Lord Curzon and Partition of Bengal | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

Lord Curzon (1899 – 1905)

• Lord Curzon had visited India multiple times before becoming Viceroy.
• He believed in the superiority of the English race and its right to govern India.
• To improve administration, Lord Curzon reorganized the entire administrative structure.

Reforms

• Famine and Plague Relief: Implemented measures for relief during famines and plagues.
• Military Reforms: Introduced changes to the military system.
• Agricultural Reforms: Made adjustments to agricultural policies.
• Ancient Monuments Preservation Act: Enacted legislation to protect historical monuments.
• Educational Reforms: Implemented changes in the education system.
• Partition of Bengal 1905: Initiated the partition of Bengal.

Famine and Plague Relief

• Famine and Plague: When Lord Curzon arrived in India, Central and North India were hit hard by a severe famine caused by failed monsoons. Additionally, a plague was spreading in various regions.
• Relief Measures: Curzon set up a Famine Commission and allocated significant funds for relief efforts.

Military Reforms

• Transport System: Curzon reorganized the military transport system.
• New Equipment: He introduced new arms and guns for the army.
• Police Commission: In 1902, Curzon established a Police Commission.
• Imperial Cadet Corps: This corps was created to train young men for military service.

Agricultural Reforms

• Loans: Loans were offered to farmers with easy repayment terms.
• Co-operative Societies: These were established in various regions to support agriculture.
• Agricultural Research Institute: The Pusa Institute in Bengal was founded to conduct agricultural research.
• Irrigation: Improvements were made in irrigation, with numerous canals being dug.

Ancient Monuments Preservation Act

• Act of 1904: Lord Curzon passed this Act to safeguard ancient monuments.
• Department of Archaeology and Epigraphy: This department was established to preserve Indian art and architecture, including sites like Nalanda, Taxila, Sanchi, Elephanta Caves, and Saranath.

Educational Reforms

• Indian Universities Act 1904: This Act was passed to overhaul the education system.
• Centralization: Education was centralized under a Director General of Education.
• Funding and Improvement: Grants were provided to primary schools, and efforts were made to enhance education, including reforms in universities.

Partition of Bengal 1905

• Partition Decision: On October 16, 1905, Curzon decided to partition Bengal, which also included Bihar and parts of Orissa.
• Administrative Challenge: The large size of Bengal made administration difficult.
• Alternative Solution: The issue could have been resolved by later creating Bihar as a separate province, rather than partitioning Bengal.

Why Partition of Bengal?

Curzon's Motives for Partition

• Nationalism Suppression: Curzon aimed to divide Bengal to weaken rising nationalism and create socio-economic strife.
• Exploiting Minority vs. Majority: He intended to exploit differences between minorities and majorities to disrupt Indian unity.
• Bengal's Significance: Bengal was one of the largest and most prosperous states, and a major center of Indian nationalism.
• Economic Impact: The economic impact was significant, as Eastern Bengal, with its Muslim-majority peasants growing jute, and Western Bengal, with Hindu-owned jute mills, were economically intertwined.

Partition Plan

• Division of Bengal: Curzon proposed to merge East Bengal and Assam into one province, and West Bengal and Bihar into another.
• Headquarters: Dacca was to be the headquarters for East Bengal, and Kolkata for West Bengal.
• Demographic Breakdown: East Bengal had a Muslim majority, while West Bengal had a significant Hindu population.

Reaction and Outcome

• Aim vs. Reality: Curzon's goal was to disrupt Bengali solidarity and halt the national movement by creating rifts between Hindus and Muslims. However, this backfired.
• Unified Protest: The announcement led to widespread protests from all communities in Bengal, including Muslims, moderates, and extremists, who opposed the partition.
• Nationwide Response: The opposition to the partition spread beyond Bengal to states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab, showcasing a surge in nationalism.
• Anti-Partition Movement: A strong anti-partition movement emerged both in Bengal and across India, highlighting the unity of Indian nationalism.
• Reversal of Partition: Due to intense criticism and agitation, Bengal was reunited as a single province in 1911.