Class Notes:
Partition of Bengal:
The late nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century witnessed an
increasing trend of resentment against British rule. Political discontent was
growing due to the inability of the government to organize effective relief
during the periods of plague and famine.
The Partition of Bengal in 1905, was made on 16 October by then Viceroy of
India, Lord Curzon. An extremely unpopular measure, it generated an
aggressive nationalism especially in Bengal and other parts of India as [Link]
political unrest that followed the partition is known as the Anti
Partition/Swadeshi/Bande Mataram Movement .
Divide and Rule:
From 1870 onwards, the British encouraged the Hindus and the Muslims to
form their own political parties to establish their distinct religious identities.
That was perhaps, the beginning of the communalisation of politics. The British
not only encouraged the two communities to form political parties along
religious lines, they took various constructive steps to create a situation
whereby Hindus and Muslims would be forced to think in a way as if their
religious identity is at peril.
Origin
The province of Bengal had an area of 489,[Link] and a population of over
80million. Eastern Bengal was almost isolated from the western part by
geography and poor communications. In 1836, the upper provinces were
placed under a lieutenant governor, and in 1854 the Governor-General-In-
Council was relieved of the direct administration of Bengal. In 1874 Assam,
including Sylhet, was severed from Bengal to form a Chief-Commissionership,
and the Lushai Hills were added to it in1898.
This effort culminated in the partition of Bengal in 1905. The former province
of Bengal was divided into two new provinces "Bengal" (comprising western
Bengal as well as the province of Bihar and Orissa) and Eastern Bengal and
Assam with Dacca as the capital of the latter. The partition was made along
communal lines. This partition provided an impetus to the religious divide and,
as a result of that, All India Muslim League and All India Hindu Mahasabha was
formed. Both the organisations aimed at fanning communal passions.
The government announced the idea for partition in January 1904. The idea
was opposed by Henry John Stedman Cotton, Chief Commissioner of Assam
(1896–1902). Curzon and his subordinates had ignored countless pleas and
petitions signed by tens of thousands of Calcutta’s leading citizens.
Curzon stated that the partition was promoted for administrative reasons. The
eastern region was neglected and under-governed. By splitting the province, an
improved administration could be established in the east, where subsequently,
the population would benefit from new schools and employment
opportunities.
Reasons for Partition
The real reason behind the partition was political and not administrative. East
Bengal was dominated by the Muslims and West Bengal by the Hindus. The
Hindus were in a better position in terms of economic status, professional
qualities etc, than the Muslims. The British held the Muslims responsible for
the 1857 revolt. A section of loyal Hindus greatly helped the British to suppress
the revolt while their Muslim counterparts did not. With the spread of
Western education Hindus made a bigway, but the Muslims could not.
A sense of deprivation crept in. Perhaps, the sense of deprivation was
engineered. When the discontentment grew in the beginning of this century,
the British capitalised on this sense of deprivation. A feeling of inferiority was
there. The British merely added fuel to fire. Suddenly both the communities
became aware of their religious identities. The net result is the Partition of
Bengal.
To Strike at the roots of Bengali Nationalism: The real motive was to break "the
growing solidarity of Bengali nationalism". Bengal at that time was considered
to be "the nerve-centre of India nationalism". Lord Curzon decided to crush
the new spirit by dividing the politically advanced communities into separate
provinces.
Another motive was to drive a wedge between the Hindus and the Muslims. In
February 1904,Curzon went on a tour of East Bengal, where he addressed a
number of meetings. He explained the Muslims that "His object in partitioning
Bengal was not only to relieve the Bengal administration, but also to create a
Mohammedan province".
To demonstrate the strength of the British Raj: Lord Curzon was reactionary,
having great dislike for democratic ideals. He believed that people of India,
illiterate as the were, could have no political aspiration.