partitionofbengal

1905 Md. Sajib Chowdhury

ID No: 16411069 Section: ADepartment of International

RelationsFaculty of Security and Strategic

Studies (FSSS)Bangladesh University of

Professionals

Discussion PointsIntroductionBackgroundOrigin Reasons for partitionHindu Muslim Response The Anti Partition MovementReaction of the British GovernmentSignificance of the MovementReunited of Bengal Conclusion

INTRODUCTION The Partition of Bengal in 1905, was made on

16 October by then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. Due to the high level of political unrest generated by the partition, the eastern and western parts of Bengal were reunited in 1911.

The opening years of the twentieth century were stormy

The British were beginning to feel a bit uneasyDiscontentment was brewing. Political discontent was growing due to the inability of the government to organize effective relief during the period of plague and famine

BEHIND THE SCENES For the first time, they used their divide-and-

rule political game with great force. From 1870 onwards, the British started

inciting the Hindus and the Muslims to form their own political parties to establish their distinct religious identities.

That was perhaps, the beginning of the communalization 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

489,500sq.km and a population of over 80 million.

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 in 1898.

Continue…… This effort culminated in the partition of Bengal

in 1905. West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar was on one side and the erstwhile east Bengal and Assam was on the other.

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.

Hindu Muslim Response Muslims’ Response : It received a

favorable response from the Muslims. It was thought that it would bring the emancipation of Muslims socially and econom

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.

The reasons behind The partition

Continue……The main reason for the Partition was purely

political. The Hindus were in a better position in

terms of economic status, professional qualities etc, than the Muslims.

During the pre-Sepoy Mutiny period, section of Hindu traders greatly helped the British while their Muslim counterparts did not.

The British were angry. With the spread of Western education Hindus made a big way, 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. The sear of Partition is yet to heal.

The reason behind the partition that was officially announced was that the Bengal province was too large to be administered by a single governor and therefore was partitioned on administrative purpose.

But the real reason behind the partition was political and not administrative. East Bengal was dominated by the Muslims and West Bengal by the Hindus.

Continue….

Major Reasons 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.

The Policy Of Divide & Rule: 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

The Anti Partition Movement1. 16th Oct: a day of mourning.

2. People protested, fasted, walked barefoot to the Ganges, singing patriotic songs.

3. Tagore suggested to observe as Raksha Bandhan Day signifying brotherhood between people of East and West Bengal.

4. Meetings and appeals

5. Proposal of boycott

6. Boycott movement

7. Swadeshi movement

Boycott and Swadeshi Movements1. Initially partition was opposed by using conventional

moderate methods.2. Those methods failed.3. Boycott of British goods resulted as an effective

method.4. Arandhan is a rite of mourning. The hearth is not lit.

The food is not prepared. Nothing is kept on fire for boiling or baking in the house. Thus, the rite is performed.

5. This custom was made the mode of protest during the Bengal partition. It was adopted along with Rakhi Bandhan and Boycott.

6. It was suggested by Ramendrasunder Trivedi. The Rakhi Bandhan was suggested by Rabindranath Tagore.

7. The method of protest in form of Boycott, Rakhi Bandhan and Arandhan was a new dimension in the freedom struggle of India. It was adopted in case of anti-Bengal partition movement.

Continue….1. Boycott was complimented by another

method of protest and resistance called Swadeshi.

2. Swadeshi means ‘of one’s own country’3. Implies that : people should use goods

produced within the country.4. Also has the Implication of : self- help and

self-reliance.5. Swadeshi brought into politics a new class of

people without any distinction of class or creed.

6. It taught the press to be fearless, Hindus & Muslims to co-operate, students to defy unjust authority and to make sacrifices for the sake of the freedom of their motherland.

Spread of the Movement1. Under Tilak’s inspiring leadership, the

movement gained momentum.2. Youth of Bengal marched protest against the

partition.3. British goods were burnt at public places.4. Confectionaries stopped using foreign sugar5. Washermen stopped washing foreign clothes.6. Women stopped wearing foreign bangles7. Students refused to use foreign paper.8. Doctors refused to patronize dealers of

British goods.9. Picketing was combined with social

ostracism.

Reaction of the British Government1. British Government was shaken but it

reacted sharply.2. Protestors were arrested and sent to

jails.3. Peaceful and non violent were subjected

to lathi charges.4. Educational institutions were warned.5. Grants were cancelled to educational

institutions who were suspected of participating in Swadeshi movements.

6. Several leaders were arrested and deported

7. Thus the movement lost its momentum.

Consequences and Significance of Partition 1. Strength to the national movement.2. Stimulus to native industries.3. Stimulus to culture4. People’s sacrifice and new mode of protest5. The partition united the people of India.6. It became a mass movement.7. Swadeshi and boycott movement encouraged

nationalism and patriotism.8. Indian writers wrote new nationalist poetry and prose

embodying patriotism.9. Disheartening Muslim community10.Amar sonar Bangla written by Tagore11.Raised the state of nationalist unrest to the high plane

of bitter anti – imperialist struggle

Reunited of Bengal in 1911Due to these political protests, the two parts

of Bengal were reunited in 1912. A new partition which divided the province on linguistic, rather than religious, grounds followed, with the Hindi, Oriya and Assamese areas separated to form separate administrative units. The administrative capital of British India was moved from Kolkata to New Delhi as well.

However, conflict between Muslims and Hindus resulted in new laws having to be introduced so as to satisfy the political needs of both groups.

ConclusionThe Partition of Bengal of 1905 left a

profound impact on the political history of India. The partition left a significant impact on the people of Bengal as well as the political scene of the 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.