Causes of the Partition

1. Population
• The Bengal Presidency encompassed Bengal, Bihar, parts of Chhattisgarh,
Orissa and Assam. With a population of 78.5 million it was British India's
largest province. For decades British officialdom had maintained that the
huge size created difficulties in effective management and had caused
neglect of the poorer eastern region. The idea of the partition had been
brought up only for administrative reasons. Therefore, Curzon planned to
split Orissa and Bihar and join fifteen eastern districts of Bengal with
Assam. The eastern province held a population of 31 million, most of
which was Muslim, with its centre at Dhaka. Once the Partition was
completed Curzon pointed out that he thought of the new province as
Muslim. Lord Curzon's intention was to divide Bengalis, not Hindus from
Muslims. The Western districts formed the other province with Orissa and
Bihar. The union of western Bengal with Orissa and Bihar reduced the
speakers of the Bengali language to a minority. Muslims led by the Nawab
Sallimullah of Dhaka supported the partition and Hindus opposed it.
 2.Vastness of the province
• The Province was spread over the area of
• 1, 89, 000 square miles with the population of
80 million, which was too vast to be managed
by one lieutenant Governor. He could not
make a tour for the whole province due to its
vastness once in his tenure.
•
 3.Limited sources of communication

• The sources of communication in the

provinces were limited due to rivers and
forests. The law and order condition of the
provinces was also worst due to insufficient
police and in-efficient management. Therefore
the need of partition of province was felt
severally.
 3.Develop trade in Eastern Bengal
• The division of Bengal was the need of the
time to develop trade in East Bengal and to
promote the Port of Chittagong, which could
be done only by division of the Provinces.
 4.Administrative Reason
• It was not possible to control such a large
province by one set of govt( legislature and
executive). It could be well administered if
there would be two sets of govt. one
responsible for western part and the other for
Eastern.
 5.Political Reason
• As the 19th century was growing, national consciousness was developing
in India and the fighting was taking a hit. The center of Indian National
Consciousness was Bengal. The British decided to divide Bengal only for
the purpose of attacking this belligerent consciousness. According to
Viceroy Lord Curzon of that time, "This attempt of the British rule was to
dislodge Calcutta from the throne, to disseminate the Bengali population,
to end a center where the Congress party was to be operated in Bengal
and all over the country. , The conspiracy was made.
• The secretary of the Indian government, Ricele had said, "Undivided
Bengal is a big force. It will weaken by dividing, "This fear of Congress
leaders is right and their fears are the most important thing in our plan.
Our main objective is to divide Bengal, by which our enemies should be
divided, weaker
 6.Division of Bengalis
• The reason for partitioning Bengal was not just
that the Bengalis should be reduced in two
administrative areas by reducing their
influence. The purpose of the British rule was
to reduce the Bengali population in the
original Bengal and make them a minority. In
Bengal, there was a plan to keep 1 crore 70
lakh Bengali and 3 crore 70 lakh Oriya and
Hindi speakers.
 7.‘Divide and Rule’ Policy
• The Hindus of West Bengal, who dominated
Bengal's business & rural life, complained the
division would make them a minority in a
province that would incorporate the province of
Bihar and Orissa. Hindus were outraged at what
they saw as a "divide and rule" policy (gaining and
maintaining power by breaking up larger
concentrations of power into pieces), even
though Curzon stressed it would produce
administrative efficiency.
 (b)Why was Partition opposed by Hindus?
[7]
 The Hindus of West Bengal, who dominated Bengal's business &
rural life, complained the division would make them a minority in
a province that would incorporate the province of
Bihar and Orissa. Hindus were outraged at what they saw as a "
divide and rule" policy (gaining and maintaining power by
breaking up larger concentrations of power into pieces).The west
province turned into mixture of Oria and Bengali speaking and
Bengali were in minority. In British India only Bengal was the
largest and United. Surendranath Banerjee had suggested that
the non-bengali states of Orissa and Bihar be separated from
Bengal rather than dividing two parts of the Bengali speaking
community, but Lord Curzon did not agree to this, therefore they
opposed it
 Hindus felt jealous that Muslims would also
become a governing class. In eastern Bengal
Muslims were suffering at the hands of Hindus
and they had been looting and exploiting
them for long time, now they would make
their own government, spend budget on their
improvement, pass laws to safeguard their
rights and even progress. This betterment of
Muslims was not digestible to them, therefore
they opposed.
 In case of partition, the new province would
have its own courts, hospital, schools and law
and order departments. Otherwise they
depended upon the high court in Calcutta
causing their lawyers to earn from them, the
education centers and hospitals and big
markets, who earned from them. Now it was a
straight cut in their money, so they opposed
the partition.
 (b) How did Hindus oppose the Partition?[7]

• There was a Hindu liberal class which believed

in the sophisticated and decent means of
showing resentment. They signed petitions
and sent to the govt and high British officials.
They wrote in print media and personally met
with English politicians.
• The other Hindus who were moderate class
they protested through hunger strikes(maran
bart) and wearing Rakhis to show soiidarity
and the streets of Bengal were echoed with
the songs of Bande Mataram. Public speeches
were made and several attempts were made
to pressurize govt.
Swadeshi Movement or Boycott of British
goods
Was the highest pitch o demonstration against
govt. British goods were boycotted and made
to bonfire. The British economy which highly
depended upon the revenue of these goods
was tried to collapse.
British goods are burnt
(b) Why was partition reversed?[7]
 Hindus started a series of violence and
demonstrations against the British govt. The
Hindu reaction was so strong that it gave birth
to several extremist parties. These extremist
groups launched attacks on British officials,
Lord Minto escaped an assassination attempt.
Situation worsened with time and finally
British had to bow down.
 Swadeshi movement was very powerful, it
started from West Bengal and spread
throughout the country. It was a massive
campaign for boycotting the British goods and
using homemade products. Many mills and
factories of cloth and soap were set up. It
really undermined the British economy. So
they have to reverse it.
 Law and order situation was getting out of
control. British took several measures to
control the situation but all wasted.
Demonstrations did not stop an the jails were
filled and there was no more place in prisons
but it could not help. Restrictions were
imposed on media and public gatherings. Jails
were filled with revolutionaries and editors.
Meanwhile Morley-Minto Reforms were
imposed to pacify but it even worsen so they
had to reverse it.
 (c) ‘Partition or reversal?’ Were the reasons why Bengal was partitioned in
1905 more important than those regarding its reversal in 1911? Explain your
answer. [14]

• LEVEL 1: Simplistic statement [1–2] Bengal wanted freedom. LEVEL 2: Description of partition and/or
reversals [3–6] It was too large and Hindus were in the majority and they didn’t want it. LEVEL 3: Explains
reasons for partition OR reversal [7–10] LEVEL 4: Explains BOTH [9–13
• Partition
• Of the 54 million people in Bengal, 42 million were Hindus. It seemed sensible to divide up the province on
religious grounds and also because it was becoming very large and producing significant administrative
problems. By doing this it was felt that the province would be easier to administer especially at the time of
a new British government in power. The Muslims believed that partition would bring an end to Hindu
oppression and that they would enjoy true recognition in a province in which they were in a majority. The
Hindus believed that the partition would come about as part of the British ‘divide and rule’ policy which
would weaken Hindu unity and its influence in the new East Bengal.

• Reversal

• The Hindus’ objection to Partition was so great that it caused the British to reconsider it. The Hindus
opposed it by holding meetings and mass rallies which put pressure on the British government. They
thought it was a deliberate attempt to ‘divide and rule’ on the part of the British. The Hindus were so angry
that they attempted to assassinate Lord Minto and started their boycott of British goods under the
‘Swadeshi Movement’. There was also an outbreak of terrorist activities. LEVEL 5: As Level 4 – also
produces a judgement or evaluation. [14]
 ( c) How successful was the partition of Bengal? Explain your answer. [14]

• LEVEL 1: Simplistic statement [1–2] Bengal wanted freedom. LEVEL 2: Describes

Partition/Reversal or identifies successes/failures [3–6] It was too large and Hindus were in
the majority and they didn’t want it LEVEL 3: Explains successes OR failures [7–10] LEVEL 4:
Explains successes AND failures [9–13] Successes Of the 54 million people in Bengal 42
million were Hindus. It seemed sensible to divide up the province on religious grounds and
also because it was becoming very large and producing significant administrative problems.
By doing this the British felt that the province would be easier to administer especially at
the time of a new British government in power. The Muslims believed that partition would
bring an end to Hindu oppression and that they would enjoy true recognition in a province
in which they were in a majority. Failures The Hindus believed that the partition would
come about as part of the British ‘divide and rule’ policy which would weaken Hindu unity
and its influence in the new East Bengal The Hindus objection to Partition was so great that
it caused the British to reconsider it. The Hindus opposed it by holding meetings and mass
rallies which put pressure on the British government. They thought it was a deliberate
attempt to ‘divide and rule’ on the part of the British. The Hindus were so angry that they
attempted to assassinate Lord Minto and started their boycott of British goods under the
‘Swadeshi Movement’. There was also an outbreak of terrorist activities. LEVEL 5: As Level
4 – also produces a judgement or evaluation [14]
 ( c) Bengal was partitioned because of geographical factors. Do you agree ? Explain
[14]

LEVEL 1: Simplistic statement [1–2] Bengal wanted freedom. LEVEL 2: Describes Partition/Reversal
or identifies 3: Explainsuccesses/failures [3–6] It was too large and Hindus were in the majority
and they didn’t want it LEVEL s successes OR failures [7–10] LEVEL 4: Explains successes AND
failures [9–13] Successes Of the 54 million people in Bengal 42 million were Hindus. It seemed
sensible to divide up the province on religious grounds and also because it was becoming very
large and producing significant administrative problems. By doing this the British felt that the
province would be easier to administer especially at the time of a new British government in
power. The Muslims believed that partition would bring an end to Hindu oppression and that they
would enjoy true recognition in a province in which they were in a majority. Failures The Hindus
believed that the partition would come about as part of the British ‘divide and rule’ policy which
would weaken Hindu unity and its influence in the new East Bengal The Hindus objection to
Partition was so great that it caused the British to reconsider it. The Hindus opposed it by holding
meetings and mass rallies which put pressure on the British government. They thought it was a
deliberate attempt to ‘divide and rule’ on the part of the British. The Hindus were so angry that
they attempted to assassinate Lord Minto and started their boycott of British goods under the
‘Swadeshi Movement’. There was also an outbreak of terrorist activities. LEVEL 5: As Level 4 – also
produces a judgement or evaluation [14]