INDIAN HISTORY

PARTITION OF BENGAL & SWADESHI MOVEMENT.

The decision to partition the state of Bengal was announced by Lord

Curzon, the then Viceroy of India in 19 July 1905. This partition came
into effect in 16 October 1905 and divided the Muslim majority of eastern
Bengal from the Hindu majority of the western part of the state. Indians
were livid at this decision and referred to it as “divide and rule” by the
British, who were trying to turn Indians against each other. Bengal was
reunified by Lord Hardinge in 1911, announced by King George in
December 1911.

IMPORTANT ACTS

Calcutta Corporation Act, 1899

Universities Act, 1904

SWADESHI MOVEMENT

 On August 7, 1905, with the passage of Boycott Resolution in a

massive meeting held in the Calcutta Town hall, the formal proclamation
of Swadeshi Movement was made. It was one of the most successful
pre-Gandhian movements. Its chief architects were Aurobindo Ghosh,
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, VO
Chidambaram Pillai.