3. • The impact of partition on the Bengal delta, particularly the
eastern part of the delta which is now independent Bangladesh.
• A short span of time between 1905 and 1911, when Bengal was
divided by the British for administrative, political and other
reasons by Lord Curzon in 1905
• In August 1947, when India was divided into two states, the
delta was also divided into two parts:
Western part of Bengal joined the new state of India and
Eastern Bengal was added to Pakistan,
A completely different region from Bengal in terms of
geography and culture.
Introduction
4. Partition of Bengal at glance
Shahanka Pala Sena Muslim
Rule
Battle of
Palassey
Muslim
Rule
British Rule
(1757 to 1947)
Final
Division
of BengalPartition of Bengal Reunification Famine Communal Riot
7th AD 8th to 11th
AD
12 th
AD
12 –
17th AD
1957
12 – 17th
AD
1905 1911 1943 1946-7 1947
5. Introduction
A. To Strike at the roots of Bengali Nationalism:
I. The real motive was to break "the growing solidarity of Bengali nationalism".
II. Bengal at that time was considered to be "the nerve-centre of India nationalism".
III. Lord Curzon decided to crush the new spirit by Dividing the politically advanced
communities into separate provinces.
B. The Policy Of Divide & Rule:
i. Another motive was to drive a wedge between the Hindus and the Muslims .
ii. In February 1904,Curzon went on a tour of East Bengal, where he addressed a number of
meetings.
C. Uncertain issues
i. Political discontent was growing due to the inability of the government(British) to organize
effective relief during the period of famine
ii. From 1870 onwards, the British started inciting the Hindus and the Muslims to form their own
political parties to establish their distinct religious identities.
6. Introduction
• The end of the British Empire in India in August 1947 resulted in the
creation of two separate states of India and Pakistan.
• The division was based on religious lines, a Muslim majority in
Pakistan and a Hindu majority in India.
• Pakistan itself was split into two parts in the east (East Bengal,
which became Bangladesh in 1971) and in the west (western Punjab).
This event was to result in the biggest mass migration in history.
• Over 18 million people migrated to join their particular religious
majority.
• At least a million people died in communal violence in the process.
7. Hindu Vs Muslim
• Noted that, the Hindus by and large opposed the 1905-partition and most
Muslims rendered their support to it;
• but it was the Hindus, especially the Hindu Mahasabha, who proposed the
partition of Bengal in 1947 and Muslim leadership first opposed and later
accepted the proposal sullenly.
• The rapid change in the political mood of the Hindus and Muslims of the
province ought to be measured by the complex politics of communalities,
communalism, and imperialism of the time.
• HS Suhrawardy, chief minister of Bengal, made a last moment attempt to
transcend the limits and keep Bengal united with the status of an independent
state. However, his move for a United Independent Bengal floundered.
8. THE ANTI PARTITION MOVEMENT
1. People protested, fasted, walked barefoot to the
Ganges, singing patriotic songs.
2. Tagore suggested to observe as Raksha Bandhan Day
signifying brotherhood between people of East and
West Bengal.
3. Boycott movement
4. Swadeshi movement
10. Causes
Purely political
The Hindus were in a better position than the Muslims
during British period
British adapted Divide and Rule policy
But the real reason behind the partition was political and not
administrative
East Bengal was dominated by the Muslims and West Bengal by
the Hindus
• In 1905, The Bengal was divided on administrative purpose
• Emergence of Muslim League
• Muslim domination in National assembly
11.
12. Causes
• 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.
13. Causes
• 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.
14. Major Events(Process to Partition)
The Simla Deputation (1906): demands of Muslims of India
• Separate electorate
• Reservations of Muslims seats in government jobs.
• Special share in Municipal or district boards University senates and
syndicates
• Muslim representation in Viceroy Executive Council.
• Muslim University at Aligarh
1906-Foundation of Muslim League(All India Muslim League)
Aims & Objectives of the Muslim League
i. Protection and promotion of political rights and interests of the Muslims.
ii. Cooperation with other communities without prejudice to the above goal.
iii. Fostering sense of loyalty, among the Muslims, towards the government.
Annulment of Partition of Bengal (1911): This was done due to strong protest by Hindus.
In 1913, a new group of Muslim leaders entered the folds of the Muslim League with the
aim of bridging the gulf between the Muslims and the Hindus.
15. First World War (1914-1918:.
The Khalifah of turkey was greatly respected by the Indian Muslims as the centre of
global fraternity and the leader of Muslim Ummah.
The Britishers and her allies fought against Turkey
Muslim are not Happy With Britishers
Turks decided to side with the Germans against the Allied Forces.
Lucknow Pact (1916):
The Muslim League and Congress held their joint sessions in Lucknowon December
1916.
Congress accepted the Muslim demand of separate electorate.
Major Events(Process to Partition)
16. The main clauses of the Lucknow Pact were:
1. There shall be self-government in India.
2.Muslims should be given one-third representation in the
central government.
3.There should be separate electorates for all the
communities until a community demanded for joint
electorates.
4.System of weightage should be adopted.
5.The number of the members of Central Legislative
Council should be increased to 150.
6.At the provincial level, four-fifth of the members of the
Legislative Councils should be elected and one-fifth should
be nominated.
7.The strength of Provincial legislative should not be less
than 125 in the major provinces and from 50 to 75 in the
minor provinces.
WHAT WAS LUCKNOW PACT??
17. The main clauses of the Lucknow Pact were: 1. There shall
be self-government in India.
2.Muslims should be given one-third representation in the
central government.
3.There should be separate electorates for all the
communities until a community demanded for joint
electorates.
4.System of weightage should be adopted.
5.The number of the members of Central Legislative
Council should be increased to 150.
6.At the provincial level, four-fifth of the members of the
Legislative Councils should be elected and one-fifth should
be nominated.
7.The strength of Provincial legislative should not be less
than 125 in the major provinces and from 50 to 75 in the
minor provinces.
IQBAL: TWO NATION THEORY
18.
19. Major Events(Process to Partition)
August 20, 1917 Announcement by British Government:
Secretary of State Montagu promised for:
1. Greater association of Indian in all branches of government.
2. Responsible government
3. Induction of Indians in the commissioned ranks.
Lucknow Pact betrayed by the Congress:
Th friendly atmosphere created by the Pact soon waned out and an
extremist Hindu element soon took over Congress
20. The Khilafat Movement:
i. The Khilafat movement was a religio-political movement launched by
the Muslims of British India for the retention of the Ottoman Caliphate
and for not handing over the control of Muslim holy places to non-
Muslims.
ii. It was a peak period from 1919 to 1922 casting demonstrations, boycott,
and other pressure by the two major communities, the Hindus and the
Muslims.
Rowlett Act, 1919:To the law, the govt. got authority to persecute any
Indian and the arrested had no facility of legal assistance and right to
appeal .
Jinnah resigned from the central legislature as a protest.
Major Events(Process to Partition)
23. Radcliffe line
• Drawing a border between the two parts of Bengal was very drastic.
• The new border caused neighbours, relatives and friends, who were
living side by side for many generations, to be separated and to
migrate to different parts of the two Bengals - now a part of different
States.
• This especially happened to the people who found themselves on the
newly drawn border.
• The new border also created a very strange type of `island' which is
known as chitmahal or enclaves.
25. Jinnah Mountbatten Last English Viceroy to India with Nehru – Hindu Leader
Wants homeland for Muslims
Supposed to be
neutral and administer
independence and partition
Wants united India
26. The United Bengal plan (Consequances)
• H. S. Suhrawardy, the last Prime Minister of Bengal, urged a separate
independent status for the whole province
• Suhrawardy realized that if Bengal was partitioned, it would be
economically disastrous for East Bengal as all coal mines, all jute mills but
two and other industrial plants would certainly go to the western part since
these were in an overwhelmingly Hindu majority area.
• Suhrawardy came up with a new plan to create an independent Bengal
state that would join neither Pakistan nor India and remain unpartitioned
• Most important of all, Calcutta, then the largest city in India, an industrial
and commercial hub and the largest port, would also go to the western
part.
• Sarat Chandra Bose supported the United Bengal plan
29. Re-partition of Bengal(Process)
• In 1947, Bengal was partitioned for the second time, solely on
religious grounds, as part of the Partition of India following the
formation of India and Pakistan.
36. For and against the partition of Bengal(Conclusion)
• The partition was supported by the Muslims of East Bengal and their
support was motivated by both their poor economic conditions in East
Bengal, as well as the believed dominance of the Hindu businessmen in
West Bengal over the governance of Bengal.
• The partition had a far-reaching impact on the economy and ecology of
eastern Bengal which is now Bangladesh.
• eastern Bengal lost 55 valuable tea gardens
• Murshidabad was important to keep control on the water sources. Later,
it would have a serious consequence for the environment and economy
of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has 55 international rivers entering from
India which are controlled by India. This controlling of water resources
has created a perpetual threat for the ecology and economy of
Bangladesh.
37. In 1947, the border between India and its new neighbour
Pakistan became a river of blood, as the exodus erupted
into rioting.
As India and Pakistan become independent, 14.5 million
people crossed borders to ensure their safely in an
increasingly lawless and communal environment. While the
British authority was gone, the newly formed governments
were completely unequipped to deal with migrations of
such staggering magnitude, and massive violence and
slaughter occurred on both sides of the border along
communal lines. Estimates of the number of deaths range
around roughly 500,000, with low estimates at 200,000 and
high estimates at 1,000,000.
38. • Greatest mass migration of
humans in 20th
century
• Over 15 Million Muslims,
Sikhs and Hindus moved
across borders
• Communal slaughter over 1
Million killed,
• Tens of thousands of
women raped and
kidnapped
NET RESULT OF PARTITION
• Families divided
• 3 Wars between India and Pakistan
• Large part of Pakistani GNP and
Indian defense dedicated to
defense of borders
• East Pakistan fought for
independence and with aid from
India, broke off from West Pakistan.
• Human rights abuses by Pakistani
forces in
East Pakistan.
