Prof.

Rana Wasim
MBA(Finance), M. phil (Finance), Msc Sociology
0333-6285506

PARTITION OF BENGAL

Partition of Bengal:

Bengal was a large province by area and population. There was a majority of
Muslims in the east of Bengal and the majority of the Hindus in the west of Bengal. Due to its
big area, the government faced difficulties in administrative affairs. So, lord Curzon make
proposal to divided it into two separate parts and send this proposal to crown of british. This
proposal accepted by the Crown 16 Oct, 1905, Dhaka was the capital of East Bengal and
Calcutta was the capital of West Bengal. Lord Cur became the viceroy of India in 1899. He was
an able and efficient administrator.

Reasons/Causes:

1. Large Population of Bengal:

According to the census of 1901, the population consisted of seven crores eighty lacs individuals.
The division of Bengal into two parts was unavoidable.

2. Large area of Bengal:

According to the census of 1901, the area of Bengal province was one lac eighty-nine thousand
square miles. That’s why the partition was necessary.

3. Destruction of Chittagong Seaport:

Due to the presence of a seaport in Calcutta in west Bengal, no attention was paid to improving
the seaport in east Bengal in Chittagong. They felt a need to divide the Bengal to save the seaport
from destruction.

4. Destruction of Industry and Skill :

East Bengal was not given any importance in the industrial field. Due to this, local industries
were destroyed and the people were in bad condition.

5. Economic Backwardness:
The surrounding areas in Calcutta were in economic backward because they were totally ignored
by the government.

Muslim’s Reaction:

Muslim were happy because of this partition due to following reasons:

1. Chance of progress:

The partition of Bengal provided chances for great progress for the Muslims who performed as
the majority group in the new setup. In the combined province of Bengal, the Muslims were a
suppressed and dominated class of society.

2. Rehabilitation of Social Position:

The Hindus had monopolized the trade and government services which destroyed the economic
conditions of the Muslims. The partition of Bengal provided them a chance to rehabilitate their
social position. They thought that they will get a special boost in their status in the new province.

3. Offered Gratification:

The Muslims expressed their utmost happiness over the partition of Bengal. They offered their
gratification in a loyal way to the government for taking a step for their political, and economical
uplift.

4. Muslim majority:

The Muslims overnight turned into the majority through the creation of a new province. The
Muslims were 18 million out of the total population of 31 million in the new province.

5. Prospect of political, and economical life:

The new province of Eastern Bengal brought happier prospects for political and economic
life for the Muslims.
Hindu’s Reaction:

Hindu was unhappy because of this partition of bangal, So they decided to highlight 16 Oct
1905 as a "Black Day" and started to civil disobedience. There were following reason to do this.

1. Affected Legal Practices:

As after the partition of Bengal, the provincial High Court and other judicial bodies were to be
shifted to Dacca, the Hindu lawyers feared that their legal practices would be affected.

2. Inferior status:

The Hindus believed that after the partition they would come under the domination of the
Muslim majority in the new province and their superior position will be changed into inferior
status.

3. Center of journalism:

Dacca was to become the center of journalistic and other academic activities, the Hindu press
and media believed that from now the Muslims’ point of view would be projected in the
newspapers and magazines. They were in fear that their income will become less.

4. End of Exploitation:

The Hindu landlords, capitalists, and traders did not like the partition as it was to put an end to
their exploitation of the poor Muslims.

Cancellation of partition:

Before partition, the Hindus enjoyed their dominant position over the Muslims. They were in
fear that after partition they will have to lose their position. The Hindus showed a violent
reaction. They started their civil disobedience. They refused to pay taxes. Bombs were thrown
and attacks were made on the British people. They made an attempt to kill Viceroy but failed. So
due to this British Govt. Decided to cancel the partition of bangal 12 Dec 1911.