BENGAL, was the largest province of then united India, spreading over the area of 1,89,000 miles with the estimated population of almost 80 million, which was too complex to manage for its day-to-day administrative activities. This partition was aimed to enhance efficiency in government and curtail administrative shortcomings as Bengal: encompassing vast land, was then considered a financial hub for the country, with its eastern part; majority Muslim populated, was highly underdeveloped.
Highly efficient home industry, with skilled weavers; crafting quality wool and cotton cloths, then of universal paramountcy, along with its well-developed ship building industry generated huge revenue, making Bengal the richest province of the subcontinent.
Bengal fell into the hands of the East India Company (EOP) in 1764 as a result of the battle of Buxar, fought between the British led East India Company (EOP) and combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula, and Shah Alam II. Treaty of Allahabad signed in 1765 put an end to the war, granting EOP the right to collect revenue from Bengal, Bihar and Orissa on the behalf of the Mughal emperor.
Growing population of Bengal and mounting Hindu nationalism posed a serious threat to British rule, to check these issues of paramount importance in advance, Lieutenant-governor of Bengal A.H.L Fraser proposed separation, pointing Dacca Mamansing districts should be separated from Bengal and transferred to Assam. Lord Curzon readily agreed to this proposal in 1905, calculating administrative and political feasibility and gaining sway over Muslims of Eastern Bengal as strategic partners against rising Hindu nationalism, thus showcasing clear precedent of “divide and rule” policy.
Muslim leadership brought forth their possible insecurities regarding the separation, but they were assured by Lord Curzon visit of Eastern Bengal, promising approval of establishment of a university in Dacca to address educational problems in the province.
Resultantly new province, Eastern Bengal: with the incorporation of Dacca as its capital, Mamansing, Assam, Kaula, Rangpur, and Borgra districts its part, came into existence as Muslim majority area, with estimated 18 million Muslims and 12 million Hindus and others. While Bihar and Orissa constituted a separate province called West Bengal, with its capital of Calcutta also capital of the whole subcontinent at that moment of time.
This separation of Bengal was met with widespread mass protests and bloody riots. Extremist leadership of Congress boycotted British goods and adopted swaraj as their principal motive against colonial forces, leading to split in INC’s senior leadership thus it in two groups one with moderate way of politics and others adopting radical methodology of mass agitation as their tactical strategy in politics.
With the termination of Lord Curzon, new leadership came into India but mass protests and criminal activities continued. In 1911 when His Majesty King George V paid a visit to India, viewing the tense situation in India he annulled Bengal’s separation and also moved capital to Delhi from Calcutta, placing Assam under a chief commissioner and united Bengal under Governor.
This annulation shattered Muslims’ dream of British support and realized their marginal political standing. Owing to its weaknesses All India Muslim League (AIML) decided to revive its political aims and restructured its traditional way of politics thus marking sufficient changes in upcoming years.
By Mubashir Ijaz
