The Indian National Movement is divided into three phases. With reference to the Second Phase of the Indian National Movement, answer the following questions:
Who partitioned Bengal? Mention any two points to explain the perspective of the Nationalists regarding the actual motive behind the decision of Partition.
Topic: Partition of Bengal
Answer
Bengal was partitioned by LORD CURZON, the Viceroy, in 1905.
The Nationalist perspective on the real motive: (1) It was an attempt to DIVIDE HINDUS AND MUSLIMS. East Bengal would have a Muslim majority and West Bengal a Hindu majority, so the partition would set the two communities against each other and destroy the unity that had been growing between them. (2) It was an attempt to WEAKEN THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT, which was strongest in Bengal. By splitting the province the British hoped to break the influence of the Bengali intelligentsia and divide the political leadership — the administrative convenience Curzon claimed was only a pretext.
Three marks: one for the name and one for each point of the Nationalist perspective. Read the question carefully — it asks for the NATIONALIST view of the ACTUAL motive, not for Curzon’s stated reason. Answering with "administrative convenience" would miss the question entirely, though it is worth mentioning as the official pretext. Add the consequence in a closing phrase: the partition provoked the Swadeshi and Boycott movements and was annulled in 1911.