The Partition of Bengal in 1905 was a significant event in Indian history. Here’s a summary:
The British government, led by Lord Curzon, divided the province of Bengal into two parts on October 16, 1905. The main reason for this partition was to improve administrative efficiency by reducing the size of the province.
The new province of East Bengal and Assam had a Muslim majority, while the remaining part of Bengal, including Bihar and Orissa, had a Hindu majority. The partition was also seen as a strategy to weaken the growing nationalist movement in Bengal, which was seen as a threat by the British.
The partition sparked widespread protests and opposition across Bengal, led by nationalist leaders like Surendranath Banerjee and Rabindranath Tagore. The Swadeshi Movement, which called for the boycott of British goods and promotion of Indian goods, gained momentum as a result of the partition.
In 1911, due to the growing unrest and pressure from Indian nationalists, the British government decided to annul the partition and reunite Bengal. The reunification of Bengal was seen as a victory for the nationalist movement and a setback for British imperial policy.
Overall, the Partition of Bengal was a turning point in Indian history as it gave a significant impetus to the nationalist movement and led to the emergence of new forms of protest and resistance against British rule.