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BPSC Mains GS-1 Masterclass · Modern Indian History

Partition of Bengal & the Making of Modern BiharSwadeshi, Swaraj and a New Province

Curzon's partition of Bengal in 1905 was meant to weaken Indian nationalism; it set off the Swadeshi movement instead. The same churning helped Bihar's educated leaders win their own province in 1912. This page follows both stories and traces Bihar's boundaries to the present day.

Partition1905Partition of Bengal

78 million people divided.

Swadeshi4Swadeshi trends

moderate, constructive, extremist, revolutionary.

Annulment1911Bengal reunited

partition withdrawn.

Bihar1 April 1912Bihar a separate province

with Orissa; capital Patna.

Orissa1936Orissa separated

from Bihar.

Today15 Nov 2000Jharkhand formed

Bihar's present boundary.

Part 1 · The partition of Bengal, 1905

Why Bengal Was Partitioned

Officially an administrative measure for an unwieldy province; in reality a plan to weaken Bengal, the nerve centre of Indian nationalism.

Illustration of a 1905 protest meeting in Calcutta, a crowd gathered before a speaker with a bonfire of foreign cloth in the foreground

The plan

The partition of Bengal occurred in 1905. The proposed Partition plan was to include the modern States of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa as one province called “Bengal” and Bangladesh, Assam and the North-Eastern States as another province called “East Bengal and Assam”.

Official reason and real motive

The official argument behind the partition was that managing such a huge territory and large population of 78 million posed administrative difficulties. However, historians suggest that the real motive behind the partition plan was the British desire to weaken Bengal, the nerve centre of Indian nationalism.

It was to be achieved by putting the Bengalis under two administrations by dividing them on the basis of language, thus reducing the Bengalis to a minority in Bengal itself, and on the basis of religion, as the western half was to be a Hindu majority area and the eastern half was to be a Muslim majority area.

The response

The Indian nationalists clearly saw the design behind the partition and condemned it unanimously. And the anti-partition and Swadeshi Movement had begun.

Part 3 · Influence on the course of the freedom struggle

How the Partition Changed the Freedom Struggle

The Swadeshi movement brought women, students and towns into politics, seeded every later trend from boycott to revolution, and forced the partition's reversal.

Illustration of a 1905 swadeshi street scene: students picketing a cloth shop, women in a procession and handloom weavers at work

A major leap forward

With the start of the Swadeshi Movement, the Indian national movement took a major leap forward.
- Women, students and a large section of the urban and rural population of Bengal and other parts of India became actively involved in politics for the first time.
The Swadeshi movement saw the emergence of almost all the major political trends of the Indian national movement.
- From conservative moderation to political extremism, from terrorism to incipient socialism, from petitioning and public speeches to passive resistance and boycott, all had their origins in the movement.
The richness of the movement was not confined to politics alone. The period saw a breakthrough in Indian art, literature, music, science and industry.
As Sarkar argues, programmes of political extremists anticipated the Gandhian programme minus of course his insistence on non-violence.
The idea of complete freedom also emerged during the Swadeshi movement. As leaders like Aurobindo Ghosh believed that the political freedom is the life-breath of a nation.
- Later, the congress demanded the complete independence in its Lahore session in 1929.

Ideas that shaped the later struggle

Swadeshi

Idea of Swadeshi was further evolved by Tilak and Gandhiji. It became the backbone of the Indian freedom struggle.
- Gandhi's pivotal role in encouraging the hand-spun cloth and manufacturing of salt in India became mass movements and received support from all sections of the people across the nation.
- The occupation of British in India was to drive up the British economy by draining Indian wealth; Swadeshi movement tried to stem it, ensuring that wealth stays in India.
- People became conscious of the fact that foreign import caused widespread economic distress throughout the nation. Boycott of foreign cloths, liquor etc remained part of the programme of all the Gandhian movements.

Armed revolution

The trend of the tendencies of armed revolutions further progressed and assumed wider form. The tactics and strategies evolved during this phase of revolutionary activities subsequently inspired revolutionaries all across the nation from Bhagat Singh in Punjab to Surya Sen in Chittagong and, of course, later Subhas Chandra Bose. The activities of Indian national army and RIN mutiny are also considered as culminations of this revolutionary tendency.

National education

This period saw the evolution of a nationalised education system. The idea that modern education is a tool to create better administrators for the British was completely shattered and the Dawn Society showed how one could be modern without serving the divisive interests of the rulers.
- This idea of nationalist education was also adopted by Gandhiji, e.g. as part of the national programme of Gandhiji, a Vidyapeeth was established in the premises of Bihar Rashtriya Mahavidyalaya in Bihar.

Constructive work

The self-help and constructive work at the village level was envisaged as a means of bringing about the social and economic regeneration of the villages and of reaching the rural masses.
- In actual terms this meant social reform and campaigns against evils such as caste oppression, early marriage, the dowry system, consumption of alcohol, etc.
- Such constructive works were part of Gandhiji's strategy in the truce phase of freedom struggle.

Participation of masses

Students came out in large numbers to propagate and practise swadeshi, and to take a lead in organising picketing of shops selling foreign goods.
Women, who were traditionally home-centred, especially those of the urban middle classes, took active part in processions and picketing. From now onwards, they were to play a significant role in the national movement.
Some Muslims like Liaqat Hussain, Guznavi, Maulana Azad etc participated. But most of the upper and middle class Muslims stayed away or, led by Nawab Salimullah of Dacca, supported the partition.
Thus, the social base of the movement expanded to include certain sections of the zamindars, the students, the women, and the lower middle classes in cities and towns.
This trend of mass participation was to further progress throughout the Indian national movement. People were aroused from slumber and now they learned to take bold political positions and participate in new forms of political work.

Pan India aspect

Movements in support of Bengal's unity and the swadeshi and boycott agitation were organized in many parts of the country.
Tilak, who played a leading role in the spread of the movement outside Bengal, saw in this the ushering in of a new chapter in the history of the national movement.
- He realised that here was a challenge and an opportunity to organize popular mass struggle against the British rule to unite the country in a bond of common sympathy.

Reforms, reunion and workers

Swadeshi movement and resulting revolutionary spirit created enough pressure on the British to propose the Morley Minto Reforms (1909). It introduced the indirect election for the first time. This trend of incorporation of Indians into politics further increased during the freedom struggle.
- But it was rejected by the masses and British eventually had to withdraw the Partition and Bengal was reunited in 1911.
This period saw, again for the first time, an attempt being made to give a political direction to the economic grievances of the working class. Efforts were made by Swadeshi leaders, some of whom were influenced by International socialist currents such as those in Germany and Russia, to organize strikes in foreign managed concerns such as Eastern India Railway and Clive Jute Mills, etc.
- Such strikes were to be a constant feature of the national movement now onwards.

Part 4 · Negative developments

The Darker Legacy of 1905

Religious revivalism, Muslim alienation, the birth of the Muslim League, a narrow social base and the Surat split.

However, there were some negative developments too

The Swadeshi movement attached importance to religious revivalism, as Hindu religion was expected to become the bond of unity for the whole nation.
- Religion was looked as a means to reach the masses, e.g. Tilak's Ganapati and Shivaji festivals became a medium of swadeshi propaganda.
- This trend led to alienation of the Muslims.
Swadeshi Movement was not able to garner the support of the mass of Muslims and especially of the Muslim peasantry.
This period also saw the birth of Muslim league and seeds of partition. The Hindu orientation of the anti-partition movement of 1905 also created favourable environment for such trend. The Muslim league was established in 1906 for safeguarding the political interests of Muslims.
The movement was unable to make much headway in mobilizing the peasantry especially its lower rungs except in certain areas.
In the working class strikes, the nationalists could penetrate only into the ranks of white-collar workers, while the vast body of Hindustani labour force as well as the plantation labour remained untouched by such nationalist efforts.
The social reform was not given the required focus, so the movement couldn't attract the lower caste peasants.
Differences among the moderates and extremists led to Surat Split in 1907 which resulted in weakening of the national movement almost a decade.
Violent means adopted by the revolutionaries had its own limitations.

“It was in 1905, then, the Indian revolution began.”

American historian Will Durant, describing Lord Curzon's decision to partition Bengal

Conclusion

To conclude, the events of 1905 contained the seeds that shaped the future of the subcontinent for years to come in terms of nationalism, economic policy and educational reforms. It is considered as turning point in the history of freedom struggle.

Unfortunately, it also sowed the seeds of division, which culminated in the Partition of the country in 1947.

Part 5 · The separation of Bihar from Bengal

How Bihar Became a Separate Province

From a 'stagnant pool' in the 1860s to a province of its own in 1912: education, newspapers, associations and Sachchidanand Sinha's campaign.

Illustration of early 20th-century Patna: the Ganga riverfront with boats, colonial buildings and a gathering outside a public hall

A distinct identity

Bihar always had independent identity as a province, although there has been several changes in its political boundaries from time to time. Under the rule of Nawab and British, Bihar was part of Bengal.

Although when the Diwani was granted to the British in 1765, three separate farmans were issued, showing that Bengal, Bihar and Orissa were treated as separate units.

Bihar in the 19th century

In the 2nd half of 19th century there was rise of various political associations in Bengal. But the situation in Bihar was different.
- There was little response to higher education among the people of Bihar.
- There was almost total absence of public activity in Bihar.
- In social matters Bihar was like a pool of stagnant water. The ideas of socio-religious reform movement had hardly made any impact in Bihar.
But gradually, public interest in higher education began. By the year 1870, the people of Bihar were eager to have modern ideas through new education.
- When the Government of India had announced through a resolution to withdraw state aid from English education in 1870, a public meeting of more than 400 people was convened to consider this resolution in Chapra.
- Never before anywhere in Bihar, a public meeting of so many persons had been held for considering a public issue like education.
The demand for the creation of a separate state, carved out from Bengal Presidency, started for the first time in 1868.

Reasons for such demands

Bengali dominance in the government offices: In Bihar part of Bengal Presidency, all jobs in the railways and later in technical education were filled up by Bengalis, pushing Bihar further into the morass of backwardness.
Discrimination against Biharis,
Lack of Bihari identity; it was considered as only a hinterland of Bengal,
Lack of development, education etc.

Press, writers and associations

The call ‘Bihar for Biharis’ started only with the publication of an Urdu newspaper, ‘Murge Sulema’, which in its edition dated February 7, 1874, wrote openly that capable Biharis should be appointed in the government, which should have a two-pronged strategy, that of strengthening the education department and giving required fillip to dialects and languages native to Bihar.
The seventies also witnessed the establishment of journals both in the vernaculars and English. The first Bihari journal, Bihar Bandhu, was established in 1874.
- The ‘Bihar Bandhu’ journal, in its April 5, 1876, edition strongly mentioned that if Bihar continued to stay within Bengal for very long, it would be damaging for its interests as there was very little commonality between the two in terms of food, culture, attitude, matrimonial alliances.
The only provincial Association in Bihar was the Bihar Landlords Association. It had a very limited purpose, to look after the interests of zamindars.
- Despite the absence of an organized form and leadership, Biharis stepped up these demands for separate identity.
‘Bihar Times’, in its editions of 1893 and 1894, stated that the demand for Bihar gained momentum with the entry of Sachchidanand Sinha and Mahesh Narayan.
- These two stalwarts wrote extensively on the educational and socio-economic conditions of the region, arguing vociferously that only segregation from Bengal would do it good.
- In their book ‘Separation of Bihar or The Partition of Bengal’, Sinha and Narayan advocated this cause.
- Sinha's writings during this period reflected Bihar's constant monetary drain to Bengal resulting in lack of medicare, increasing poverty and illiteracy. This drew Biharis closer and the demand shriller.
A meeting of the enlightened persons of Bihar was held in 1897 under the presidentship of Harballabh Narayan at Son-barsa. In this meeting the need of activising political life in Bihar was discussed.
- It marked a turning point in the social and political life of Bihar. Now towards the closing years of the nineteenth century almost all advanced towns of Bihar had local associations.
- e.g. Bihar Peoples Association in Patna, Bhagalpur National Improvement Association, and similar organisations at Bankipore, Purnea, Muzaffarpur etc.
- These associations, no doubt, symbolised the dawn of a new political consciousness in the minds of enlightened Biharis.

1905–1911: the final push

By 1905-06, Bihar was awakened to look after her political interests. The partition of Bengal had aroused educated Biharis. Bihar now began to assert her existence as a separate and distinct unit among the provinces of India.
- Enlightened Biharis argued that separating Bihar and Odisha would be a better decision from the administrative point of view. For that, they provided statistical data of representation in the government services and also the linguistic and cultural angle.
- The leading educated men of Bihar assembled at Patna in March 1907 to formulate a scheme for establishing a provincial association.
- A provincial committee with Brandeo Narayan as provisional secretary was formed.
Deep Narayan Singh and Sachchidanand Sinha started the formation of the district committees. Sachchidanand Sinha explained in a meeting on 28 April 1907 the need of forming a political organisation in Bihar.
- Thus emerged the Bihar Provincial Conference, which began its annual sessions, focussing attention on political development of Bihar. Ali Imam presided over its first session in 1908 and Fakhruddin mooted the proposal that Bihar should finally be segregated from Bengal which was accepted unanimously.
- This association was unique as it was organised jointly by the Hindus and Muslims in Bihar. It took up the agitation for the separation of Bihar from Bengal.
- A delegation of Bengal Landholders Association, Bihar Prantiya Sangh and Bihar Muslim League submitted a memorandum to the governor on August 14, 1908 mentioning that Bihar was a model state with all religions, castes and communities living in harmony and should, therefore, be carved out into a separate identity.
- The congress party also supported the cause of a separate Bihar, and in recognition of the same, Bihar congress Committee was formed in 1908 under the chairmanship of Hasan Imam.
- It aroused an unprecedented enthusiasm among the people of Bihar. It organised public meetings and the demand for separation gained ground.

From recommendation to province

25 Aug 1911
Recommendation
Conceding to the demand, the government, in its letter to the secretary of state, recommended that Bihar be made a separate state.
12 Dec 1911
Delhi Durbar
The government declared during the Delhi Durbar that Bihar, Orissa and Chhotanagpur be separated from Bengal.
22 Mar 1912
Notification
The separation was notified.
1 Apr 1912
A separate state
Bihar finally figured as a separate state on India's map.

The first major achievement

The creation of Bihar as a separate province in 1912 was first major achievement of provincial politics in Bihar. Patna was the capital of this new Bihar and Orissa state. A governor in council was appointed to administer the State.

Because of the instrumental role played by Sachchidanand Sinha, he is known as the Creator of Modern Bihar.

Part 6 · The rise of modern Bihar

Modern Bihar, 1912 to 2000

A high court and a university, Orissa's separation, the first ministry, and the boundary changes of 1947, 1956 and 2000.

The rise of modern Bihar

Year	Event
1916, 1917	Patna High Court was founded in 1916 and Patna University in 1917.
1936	The Oriya people felt neglected in this combined statehood. Utkal Union Committee was formed which worked towards the separation of Oriya speaking region from Bihar. Finally, in 1936, Orissa got separated from Bihar with its Governor-General in Council and a Legislative Assembly.
1937	The Bihar Legislative Assembly came into existence. Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha as the first Chief Minister of Bihar and Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.
1947, 1948	During re-organization of boundary of Bihar, Kharsawan and Saraikela were transferred to Orissa, but only to re-transfer them to Bihar in 1948.
26 January 1950	Bihar got its statehood under the constitution.
1956	During the state re-organization drive, Purulia and some parts of Purnea were transferred to Bengal due to language affinity.
15 November 2000	Bihar was bisected when Jharkhand got separated. Since then the boundaries are intact.

Architects of modern Bihar

Along with Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha and Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha are known as architects of modern Bihar because of their role in shaping the modern Bihar in early days.