3. 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.
4. INTRODUCTION
The opening years of the twentieth century
were stormy
The British were beginning to feel a bit
uneasy
Discontentment was brewing. Political
discontent was growing due to the inability of
the government to organize effective relief
during the period of plague and famine
5. 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 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.
6. 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.
7.
8. ORIGIN
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.
9. REASONS FOR PARTITION
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.
10. REASONS FOR PARTITION
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.
11. REASONS FOR PARTITION
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.
12. REASONS FOR PARTITION
1. 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.
2. 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".
3. 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
13. REASONS FOR PARTITION
1. 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.
2. 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".
3. 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
14. The Anti Partition Movement
1. 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. People embarked on Swadeshi and Boycott Movements.
15. Boycott and Swadeshi Movements
1. 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.
16. Boycott and Swadeshi Movements
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.
17. Spread of the Movement
1. 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 sugar
5. Washermen stopped washing foreign clothes.
6. Women stopped wearing foreign bangles
7. Students refused to use foreign paper.
8. Doctors refused to patronize dealers of British goods.
9. Picketing was combined with social ostracism.
18. Reaction of the British Government
1. 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.
8.
19. Surat Split of 1907
1. The movement affected negatively the unity of the INC.
2. It led to a dispute in the Congress.
3. Clash broke out in the Congress session at Surat in 1907.
4. Radical were excluded from Congress for a decade.
5. Moderates did not support the Radicals instead fell victim
to Minto Morley Reforms.
6. In 1916 the two wings of Congress were united in Lucknow
Session and the Congress regained its lost strength
20. Significance of the Movement
1. Strength to the national movement.
2. Stimulus to native industries.
3. Stimulus to culture
4. People’s sacrifice and new mode of protest
5.
21. 1. Strength to the national movement.
1. Intention of Lord Curzon: To weaken the national
movement by using the policy of divide and rule.
2. But the partition united the people of India.
3. It became a mass movement.
4. Swadeshi and boycott movement encouraged nationalism
and patriotism.
5. Indian writers wrote new nationalist poetry and prose
embodying patriotism.
6. Raised the state of nationalist unrest to the high plane of
bitter anti – imperialist struggle