Question

how did people respond with partition of Bengal?

Answer 1

In 1905, Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India, divided the province of Bengal into two parts. East Bengal comprised 15 eastern districts, having a Muslim majority. The rest of Bengal, called the West Bengal had a Hindu majority.

The people of Bengal greatly reacted to the partition of Bengal.

I. They did not agree with the statement of Lord Curzon that the division was made purely on administrative grounds.

II. They clearly saw the aim of the Britishers to break the unity of the Bengali people on communal lines and thus weaken the nationalist movement.

III. The division of Bengal provoked an agitation and angry reaction of Bengali people. It created widespread indignation all over the country.

IV. A movement was launched to end the partition. It was led by both 'extremist' and 'moderate' leaders.

V. The day of partition was observed as a day of mourning all over Bengal. All business came to a standstill. On the suggestion of the great poet Rabindranath Tagore the day was also observed as a day of unity and solidarity of the people,

VI. During the movement to lend the partition of Bengal, new methods of struggle were adopted. These methods, which included Swadeshi and Boycott, brought in participation by the common people in the anti-British political activities. The aims of nationalist movement also became more radical than before.

Answer 2

Answer:

Partition of Bengal:

• Partition of Bengal in 1905 was the most unpopular of all.
• The partition led to wide spread protests all across India, starting a new phase of the Indian national movement.
• The idea of partition was devised to suppress the political activities against the British rule in Bengal by creating a Hindu-Muslim divide.
• Instead of dividing the Bengali people along the religious line the partition united them.

Anti – partition movement:

• The leaders of both the groups extremist and moderate —were critical of partition.
• Initially the objective of the anti-partition campaign was limited to changing the public opinion in England.
• So they protested through prayers, press campaigns, petitions and public meetings.
• However, despite widespread protest, partition of Bengal was announced on 19 July 1905.
• The boycott of British goods was one such method.
• Swadeshi movement was started. It aimed at the cancellation of partition of Bengal.
• The moderates were very much against utilising the campaign to start a full — fledged passive resistance.
• But the militant nationalists were in favour of extending the movement beyond Bengal and to initiate a full – scale mass struggle.
• The day Bengal was officially partitioned, 16 Oct. 1905 was declared as a day of mourning.
• Thousands of people took bath in the Ganga and marched on the streets of Calcutta singing ‘Bande Mataram’