ICSE Solutions and Questions Answers for The Partition of Bengal Class 10 History
We are going to learn the ICSE Solutions of fifth chapter of the History textbook of Class 10. The name of the chapter is The Partition of Bengal. All types of questions including very short answer type, short answer type, structured questions and questions based on picture perception has been provided. This ICSE solutions for The Partition of Bengal will help the students in learning the chapter outcome.
| Name of the chapter | The Partition of Bengal |
| Subject | History and Civics |
| Topics covered |
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| Related Readings |
Very Short Questions
Answer
Partition of Bengal was one important anti-India policy adopted by Lord Curzon, which brought about aggressive nationalism in India.
Answer
Bengal was partitioned on 16 October, 1905 by Lord Curzon.
OR
How did Lord Curzon justify the Partition of Bengal?
Answer
The reason for the partition as given by the British was that the partition was to introduce efficiency in the administration of the province of Bengal which was deemed to be a much bigger piece of land to be governed by a Single Administration.
4. "Bengal United is a power, Bengal divided will pull several different ways." Who made this statement?
Answer
In the official note, Risley, the Home Secretary to the Government of India made this statement.
5. Of which areas did the new Bengal province comprise?
Answer
East Bengal comprised of Assam, Chittagong with fifteen districts of old Bengal.
6. Briefly state how people reacted to the partition of Bengal?
Answer
People observed 16th October, 1905 the effective day for partition as a day of mourning. There were protests everywhere. People fasted, walked barefoot to the Ganges singing patriotic songs.
7. What was the main impact of the partition of Bengal on the national movement?
Answer
The agitation against the partition of Bengal went on growing and became a great national movement known as Swadeshi and Boycott Movement.
8. Of which areas did the new Bengal province comprise?
Answer
East Bengal comprised of Assam, Chittagong with fifteen districts of old Bengal.
9. Why were the people from Bengal opposed to its partition?
Answer
The people of Bengal were opposed to its partition because Bengalis felt that Curzon was trying to split their unity by stirring up religious differences.
10. What is meant by Swadeshi?
Answer
Swadeshi means ‘of one’s own country’ and it implies that people should use goods produced within the country.
11. Which countries used the idea of Swadeshi and Boycott before it was used in the Indian National Movement?
Answer
America and China used the idea of Swadeshi and Boycott before it was used in Indian National Movement.
12. What virtues did the Swadeshi Movement instill among the Indians?
Answer
The Swadeshi Movement united the people of India. It instilled in the people a wave of nationalist feeling that united the whole country in its fight for the freedom from foreign rule.
13. Who was Anandamohan Bose? For what is he remembered?
Answer
Anandamohan Bose was a veteran leader of Bengal. He is remembered for laying the foundation of The Federation Hall in Calcutta.
14. Name any two prominent leaders of Anti-Partition agitation of Bengal. Name the song composed by Rabindranath Tagore during the Anti-partition agitation.
Answer
K Mitra and Rabindranath Tagore were the Bengali leaders of the Anti-Partition agitation. Rabindranath Tagore composed the National song, "Amar Sonar Baugla.' 'My Golden Bengal.Lord Curzon who was the Viceroy of India was responsible for the partition of Bengal.
Short Answer Questions
Answer
Two repressive policies of Lord curzon were the Indian University Act of 1904 and the Sedition Act and the official Secrets Acts, which curtailed the liberties of all the sections of society.
OR
What was the motives of Lord Curzon behind the Partition?
Answer
Curzon's motive behind the partition of. Bengal were:
To Curb the radical Bengali nationalists and thus, to weaken the nationalist movement. To set the Hindus and Muslims against each other.
Answer
Lord Curzon's argument in favour of the partition of Bengal was that it was too large a province to be efficiently administered by a single provincial Government. It was quite difficult for Lt. Governor to administer it effectively. Therefore, it should be divided into two provinces which would help to improve the administration of the two provinces.
Answer
The newly created Muslim majority province gave them the feeling that it was a source of strength to them and a center of their political activity to separate from the Hindus.
Answer
Rabindranath Tagore gave the festival of "Raksha Bandhan" a new turn on that day when people tied yellow thread on each other's writs as a symbol of brotherhood between the peoples of East Bengal and West Bengal.
Answer
Bengal at that time was considered to be "the nerve centre of Indian Nationalism". Lord Curzon desired to shush this new spirit by dividing the politically advanced communities into two provinces. He pointed out that administrative efficiency could have been better secured by separating the Hindi speaking Bihar and Oriya speaking Orissa from the Bengali speaking part of the province.
Answer
The province of Bengal was too big to be administered by a single provincial government. It comprised of Bengal proper, Bihar, Odisha, Chhotanagpur and Bengali speaking districts of modern Assam.
Answer
One of the significant motive behind Bengal partition was policy of divide and rule. This policy was applied to create a wedge between the Hindus and Muslims of Bengal. In East Bengal, Curzon addressed to Muslims in meetings to explain the real motive of partition to create a Mohammedan province.
OR
What was the reaction of the people to the partition?
Answer
When the proposal was published then there was a great hue and cry from all quarters. When the partition came into effect the people started a strong movement against it known as the Anti Partition Movement. The people, under the leadership of great Nationalist leaders, understood the real motive of the partition which was to flare up the confrontation between the Hindus and Muslims. The people felt humiliated, insulted and tricked. They were ready to sacrifice their lives and face death fearlessly.
Answer
In all public and Anti-Partition meetings all over the region (Bengal), even other States and big towns the call for total boycott and for use of Swadeshi was given. Bal Gangadhar Tilak played a significant role as a leader and soon the Movement gained great force. Young and old men and women of Bengal marched in well-organised processions to protest against the division of Bengal. Thousands of meetings were organised in which British goods were burnt at public places. The crowds disallowed shopkeepers to sell British goods. People of all shades co-operated in this agitation.
Answer
The purpose of swadeshi movement was the expansion of Indian industries. The boycott movement was meant to abstain from the purchase of foreign goods. Both the movements were complementary to each other and proved successful. A number of associations sprang up which promoted the cause of swadeshi movement. Important among such associations were Bande Mataram Sampradaya, the Swadeshi Samaj and Anti Circular Society. Both the movement gave impetus to indigenous production of goods and services.
Answer
October 16, 1905 was declared to be a 'Day of Mourning' throughout the Bengal. The Partition of Bengal became effective from 16th October, 1905. People bathed in the Ganga and tied Rakhi on each other's arms-indicating that no government could divide them. People later took the vow of Swadeshi and trigged the Anti-Partition Agitation.
Answer
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed the Bande Mataram. The Bengalis felt that they have been insulted, humiliated and tricked. They were ready for all sacrifices and fearlessly faced death to show the strength of solidarity.
Structured Questions
1. One of the Lord Curzon's administrative measures that resulted in a strong resentment from the masses was the Partition of Bengal in 1905. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) What was Lord Curzon's argument in favour of the Partition of Bengal? How did the Nationalists interpret Lord Curzon's motives?
(b) How did the people react to the Partition of Bengal?
(c) What was the impact of the Anti-Partition Movement?
Answer
(a) (i) Lord Curzon gave the reason of administrative efficiency. It was said that the province of Bengal was too big to be efficiently administered by the single provincial Government.
(ii) The province of Bengal had a population of 8 crores and an area of 1,90,000 square miles and hence difficult to govern. Therefore a scheme was launched to divide it. However, the Nationalists interpreted the partition differently. The real motive to partition of Bengal was to curb the Nationalist Movement and demonstrate British power. The British played the policy of divide and rule" and created a wedge between the Hindu and Muslim communities. They wanted to fan and forge communalism and weaken the National Movement as Bengal was the centre of Nationalist upsurge.
(b) No sooner was this proposal published than there was a great hue and cry and a volley of protests. The partition of Bengal came into effect on 16th October 1905. Soon the people started a strong movement against this partition.
The day of 16 October was observed as the Day of Morning in Bengal. The cry of Bande Mataram reverberated throughout the province. About 2000 demonstrations were held that very day. Soon it took the shape of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement.
(c) The Partition of Bengal along with the Anti- Partition Movement accelerated the Nationalist Movement by spreading it among the general masses. The people rose in unity to resist, to suffer and to sacrifice.
- The ideas of Swadeshi and boycott, born of the popular feelings in 1905, took shape and it was realised that Swadeshi and Boycott were complementary and one would not succeed without the other. Swadeshi and Boycott were used as weapons of political agitation and a training in self-sufficiency for the attainment of Swaraj. British goods were burnt at public places and shops selling them were picketed. The spirit of Swadeshi spread to almost every walk of life-industries, education, culture, literature, etc.
- The people lost their faith in the fair play and justice of the British. Lord Curzon refused to concede to the demands of annulling the partition. He said, "Partition of Bengal is a settled fact and what is settled cannot be unsettled.
2. On the grounds of improving administrative efficiency, how Curzon justified the partition of Bengal?
Answer
Lord Curzon, who was the Viceroy of India from 1898 to 1905, became unpopular in India. The reason explaining that Bengal was too large as a province to be administrated by a single Governor. He, even in this despatch, mentioned the view-points of Sir A. Fraser, Lt. Governor of Bengal. He said that the Presidency of Bengal had become large and unwieldy. It consisted of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Chhota Nagpur and some other far off areas. It extended over an area of about 4,89,500 sq. km. It had a huge population of about 7.8 million. The Royal assent was given on 18th September, 1905 to the proposals of Lord Curzon for the division of Bengal. According to this, the new province was created by amalgamating Assam and Chittagong with fifteen districts of old Bengal. The area of this new province was about 2,74,540 sq. km. and its population was about 31 million.
Answer
Lord Curzon, on assuming the office, felt that patriotic nationalism was gaining ground too rapidly. To counter this spirit of nationalism Lord Curzon thought, it would come to no good unless the Hindu and Muslims of India were not turned against each other. Therefore, Lord Curzon sent his proposal for the division of Bengal, to obtain the Royal assent. Bengal was divided and the nationalist sentiments of Bengal leaders were badly hurt. The two Bengals were created in such a way that there were two districts Hindu and Muslim blocs. The people of Bengal understood that Lord Curzon was trying to split their unity by stirring up religious differences. East Bengal had Muslim majority and the West had Hindu majority. Both had common language, culture and traditions. This created a wave of indignation all over the country against the British Government. Curzon wrote, The Congress is tottering to its fall and one of my ambitions, while in India, is to assist it to a peaceful demise.' This was the clear motive of Curzon for the partition of Bengal.
Answer
The Indian Nationalists interpreted this as follows:
(i) Bengal was the nerve center of Indian nationalism at the time. So the British hoped to stop the rising tide of nationalism by partitioning Bengal.
(ii) The partition of Bengal intended to curb Bengali influence by not only placing Bengalis under two administrations but by reducing them to a minority in Bengal itself.
(iii) The partition was meant to foster division on the basis of religion. East Bengal would be predominately a Muslim majority state and West Bengal a Hindu majority state.
(iv) It was considered as a price for Muslim League's loyalty towards the British.
Answer
• To weaken the National Movement: Curzon wanted to strike at the roots of Bengali Nationalism. The real motive was to break the growing solidarity in Bengal Nationalism. Bengal at that time was considered to be "the nerve-centre of Indian Nationalism". Lord Curzon desired to crush this new spirit by dividing the politically advanced communities into two provinces. He pointed out that administrative efficiency could have been better secured by separating the Hindi-speaking Bihar and Oriya-speaking Orissa from the Bengali speaking part of the province. Moreover, the official step for the partition of Bengal had been taken in utter disregard of public opinion and this decision was formally announced on 4 July 1905, but came into effect on 16 October 1905.
• To Divide Hindus and Muslims: The reason that was officially announced behind the partition was that the Bengal province was too large to be administered by a single governor and therefore was partitioned for administrative reasons. But the real reason behind the partition was yet another part of the 'Divide and Rule' policy of the British Government, to drive a wedge between the Hindus and the Muslims. Therefore, Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal and formed two new provinces of manageable size-East and West Bengal.Answer
The spirit of unrest and discontent spread rapidly to different parts of the country when Bengal was divided in two parts in 1905. Lord Curzon gave the reason that the province was too large to be administered properly and effectively as a single unit. But the people of Bengal were not satisfied with this reason and they saw a different reason in this action. This was looked upon as a treacherous attempt to destroy national spirit of the patriots of Bengal, by splitting them into two sections. Another reason, according to the people of Bengal, was to create a feeling of division between the Hindus and Muslims. Therefore, it roused the national sentiments of all the Bengalis. A wave of indignation against the British Government spread all over the country. Meetings were organised and the partition of Bengal was vehemently condemned. Soon, it took the form of a widespread Movement, called 'Anti-Partition Movement'. Surendra Nath Banerjee went from place to place and roused the people against this injustice. The Indian Nationalists decided to Boycott British goods and take to swadeshi or indigenous goods. The volunteers, especially students, stood in front of the shops where British goods were sold and stopped all Indians from buying them. They even collected foreign goods and made bonfires of them. This agitation continued for six years, during that time it had turned into a great national movement. At last the Government was compelled to revoke the partition of Bengal in 1911.
Answer
The government followed a policy of repression to stop the Swadeshi movement and Boycott movement, which was launched as a reaction against the partition of Bengal in 1905.
- The people and local leaders were beaten mercilessly by the soldiers and hundreds were put behind the bars.
- Meetings were disrupted and the political leaders were jailed Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh were arrested and deported to Burma. In 1906, Tilak was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
- The students were beaten, flogged and expelled. Teachers and professors were threatened with the disciplinary action.
- The British Government followed a policy of divide and rule. They tried to prevent Muslims from joining the Congress by following a policy of conciliation towards Muslims.
- School and colleges were warned. The Government grants to educational institutions which were suspected of participating in the Swadeshi Movement, were discontinued.
Picture Based Questions
1. Answer the following:
(a) Name the person in the picture given above.
(b) Which event the person showing in the picture was associated with? What justification he give for that incident.
Answer
(a) Lord Curzon
(b) He was associated with Partition of Bengal. He gave the justification that the Bengal province was too large to be administered by a single governor and thus, was partitioned for adminstrative reasons.