The Bengal Pact

Course no: GES 108
Course title: Historical Geography of Bangladesh
Bengal Pact (BP) 1923
-What is BP?
-What was the background of BP?
-Who was pioneer behind it?
- What were the consequences of BP?
- Conclusion
Course no: GES 108
-What is BP?
Agreement to resolve the question of Hindu-Muslim differences.
Approved by the Bengal Provincial Congress committee meeting.
Formed in 1923. The Bengal Provincial Congress Committee

accepted the Pact in its meeting on 18 December, 1923.
Formed by Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. He explained “The pact

is based on two principles, religious toleration and political and
administrative right”.
Course no: GES 108

Bengal had a population of 85 million people. Among them
54% population Muslims and 44% Hindus (Census report,
1921).
Firstly, the Muslims are in a majority throughout the
province and the in East Bengal their numerical superiority is
overwhelming.
In Bengal Muslims lagged far behind than the Hindus
educationally and economically.
Course no: GES 108

Secondly, in spite of their numerical majority the Muslims
could not hold more than 33% of the Government posts as per
Government circular.
Thirdly, Bengal Muslims had inadequate representation in
the Legislative Council and local bodies
Fourth, they had grievances against the Lucknow Pact as
they alleged that it did injustice to the Muslims of Bengal and
the Punjab by not taking into consideration particular problems
of the muslim majority provinces.
Course no: GES 108
-Who was pioneer behind it?

Deshbandhu (Friend of the Nation) Chittaranjan Das
Believed in the principle of sharing political power
Supporter of public harmony and Hindu-Muslim unity

Course no: GES 108
Terms of the pact
-a) Representation in the Bengal Legislative Council would be

on population basis with separate electorates.
b) Representation in the local bodies would be on the
proportion of 60 per cent to the majority community and
40 percent to the minority community.
c) Regarding Government appointments, it was decided that
fifty five percent of the appointments should go to the
Muslims. Till the above percentage was attained, 80 per
cent of posts would go to the Muslims and the remaining
20 percent should go to the Hindus.
Course no: GES 108
-Terms of the pact
d) No resolution or enactment would be allowed to be moved

without the consent of 75 percent of the elected members
of the affected community.
e) Music in processions would not be allowed in front of the
mosques.
f) No legislation in respect of cow killing for food/religious
purpose would be taken up in the Council and endeavor
should be made outside the Council to bring about an
understanding between the two communities
Course no: GES 108
-What were the consequences of BP?
This pact, however, provoked great controversy and turned out to
be a veritable apple of discord, though overwhelming majority of the
Muslim community in the province of Bengal and the city of Calcutta
warmly welcomed the Pact and hailed it as “a charter of their rights”
Bengal Muslims thought that “the Swarajya Party only attempted

to undo the wrong” done by the Lucknow Pact”
After a serious of arguments the Marwaris and majority of the

Hindus opposed it and the veteran Malaviay, Lajpat Rai, Swami
Shardhananda, Bepin Pal, Mahatma Gandhi and Vithalbhai Patel
denounced the Pact.
Course no: GES 108
-What were the consequences of BP?
This pact, however, provoked great controversy and turned out to
be a veritable apple of discord, though overwhelming majority of the
Muslim community in the province of Bengal and the city of Calcutta
warmly welcomed the Pact and hailed it as “a charter of their rights”
Bengal Muslims thought that “the Swarajya Party only attempted

to undo the wrong” done by the Lucknow Pact”
After a serious of arguments the Marwaris and majority of the

Hindus opposed it and the veteran Malaviay, Lajpat Rai, Swami
Shardhananda, Bepin Pal, Mahatma Gandhi and Vithalbhai Patel
denounced the Pact.
Course no: GES 108
-What were the causes to oppose the act by the Bengali Hindus?
There were three chief causes of the resentment of the Bengali
middle class Hindus against the Pact:
- Fear of loss of social and political influence in the rural areas
where the Muslims were a majority;
- Fear of loss of influence in public services and
- The provision on cow slaughter.
Course no: GES 108
-What were the charges brought by the Hindus against the act?
They brought following charges against the act
1. It was conceived secretly and hastily in a private meeting, behind
the back of the constituencies outranging the principle of
responsible representation;
2. It was a compromise formula based on expendiency as it was a
bait offered by the Swaraj Party to lure the Muslims to the party
and thus a strategic move to ensure Muslims votes in the Bengal
Council to create deadlocks there;
3. The Pact would encourage Muslims separatist ideas and abet
their greed;
Course no: GES 108
-What were the charges brought by the Hindus against the act?
4. The principle of communal representation adopted by the pact was

the antithesis of the principle of Indian nationalism;
5. The percentage jobs allocated to the Muslims by the Pact could not
be implemented in many areas due to a dearth of educated
Muslims;
6. The concessions to the backward Muslims community in public
services would put premium on inefficiency
Course no: GES 108
Conclusion
Rejected by the Coconada Session of the Indian National Congress
Chittaranjan Das tried to get the terms of the Pact approved.
Premature death in 1925.

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Course no: GES 108

Course title: Historical Geography of Bangladesh

Bengal Pact (BP) 1923

Bengal Pact (BP) 1923

Approved by the Bengal Provincial Congress committee meeting.

Formed in 1923. The Bengal Provincial Congress Committee

Formed by Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. He explained “The pact

Bengal Pact (BP) 1923

-What was the background of BP?

Bengal Pact (BP) 1923

-What was the background of BP?

Bengal Pact (BP) 1923

-Who was pioneer behind it?

Believed in the principle of sharing political power

Supporter of public harmony and Hindu-Muslim unity

-a) Representation in the Bengal Legislative Council would be

-Terms of the pact

d) No resolution or enactment would be allowed to be moved

Bengal Muslims thought that “the Swarajya Party only attempted

After a serious of arguments the Marwaris and majority of the

Bengal Muslims thought that “the Swarajya Party only attempted

After a serious of arguments the Marwaris and majority of the

Bengal Pact (BP) 1923

4. The principle of communal representation adopted by the pact was

Bengal Pact (BP) 1923

Chittaranjan Das tried to get the terms of the Pact approved.

Premature death in 1925.

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