Partition of Bengal 1905 - 1911

Background:
• The partition of Bengal controversy is the most significant event in Lord Curzon’s time in India.
• • It was under the control of one lieutenant Governor only and comprised of Orissa, Bengal, and Behar.
Following are the major reasons for the decision of Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon
Why was Bengal portioned in 1905? 7 marks
Reasons for the Partition:
Geographical factor: Bengal was a large province in area and population. Its population of 95 million
was ten times greater than the population of Britain at that time. It was the biggest province with dense
population, deep jungles and marshy areas making it difficult to keep an eye and manage.

Administration:
Since Bengal was the biggest province with a population Lord Curzon he believed dividing it would be an
efficient move to handle its administration. It had a population that was ten times greater than Britain
population making it difficult to be handled by only one Lieutenant.

Limited sources of Communication: Due to many forests and rivers, the resources of communication
were also minimal. Difficulties in relief work during times of trouble (famine, plague) smaller units can be
managed effectively. It was difficult to maintain proper law and order in the province because of the lack
of police..
• Religious reasons:
• In Bengal muslim and Hindu population was in millions.
Muslims were around 30 million and Hindus were 50 million.
Hindu muslim communal clashes and animosity was huge. The
religious riots were increasing between muslims and hindus in
Bengal. So it was sensible to divide the province on religious
grounds to control conflict between Hindus and Muslims. It
was also sensible British action by which two communities
could be divided in to two separate provinces which would
enable both communities to live according to their customs
and traditions.
• Bengal was also partitioned because of regional disparity.
Eastern Bengal was almost isolated from the western part by
geography and poor communication. The eastern region was
thought to be neglected and under governed.to address the
misery of muslims sense of deprivation in the Eastern social
economic and educational backwardness which was neglected
due to under governance flow of investment was towards
Calcutta. By splitting the province an improved administration
could be established in the east where population would benefit
from new schools and employment opportunities. So regional
disparity was so sharp that British were forced to take notice of
the plight of east Bengal and decided to divide. As they thought
east Bengal would be better off in a separate province governed
from Dhaka
• Political Reasons:
• Hindus in Bengal were politically more experienced and
organized moreover they dominated Congress. They began to
call for reforms. So as Bengali Hindus were in the forefront of
political agitation for greater participation in governance their
position would be weakened since muslims would now
dominate in the East. Therefore hindus believed that it was
deliberate plot of British to divide their most educated
province in order to reduce hindu threat by reducing their
unity. The hindus viewed it as Cynical exercise in their divide
and rule policy which had enabled them to conquer territories
earlier also.
• Nationalism:
• In addition Bengal was also partitioned due to the growing nationalism. By the end
of 19th century nationalism began to develop among hindus. Some leaders such as
Bal Gangadhar Tilak who emerged as first Indian Nationalist to embrace Swaraj as
the destiny of the nation. Some wrote provocative newspaper articles some were
involved in revolutionary activities. These activities worried the British who were
forces to take measures to clamp down
• Difference of Language: Bengal was partitioned due to language issues. Bengal was
inhabited by different ethinic groups speaking different languages like people of
Bihar spoke Bihari language, people of Orissa spoke Oriya langauge and people of
East Bengal spoke Bengali etc. It was difficult for British to accommodate different
groups under one administration. This caused administrative problems which
convinced British to divide the province.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.
• Calcutta was the capital of the British empire in the subcontinent. It was
located in the western Bengal. British central government was located in
Calcutta. In fact the Hindu businessmen of Calcutta feared a reduction in
their income and profits. Therefore they started mass agitation against the
partition of Bengal and their protest was supported by the Congress.
Muslims were disorganized and were unable to counter the Congress and
Hindu propaganda. In Calcutta constant resurgence political activities,
feelings of deprivation among people kept the province in turmoil, restore
peace and maintain law and order and to keep British Empire together.
British decided to Partition Bengal . Moreover the capital of Calcutta was
the capital of the entire British India. With the growing efforts of the Indian
National Congress to secure the Independence of India Lord Curzon decided
to address this problem by partitioning of Bengal.
The Partition:
• In October 1905, the partition of Bengal came into force.
• After the partition, there were two provinces of manageable sizes, the East Bengal and the West
Bengal.
• The East Bengal had a population of 31 million with 18 million Muslims and it included Assam along
with Mymensingh, Chittagong, and Dhaka as its capital.
• Calcutta was made the capital of West Bengal. It had a total population of 54 million with 45 million
Hindus.
Muslims’ Response:
• It received a positive response and they welcomed the partition of Bengal.
• It was believed that the partition will bring favorable results for the Muslims of Easy Bengal socially
and economically.
• The Muslims were positive that they will be free from Hindu dominance and will get equal
opportunities.
• Since Dhaka was supposed to be the capital it was considered that the chances of advancement of
Muslims will be great as it was the center of Muslim culture.
• It could have resulted in an uplift of Muslims' involvement in politics too.
Hindus’ Response:
• The Hindus of West Bengal considered themselves superior to the Muslims of East
Bengal.
• The decision of giving Muslims a separate province where they will be in clear majority
hit the Hindus a deadly blow.
• Hindus considered Lord Curzon’s decision of partition as devilish and branded his of
using the policy of
‘divide & rule’.
• The Hindu traders and landlords wanted the status quo and every chance to exploit
Muslims with their cruelty.
• The Hindu lawyers were also upset with the partition as they believed it will affect their
practice and East Bengal will have their own courts.
• In Bengal, the Hindu press was also afraid as they believed their business will also be
affected as the partition will allow Muslims to start their own newspaper.
• Murder attempts by Hindu extremist increased on Muslims leaders and British officials.
• Hindus boycott British goods.
.
Reasons for the Reversal of the Partition of Bengal in 1911
Protest meetings
Hindus rejected the parturition of Bengal. The congress also supported the
anti partition demand and started a political movement against the partition.
There were hundred of protests meetings and hindus used print media to
organize people against the partition. Articles were written in hindu
newspapers which played an important role to create and fury amongst the
Hindus and unite against the partition. The hindus opposed it by holding
meetings and mass rallies which put pressure on the British government. So
the Hindus objection to partition was great that this caused the British to
reconsider it.
Extremist Behavior of Hindus:
A few extremist of hindus adopted terrorist behaviors. They attacked on government offices and
officers. The train of the Governor of the Bengal was derailed and in London an officer of the
Secretary of state was killed by a bomb. The Hindus were so angry that they attempted to
assassinate the future Viceroy Lord Minto. The British began to feel that instead of creating a
better administration the partition had made the administration worse. So they decided to
reverse it.
Swadeshi movement (Economic reasons)
The hindus started the Swadeshi movement which spread rapidly. Under the movement British
manufactured goods were boycotted by the Hindus. British salt, cloth or any other manufactured
product. Hindus vowed to buy indian produced goods. British cloth was thrown on bonfires and it
became a matter of honour to wear locally produced goods. Soon the sales of British good
dropped dramatically and profit was reduced. Profits of british traders ruined and local industries
flourished and home made products increased. The Swadeshi movement cut the imports of
British goods in India. So to overcome the economic losses British decided annulment of the
partition of Bengal.
Calcutta Strikes:
At the same time some Indian workers those in Calcutta began a series of strikes to
show their opposition.

Civil Disobedience movement:

The Congress urged people not to accept the partition and started the ‘civil
Disobedience Movement’. Hindus refused to work in government offices or attend
schools etc. They did not obey laws or pay rents or taxes under the Civil Disobedience
Movement. The British began to feel that instead of creating a better situation the
partition had made more problems. So they decided to reverse the partition.
Congress Delegation:
Congress sent a delegation of important political leaders to London. These leaders
met the senators of the ruling party in London and convinced them that the partition
of Bengal is unfair with the people of Bengal. They convinced the members of the
ruling party that whole Bengali nation is against the partition and it would only bring
political and economic problems for the British government.
Hindu-Muslim riots:
As the Muslims welcomed the partition but Hindus rejected it. Therefore political
conflicts between the nations started. The Hindu Muslim rioting in India was further
increased when shops carrying foreign cloth were burnt since many of these were
owned by Muslims. So to control these conflicts and Hindu-Muslim rioting British
decided to reverse the partition of Bengal.
The British failure to control the Hindu protest against partition for another reason for the
annulment. First British tried to control Hindu protest by force. Tilak and important leaders were
arrested. Soon local prisons were filled with revolutionaries they also put restrictions on print
media and public gatherings but British realized that using tough measures to crush the hindus
would not be sufficient in themselves. A better approach would be to win the support of hindu by
making reforms. So to win the support the Hindus British introduced Morley-Minto reforms but
hindus rejected them and continued their protest. Hence the British was failed to control Hindus
protest and the measures were ineffective so no option was left except to reverse the partition
of Bengal.
Anti partition movement
The Bengal Hindus celebrated 16th October 1905 as a black day. They wore black dresses,
smeared their foreheads with ash. Business remained closed and some announced to keep fast
till death. They used inflammatory remarks and aroused religious sentiments to make the anti
partition movement much effective. They gave nationalist and religious colour to the movement
by declaring the division of Bengal as the dissection of their sacred mother cow. Thus anti
partition movement spread to all across India and created law and order situation. Violent
activities shook British government and they were forced to consider the wisdom of their action.
Reversal of Partition of Bengal
• When Lord Harding became the Governor-General of India, Hindus became active. They sent a representation to Lord Harding to
cancel the partition of Bengal decision. In December 1911 on the occasion, holding of ‘Darbar at Delhi’, George V visited India
and announced the cancellation of partition.

Muslims’ Reaction on Cancellation of Partition:

The muslims felt betrayed and disappointed , as well as shocked.

They lost faith in British promises and were convinced that the British only listened to sedition and clamor.

• The cancellation shattered the hopes of Muslims who were relying on the British's promise to divide Bengal.

• At that moment, they realized that to get fair treatment in India, they must use the Muslim League to speak for their rights and the
party prosper.

• The disappointment and anger served as a fuel to quicken and strengthen Muslim politics.

• The Muslims realized that they cannot rely on the British to give them any sort of power.

The muslim held a session in 1913 where it was decided that the early aim of loyalty to the British should be changed to the
achievement of self rule.

The Muslim League realized the importance of Congress in the politics of the subcontinent and decided to work with it to protect their
rights and get self rule .
Questions
Q. Describe the partition of Bengal. 4 marks
Q. What were the Muslims view about the partition of Bengal? 4 marks
Q. Describe the Hindu reaction against the partition of Bengal. 4 marks
Q. Why did Muslims welcome the partition of Bengal? 7 marks
Q. Why did Hindus/ Congress oppose the partition of Bengal? 7 marks
Q. Why did the British decided to reverse the partition of Bengal in 1911? 7 marks
Q. Bengal was partitioned in 1905 because of geographical factors. Do you agree? 14
Q The reasons for the partition of Bengal in 1905 were more important than that
caused its reversal in 1911. Do you agree? Explain your answer. 14 marks
 Homework

• Q. The reasons for the partition of Bengal in 1905 were more important than
that caused its reversal in 1911. Do you agree? Explain your answer. 14
marks