q Bengali
speaking Majority
Why was Bengal partitioned in 1905?
q
Unwieldy for administration, very large
consisting of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa with 78 million population, poor means
of communication, difficulties in relief work during times of trouble (famine,
plague), smaller unit can be managed efficiently.
q
To address the misery of Muslims, sense of
deprivation in Eastern Bengal, social, economic and educational backwardness,
neglected and isolated due to under-governance, flow of all investment toward
Calcutta in Western Bengal.
q
Bengal portioned to weaken the solidarity of
Bengal , Bengal was hub of creating national awakening posing real threat to
the rulers. British played the communal card widening the hostilities between
Hindus and Muslims, division along religious line to curb the growing sense of
nationalism.
West Bengal’s reaction after partition
q
The people of West Bengal’s clearly saw the aim
of the Britishers to break the unity of Bengali people on communal lines and
thus weaken the nationalist movement.
q
The division of Bengal provoked an agitation and
angry reaction of west Bengal’s people. It created widespread indignation all
over the country.
q
The majority of people in west Bengal were
Hindus, they did not accept it as it dealt a telling blow to their monopolies
and exclusive hold on economic, social, Political life of the whole Bengal.
They call it as a deliberate attempt by British Government.
q
During the movement to lend the partition of
Bengal, new method of struggle were adopted. These method which included
“Swadeshi” and “Boycott” Movement, brought in participation by common people in
the anti-British political activities. “Bande Mataram” become their movement
main anthem.
East Bengal’s reaction after partition
q
The majority of people in west Bengal were
Muslim’s and the partition received a favorable response from them. It was
thought that it would bring the emancipation of Muslims socially and
economically.
q
Muslim’s became very hopeful of development and
they would get better opportunities of service and agriculture.
q
The city of Dacca, where the Muslims were in
majority was the center of Muslim culture. In Dacca Muslims had a great chance
of success for social and cultural advancement than Calcutta.
q
Due to the partition “Mohammedan Provincial
Union” was founded in 16 October 1905.
q
Lower caste Hindu’s are also very happy with the
partition decision.
q
The partition of Bengal relieved the Muslim’s
from competing with Hindus, who were more advanced in every field of life.
Aftermath of partition
v Eastern
Bengal and Assam province would cover 1,06,540 sq. mile.
v Muslims
and lower caste Hindus were pleased.
v Dacca
become the capital of East Bengal.
v Formation
of All India Muslim League in 1906.
v Important
buildings, High Court, Secretariate constructed in Dacca.
v Development
of communication and security.
v Created
new job/service opportunities.
v Economic
development.
v Development
in education sector.
Annulment of partition of Bengal
The authorities, not able to end
the protest, assented to reversing the partition and did so in 1911. King
George announced in 12th December 1911 that eastern Bengal would be
assimilated into the Bengal Presidency and the partition of Bengal was
cancelled. Districts where Bengali was spoken, were once again unified and
Assam, Bihar and Orissa were separated. The united Bengal was placed under a
Governor and Assam was placed under a Chief Commissioner. This decision was
shattering blow to Muslims. It left them sullen and disillusioned. Their anger
and indignation had widespread repercussions. The Muslims leaders and
intelligentsia condemned the decision as a betrayal of worst kind.
Why partition of Bengal reversed in 1911?
q
Economic reasons: boycott of British
goods and Swadeshi Movement, decline in demand of British products in
Indian markets, import dropped, profits of British traders ruined, local
industries flourished, use of home made-product increased.
q
Surrender in front of products and
demonstration, Law and order situation, cult of bomb and terrorism developed,
violence increased to most part of India, attacks on British officials and their
Indian associates.
q
Reducing the burden of government of Bengal and
form a separated government for the efficient administration of East Bengal and
Assam.
q
British measures proved ineffective, restriction
on print media and public gatherings, imprisonment of leaders, activities sent
into exile, reconciliatory effort also failed, Morley-Minto reforms of 1909
could not pacify Indians.
q
Delhi Durbar in December 1911, George
V (King of United Kingdom and Emperor of India) had to address the Indians,
British wanted peaceful proceedings.
Aftermath of annulment
v
In 1911, Indian capital was shifted to Delhi
from Calcutta and the same year East Bengal and West Bengal were reunited.
v
The Bengali Muslims were angry and disappointed.
v
The creation of United Bengal into a presidency
with a Governor in Council appointed from England.
v
The creation of Bihar and Orissa into a
Lieutenant-Governorship with a
Legislative Council and a Capital in Patna.
v
Lord Hardinge promised a new University at Dacca
in 1912.
v
The resentment remained throughout the rest of
the British period.
Division of Bengal 1947
The partition of Bengal in August
1947, part of the partition of Indian subcontinent, divided the British
Indian province of Bengal based on the Redcliffe Line between India and Pakistan.
The dominion of India is today the republic of India, and the dominion of
Pakistan is the combination of West and East Pakistan (later Bangladesh). The
Hindus West Bengal became a state of India and the Muslims East Bengal became a
province of Pakistan.
Conclusion
The partition of Bengal of 1905
left a profound impact on the political history of India. The partition left a
significant effect on the people of Bengal as well as the political scene of
Indian subcontinent. The partition of Bengal indeed marks a turning point in
the history of nationalism in India. It may be said that it was out of the
travails of Bengal that Indian nationalism was born.
References
v
https://www.britannica.com/event/Partition-of-Bengal
v
http://www.towardsfreedom.in/site/The_Bengal_Partition
v
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Bengal_(1905)
v
https://historypak.com/partition-of-bengal-1905-1911/
v
The Indian Journal of Political Science by M. R.
A. Baig Vol. 30, No. 2 (April—June 1969), pp. 103-129
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