Partition Of Bengal: 1905

Introduction:

Partition of Bengal which took place in the year of 1905 was another landmark in the political history of the Sub-continent. This partition went in favour of the Muslims of Bengal but the Hindus protested vehemently against it. From the British point of view the reasons for this partition were only administrative because the charge of the province was too heavy task for a Lt. Governor. According to the British historian

"the Lt.Governor of Bengal had to administer, in 1903,
An area of 1, 89,000 square miles with a population of
7, 80, 00,000 and gross revenue of 75, 00,000 pounds.
No other provincial administrator of India had so huge
Charge."


Annulment Of The Partition:

Constant Hindu violent reaction to the partition of Bengal forced the British government to revise its decision. As a result, at the recommendation of the Viceroy Lord Harding, King George V announced the annulment of the partition in the Delhi Darbar held on 12th December, 1911. This decision pleased the Hindus but the Muslims felt betrayed.

Results Of The Annulment Of The Partition/ Conclusion:

The annulment of the partition greatly disappointed the Muslims and their faith in the justice of the British government was shaken badly. In addition, the Hindu agitation against the partition convinced the Muslim community that the Hindus were bent upon damaging its interests at all costs. According to I.H Qureshi

"Muslim reaction to these decisions was naturally bitter. For years the government of India and Home government had been telling the Muslims that the decision regarding the partition of Bengal was final and would not be reopened. Such flagrant disregard for solemn promises created a feeling of distrust among the Muslims. They lost all faith in British pledges. They were convinced that the Government listened only to sedition and clamour, that constitutional approaches did not pay, that loyalty was rewarded with treachery.

Details Of The Partition:

Lord Curzon felt the need of the partition of Bengal and submitted the scheme to the British government in February, 1905. The Secretary of state for India, St. John Brodick approved the plan in June and consequently the province of Bengal was partitioned on 16th October, 1905. According to this scheme, the province was divided into two provinces Eastern Bengal with Decca s its capital and Western Bengal with Calcutta as its capital. The province of Eastern Bengal had an area of 10,640 square miles and a population of 31 million out of which 18 million were Muslims. On the other hand Western Bengal had a population of 54 million out of which 45 million were Hindus. The Eastern Bengal became a Muslim majority province because out of its 31 million population 18 million were Muslims.

Reaction To The Partition:

The Muslims gladly welcomed the partition because it gave them majority in the Eastern province. On the other hand, the Hindus showed violent reaction to the partition. According to Dr. I.H Qureshi:
"This modification of the boundaries of Bengal was made an occasion of unprecedented agitation by the Hindus….first of Bengal and later on other parts of India. Ulterior motives were imputed to Curzon; he had deliberately tried to divide the Hindus and the Muslims by drawing the line between Hindu and Muslim halves of Bengal; he had favoured the Muslims by giving them a new province in which they were in a clear majority; he Had vivisected Bengali homeland; he had struck a deadly blow to Bengali nationality; he had sought to weaken the nationalist and patriotic Movement of the people of India which had its strongest centres in Bengal."
The Hindus started agitation against the partition. Indian National Congress also organized protest meetings and demonstrations throughout the country.

Reasons Behind The Hindus’ Reaction:

i) The Hindus believed that they would come under the domination of the Muslims in the new province and their superior position would be downgraded to the inferior status.
ii) As the provincial high Court and other judicial bodies were to be shifted to Decca, the Hindu lawyers feared that their legal practices would be affected.
iii) Since Decca was to become the centre of journalists and academic activities, So the Hindu press and media feared that from now onward the Muslim point of view would be projected in the newspapers and magazines. The Hindus also feared that their income would seriously be lessened.
iv) The Hindu lords, capitalists and traders did not like the partition because it was to put an end of their exploitation of the poor Muslims.
v) Before partition the Hindus enjoyed a dominant position in the political sphere in the province over the Muslims. The partition put an end to their superior political status and political dominance over the Muslims.