Question

 “Anti-Partition movement roused the national sentiments which led to the outbusst of revolutionary activity”. Discuss in brief.

Answer 1

The spirit of unrest and discontent spread rapidly to different parts of the country when Bengal was divided in two parts in 1905. Lord Curzon gave the reason that the province was too large to be administered properly and effectively as a single unit. But the people of Bengal were not satisfied with this reason and they saw a different reason in this action. This was looked upon as a treacherous attempt to destroy national spirit of the patriots of Bengal, by splitting them into two sections.
Another reason, according to the people of Bengal, was to create a feeling of division between the Hindus and Muslims. Therefore, it roused the national sentiments of all the Bengalis. A wave of indignation against the British Govemment spread all over the country. Meetings were organised and the partition of Bengal was vehemently condemned. Soon it took the form of a widespread Movement, called ‘Anti-Partition Movement’.
Surendra Nath Banerjee went from place to place and roused the people against this injustice. The Indian Nationalists decided to Boycott British goods and take to swadeshi or indigenous goods. The volunteers, especially students, stood in front of the shops where British goods were sold and stopped all Indians from buying them. They even collected foreign goods,and made bonfires of them. This agitation continued for six years, during that time it had turned into a great national movement. At last the Government was compelled to revoke the partition of Bengal in 1911.