Course Title: History of the Emergence of

Independent Bangladesh

Course Code: BHC 101

Chapter: 2- Proposal for undivided sovereign Bengal and

the partition of the Sub Continent, 1947

Topics Covered
 Rise of communalism under the colonial rule
 Lahore Resolution of 1940
 The proposal of Suhrawardi and Sarat Bose for sovereign undivided Bengal,
consequences
 The creation of Pakistan in 1947
Rise of communalism under the colonial rule
Communalism is basically an ideology on which communal politics is based. Communalism
believes that the people of different religions have different interests in political and economic
matters. It is sometimes said to put the interests of the community above the interests of the
individual. Communalism, in a broad sense means a strong attachment to one’s own community.

Communalism is described as an ideology stating the division between states (people, groups of
people or communities) on the basis of ethnicity, religion, beliefs, values, etc. The difference of
two or more religious, ethnic and social communities can sometimes produce clashes in the
society.
In ancient Indian society, people of different faith coexisted peacefully. While, religion was an
important part of people’s lives but there was no communal ideology or communal politics.
Along with the rise of nationalism, communalism too made its appearance around the end of the
nineteenth century and posed the biggest threat to the unity of the Indian people and the national
movement. It is not true that communalism was a remnant of, or survival from, the medieval
period. Though religion was an important part of people’s lives and they did sometimes quarrel
over religion, there was hardly any communal ideology or communal politics before the 1870s.
The history of modern Bengal echoes that nationalism and communalism are two sides of a coin.
The spirit of nationalism became threatened in the wake of communalism. The first partition of
Bengal in 1905 was proved momentous for bringing the spirit of communalism amid the people
of this subcontinent. Though the partition of Bengal was effected in 1905, the plan to divide the
Bengal was recommended by many British high officials years ago.
The British administration publicized the claim that they needed to partition the Bengal
presidency due to ruling over its huge area smoothly. Calcutta being the capital city of the
Bengal got the priority from the British. All the developments centred round Calcutta and its
adjacent districts. On the other hand, the eastern part of Bengal was neglected because of
isolation and poor communication. The inhabitants of eastern Bengal endured discrimination in
case of getting state facilities. In most cases, they hardly had scopes to maintain livelihoods in a
decent way. They were illiterate peasants undergoing inequalities throughout their life.
The British government claimed that their decision to divide the Bengal presidency was merely
for conforming good governance as the area of Bengal was too large to rule over combined.
They called it administrative settlement. But political analysts opined differently to the issue of
Bengal partition. The historians witnessed that behind dividing Bengal the British had political
intention.
Many claim that the ‘divide and rule’ policy adopted by the British was to weaken the nationalist
spirit of the people of the Bengal. They made the plan that if they were able to disunite people in
the name of religion, they would no more cherish nationalist spirit at their heart and the British
would have every control to rule over the people in this subcontinent throughout the ages.
However, with huge uprising and terrorist activities of the Hindus the British government made a
declaration to reunite the Bengal in 1911. Though the Bengal was reunited, the segregated mind
of the people in terms of religion was not reunited again. Many Muslim and Hindu
representatives from Congress and Muslim league tried to make the nation reunited for the
essence of nationalism but the initiatives ended in smoke. In 1940, the Lahore Resolution was
the most crucial and decisive phase of communalism in the Bengal.
The demand for a separate state for the Muslims was obvious. In 1947 merely based on religion
two countries, India and Pakistan were born. It is apparent that the British was successful in their
mission to spread the communal spirit in the Indian subcontinent and the people of this
subcontinent is still undergoing the legacy of communal essence through the ages.

Reasons of communalism under the colonial rule in Bengal

Communalism refers to the belief that a person's religious or ethnic identity is the most important
aspect of their identity, and that this identity should determine their political and social
affiliations. In the context of Bengal under colonial rule, communalism emerged as a result of
various factors, including:
Divide and rule policy:
The British colonial rulers adopted a policy of "divide and rule," which sought to create divisions
among different communities to weaken them and maintain their grip on power. This policy
exacerbated existing religious and communal differences and tensions, and created an
atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion between different communities.
Economic competition:
Bengal was an important economic center under colonial rule, with many communities vying for
economic resources and opportunities. This competition often took on a communal dimension, as
communities sought to assert their dominance and exclude others.
Social reform movements:
The 19th century saw the emergence of various social reform movements, such as the Brahmo
Samaj and the Arya Samaj, which sought to reform and modernize traditional Hindu society.
These movements often created tension and conflict with more conservative and orthodox
sections of society, leading to communal tensions.
Religious revivalism:
Alongside the social reform movements, there was also a revival of traditional religious practices
and beliefs, particularly within the Hindu and Muslim communities. This revivalism often took
on a communal character, with different communities seeking to assert their religious identity
and dominance.
Political mobilization:
The early 20th century saw the emergence of various political movements, such as the Indian
National Congress and the Muslim League, which sought to mobilize support for political rights
and independence. These movements often appealed to communal identities and sentiments to
gain support, leading to communal tensions and conflict.
Overall, communalism in Bengal under colonial rule emerged as a result of a complex interplay
of political, economic, social, and religious factors, and was exacerbated by the divide and rule
policy of the British colonial rulers.

Lahore Resolution 1940

The Lahore Resolution, also known as the Pakistan Resolution, was passed on March 23, 1940,
during the annual session of the All India Muslim League in Lahore, British India. The
resolution called for the creation of an independent Muslim state, which would be comprised of
the Muslim-majority regions of British India, in the northwestern and eastern regions of the
country.
The resolution was presented by the League's President, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and it was
seconded by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan. The resolution stated that Muslims were a separate nation
with their own distinct cultural, religious, and social identity and that they required a separate
homeland to safeguard their rights and interests.
The Lahore Resolution marked a significant turning point in the struggle for independence in
British India, as it laid the foundation for the creation of Pakistan in 1947. The resolution was
supported by the majority of Muslims in British India and it provided a clear direction for the
Muslim League's political strategy, which was focused on achieving a separate homeland for
Muslims through negotiations with the British colonial authorities.
The Lahore Resolution was a significant milestone in the history of the Indian subcontinent, as it
paved the way for the creation of Pakistan as an independent state for Muslims.
The Lahore Resolution, also known as the Pakistan Resolution, was a political resolution
adopted by the All India Muslim League during its annual session held in Lahore on March 23,
1940. The resolution was presented by the League's President, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and
seconded by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan. The resolution called for the creation of an independent
Muslim state in British India, comprising the Muslim-majority regions in the northwestern and
eastern areas of the country.
The Lahore Resolution stated that Muslims in India were a separate nation with their distinct
cultural, religious, and social identity. It called for the establishment of autonomous Muslim
states within India or the creation of an independent Muslim state if the British colonial
authorities did not agree to the former.
The resolution was passed by a majority of the delegates attending the conference. It was seen as
a significant development in the Muslim League's demand for a separate Muslim homeland in
India. The resolution gave a clear direction to the Muslim League's political strategy, which was
focused on achieving a separate homeland for Muslims through negotiations with the British
colonial authorities.
The Lahore Resolution was a response to the growing demand of the Muslim community for a
separate homeland. It was a significant step towards the creation of Pakistan, which became a
reality seven years later in 1947 when British India was partitioned into two independent states,
India and Pakistan. The Lahore Resolution played a crucial role in shaping the political
landscape of the Indian subcontinent and had far-reaching implications for the future of the
region.
The Proposal of Suhrawardi and Sarat Bose for Sovereign undivided Bengal,
consequences
In 1947, India was partitioned into two independent states, India and Pakistan, along religious
lines. However, prior to partition, there were alternative proposals for the future of the Indian
subcontinent, including a proposal for a sovereign and undivided Bengal put forth by Huseyn
Shaheed Suhrawardy, a Muslim leader, and Sarat Chandra Bose, a Hindu leader.
The proposal put forth by Suhrawardy and Bose called for the creation of a united Bengal, which
would be a separate sovereign state from India and Pakistan. The proposed state would comprise
the Hindu-majority areas of Bengal, including Calcutta, as well as the Muslim-majority areas of
East Bengal, which is now Bangladesh. The proposal was based on the idea that a united Bengal,
comprising both Hindus and Muslims, would be able to transcend religious differences and work
towards economic and political development.
However, the proposal was not accepted by the Indian National Congress or the Muslim League,
the two major political parties in India at the time. The Indian National Congress feared that the
creation of a separate Bengal state would weaken the overall movement for independence, while
the Muslim League was more focused on the creation of a separate Muslim state.
The rejection of the proposal had significant consequences for Bengal. After partition, Bengal
was divided along religious lines, with the Hindu-majority areas becoming part of India and the
Muslim-majority areas becoming part of Pakistan. The partition resulted in the displacement of
millions of people and led to widespread violence and communal tensions.
The rejection of the proposal for a united Bengal also had long-term political implications for the
region. The creation of East Pakistan, which comprised the Muslim-majority areas of Bengal,
was marked by political and economic marginalization of the region. This eventually led to the
Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, which resulted in the creation of the independent state of
Bangladesh.
Overall, the proposal for a sovereign and undivided Bengal put forth by Suhrawardi and Bose
had significant consequences for the future of the region. While the proposal was not accepted at
the time, it remains an important part of the history of the Indian subcontinent and continues to
be a topic of discussion and debate.
The Creation of Pakistan 1947
The creation of Pakistan in 1947 was a significant event in the history of the Indian subcontinent.
The creation of Pakistan was the result of the Indian Independence Act of 1947, which was
passed by the British Parliament and granted independence to British India.
The act provided for the partition of British India into two separate states, India and Pakistan,
based on religious lines. The Muslim-majority regions in the northwestern and eastern areas of
British India were to form the new state of Pakistan, while the rest of the country would become
the independent state of India.
The creation of Pakistan was the culmination of years of political and social struggles by the All
India Muslim League, which was led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The Muslim League had been
demanding a separate Muslim homeland in India for several years, citing the growing communal
tensions between Hindus and Muslims and the fear of Hindu dominance in a united India.
The partition of India and the creation of Pakistan were accompanied by widespread violence
and the displacement of millions of people. The communal tensions between Hindus and
Muslims led to riots and massacres, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
The violence and displacement of people led to one of the largest migrations in human history,
with millions of Hindus and Muslims crossing the newly created borders of India and Pakistan.
The creation of Pakistan had a profound impact on the political and social landscape of the
Indian subcontinent. It led to the formation of two independent states, India and Pakistan, with
Pakistan comprising two separate regions, East and West Pakistan (which later became
Bangladesh and Pakistan). The creation of Pakistan also led to the establishment of a separate
Muslim identity and culture, with Urdu becoming the national language of Pakistan.
Overall, the creation of Pakistan was a significant event in the history of the Indian subcontinent,
with far-reaching political, social, and cultural implications that continue to shape the region
today.