Section 2.

TOPIC 7:

Partition of Bengal and Reversal 1905-11

The partition of Bengal was the most important event during the rule of Lord Curzon. It was carried out mainly for the convenience
of administration. Bengal in those days was the biggest province of India extending over 1, 89, 000 square miles with a population
of 84 million. It was comprising of Bengal, Behar and Orissa and was under the central of one lieutenant Governor. After Lord
Curzon took charge as Governor General of India the discussion over the Partition began due to the following issues:

1. Vastness/huge population of Province: The Province was spread over the area of 1, 89, 000 square miles. It was the
biggest province and it was very hard to keep an eye on the dense jungles, deep marshy areas and extremely populated regions
of Bengal. Its population expanded to 84 million which was ten times greater than the population of Britain at that time.so it
was too hard to be managed by one lieutenant Governor. He could not make a tour for the whole province due to its vastness
once in his tenure.

2. Limited Sources of Communication: The sources of communication in the provinces were limited due to rivers and forests.
The law and order condition of the provinces was also worst due to insufficient police and in-efficient management. Therefore
the need of partition of province was felt severally.

3. Difference of Language: There was also the difference of Languages and civilization of the natives of West Bengal and East
Bengal. The natives of West Bengal considered themselves superior in civilization to the resident of East Bengal. The Condition
demanded for the division of Provinces.

4. Promotion of Trade: The division of Bengal was the need of the time to develop trade in East Bengal and to promote the
Port of Chittagong, which could be done only by division of the Provinces.

5: Appeasement policy: It is also believed that the British wanted to appease Muslims and certainly the partition went in favour
of the Muslims. Before the partition only Western Bengal was developed and industrialized. It was a striking contrast to the
eastern part where the Muslim peasantry was crushed under the Hindu landlords, the river system was infested with pirates, and
very few funds were allocated for education. The partition helped boost Bengali literature and language; efforts were also made
towards the social, economic and educational uplift of the Muslims.

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6: Divide and rule policy: Bengali Hindus also alleged that Lord Curzon had deliberately tried to divide the Hindus and the Muslims
by drawing a line between the Hindu and the Muslim halves of Bengal. And by favouring the Muslims by giving them a new
province in which they were in a clear majority, had struck a deadly blow to Bengali nationality. They branded him as the upholder
of the devilish policy of 'divide and rule'.

Partition: The Partition of Bengal was thus calculated to restore efficiency in the Government and administration on one
hand and encouraged local initiatives for progress and development on the other. Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal and formed
two new provinces of manageable size – East and West Bengal. East Bengal consisted of Dacca, Mamansingh, Assam, Kaula,
Rangpur, and Bogra district, the Dacca was capital of East Bengal constituted a majority Muslim Province, while the Bihar and
Orissa constituted a separate province to be called as West Bengal with the capital of Calcutta and become the Hindu Majority
provinces.

East Bengal contained a population of eighteen million Muslims and twelve million Hindus. Whereas West Bengal had a
population fifty four million of which 42 million where Hindus and thus was the Hindu majority province.

Muslims’ Response

It received a favourable response from the Muslims. It was thought that it would bring the emancipation of Muslims socially and
economically. The Muslims welcomed the Partition of Bengal for the following reasons:

1. In the majority province of East Bengal the Muslims would be free from Hindu dominance in economic field. They would
get opportunities of services and advancement of agriculture.

2. The city of Dacca, where the Muslims were in majority was the centre of Muslim culture. In Dacca Muslims had a great
chance of success for social and cultural advancement than in Calcutta.

3. The Partition could result in political uplift and securing represent action in the Government.

4. The partition of Bengal relieved the Muslims from competing with Hindus, who were more advanced in every field of life.

Hindus Response

The Hindus did not accept it, as it dealt a telling blow to their monopolies and exclusive hold on economic, social, Political life of
the whole of Bengal. They called it as a deliberate attempt by British Government

1. The Partition of Bengal had brightened the possibility of betterment of Muslims; while the Hindu landlords, capitalists and
traders wanted status quo and to continue the exploitation of the Muslims.

2. Hindu lawyers also reacted to the partition of Bengal because they thought that the new province would have its separate
courts and thus their practice would be affected.

3. Hindu press was not different from that of Hindu advocates. Hindus had their monopoly over almost whole of the province
press. They were afraid that new newspapers would be established which would decrease their income naturally.

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4. The Hindus launched Swadeshi Movement whose sole purpose was to boycott of British goods…titles were returned-burn
the Muslim alive-courts boycotted-jobs were boycotted –salt boycotted

5. Murder attempts also began. Not only Lord Minto but many other British officials and Muslim leaders were attacked by Hindu
extremist. Muslim leaders were also targeted

Annulment of the Partition

When Lord Harding assumed charge as Governor General of India Hindus again became active and sent a representation to him
for the annulment of partition of Bengal. He recommended the same to the British Prime Minister for Indian Affairs. On the
occasion of the visiting His Majesty George V to India and holding of Darbar at Delhi on 12th December 1911 the partition of
Bengal was cancelled. 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 disillusioned. Their anger and indignation had widespread repercussions.
The Muslims leaders and intelligentsia condemned the decision as betrayal of worst kind.

Expected Question & Answers:

Question No. 1: why was the partition of Bengal reversed in 1911? (7) June 2001. Q. 3 b

Question No.2: how did the Hindus oppose the partition of Bengal between 1905 & 1911? (7) November 2002 Q. 2 b

Question No. 3: why was the partition of Bengal reversed in 1911? (7) November 2003 Q.2 b

Question no.4: why was Bengal partitioned in 1905? (7) June 2004 Q.2 b

Question No. 5: why was the partition of Bengal reversed in 1911? (7) November 2005 Q. 3 b

Question No. 6: Bengal was partitioned in 1905 because of geographical factors. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

(14) June 2006 Q. 2 c

Question No.7: why did the British decide to reverse the partition of Bengal in 1911? ( 7) June 2007 Q. 2 b

Question No.8: the reasons for partitioning Bengal in 1905 were more important than those that caused its reversal in 1911, do you agree? Explain your answer.

(14) June 2009 Q.3 c

Question No.9: partition or reversal? Were the reasons why Bengal was partitioned in 1905 more important than those regarding its reversal in 1911? Explain your answer.

(14) June 2011 Q.3 c

Question no.10: why was Bengal partitioned in 1905? (7) Oct/Nov 2012 Q.2 b

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Question N.o.11: Bengal was the largest province of India with a population of 85 million people. Lord Curzon, the newly appointed Viceroy believed that Bengal was too large to be governed
efficiently as a single province and in 1903 proposed that it should be split into two, West Bengal and East Bengal.
(a) Describe the Swadeshi Movement. [4] Oct/Nov 2014 Q. 2a

Question N.o.12: Explain why the British partitioned Bengal in 1905. [7] June 2016 Q. 3 b

Question N.o.13: What was the Swadeshi Movement? [4] June 2018 Q. 3 a

Question No. 14:

How successful was the 1905 Partition of Bengal? Explain your answer. (14) June 2020. 3 c

Answer to Question No. 1:

[Protests and Violence] The partition of Bengal created a Muslim-majority province, the East Bengal. The elite Hindus of West Bengal, who were

collecting taxes from Muslim peasants in east Bengal, would now lose their influence in the new province. They, therefore, re jected the decision

and launched a series of violent protests and demonstrations against the partition. The tide of anger rapidly spread to other parts of India. The

reaction was so strong that it gave birth to the development of extremism. A number of small extremist groups came into existence that launched

attacks on the British officials. They succeeded in killing a few ones. Lord Minto, the future viceroy, escaped an assassination attempt. Many

extremists were imprisoned for long time, but the situation was alarming to the British. Finally, they had to bow down before the Hindu agitation

and thus revoked the Bengal partition.

[Economic Reasons] The British reversed the partition of Bengal due to economic reasons also. The Hindus of West Bengal started Swadeshi

Movement, which also spread to other parts of India. It was a massive campaign for boycotting the British goods and using home -made products.

The Hindus responded to the movement enthusiastically. The use of local products became a matter of pride. Foreign cl othes were thrown on

bonfires. By 1908, imports from Britain had fallen off significantly and sales of British goods in Indian markets dropped drastically. So the British

had to reverse the decision.

[British Measures Failed] The British took several measures to bring the situation under control but political unrest kept on growing. Restrictions

were imposed on newspapers and public gatherings. Editors were imprisoned. The prisons were filled with revolutionary activis ts. Tilak was also

arrested in June 1908 and put behind the bars for 6 years. Apart from repressive measures, the British turned to reconciliation also by introducing

Morley-Minto reforms in 1909 to win support of the Hindus, but the reforms also could not pacify them. The situation was becoming difficult for

peaceful administration and ultimately the British had to move towards annulment of the partition .

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