Achievements of Lord Curzon

1. ACHIEVEMENTS OF LORD
CURZON
DR (MRS) M.FATHIMA BEGUM
Assistant Professor of History
V.V.VanniaperumalCollege forWomen
TITLEOFTHE PAPER:
History of India (A.D.1857 - 1947) – 15UHIC51

2. Life History:
 George NathanielCurzon was styled as Lord Curzon
 British Conservative Statement
 Viceroy of India (6th January 1899 – 18th November 1905)
 Secretary of State for foreign affairs (1919 - 1924)

3. Important events:
Comissions:
 Famine of 1899 – 1900 (Chappania Akal).
 Appointment of Famine commission under sir
Antony Mc Donnell.
 Commission on irrigation under Colin Scot
Moncrieff.
 Police commission under Andrew frazer.
 Education commission (Aka Raleigh
Commission).

4. Enactment of Acts:
 Paper currency act (1899)
 Calcutta Corporation Act (1899)
 Punjab Land Alienation Act (1900)
 Land Resolution Act (1902)
 Indian Universities Act (1904)
 Ancient Mounment protectionAct (1904)
 Partition of Bengal (1905)

5. o Famine of 1899 – 1900 (Chappania Akal)
o Severe Famine occurred India in 1899 – 1900
o affected area - Agra, Oudh, Bengal, Central
provinces, Rajaputana, Gujarath.

6. Effects:
Corresponded toVikram Samvat 1956 thus were
called Chappania Akal in local parlance
Famine followed epidemic such as Malaria and
Cholera.
Worst affected people –Tribesof central
provinces, Rajaputana and Bombay
Lakhs of people died by starved

7. Relief measures:
 Curzon organized relief measures
 Appointed Famine commission and Sir Anthony Mc
Donnel in 1901.
Measures of the commission:
 Non official assistance
 Construction of more railways to carry relief goods.
 Establishment of agricultural banks and cooperative
societies
 Distribution of advances and loans to the peasants.
 Setting up famine commissioner in Famine affected
areas.
 Setting up of irrigation commission.

8. Irrigation commission 1901:
 1901 commission was appointed under sir Colin – Mon crieff
 Construction of irrigation works in accordance with the broad plans.
 Important strategy was a network of canals in Punjab.
 Comprising a main canal of 2714 kilometers and other link canals.

9. Police commission:
 Setup a police commission under sir Andrew
Frazer in 1902 -03.
 Recommendation - a basic structure of India
domestic intelligence developed .
 Attached department of criminal Intelligence .
 Setup the Criminal Investigation Department
(CIDs)
 in the provinces of British India.
 Thugi and Dakaiti department areas abolished.

10. Raleigh commission:
• To bring the universities under control he appointed this
commission.
• HOD only one Indian member namely Syed Hussain
Belgami submitted its report in 1902.
• Raleigh bill became an act must called Indian
UniversitiesAct 1904.
Recommendations:
1. 1. Reorganized the constitution of the Syndicates.
2. Official inspection of the colleges.
3. Affiliation and disaffilation of the colleges in the hands
of the government.
 Criticised by the Indians. However it became a
permanent feature in the Indian education.

11. Ancient Mounments Preservation Act 1904
 Most remarkable Act
 Act made any injury to the protected
mounments an offence
 Punishable under law.
 Established the Archaeological Department.
Aim:
1. To collect historical documents and importance.
2. To conduct excavations.
3. To bring the ancient historical information into
light.

12. Partition of Bengal 1905:
 Curzons felt Bengal as a large unit to be administered.
 Unwanted to be a single unit.
 So he partitioned Bengal on October 16, 1905in to two parts.
 Eastern Bengal and Assam – I part .
 Rest of Bengal (West Bengal) – II part .
Effects:
 Congress made protest and agitation became mass moment.
 It was an intrigue to divide Hindus and Muslims.
 Boycott and swdeshi movement followed ,Vande Mataram
became the symbol.
 On 16th October 1905 Bengalis kept fast.
 Partition was later annulled in 1911.

13. Conclusion:
There were disappointment in Indian politics return
to Britain.
 He was appointed as foreign secretaries.
He faced bitter experiences.
He left politics in 1924.
Title :
 1911 Earl of Curzon,Viscount Scarsdale and Baron
Ravensdale.
 1916 Peerage of Great Britain.
 1921 the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston.