Partition of Bengal

The partition of Bengal was the most important event during the rule of Lord Curzon. It was
carried out mainly for the convenience of administration. Bengal in those days was the
biggest province of India extending over 1, 89, 000 square miles with a population of 80
million. It was comprising of Bengal, Behar and Orissa and was under the central of one
lieutenant Governor. After Lord Curzon took charge as Governor General of India the
discussion over the Partition began due to the following issues:

1. Vastness of Province: The Province was spread over the area of 1, 89, 000 square
miles with the population of 80 million, which was too vast to be managed by one lieutenant
Governor. He could not make a tour for the whole province due to its vastness once in his
tenure.

2. Limited Sources of Communication: The sources of communication in the provinces

were limited due to rivers and forests. The law and order condition of the provinces was also
worst due to insufficient police and in-efficient management. Therefore, the need of partition
of province was felt severally.

3. Difference of Language: There was also the difference of Languages and civilization
of the natives of West Bengal and East Bengal. The natives of West Bengal considered
themselves superior in civilization to the resident of East Bengal. The Condition demanded
for the division of Provinces.
4. Need of the time: The division of Bengal was the need of the time to develop trade in
East Bengal and to promote the Port of Chittagong, which could be done only by division of
the provinces.

5. Partition: The Partition of Bengal was thus calculated to restore efficiency in the
Government and administration on one hand and encouraged local initiatives for progress
and development on the other. Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal and formed two new
provinces of manageable size – East and West Bengal. East Bengal consisted of Dacca,
Mamansingh, Assam, Kaula, Rangpur, and Bogra district, the Dacca was capital of East Bengal
constituted a majority Muslim Province, while the Bihar and Orissa constituted a separate
province to be called as West Bengal with the capital of Calcutta and become the Hindu
Majority provinces.

East Bengal contained a population of eighteen (18) million Muslims and twelve (12) million
Hindus. Whereas West Bengal had a population fifty-four (54) million of which 42 million
where Hindus and thus was the Hindu majority province.

Muslims’ Response

It received a favorable response from the Muslims. It was thought that it would bring the
emancipation of Muslims socially and economically. The Muslims welcomed the Partition of
Bengal for the following reasons:

1. In the majority province of East Bengal the Muslims would be free from Hindu
dominance in economic field. They would get opportunities of services and advancement of
agriculture.
2. The city of Dacca, where the Muslims were in majority was the centre of Muslim
culture. In Dacca Muslims had a great chance of success for social and cultural advancement
than in Calcutta.

3. The Partition could result in political uplift and securing represent action in the
Government.

4. The partition of Bengal relieved the Muslims from competing with Hindus, who were
more advanced in every field of life.

Hindus Response

The Hindus did not accept it, as it dealt a telling blow to their monopolies and exclusive hold
on economic, social, Political life of the whole of Bengal. They called it as a deliberate attempt
by British Government

1. The Partition of Bengal had brightened the possibility of betterment of Muslims; while
the Hindu landlords, capitalists and traders wanted status quo and to continue the
exploitation of the Muslims.

2. Hindu lawyers also reacted to the partition of Bengal because they thought that the
new province would have its separate courts and thus their practice would be affected.

3. Hindu press was not different from that of Hindu advocates. Hindus had their
monopoly over almost whole of the province press. They were afraid that new newspapers
would be established which would decrease their income naturally.
4. The Hindus launched Swadeshi Movement whose sole purpose was to boycott of
British goods.

Annulment of the Partition

When Lord Hardinage assumed charge as Governor General of India Hindus again became
active and sent a representation to him for the annulment of partition of Bengal. He
recommended the same to the British Prime Minister for Indian Affairs. On the occasion of
the visiting His Majesty George V to Indo-Pakistan and holding of Darbar at Delhi on
12th December 1911 the partition of Bengal was cancelled.

The united Bengal was placed under a Governor and Assam was placed under a Chief
Commissioner. This decision was shattering blow to Muslims. It left them sullen and
disillusioned. Their anger and indignation had widespread repercussions. The Muslims
leaders condemned the decision as betrayal of worst kind.

Conclusion

The Muslims of India had appreciated the step and started turning in the favour of the British
but the British soon gave in against the mounting pressure of Hindus which helped the
Muslims to realize the importance of standing on their feet and to organize themselves
politically. It also affirmed the apprehension of Sir Syed that the Muslims might submerge in
the majority of Hindus and lose their separate identity.
Simla Deputation

A delegation consisting of 35 leaders of Muslim community meet to the viceroy, under the
leadership of Sir Aga Khan, in Simla on 1st October 1906. The deputation was included the
members from Bengal, Punjab, U.P., Bombay, Madras, Sindh, C.P., Deccan, and Delhi. The
members of deputation were drawn from the Muslim elite class, but most of the members of
deputation were connected with the Aligarh movement through the AIMEC. Besides these
members, others were associated with different semi-political parties like Anjuman-i-Islam,
National Mohammedan Association etc.

The deputation presented the memorial in front of viceroy, which was consisting of the
demands that rights of separate electorates should be given to the Muslims; Muslims should
be given three more seats in central legislature; quota should be given to the Muslims in civil
services; Muslims should be given representation in universities senates and syndicates; an
aid should be given to the Muslims for the establishment of a Muslin university. The major
demands of the deputation were:

1. Muslims should be given the right to vote under separate electoral system

2. The Muslims should be given representation in the Imperial Legislative Council in excess
of their population.

3. Electoral system should be given preference over nomination system as for as possible.

4. The Muslims should be appointed as judges of High courts as well as chief courts.

5. Seats should be reserved for Muslims in the Senate and Syndicate of various universities.

6. Financial help should be given for setting up a Muslim university.

7. Muslims should be given representation in the Executive council of Viceroy.

Results of Simla Deputation

• Separate electorate for Muslims was accepted in Minto-Morley Reforms in 1909.

• It created unity among Muslims of the subcontinent.

• Hindu-Muslim conflicts rose to the constitutional level.

• Distrust on Hindus.

• It became the basis for creation of Muslim League

Lord Minto, the Viceroy, assured the Muslim delegation that as long as he is associated with
the administrative affairs if the country, their national rights would be preserved.

The Simla deputation was unique, because for the first time Muslims were anxious to take
their share in the political activities as a separate identity. Another purpose of the delegation
was to get a silent permission form the Government to make a political platform for the
representation of Muslims, and also was to take the Government into confidence. The
demand of separate electorates, which were presented through the deputation, was the
foundation of all future constitutional amendments for India. The inevitable consequence of
deputation was the partition of Indian and the emergence of Pakistan.
Creation of All India Muslim League and its Objectives

The Muslim League was founded in 1906 to safeguard the rights of Indian Muslims. At first
the league was encouraged by the British and was generally favourable to their rule, but the
organization adopted self-government for India as its goal in 1913. For several decades the
league and its leaders, notably Mohammed Ali Jinnah, called for Hindu-Muslim unity in a
united and independent India. It was not until 1940 that the league called for the formation
of a Muslim state that would be separate from the projected independent country of India.
The league wanted a separate nation for India’s Muslims because it feared that an
independent India would be dominated by Hindus.

All India Muslim League The success of Muslim deputation that waited upon the viceroy at
Shimla enthused the Muslims to start a separate Political organization. The British
officialdom was also interested in it to counterbalance the Congress. Consequently 31-Dec-
1906 Muslim League was formed at Dacca. In 1906 the Aga Khan was a founding member
and first president of All India Muslim league. The All India Muslim League was a parallel but
anti Congress organization. The communalism-based league not only whole heartedly
supported the partition of Bengal but also demanded and worked for separate electorate and
special safeguards for Muslims and ensure their mainstreaming in India.

The first Annual session was held at Karachi on December, 1907. The first conference of the
All India Muslim league was held at Amritsar under the presidentship of Sir Syed Ali Imam.
The league leaders demand for more weightage to the Muslims in the legislative councils and
civil services. With the passage of time Muslim league started becoming a great
representative of the aspirations of the Muslim in India and they started looking towards the
league it as their guardian. Muslim league adopted self-government for India as its goal 1913.

Objective of Muslim League:

1. To create awareness among Muslims the feeling of loyalty towards British government.

2. To safeguard the political rights of the Muslims and bring them into the notice of
government.
3. To promote brotherhood between the different nations of India.

4. The Muslims should be given place in legislature commensurate with their services
rendered to the British Empire.
Minto-Morley Reforms:

The Indian Councils Act 1909 was an act of the British Parliament that introduced a few
reforms in the legislative councils and increased the involvement of Indians (limited) in the
governance of British India. It was more commonly called the Morley-Minto Reforms after
the Secretary of State for India John Morley and the Viceroy of India, the 4th Earl of Minto.

Despite Queen Victoria’s proclamation that Indians would be treated equally, very few
Indians got such an opportunity as the British authorities were hesitant to accept them as
equal partners. Lord Curzon had carried out the partition of Bengal in 1905. This led to a
massive uprising in Bengal as a result. Following this, the British authorities understood the
need for some reforms in the governance of Indians. The Indian National Congress (INC) was
also agitating for more reforms and self-governance of Indians. The earlier Congress leaders
were moderates, but now extremist leaders were on the rise who believed in more
aggressive methods. INC demanded home rule for the first time in 1906. Gopal Krishna
Gokhale met Morley in England to emphasize the need for reforms.

Major provisions of the Morley-Minto reforms

• The legislative councils at the Centre and the provinces increased in size.

• Central Legislative Council – from 16 to 60 members

• Legislative Councils of Bengal, Madras, Bombay and United Provinces – 50 members

each

• Legislative Councils of Punjab, Burma and Assam – 30 members each

• Indians were given membership to the Imperial Legislative Council for the first time.

• It introduced separate electorates for the Muslims. Some constituencies were

earmarked for Muslims and only Muslims could vote their representatives.

• The members could discuss the budget and move resolutions. They could also discuss
matters of public interest.
 • Lord Minto appointed (on much persuasion by Morley) Satyendra P Sinha as the first
Indian member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council.

• Two Indians were nominated to the Council of the Secretary of State for Indian affairs.

Results of the Morley-Minto reforms

• The Act introduced communal representation in Indian politics. This was intended to
stem the growing tide of nationalism in the country by dividing the people into
communal lines. The culmination of this step was seen in the partition of the country
along religious lines. The effects of differential treatment of different religious groups
can be seen to this day.

• The Act did nothing to grant colonial self-government, which was Congress’s demand.

• The Act did increase Indian participation in the legislative councils, especially at the
provincial levels.