The First Partition of Bengal

The history of Bengal is plagued with tumultuous events. One of the most scarring memories of this region was its first partition. This led to the creation of a border, creating a ripple effect that ultimately resulted in the formation of two separate nations.

George Curzon- Responsible for Bengal's partition in 1905; Image Source: Public Domain

The historical partition of India in 1947 proved to be one of the most gruesome events to ever occur. The British came with a plan to completely shatter us with their policy of ‘divide and rule’ and left the country right when they saw our ground burning. Yet there was another event, which haunted the people from the region to the East long before the partition of 1947. This was the spine-chilling partition of Bengal, right back in 1905, which led to the creation of a border whose impact has passed the test of time.

It was the hour of Lord Curzon, (the British viceroy in India in 1905), a grim day on 20th July, and air that reeked of calm just before the storm. Curzon had been contemplating his job for days, walking back and forth, and soon realised that he just had too much on his plate. The entire region of Bengal stretched across 189,000 square miles, including the regions of Bihar, Odisha, Assam and current Bangladesh, how could he successfully administer them all? On top of that, the Indian National Congress’s movement for independence was gaining momentum. Curzon had to think of a plan to derail the nationalists, as they were turning out to be fatal for the British and his tenure.

A previous idea which was put forward in 1904 yet rejected by Henry John Stedman Cotton, (the Chief Commissioner of Assam, 1896- 1902) struck his mind - the division of Bengal based on religious lines. Of course, nothing could suit him and the Britishers better, Bengal’s division would surely dilute the ongoing fuel the nationalists were running on and create a region that would be easier to govern.

So, he forced his notion of Bengal’s partition, which ultimately got approved in London by the Secretary of State of India on this today in 1905. This decision came into effect on 16th October 1905, fulfilling Curzon’s wishes yet creating nightmares for the natives of the land.

The division of Bengal based on religious lines led to differences in opinions as well. The Hindu majority was to be given the Western side of the region whereas East Bengal and Assam was for the Muslim majority.

The Hindu majority heavily criticized this decision, as they believed they would land up being a minority in their own land. Yet the Bengali Muslims, who had up till then been subjected to lesser job opportunities, underdeveloped districts, dominion from Hindu employers and sheer neglect saw this decision in a different light.

They supported this partition, as it gave them a future that would drastically improve their poor conditions, which ultimately did occur with the rapid development of East Bengal.

Nevertheless, communal tensions began to ignite once the border was formally created. The Bengali Hindus were charged with rural unrests, mass movements and their support towards the Swadeshi Movement. They refused to accept this attack on Bengal’s unity and strived to make it whole again. However, after getting a taste of a better standard of living, the Bengali Muslims decided to stay away from this movement.

A large-scale political turmoil in the nation and added pressure by the protestors led Bengal to finally get united in the year 1911, consequently leading to the division of Orissa, Assam and Bihar as separate administrative units based on linguistic lines. This was again in turn met with oppositions from the East Bengalis which the Britishers aimed at pacifying by erecting what is now known as the University of Dhaka.

Yet the Britishers had sparked tensions that could never get subdued, ultimately leading to the second partition of Bengal in 1947 followed by the Birth of Bangladesh, a separate country for East Bengalis in 1971.