The deadly legacy of the partition of Bengal (1905–1911)

Introduction:

There were lots of incidents made by the British rulers; The Partition of Bengal is one of them. General Governor Lord Curzon thought about the administrative convenience, Revenue collection, make a loyal intermediaries(Zaminders) by diving Bangla in 1905. After this, The Muslims were very satisfied to have more opportunity and get freedom of politics whereas, The Hindus or Calcutta people became so unhappy due to the excellency of them reduced, their own interests were hindered. There are lots of legacy of the partition of Bengal, I am going to discuss the deadly legacy of The Partition of Bengal to show the overall screen of situation after 1905.

The Partition of Bengal

The Partition of Bengal was a significant event in British Era1905 Before he partition of Bengal, ‘Bengal Presidency’ was the largest province in British India. This province consisted of Bengal, Bihar, Chhota Nagpur and Orissa. Its administration was vested in a governor or Chotolat. In 1866 there had been a terrible famine in Orissa. While investigating the cause of this famine, the Inquiry Committee pointed out that the administrative difficulty of the vast province was one of the main reasons for this famine. Sir William Gray in 1867 and Sir John Campbell in 1872 complained to the higher authorities that the administration of a vast province like Bengal It is not possible for the governor. Following the complaint, Sylhet, Cachar and Goalpara districts were soon brought under the rule of a Chief Commissioner. But still the administrative problem was not solved.

In 1901 Andrew Fraser, the Chief Commissioner of Madhya Pradesh, presented a plan for the reorganization of the various Indian speaking areas to Governor Lord Curzon. Lord Curzon realized the logic of this proposal. In February 1904 Lord Curzon visited East Bengal region and accepted the hospitality of Nawab Sir Salimullah in Dhaka. Sir Salimullah demanded a separate province for the Muslims of East Bengal and Assam. Lord Curzon realized from Andrew Fraser’s plan and the practical experience of his tour of East Bengal that to solve the administrative problems of the large province of Bengal, Bengal should be divided and a new province consisting of East Bengal and Assam should be formed. Lord Curzon published this plan of partition of Bengal on July 10, 1905.

According to Lord Curzon’s plan of partition of Bengal, ‘East Bengal and Assam Province’ was formed from Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi Divisions of Bengal Province (excluding Darjeeling, Hill Tripura and Malda districts) and Assam. The name of this newly formed province was officially announced on 15 October 1905. The capital of the newly formed province was established at Dhaka. The newly formed province had an area of ​​1,06,504 square miles, a population of 30,100,000 and two-thirds of them were Muslims. Sir Bampfield Fuller was appointed the first lieutenant governor of the newly formed province. A Council of Managers and a Board of Revenue were also constituted. However, the judiciary of the newly formed province was placed under the Calcutta High Court. The remnants of the erstwhile ‘Bangla Presidency’ . West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa formed ‘Bangla Pradesh’ which came to be popularly known as ‘West Bengal’. The capital of the province was Calcutta and Andrew Fraser was appointed as the first lieutenant governor. The area of ​​the province was 1,41,580 square miles and the population was 54 million. Out of this, the Hindu population was 4.2 million and the Muslim population was 90 million. Now, I am going to show the actual legacy which was occurred after the partition of Bengal in 1905.

Socio-economic impact of the Partition of Bengal

The partition of Bengal in 1905 had significant socio-political consequences that deeply affected the people living in the region. This section delves into the various aspects of its impact on religious and communal relations, economic stability, and the cultural and linguistic identity of the people.

Religious and Communal Tensions: The partition of Bengal was strategically designed by the British to create a divide between the Hindu-majority West Bengal and the Muslim-majority East Bengal (now Bangladesh). Lord Curzon wanted to rule the whole Bengal without any obstacles and his intention was to divide the Bengal into two parts to suppress the people. The government designedly ignored indispensable proffers presented by the civil retainers, particularly the idea of dividing Bengal on linguistic basis. Lord Curzon rejected this proposal lest the people of Bengal should consolidate into politics and protest against the British Rulers for independence. Curzon, like many before him, knew consciously that there was a clear geographical divide along the river Bhagirathi: eastern Bengal dominated by the Muslims, and western Bengal dominated by the Hindus. There was a conscious attempt on the part of British administration to woo the Muslim population in Bengal. In his speech at Dhaka, in February 1904, Curzon assured the Muslims that in the new province (East Bengal), Muslims would enjoy a unity, liberty, which they had never enjoyed since the days of old Muslim rule. We can the following the table which shows us the population of Hindus and Muslims and the British Government intended to divide by the line of religions. After this, The British East India Company made it by dividing and rulling the whole Bengal Presidency smoothly.

The population of Hindus and Muslims in Bengal Areas (1905–1911)

So, Religion and Communalism was a great factor to unite the Bengali people. The British, understanding it delivered their policy was to divide the Bengal by religious line instead of Linguistic line and made communal tensions with each other (Hindus & Muslims). After this Partition, Hindus community thought that the Muslim is our enemy and so is Muslims.

Economic Ramifications: The partition of Bengal significantly disrupted the economic activities of the region. The splitting of Bengal’s prosperous jute and textile industries caused economic disarray and unemployment. Moreover, the region’s economic ties were severed, and markets were divided, affecting trade and business adversely. The import rate of foreign goods were going down due to the protest against the partition of Bengal. This partition went on the help of Muslims to develop their economy but Calcutta had been become so unsatisfied to lose the Chittagong port, the production of jute etc. But after this partition, The Hindus protested against this and tried to unite each other. After the partition of Bengal, there was 13% decline in imports of cotton manufacturers, 41% decline in imports of boots and shoe; 5% decline in imports of tobacco; 14% decline in in the import of brandy; and the import of whisky declined in 17%. Because of this, the economy of the British decreased severely.

The distribution of Industries and Mills in Bengal (1905–1911)

Bengal’s partition affected both large-scale industries and small artisans. The once-thriving industries in Bengal, such as textiles and jute, were deeply impacted, leading to the decline of these sectors and the loss of livelihood for thousands of workers. The economic turmoil resulting from the partition plunged many families into poverty and forced large numbers of people to migrate in search of work and stability. There were many half-educated who were forced to take low paid jobs; in Mymensingh naibs were paid less than 360 rupees, a year, and muharris got only eight or nine rupees a month. The prospect of poverty and unemployment was increased after the high rate of increased education in both provinces. The economic struggles further exacerbated communal tensions as resources became scarce, and competition for jobs intensified.

Political Movement and its legacy

The partition of Bengal in 1905 triggered significant political movements and responses from various sections of society. This section examines the emergence of the Swadeshi Movement and other political actions as reactions to the partition and their impact on the Indian freedom struggle.

The Swadeshi Movement and its Aftermath: Though the British divided the Bengal for breaking the nationalism between Hindus and Muslims, The partition of Bengal acted as a catalyst for the growth of Indian nationalism. The Swadeshi Movement, which called for the use of indigenous products and boycotting British goods, gained immense popularity among the masses. We can in the following tables that after the movement the imports of foreign goods declined severely and the acceptance of indigenous goods increased.

The Import rate of foreign Goods.

We can see that the rate of import after the protest against the partition of Bengal, Cotton goods, apparel, Woolen goods, salt and tobacco’s demand declined severely and the people of west Bengal accepted their indigenous goods in huge number. Afterall, The movement’s leaders encouraged patriotism and instilled a sense of national pride, laying the foundation for the larger independence struggle. The partition led to the emergence of revolutionary groups and secret societies that sought to resist British colonial rule through armed struggle. These groups, such as the Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar, engaged in acts of violence against British officials and became instrumental in challenging British authority.

Bengal’s partition in the Future Independence Movement: Bengal’s active participation in the Indian or Pakistani freedom struggle was crucial in garnering support and momentum for the national movement. The partition of Bengal triggered radical nationalism and nationalists in the whole India and Bengal province. They protested against the “Divide and Rule” policy and it spread to Bombay, Pune . The partition of Bengal in 1905, in itself, did not directly lead to the independence of India and Pakistan. The partition was primarily a colonial administrative decision by the British authorities to divide the province of Bengal for better governance and control. However, it did have significant consequences that played a role in shaping the course of India’s independence movement and the eventual partition of British India in 1947.

The partition of Bengal sparked widespread protests and resistance from the Indian population, particularly from Bengal. The Swadeshi Movement and other political actions that emerged in response to the partition marked a significant rise in Indian nationalism. “Approximately, 20 meetings were completed in May and 40 in June against the partition of Bengal, and supporting the movement and there were 2000 persons who attended it. The suppression on students continues. 50 students of Noakhali were expelled due to attend in Swadeshi meetings. In favour of, the headmaster said the students continued to shout “Bande Mataram” and join in Swadeshi movements under the directors. The sentiment of unity against the British policy of divide-and-rule played a crucial role in fostering a sense of national identity and collective struggle for independence. The partition of Bengal heightened political consciousness and activism among Indians. It served as a catalyst for the growth of political organizations and leaders who later became key figures in India’s struggle for freedom. The experiences of the partition era influenced the strategies and ideologies adopted by various political movements in the fight against British rule.

Moreover, The partition creates hostility between Hindus and Muslims in the new division day by day, two province’s rivalry had been severely acute. Then, a political regeneration of the Muslims occurred and the partition played a crucial role for emerging Muslim Separate Homeland (Pakistan) in 1947. Without any doubt, the partition of Bengal had a prominent impact on all of these changes. “The partition issue produced antagonist reaction between the Muslims and Hindus of this province and as a result , the two communities drifted away from one another by the independence of Pakistan and India in 1947.

Long-term Consequences

The partition of Bengal in 1905 had significant and lasting long-term consequences that continued to shape the political, social, and cultural landscape of the Indian subcontinent. This section explores the aftermath of the partition, including its reversal, its impact on communal politics, and Bengal’s role in the broader context of India’s freedom struggle.

Partition Reversal and the Aftermath: The Hindu community of Bengal, especially the caste Hindus, were strongly opposed to the partition of Bengal. There were two reasons for their opposition. (i) The partition of Bengal struck a blow at the root of Hindu permanent interests. Bengal’s politics, economy, zamindari, trade, education, employment, legal business, etc. were under the control of caste Hindus centered in Calcutta. Due to the division of Bengal and the formation of new provinces with East Bengal and Assam, their interests were severely damaged. (ii) Partition of Bengal was tantamount to ‘Vivisection of the Motherland’ to the patriotic nationalist Hindu leaders. They emphasized on the language, culture, tradition and territorial unity of Bengal and Bengalis irrespective of religion and said that Bengal is indivisible. They termed the partition of Bengal as a British conspiracy to create discord between Hindus and Muslims and strongly opposed it. Motivated by patriotism Rabindranath Tagore added in the protest of the partition of Bengal.

Educational institutions became stagnant. All over Bengal and outside Bengal, the Hindu community continues to protest against the division of Bengal. protest meeting ‘Swadeshi Volunteer Force’ was formed of Hindu youth. Hindu-Muslim communal riots took place in many places of East Bengal including Comilla, Dhaka, Faridpur, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Pabna, Rajshahi. When the agitation intensified, the British government was forced to bow down. In less than a year, on 15 July 1906 Fuller, the Lieutenant Governor of East Bengal and Assam Province, resigned. The Muslim community was receiving his patronage. His sudden resignation disappointed them. On the other hand, the Hindu community was encouraged by this incident. Then on December 12, 1911, Emperor George V announced the cancellation of the partition of Bengal at the Delhi court. At the same time, he talked about shifting the British-Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi’

The annulment of the partition brought temporary relief to Bengal and its people, but it did not erase the scars left by the divisive policy. The communal tensions and economic disarray that resulted from the partition continued to linger, influencing the political landscape for years to come.

Legacy on Communal Politics: The partition of Bengal creates communal polarization and rise of divisive politics. It also left a deep impact on communal politics in India. It accentuated religious identities and communal divisions, which influenced the trajectory of Indian politics in the years that followed. To said elaborately, The Swadeshi Movement was tied to to the anti-partition agitation. Consequently, it made severe communal tensions. “It was shaped at the meeting of Maharaj Surya Kanta Acharya (Zamindar of Mymensingh) at his house. Moreover, the movement was doomed to the failure of some school and college students who embraced the Boycott and Swadeshi Movement. Then the agitation wad made into conflict. As a result, Community relations had been strained after the partition of Bengal.

The Hindus inspired the Mymensingh’s Muslims people to become a part of Swadeshi Movement. The local Hindus (Boycott’s Organizers) had told them that if they corporated, they would compensate for any kinds of losses they suffered. But, the pledge was not kept. The Sirajganj’s Muslims were equally rampant by the Congress agitation because their children were “appointed in political Movement by the teachers and Hindu leaders” in the Hindu-dominated educational institutions. They expressed their discontent with “much ill-treatment at the hands of Hindu teachers and students” and also urged to government to establish an Islamic English High School to avoid Hindu repression. These events made the communal tensions intensely and to become two sections between Bengali. So, The “Divide-and-Rule” strategy employed by the British during the partition era laid the groundwork for the communal politics that persisted even after India’s independence. Consequently, it provided a blueprint for future partition plans in India. The communal tensions and divisions that emerged during this period played a significant role in the eventual partition of British India in 1947, leading to the creation of Pakistan as a separate nation for Muslims.

Bengal partition’ Impact on the Freedom Movement: The spirit of resistance and nationalism that was kindled during the partition of Bengal had a lasting impact on the Gandhian movement. Mahatma Gandhi’s adoption of non-violent civil disobedience and his emphasis on unity and inclusivity were influenced by the experiences of the Swadeshi Movement and the partition era. The establishment of University of Dhaka, The movement of independence, are also the becoming points of the partition. The Muslims wanted to establish a separate country to avoid the Hindus oppression. This partition seed became a tree in 1947 and the province was divided into two nation based on religious line. One is Pakistan and the other is India. For this independence, active political leadership played a vital role in shaping the early years of independent India. Bengal’s intellectual and cultural heritage continued to influence the nation’s political and social discourse.

Contemporary Relevance

Political Activism: The political movements that emerged during the partition of Bengal demonstrate the power of collective action and political activism. These lessons can inspire contemporary citizens to engage in social and political causes to advocate for justice, equality, and human right. Such as the contribution of The Indian National Congress, the students’ movement etc. The experience of Bengal during and after the partition illustrates the importance of unity in pursuing national development. A united nation can address challenges and progress more effectively, transcending regional, religious, and cultural boundaries. Bengal’s leaders during the partition era exhibited courage, vision, and dedication to their cause. Their leadership serves as an example for contemporary leaders, emphasizing the need for principled and compassionate leadership focused on the welfare of the people.

Conclusion:

Lord Curzon remarks became it clear to all that the Partition of Bengal was not a spur-of-the moment decision, rather it had been cherished of the government for a long time. He remarked it after he had left India in The Statesman and Friend of India. To be sure, M.A Khan said about the state that “The partition of Bengal was the end product of Muslim allegiance to British rein over a long period of time. The deadly legacy of the Partition of Bengal from 1905 to 1911 was a transformative period in Indian history that left an indelible mark on the subcontinent. The socio-political consequences of the partition, including religious and communal tensions, economic disruptions, and cultural shifts, shaped the course of the Indian independence movement and continue to influence contemporary India. Learning from this historical episode, it is essential to recognize the importance of communal harmony and unity to build a stronger and more inclusive society in the present and the future.

References

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3. Indian Census 1911

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9. British Newspaper , July 29, 1906