FPSC (Federal Public Service Commission) · CSS (Central Superior Services)
Partition And Annullment Of Bengal (1905-11)
British India & The Freedom Movement
· Pakistan Studies/Affairs
30 MCQs
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1
In which year did Lord Curzon take charge as the Viceroy of India?
Answer:
1899
Lord Curzon was appointed as the Viceroy of India in 1899. His tenure is most notably remembered for the administrative and political changes he introduced, including the controversial decision to partition the large province of Bengal, which set the stage for significant nationalist movements.
2
On what specific date did Lord Curzon announce the partition of Bengal?
Answer:
16th October 1905
The partition of Bengal was officially announced and implemented on October 16, 1905. This move divided the province into East Bengal and Assam, and West Bengal, sparking widespread protests across India as it was seen by many as a 'divide and rule' tactic by the British.
3
Who was the Secretary of State for India who sanctioned the scheme for the partition of Bengal in June 1905?
Answer:
Sir John Brodrick
Sir John Brodrick served as the Secretary of State for India during the planning phase of the partition. He officially sanctioned the partition scheme in June 1905 after Lord Curzon had sent the formal proposal to the British government earlier that year in February.
4
What was the total geographic area of the undivided province of Bengal before the 1905 partition?
Answer:
1,89,000 sq. km
Before its division, the province of Bengal covered a vast territory of approximately 1,89,000 square kilometers. The British argued that such a large area was difficult to administer effectively from a single center, which served as their primary justification for the partition.
5
Which city was designated as the capital of the newly formed province of East Bengal?
Answer:
Dhakka (Dhaka)
Upon the partition in 1905, Dhaka was established as the capital of the new province of East Bengal and Assam. This was significant for the Muslim population of the region, as it promised to restore the city's former glory and administrative importance.
6
While Dhaka was the capital of East Bengal, which city remained the capital of West Bengal?
Answer:
Calcutta
Calcutta (now Kolkata) continued to serve as the capital of West Bengal after the partition. It also remained the capital of British India until 1911, and the Hindu elite in Calcutta were the most vocal opponents of the partition, fearing a loss of their political and economic influence.
7
What was the total population of the newly created province of East Bengal in 1905?
Answer:
31 Million
The province of Eastern Bengal and Assam had a total population of 31 million people at the time of its creation in 1905. This demographic was central to the political discourse of the time, as the province had a Muslim majority.
8
In the new province of Eastern Bengal, how many people out of the 31 million total were Muslims?
Answer:
18 Million
Out of the 31 million people in Eastern Bengal, 18 million were Muslims. This majority status gave Muslims a better prospect for political and economic advancement, which is why the community generally supported the partition decision.
9
Approximately how many Hindus resided in the newly formed Eastern Bengal province out of the total 31 million population?
Answer:
12 Million
The Hindu population in the new province of Eastern Bengal was approximately 12 million. With 18 million Muslims and 12 million Hindus, the demographic balance shifted significantly compared to the undivided Bengal province.
10
What was the ratio between Muslims and Hindus in the newly formed Eastern Bengal province?
Answer:
3:2
The demographic distribution of 18 million Muslims to 12 million Hindus resulted in a population ratio of 3:2. This majority status for Muslims was one of the primary reasons for the intense agitation by Hindu leaders, who felt their influence was being curtailed.
11
Who was appointed as the first Governor of the newly created province of East Bengal?
Answer:
Mr. Fuller
Sir Bampfylde Fuller (referred to as Mr. Fuller) was the first Lieutenant-Governor of Eastern Bengal and Assam. He was known for being sympathetic toward the Muslims and once famously referred to the Muslim community as his 'favourite wife,' which further angered Hindu protestors.
12
Which influential leader represented the Muslims of East Bengal at the time of the Partition?
Answer:
Nawab Salimullah Khan
Nawab Salimullah Khan of Dhaka was the foremost leader of the Muslims in East Bengal during the partition. He welcomed the move as it promised better educational and economic opportunities for Muslims and later played a key role in founding the All India Muslim League.
13
How did the Hindu community observe the Partition Day on 16th October 1905?
Answer:
As a day of National Mourning
To protest the partition, Hindus across Bengal observed October 16, 1905, as a 'Day of National Mourning.' People fasted, walked barefoot, and tied 'Rakhi' on each other's wrists as a symbol of the unity of Bengal that the British were trying to break.
14
Which city became the primary center of Hindu agitation and protests against the partition of Bengal?
Answer:
Calcutta
Calcutta was the epicenter of the anti-partition movement. Since it was the intellectual and commercial hub where the Hindu elite resided, the city witnessed intense protests, public meetings, and the birth of the Swadeshi and Boycott movements.
15
On which date did the Muslims officially express their acceptance of the government's decision regarding the Partition of Bengal?
Answer:
22nd October 1905
While the Hindus were mourning, the Muslims of the region formally accepted the partition on October 22, 1905. They viewed the creation of the new province as a step toward social and economic liberation from the dominance of Calcutta-based landlords and lawyers.
16
Under whose leadership did a Hindu delegation travel to England to protest the partition?
Answer:
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Gopal Krishna Gokhale led a delegation to England to present the Indian case against the partition to the British public and government. Despite being a moderate, Gokhale strongly criticized the partition as an insensitive administrative measure.
17
Which movement was launched by Hindus to promote local goods and boycott British products as a protest against the partition?
Answer:
Swadeshi Movement
The Swadeshi Movement was the direct result of the partition of Bengal. It encouraged Indians to use indigenous (Swadeshi) products and boycott foreign (British) goods, particularly cloth, as a means of putting economic pressure on the British government.
18
In June 1911, which member of the Viceroy's Council made the proposal for the reversal (annulment) of the partition of Bengal?
Answer:
Sir John Jenkins
Sir John Jenkins, a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, proposed the reversal of the partition in June 1911. The British government eventually agreed to this proposal to quell the ongoing unrest and to mark the visit of the King to India.
19
Who made the formal announcement of the annulment of the partition of Bengal in 1911?
Answer:
King George V
King George V personally announced the annulment of the partition of Bengal on December 12, 1911. This historic announcement was made during the Delhi Durbar, a grand assembly held to commemorate his coronation as the Emperor of India.
20
Under which Viceroy's period was the partition of Bengal officially annulled?
Answer:
Lord Hardinge
The annulment of the partition occurred during the viceroyalty of Lord Hardinge. Unlike Curzon, Hardinge sought to pacify the Indian National Congress and the Hindu leadership by reversing the partition, though this deeply disappointed the Muslim community.
