Tag: partition and anti-partition movement in bengal

Partition of Bengal carried out by the British viceroy in India, Lord Curzon, despite strong Indian nationalist opposition. It divided Bengal into Hindu dominated west which consisted of Bihar, Odisha, etc. and Muslim dominated East Bengal with Assam.  There was a great protest by the Hindus and Muslims of Bengal against it and the plan had to be abandoned.

The slogan of 'Bande Mataram' was first adopted during the swadeshi movement which was against the partition of Bengal. It is a poem from Bankim Chandra Chattopahyay’s novel Anandmath in 1882, written in Bengali and Sanskrit. It became the prayer song during the anti-partition meetings.

Edwin Samuel Montagu served as Secretary of State for India between 1917 and 1922. After becoming Secretary of State, he began work on a British policy to provide for “progressive realization of responsible government” in India. He played an important role in introducing the Government of India Act of 1919, a legislative measure that marked a decisive stage in India’s constitutional development. 

Government of India Act of 1919 was passed on the basis of recommendations of Montagu Chelmsford Reforms. The reforms proposed introduction of provincial government dyarchy. Subjects were to be divided into two lists: reserved and transferred subjects. The reserved subjects were kept with the Governor and transferred subjects were kept with the Indian Ministers. 

• Lord Curzon was the viceroy of India between 1898-1905
• Announcement of partition of Bengal was made by British in 1903
• On October 16, 1905 Bengal was partitioned into West Bengal and East Bengal.
• This partition of Bengal was done during Curzon period.
  

The Swadeshi movement was not able to gain the support of the peasantry because government policy of divide and rule kept them separated. They did not actively join in the form of struggles such as boycott or passive resistance because their demand were not taken into the consideration, and Congress failed to gain the confidence of the peasants. Also, conditions of peasants were worst during that time, they felt that joining the movement would not improve their conditions because it was led by upper class and rich people.

Rabindranath Tagore used Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi Utsav to symbolize unity between Hindus and Muslims. It was held in 1905 to prevent Bengal partition. Thousands of Hindus and Muslims came forward to support Tagore and tied Rakhi on each other's hand. The thread became the symbol of unity and harmony.

The Secretary of State for India was British cabinet minister and political head of Indian office. This post was created in 1858 by Government of India Act which transferred the power to British crown when East India Company rule in Bengal ended and India( except princely states) was brought under the direct administration of the government in London which marked the beginning of the colonial period under British Empire.

The Indian National Congress (INC) split into two groups - the extremists and the moderates, at the Surat Session in 1907. The immediate cause of split in the INC at its Surat Session was Election of the President to the INC. Moderates wanted Lala Lajpat Rai whereas moderates wanted Rash Behari Gosh. Dr. Rash Behari Ghosh was elected but the extremists had an objection to this election.