๐ Topic 04 of 6 ยท Chapter 14 ยท Indian National Movement (1857โ1920)
Partition of Bengal (1905) & Swadeshi Movement
Lord Curzon’s Partition of Bengal, Swadeshi movement, boycott of British goods, national education.
โ๏ธ Partition of Bengal (October 16, 1905)
- Ordered by Lord Curzon (Viceroy) on October 16, 1905
- Bengal divided into:
- East Bengal and Assam โ Muslim majority; capital Dhaka
- West Bengal โ Hindu majority; capital Calcutta
- Official reason: Administrative convenience โ Bengal was too large to govern
- Real motive: Divide and rule โ separate Hindus and Muslims; weaken Bengali nationalism
- Widely seen as a divide and rule policy
๐๏ธ Response โ Raksha Bandhan
- October 16, 1905 (Partition day) observed as Raksha Bandhan
- Hindus and Muslims tied rakhis to each other โ symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity
- Rabindranath Tagore composed “Amar Sonar Bangla” โ later became Bangladesh’s national anthem
- Massive protests across Bengal and India
๐ฅ Swadeshi Movement
- Launched as a direct response to the Partition of Bengal
- Swadeshi = use of Indian-made goods; boycott of British goods
- British cloth publicly burned; Manchester cloth boycotted
- National education: National Council of Education established; Bengal National College founded
- National industries: Promoted Indian industries โ textiles, matches, soap
- First mass movement in India โ involved all sections of society
- Spread beyond Bengal to Maharashtra, Punjab, Madras
โญ Significance of Swadeshi Movement: The Swadeshi movement was the first mass movement in India. It showed that ordinary people โ not just educated elites โ could participate in the freedom struggle. It promoted Indian industries and vernacular languages. It was a precursor to Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement (1920). Rabindranath Tagore’s songs became anthems of the movement.
๐ Annulment of Partition (1911)
- Bengal partition was annulled in 1911 by Lord Hardinge during the Delhi Durbar
- Announced during the coronation of King George V
- Bengal was reunited โ but Bihar and Orissa were separated from Bengal
- Capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi
- Nationalists celebrated the annulment as a victory
๐ Exam Tip:
โข Partition of Bengal = October 16, 1905 = Lord Curzon = divide and rule
โข Raksha Bandhan = October 16, 1905 = Hindu-Muslim unity
โข “Amar Sonar Bangla” = Rabindranath Tagore = Bangladesh’s national anthem
โข Swadeshi = boycott British goods = first mass movement in India
โข Annulment of Partition = 1911 = Lord Hardinge = Delhi Durbar
โข Partition of Bengal = October 16, 1905 = Lord Curzon = divide and rule
โข Raksha Bandhan = October 16, 1905 = Hindu-Muslim unity
โข “Amar Sonar Bangla” = Rabindranath Tagore = Bangladesh’s national anthem
โข Swadeshi = boycott British goods = first mass movement in India
โข Annulment of Partition = 1911 = Lord Hardinge = Delhi Durbar