1905 Partition of Bengal? successful? [14]

Question 1

Why was Bengal considered difficult to govern before its partition in 1905?

Answer 1

• Bengal was the most populated province in British India, with over 80 million people living in a small area, making it densely populated.
• This caused administrative challenges, such as maintaining law and order, collecting taxes, and providing emergency aid during natural disasters like floods and cyclones.
• Due to these difficulties, it was deemed necessary to divide Bengal into two provinces to improve governance.

Question 2

How was Bengal divided in 1905, and what was the economic situation of Hindus and Muslims?

Answer 2

• Bengal was divided into two parts.
• The western part had a Hindu majority with 54 million people, while the eastern part had a Muslim majority with 31 million people.
• Economically, Hindus dominated trade, industry, and politics, while Muslims were generally poorer and underprivileged.
• The British may have wanted to reduce this disparity by creating a separate province for Muslims, giving them better economic opportunities.

Question 3

How did political activities of the INC influence the decision to partition Bengal?

Answer 3

• In the 1890s, the Indian National Congress (INC) had become more aggressive in its demand for self-rule.
• Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak delivered provocative speeches that led to imprisonment.
• The British, fearing the growing influence of the INC, wanted to divert their attention by creating a new issue.
• In 1903, Lord Curzon proposed the partition of Bengal along communal lines, and in 1905, Bengal was officially divided into a Muslim-majority East Bengal and a Hindu-majority West Bengal.

Question 4

How did Muslims react to the partition of Bengal?

Answer 4

• The Muslims were pleased with the partition and thanked the British for improving their socio-economic and political position.
• They formed their government in East Bengal and began to develop the Chittagong port to compete with Calcutta.
• The partition ended Hindu domination over Muslims, allowing them to secure government jobs in the new province.
• For the first time since 1857, Muslim-British relations improved significantly.

Question 5

How did the Hindu-led INC react to the partition of Bengal?

Answer 5

• The INC strongly opposed the partition and launched a nationwide anti-partition campaign.
• They organized protests, strikes, and rallies to pressure the British to reverse the decision.
• Over time, the protests turned violent, and some extremists even resorted to terrorist activities.
• Several British officials, including Lord Minto, were attacked, which made it difficult for the British to maintain law and order.

Question 6

What was the Swadeshi Movement, and how did it impact the British?

Answer 6

• The INC launched the Swadeshi Movement to oppose the partition by boycotting British goods.
• Many Hindus returned British titles and refused to attend government institutions.
• British-made cotton cloth was burned in bonfires as a sign of protest.
• This caused serious economic difficulties for the British, as their products faced a sharp decline in the Indian market, increasing pressure on them to reconsider the partition

Question 7

How did the INC threaten the British before the visit of King George V in 1911?

Answer 7

• King George V was scheduled to visit India in 1911, and the INC threatened to boycott the Coronation ceremony, which was a prestigious event for the British Empire.
• The British, worried about the political consequences of a boycott, faced increasing pressure to reverse the partition.
• Sir John Jenkins, a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, advised the government to reunite Bengal, and the King himself announced the reversal of the partition in Delhi in 1911.
• Assam, Bihar, and Orissa were separated from the reunited Bengal

Question 8

What was the overall impact of the partition of Bengal on Muslim nationalism?

Answer 8

• Despite its reversal in 1911, the partition of Bengal had a lasting impact on Muslim nationalism.
• It gave Muslims the experience of running their own government in a province where they were in the majority.