Bengal partitioned due to geographical factors [14]

Question 1

Why was Bengal considered one of the most important provinces of the sub-continent before its partition?

Answer 1

• Bengal was considered one of the most important provinces due to its rich agricultural productivity.
• The British government had to spend a great deal of effort and resources to administer it.
• It had a massive population of 95 million, which was ten times larger than Britain’s population at the time, making governance extremely difficult.
• The province also included dense jungles, marshy areas, and highly populated regions, which made administration a major challenge.

Question 2

Why did the British feel the need to partition Bengal, and who took the lead in this decision?

Answer 2

• The British found it difficult to govern and administer such a vast and heavily populated province.
• The idea of partition had been considered for a long time, but it was Lord Curzon who gave it serious thought and received approval from the British government.

Question 3

When did the partition of Bengal take place, and how was the province divided?

Answer 3

• Bengal was officially partitioned in October 1905.
• It was divided into two provinces: West Bengal and East Bengal & Assam.
• Regions like Dacca, Chittagong, and Mymensingh were annexed to Assam.
• This division resulted in West Bengal having a Hindu majority, while East Bengal and Assam had a Muslim majority.

Question 4

How did the creation of East Bengal & Assam benefit the Muslim community?

Answer 4

• The emergence of a Muslim-majority province was welcomed by Muslims because it opened up opportunities for them in education, government jobs, and commerce.
• Under a united Bengal, Muslims were dominated by Hindus who were better educated, economically stronger, and more politically organised.

Question 5

Why did Hindus oppose the partition of Bengal, and how did they respond?

Answer 5

• Hindus strongly opposed the partition, claiming the British had sinister motives behind it.
• Hindu businessmen in Calcutta feared a loss in income and profits due to the economic shift towards Dacca and other eastern cities.
• This led to widespread agitation and protests, which were supported by the Indian National Congress.

Question 6

Was the partition of Bengal done to support or harm any religious group?

Answer 6

• The partition of Bengal was done not to favour or harm any community.
• The partition was done mainly because of geographical ground realities