O Level Pak Studies PAGE 1 History Section 2
PARTITION OF BENGAL
Question 1 J2020/P1/Q3/C
How successful was the 1905 Partition of Bengal? Explain your answer.
[14]
The Viceroy Lord Curzon proposed to partition Bengal in 1903 but it was
implemented in 1905. Three areas Dhaka, Chittagong, and Myemnsingh were
separated and merged with Assam to create a new province called East Bengal,
which was Muslim majority area. Due to this partition Hindus and Muslims were
divided along communal lines.
Bengal was considered as the most densely populated province in the British
India & about 85 Million people were living in that part. There were many
administrative problems for the British government and it was difficult to
control as well. Bengal was of the size of France and it was difficult for the
British rulers to control such a huge land. British fear that they would lose
their control over India. Two smaller provinces were more efficient for the
British to administer.
British wanted to give more relaxations & power to the Muslims due to the
role played by the reformers like Sir Syed to remove misunderstandings between
the Muslims & the British. They had realized that Muslims were victimized
after war of 1857 so they should be given advance in this new province. The
Hindus were in majority in West Bengal i.e. 42 million while the muslims were
only 12 million. The muslims were in majority in East Bengal i.e. 18 million
while the hindus were only 12 million. British thought that muslims were in
majority in new province so it would be able for muslims to prosper and
dominate in different sectors which will help to improve relations between
muslims and british. The Muslim community were pleased. After partition they
were fully recognised in East Bengal province where they were the majority.
In United Bengal, hindus dominated and exploited muslims and kept them as a
deprived section of a society. The area of Bengal could easily be controlled by
the Hindu extremists, so british had a fear of losing control on such a vast
,O Level Pak Studies PAGE 2 History Section 2
province. The separation of Bengal along religious lines ended the oppression of
Muslims under Hindu rule.
According to british, partition will result in equal development throughout
Bengal. There were great differences between east and west Bengal. The east
being the more neglected. The west being developed and was using the resources
of east Bengal to develop itself. It was therefore decided to partition Bengal
to allow for development in education and employment to be generated
throughout the Bengal which would improve Bengal economically for future.
However to some extent partition of Bengal was not successful.
Hindus made a huge large cry as they were not happy. They lost their monopoly
over muslims in every aspect. They felt it great threat to their domination.
The Hindus’ objection to Partition was so great that it caused the British to
reconsider it. Congress opposed it by holding meetings and there were mass
rallies which put pressure on the British government. They thought it was a
deliberate attempt to ‘divide and rule’ on the part of the British. In many
areas of India, they started strikes, protests and marches. There was also an
outbreak of terrorist activities and the Hindus closed Calcutta for few days.
The Hindus did not like British policies as well as their products so they started
their boycott of British goods under the Swadeshi Movement. They prepared
their own hand make Khaddar to wear and as a result of this the British face
net loss in the sale of British Silk. British cotton was thrown in fire & local
cotton became a matter of honor. Swadeshi movement gave economic damage
to british government.
The Hindus were so angry that they attempted to assassinate Lord Minto
because he was the future viceroy of India and Lord Curzon, originator of the
idea, was no longer viceroy so a change of policy was easier. So they tried their
best to convince the British to reverse the partition of Bengal.
To some extent partition was successful but in my opinion it was a failure as
hindus were not satisfied from it and hindus were in majority.
,O Level Pak Studies PAGE 3 History Section 2
Question 2 N2018/P1/Q3/B
Explain how British reacted to Hindu-led protests against Partition of
Bengal between 1906 and 1908. [7]
The Press Act of 1908 placed restrictions on newspapers and gave the
government greater control over them. According to which editors of
newspapers, journalists were prosecuted and imprisoned found involved in anti-
British activities.
Furthermore, public meetings had restrictions placed upon them along with
strict actions in case of defiance i.e. One organiser of Hindu-led demonstrations,
Tilak of Poona was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment similarly others were
deported or left the country of their own accord rather than face imprisonment.
Another approach intended to win support of the more moderate Hindus by
making reforms. Lord Minto the Viceroy worked with John Morley, the
Secretary of State for India, on reforms that became the Morley Minto reforms
in 1909.
Question 3 J2016/P1/Q3/B
Explain why the British partitioned Bengal in 1905. [7]
Bengal was considered as the most densely populated province in the British
India & about 85 Million people were living in that part. There were many
administrative problems for the British government and it was difficult to
control as well. Bengal was of the size of France and it was difficult for the
British rulers to control such a huge land. British fear that they would lose
their control over India. Two smaller provinces were more efficient for the
British to administer.
British wanted to give more relaxations & power to the Muslims due to the
role played by the reformers like Sir Syed to remove misunderstandings between
the Muslims & the British. They had realized that Muslims were victimized
after war of 1857 so they should be given advance in this new province. The
Hindus were in majority in West Bengal i.e. 42 million while the muslims were
only 12 million. The muslims were in majority in East Bengal i.e. 18 million
while the hindus were only 12 million. British thought that muslims were in
, O Level Pak Studies PAGE 4 History Section 2
majority in new province so it would be able for muslims to prosper and
dominate in different sectors which will help to improve relations between
muslims and british.
They wanted to break the power of the Hindus in many parts of India & Bengal
was its perfect example that they followed the policy of divide & rule in those
areas. In United Bengal, hindus dominated and exploited muslims and kept them
as a deprived section of a society. The area of Bengal could easily be controlled
by the Hindu extremists, so british had a fear of losing control on such a vast
province.
Question 4 N2015/P1/Q3/C
How successful was the Partition of Bengal in 1905? Explain your
answer. [14]
• Same as Question 1
Question 5 J2014/P1/Q2/B
Why did the British reverse the partition of Bengal in 1911? [7]
The Hindus’ objection to Partition was so great that it caused the British to
reconsider it. Congress opposed it by holding meetings and there were mass
rallies which put pressure on the British government. They thought it was a
deliberate attempt to ‘divide and rule’ on the part of the British. In many
areas of India, they started strikes, protests and marches. There was also an
outbreak of terrorist activities and the Hindus closed Calcutta for few days.
The Hindus did not like British policies as well as their products so they started
their boycott of British goods under the Swadeshi Movement. They prepared
their own hand make Khaddar to wear and as a result of this the British face
net loss in the sale of British Silk. British cotton was thrown in fire & local
cotton became a matter of honor. Swadeshi movement gave economic damage
to british government.
The Hindus were so angry that they attempted to assassinate Lord Minto
because he was the future viceroy of India and Lord Curzon, originator of the
PARTITION OF BENGAL
Question 1 J2020/P1/Q3/C
How successful was the 1905 Partition of Bengal? Explain your answer.
[14]
The Viceroy Lord Curzon proposed to partition Bengal in 1903 but it was
implemented in 1905. Three areas Dhaka, Chittagong, and Myemnsingh were
separated and merged with Assam to create a new province called East Bengal,
which was Muslim majority area. Due to this partition Hindus and Muslims were
divided along communal lines.
Bengal was considered as the most densely populated province in the British
India & about 85 Million people were living in that part. There were many
administrative problems for the British government and it was difficult to
control as well. Bengal was of the size of France and it was difficult for the
British rulers to control such a huge land. British fear that they would lose
their control over India. Two smaller provinces were more efficient for the
British to administer.
British wanted to give more relaxations & power to the Muslims due to the
role played by the reformers like Sir Syed to remove misunderstandings between
the Muslims & the British. They had realized that Muslims were victimized
after war of 1857 so they should be given advance in this new province. The
Hindus were in majority in West Bengal i.e. 42 million while the muslims were
only 12 million. The muslims were in majority in East Bengal i.e. 18 million
while the hindus were only 12 million. British thought that muslims were in
majority in new province so it would be able for muslims to prosper and
dominate in different sectors which will help to improve relations between
muslims and british. The Muslim community were pleased. After partition they
were fully recognised in East Bengal province where they were the majority.
In United Bengal, hindus dominated and exploited muslims and kept them as a
deprived section of a society. The area of Bengal could easily be controlled by
the Hindu extremists, so british had a fear of losing control on such a vast
,O Level Pak Studies PAGE 2 History Section 2
province. The separation of Bengal along religious lines ended the oppression of
Muslims under Hindu rule.
According to british, partition will result in equal development throughout
Bengal. There were great differences between east and west Bengal. The east
being the more neglected. The west being developed and was using the resources
of east Bengal to develop itself. It was therefore decided to partition Bengal
to allow for development in education and employment to be generated
throughout the Bengal which would improve Bengal economically for future.
However to some extent partition of Bengal was not successful.
Hindus made a huge large cry as they were not happy. They lost their monopoly
over muslims in every aspect. They felt it great threat to their domination.
The Hindus’ objection to Partition was so great that it caused the British to
reconsider it. Congress opposed it by holding meetings and there were mass
rallies which put pressure on the British government. They thought it was a
deliberate attempt to ‘divide and rule’ on the part of the British. In many
areas of India, they started strikes, protests and marches. There was also an
outbreak of terrorist activities and the Hindus closed Calcutta for few days.
The Hindus did not like British policies as well as their products so they started
their boycott of British goods under the Swadeshi Movement. They prepared
their own hand make Khaddar to wear and as a result of this the British face
net loss in the sale of British Silk. British cotton was thrown in fire & local
cotton became a matter of honor. Swadeshi movement gave economic damage
to british government.
The Hindus were so angry that they attempted to assassinate Lord Minto
because he was the future viceroy of India and Lord Curzon, originator of the
idea, was no longer viceroy so a change of policy was easier. So they tried their
best to convince the British to reverse the partition of Bengal.
To some extent partition was successful but in my opinion it was a failure as
hindus were not satisfied from it and hindus were in majority.
,O Level Pak Studies PAGE 3 History Section 2
Question 2 N2018/P1/Q3/B
Explain how British reacted to Hindu-led protests against Partition of
Bengal between 1906 and 1908. [7]
The Press Act of 1908 placed restrictions on newspapers and gave the
government greater control over them. According to which editors of
newspapers, journalists were prosecuted and imprisoned found involved in anti-
British activities.
Furthermore, public meetings had restrictions placed upon them along with
strict actions in case of defiance i.e. One organiser of Hindu-led demonstrations,
Tilak of Poona was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment similarly others were
deported or left the country of their own accord rather than face imprisonment.
Another approach intended to win support of the more moderate Hindus by
making reforms. Lord Minto the Viceroy worked with John Morley, the
Secretary of State for India, on reforms that became the Morley Minto reforms
in 1909.
Question 3 J2016/P1/Q3/B
Explain why the British partitioned Bengal in 1905. [7]
Bengal was considered as the most densely populated province in the British
India & about 85 Million people were living in that part. There were many
administrative problems for the British government and it was difficult to
control as well. Bengal was of the size of France and it was difficult for the
British rulers to control such a huge land. British fear that they would lose
their control over India. Two smaller provinces were more efficient for the
British to administer.
British wanted to give more relaxations & power to the Muslims due to the
role played by the reformers like Sir Syed to remove misunderstandings between
the Muslims & the British. They had realized that Muslims were victimized
after war of 1857 so they should be given advance in this new province. The
Hindus were in majority in West Bengal i.e. 42 million while the muslims were
only 12 million. The muslims were in majority in East Bengal i.e. 18 million
while the hindus were only 12 million. British thought that muslims were in
, O Level Pak Studies PAGE 4 History Section 2
majority in new province so it would be able for muslims to prosper and
dominate in different sectors which will help to improve relations between
muslims and british.
They wanted to break the power of the Hindus in many parts of India & Bengal
was its perfect example that they followed the policy of divide & rule in those
areas. In United Bengal, hindus dominated and exploited muslims and kept them
as a deprived section of a society. The area of Bengal could easily be controlled
by the Hindu extremists, so british had a fear of losing control on such a vast
province.
Question 4 N2015/P1/Q3/C
How successful was the Partition of Bengal in 1905? Explain your
answer. [14]
• Same as Question 1
Question 5 J2014/P1/Q2/B
Why did the British reverse the partition of Bengal in 1911? [7]
The Hindus’ objection to Partition was so great that it caused the British to
reconsider it. Congress opposed it by holding meetings and there were mass
rallies which put pressure on the British government. They thought it was a
deliberate attempt to ‘divide and rule’ on the part of the British. In many
areas of India, they started strikes, protests and marches. There was also an
outbreak of terrorist activities and the Hindus closed Calcutta for few days.
The Hindus did not like British policies as well as their products so they started
their boycott of British goods under the Swadeshi Movement. They prepared
their own hand make Khaddar to wear and as a result of this the British face
net loss in the sale of British Silk. British cotton was thrown in fire & local
cotton became a matter of honor. Swadeshi movement gave economic damage
to british government.
The Hindus were so angry that they attempted to assassinate Lord Minto
because he was the future viceroy of India and Lord Curzon, originator of the
