Partition of Bengal and Assertive Nationalism
Partition of Bengal
❖ Lord Curzon announced the partition of Bengal in 1903 and was carried out in the year
1905.
❖ According to this act Bengal was to be divided into two parts that is East Bengal and
West Bengal.
Reasons for the Partition
➢ According to the British government, Bengal was too big to be efficiently administered
by a single provincial government.
➢ The British partitioned Bengal because they wanted :-
• To stop the raising tied of Bengali Nationalism.
• To reduce bengalies to a minority in Bengal.
• To divide the unity of Hindus and Muslims.
• To show the power of British Raj.
The Anti-partition movement
➢ Partition of Bengal was carried on 16th October 1905.
➢ The leaders declared it as the day of mourning. As they felt that they have been
insulted, humiliated and tricked.
➢ People from all walks of life came out of their house with the cry of Bande Mataram.
➢ Swadeshi and boycott were used as a weapon of Political agitation and a training in self
sufficient for attainment of swaraj.
➢ British good were burnt at public places and shop selling them were picketed.
➢ The sprit of Swadeshi was seen in almost every walk of life like industries, education,
culture and literature etc.
Surat split in 1907
➢ The annual session of the congress in 1907 was held at Surat.
➢ The difference in opinion between the early Nationalists and Assertive Nationalists on
Swadeshi a day boycott led to the division of the congress party into congress and
swaraj party.
➢ There was a tussle between the two groups for the presidentship of congress. The
Assertive proposed the name of Lala Lajpat Rai where as the early Nationalists
proposed the name of Rash Bihari Ghost. This led to the division of congress.
Rise of Assertive Nationalism
❖ The second phase of the National Movement was marked by the emergence within the
congress of a new group of leaders who did not agree with the methods and ideologies
of the early Nationalists. They were known as Assertive Nationalists.
Causes for the Rise of Assertive Nationalists
➢ The efforts made by the Early Nationalists exposed the true nature of the British rule but
did not bring any result.
➢ The failure of the Early Nationalists to get benefits from the British government inspired
the people to take bolder action.
➢ The worsening economic condition of the country by the British exploitative policies
inspired the people to revolt against the British government.
➢ The ill-treatment done to the Indians in the British colony and in other parts of the
world.
➢ Many International events like defeat of Russia by Japan and Italian forces by the
Abyssinians gave the Indians courage to take bolder action against the British.
➢ The Repressive measures followed by Lord Curzon could not stop Indians from revolting.
Objectives of Assertive
❖ The main objective of Assertive Nationalism was the immediate attainment of Swaraj.
Methods adopted by the Assertive Nationalism
❖ The methods used by them were Swadeshi, boycott, National education and passive
resistance.
Achievements of Assertive
➢ They inculcated national pride among the Indians by explaining about the glorious past
of India.
➢ They exposed the true character of British rule in India.
➢ They promoted self reliance through Swadeshi and boycott movement.
➢ They set up many educational institutions to promote education among the Indians.
➢ They brought the middle class into the national movement by promoting mass
movement.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
➢ He is known as the father of Assertive Nationalism and popularly known as Lokmamya
Tilak.
➢ He believed that political rights could be achieved by aggressive demands only.
➢ He wrote two newspapers Martha (English) and Kesari Marathi). He also wrote books
like Gita Rahasya, The Orion and The Artic Home in the Vedas.
➢ He started Ganapati festival in 1893 and Shivaji festival in 1895 to mobilize the masses
and propagate the nationalists idea among the Indians.
➢ He started the Home Rule league in 1916 with the help of Mrs Annie Besant.
Bipin Chandra Pal
➢ He is known as the father of the revolutionary thoughts.
➢ Along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Tilak, he belonged to the Lal-Bal-Pal trio that was
associated with the revolutionary activities.
➢ He edited several newspapers, the most important among them was ‘New India ‘ which
was started in 1901.
➢ His programs consisted of Swadeshi, boycott and National education.
➢ He instilled the idea of Nationalism and motivated the people to take part in the
national movement through his oratory.
Lala Lajpat Rai
➢ He was known as Punjab Keshari or shere-e- Punjab.
➢ He founded ‘Punjabi ‘ and ‘Vanderbilt Mataram ‘ (urdu daily) and ‘People ‘ English
weekly.
➢ He played an important role in the expansion of DAV College at Lahore.
➢ He joined the congress in 1888 and remained its member till the end of his life.
➢ He was elected president of the congress in 1920 and became the first president of all
India trade union congress.
➢ He supported Gandhiji in non-cooperation movement though he wanted to take a
bolder action.
➢ He was seriously injured by a British sergeant while demonstrating against the Simon
commission.
