Chapter 6 - Pakistan Movement in the Early 20th Century
Bengal was one of the largest provinces of British India with a huge population of more 80 million spread over a small area.
It was increasingly becoming difficult to administer such a big and densely populated province by a single a governor.
Administrative difficulties included, collection of revenue / taxes, providing relief and rehabilitation to a population repeatedly hit by cyclones and floods, controlling the law and order situation that was gradually deteriorating.
Since there had been earlier examples of dividing huge territories like Khandesh and Narbada, the British began to consider partitioning Bengal into two provinces.
So in 1903, Viceroy Lord Curzon proposed partition of Bengal into two provinces.
The British were also closely observing the growing disparity between the Hindus and the Muslims.
Hindus dominated the politics and economy of Bengal while keeping Muslims underdeveloped and poor.
The period 1900-1911 was a period of improved British – Muslim relations.
Perhaps British wanted to give Muslims an opportunity to prosper in the newly created province of East Bengal with Assam and three districts Dhaka, Chittagong and Mymensingh where they would be in a majority and hence would be able to farm their own government (which exactly happened).
The other part, West Bengal, remained a Hindu majority province.
Muslims now began to develop a new seaport at Chittagong.
Finally the British were also mindful of the INC demand of self ruled in the 1890s.
For example, INC leaders like Mr. Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak used to deliver impassioned and provoking speeches to incite the people for pressurizing the government for self rule.
Such leaders were arrested and British decided to distract the INC attention from its demand for self rule.
Thus when Lord Curzon in October 1905 announced the partition of Bengal, the INC guns were directed against the partition instead of demand for self rule.
The INC did not like the partition and opposed it fiercely.
For the INC, it was yet another example of the old British policy of “divide and rule”.
By doing so the British were strengthening their grip on the Indian political affairs while dividing the two major communities, Hindus and Muslims.
The British power lay in the communal differences of India.
The INC also viewed the partitioned as a step against the Indian nationalism.
It believed that all people living in India were primarily Indians regardless of the cultural and religious differences and identities.
So, all communities living in Bengal were equally Indians whether they were Hindus or Muslims.
It viewed the whole country as “mother India” and therefore, condemned the partition of Bengal as a kind of vivisection of their motherland.
It declared 16th Oct 1905 as a day of mourning.
The Hindu dominated INC was also unhappy over the loss of monopoly over the economy and politics of Bengal.
In East Bengal, Muslims were a decisive majority and had formed their own government.
Therefore, their economic condition began to improve.
They decided to develop the Chittagong port in order to compete with the Calcutta port of West Bengal.
All this scenario was worrying for the INC who launched an aggressive campaign against the British.
Bengal was one of the largest provinces of British India with a huge population of more 80 million spread over a small area.
It was increasingly becoming difficult to administer such a big and densely populated province by a single a governor.
Administrative difficulties included, collection of revenue / taxes, providing relief and rehabilitation to a population repeatedly hit by cyclones and floods, controlling the law and order situation that was gradually deteriorating.
Since there had been earlier examples of dividing huge territories like Khandesh and Narbada, the British began to consider partitioning Bengal into two provinces.
So in 1903, Viceroy Lord Curzon proposed partition of Bengal into two provinces.
The British were also closely observing the growing disparity between the Hindus and the Muslims.
Hindus dominated the politics and economy of Bengal while keeping Muslims underdeveloped and poor.
The period 1900-1911 was a period of improved British – Muslim relations.
Perhaps British wanted to give Muslims an opportunity to prosper in the newly created province of East Bengal with Assam and three districts Dhaka, Chittagong and Mymensingh where they would be in a majority and hence would be able to farm their own government (which exactly happened).
The other part, West Bengal, remained a Hindu majority province.
Muslims now began to develop a new seaport at Chittagong.
Finally the British were also mindful of the INC demand of self ruled in the 1890s.
For example, INC leaders like Mr. Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak used to deliver impassioned and provoking speeches to incite the people for pressurizing the government for self rule.
Such leaders were arrested and British decided to distract the INC attention from its demand for self rule.
Thus when Lord Curzon in October 1905 announced the partition of Bengal, the INC guns were directed against the partition instead of demand for self rule.
The INC did not like the partition and opposed it fiercely.
For the INC, it was yet another example of the old British policy of “divide and rule”.
By doing so the British were strengthening their grip on the Indian political affairs while dividing the two major communities, Hindus and Muslims.
The British power lay in the communal differences of India.
The INC also viewed the partitioned as a step against the Indian nationalism.
It believed that all people living in India were primarily Indians regardless of the cultural and religious differences and identities.
So, all communities living in Bengal were equally Indians whether they were Hindus or Muslims.
It viewed the whole country as “mother India” and therefore, condemned the partition of Bengal as a kind of vivisection of their motherland.
It declared 16th Oct 1905 as a day of mourning.
The Hindu dominated INC was also unhappy over the loss of monopoly over the economy and politics of Bengal.
In East Bengal, Muslims were a decisive majority and had formed their own government.
Therefore, their economic condition began to improve.
They decided to develop the Chittagong port in order to compete with the Calcutta port of West Bengal.
All this scenario was worrying for the INC who launched an aggressive campaign against the British.
