The Partition of Bengal
The partition of Bengal in 1905 by Lord Curzon was a significant event in the history of British India making a turning point in the nationalist movement against the British rule. The official reason given for partition was to improve administrative efficiency in the vast of which at that time included Bihar and parts of Odisha. Bengal was the largest and most popularize province in British India, the British however claim that its size and administrative complexities made it difficult to govern effectively. Partition had a deep political motive and for reaching consequences sparking widespread nationalist agitation that had a profound impact on India's struggle for independence. The partition was intended to weaken the nationalist movement in Bengal. By dividing the region into a predominately Muslim eastern half and predominately Hindu western half. Curzon hope to arouse communal sentiment thereby diluting the nationalist challenge to British. The announcement of partition by Curzon led to an intense opposition form the people of Bengal. The swadeshi movement which advocated for boycott of British goods and promotion of Indian made goods was formally launched of 7th August 1905. The day of partition i.e. 16th October 1905 was observed in Bengal as the day of Mourning Shok Diwas and Raksha Bandhan Day on the suggestion of Rabindra Nath Tagore. Similarly, RS Trivedi called for the observants of Arandhan i.e. not cooking food at home. The movement gave tremendous impetuous to the Indian industry. Bengal Chemical factory was established by VC Roy Swadeshi Steam Navigation company was started by V Chidambaram Pillai. Tata Iron and Stell company was founded in 1907 by Jamshed Ji Tata. Significant revival was witness in handloom, slick weaving and many other traditional handicrafts. The nationalist formulated a program for promoting the national education. In this context the National Council of Education was founded by Satish Chandra Mukherji, Bengal National College was established by Aurobindo Gosh and University of Calcutta wad declared as Gulam Khanna by the Indian students protesting in Swadeshi Movement. The Swadeshi Movement also witness the rise of nationalist aspiration in the form of songs like Vande Matram and Amar Sonar Bangla. Abanindranath Tagore who painted Bharat Mata in 1905 on the basis of the concept popularize by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his book Anand Mat.