Partition of Bengal — Definition

Definition

The partition of Bengal was a territorial reorganisation carried out under Viceroy Curzon and brought into effect on 16 October 1905. The government justified it partly through the administrative difficulties of governing a large province.

Opponents argued that the arrangement weakened an important centre of nationalist activity and promoted political division. The controversy generated the anti-partition and Swadeshi movements, but responses were not uniform across all communities and interests.

The partition was annulled in 1911. To understand the episode, distinguish the government's stated rationale, the political interpretation of opponents, the actual reorganisation and the varied forms of protest and support.