Question

Bengal was to be partitioned on the pretext of administrative necessity. However, the ulterior motive of this decision of the British were clear. In this context, write short notes on:
(a) Reasons given by the British for the Partition of Bengal.
(b) The real motives of the British behind the Partition of Bengal.

Answer 1

The Partition of Bengal was the decision of separating eastern parts of Bengal from rest of Bengal. It was announced on 19 July 1905 by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The reason given for the decision was that Bengal with a population of 78 million had become too big to be administered which was true to some extent, but the real motive behind the partition plan was the British desire to weaken Bengal, the nerve centre of Indian nationalism.