Background of the Partition of 1947 Discussion Points:: 1. Introduction: Partition of Bengal in 1905 2. The anti-partition movement 3. Reasons behind the partition 4. Partition of Bengal canceled in 1911 5. Jinnah: Gandhi 6. Allama Iqbal: Two-Nation theory 7. Comparison of Maps 8. The net result of partition

1. BACKGROUND OF THE
PARTITION OF 1947
Presented by,
Musaddik Ahmed
Department of Law,
East West University

2. Discussion Points
▪ Introduction: Partition of Bengal in 1905
▪ The anti partition movement
▪ Reasons behind partition
▪ Partition of Bengal canceled in 1911
▪ Jinnah : Gandhi
▪ Allama Iqbal: Two Nation theory
▪ Comparison of Maps
▪ Net result of partition
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3. Introduction: Partition of Bengal in 1905
▪ The government announced the idea for partition in January
1904
▪ The decision to partition the state of Bengal was announced
by Lord Curzon.
▪ On July 20, 1905, Lord Curzon issued an order dividing the
province of Bengal into two parts.
▪ But the Partition of Bengal went on to happen on October 16,
1905 by Viceroy Curzon
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4. The anti partition movement
▪ 16th October 1905: A day of national mourning.
▪ Rabindranath Tagore suggested to observe as Raksha
Bandhan Day signifying brotherhood between people of East
and West Bengal.
▪ Swadeshi movement.
▪ British Government was shaken.
▪ Protestors were arrested and sent to jail.
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5. Reasons behind partition
Official Reasons
1. Less Administrative Burden
On Government
2. Deal With Famine And
Defense
3. Attend To Remote Areas
Actual Reasons
1. Weaken The National
Movement
2. Policy Of Divide And Rule
3. To demonstrate the strength
of the British Raj
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6. Partition of Bengal canceled in 1911
▪ King George announced in December 1911 that eastern Bengal
would be assimilated into the Bengal Presidency.
▪ The capital was shifted to New Delhi, clearly intended to
provide the British Empire with a stronger base.
▪ Capital of the Raj shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.
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7. Jinnah : Gandhi
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Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muslim leader
Mahatma Gandhi
Hindu leader
Wants united India.
Wants homeland for Muslims.

8. 8
Allama Iqbal: Two Nation theory
▪ First articulated in the Presidential address to the All India Muslim
league in 1930 by Allama Iqbal, the famous poet, philosopher and
politician.
▪ Argued that the aspirations of two different communities, especially
when one was a minority, and the other a majority, could be
addressed within one state.
▪ In India’s nationalist discourse this came to be known as Muslim
separatism.

9. Comparison of Maps
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Muslim majority
Hindu majority

10. Net result of partition
▪ Families divided.
▪ Greatest mass migration of humans in 20th century.
▪ Over 15 million Muslims, Shiks and Hindus moved across
borders.
▪ Tens of thousands of women raped and kidnapped.
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11. Any Question..?
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