Skip to page content

Early and Assertive Nationalists — Part 2: Partition, Surat and the Assertive Nationalists

Beta

Lesson

A sharper turn in the national movement

Part 2 — the Partition of Bengal, the Surat Split and Lal, Bal and Pal.

In this lesson you will

Explain the stated reason and the nationalist view of the Partition of Bengal, 1905
Give the reasons for the Surat Split of 1907
Compare the objectives and methods of the Assertive Nationalists with those of the Moderates
State two contributions each of Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai

Part 2 at a glance

Diagram

The Partition of Bengal, 1905

Table of facts on the Partition of Bengal: under Lord Curzon, announced July 1905 and effective 16 October 1905; new province Eastern Bengal and Assam with capital Dacca; stated reason size; nationalist view divide and rule; annulled 1911 at the Delhi Durbar with the capital moved to Delhi
Point	Fact
Viceroy	Lord Curzon
Announced and effective	July 1905; effective 16 October 1905
New province	Eastern Bengal and Assam (capital Dacca)
Stated reason	Bengal too large to govern efficiently
Nationalist view	Divide and rule: weaken Bengali nationalism; divide Hindus and Muslims
Outcome	Annulled 1911 (Delhi Durbar); capital moved to Delhi

Lord Curzon; effective 16 October 1905.

Compare

Stated reason and nationalist view

Government's reason

Bengal too large and populous
Better administration

Nationalist view

Divide and rule
Weaken Bengali nationalism
Set Hindus and Muslims apart

Table of facts on the Partition of Bengal: under Lord Curzon, announced July 1905 and effective 16 October 1905; new province Eastern Bengal and Assam with capital Dacca; stated reason size; nationalist view divide and rule; annulled 1911 at the Delhi Durbar with the capital moved to Delhi
Point	Fact
Viceroy	Lord Curzon
Announced and effective	July 1905; effective 16 October 1905
New province	Eastern Bengal and Assam (capital Dacca)
Stated reason	Bengal too large to govern efficiently
Nationalist view	Divide and rule: weaken Bengali nationalism; divide Hindus and Muslims
Outcome	Annulled 1911 (Delhi Durbar); capital moved to Delhi