Partition of Bengal 1905

Partition of Bengal 1905

1. Aims

   • Make British admin more efficient
   • Make British rule less susceptible to nationalist political attacks

2. Successes

   • Created NWFP to act as a buffer between British India and 'Wild North West'

3. What exactly happened

   • Partitioning of Eastern-Indian province Bengal
   • West Bengal to Bihar and Orissa(54m population; 42m hindus, 9m muslims)
   • East Bengal to Assam(31m population; 12m hindus, 18m muslims)

4. Why Partition?

   • Streamline administration
   • Bengal was vulnerable to famine/floods/unrest
   • Block success of congress- "Divide and Rule"

5. Reaction

   • Created Muslim majority state- angered Hindus, pleased muslims- Divide and Rule