PARTITION OF BENGAL

1. Reason: Curzon’s imperialist policy of ‘divide and rule’ manifested itself most glaringly in the partition pf Bengal. The reasons given were --The area and population of the Provinces of Bengal was too large. There was a problem of communication. Highways were not safe. The peasants of this province were a harassed lot.

2. But actually the cause behind the partition was much more political than administrative. Bengal was becoming the nerve centre of nationalist activities in India.

3. On 19 July 1905 the Government of India formally proposed the partition of Bengal. According to this proposal Chittagong, Rajshahi and Dacca were merged with Assam to form the new province.

4. The proposed area of the new province was fixed at 1 lakh 6 thousand 5 hundred 40 square miles and its population was 3 crore 10 lakh out of which the Muslims accounted for 1 crore 80 lakh and Hindus 1 crore 20 lakh.

5.  Curzon announced the partition of Bengal on 16 October 1905. Sir Aurobindo’s Ghosh (1872-1950) played a prominent parting the nationalist movement of India.

Particularly his contribution to the movement against the partition of Bengal was unparalleled. Sir Aurobindo left Baroda to work in the National College in Calcutta with a view to make education compatible to the national needs.

The National College in Calcutta had been established on 14 August 1906. Sir Aurobindo’s second revolutionary contribution was the editing of the Bande Mataram paper.

A series of seven articles published by Sir Aurobindo’s, between 11 and 23 April 1907 under the heading, ‘Doctrine of Passive Resistance’ in Bande Mataram became very popular.

The Partition of Bengal infused a sense of nationalism among the Indians and also gave birth to the swadeshi movement which galvanized the masses against the partition of Bengal.

Since 16 October 1905, the reactions against the partition of Bengal started taking shape. This day was observed as a ‘Black Day’. People took holy dip in the Ganga and kept vows.

They also tied Rakhi in each other’s hand as symbol of unity.(Partition of Bengal was annulled in 1911 by Lord Hardine.)