Question

On the grounds of improving administrative efficiency, how Curzon justified the partition of Bengal.

Answer 1

Lord Curzon, who was the Viceroy of India from 1898 to 1905, became unpopular in India. The reason was that he had followed a policy against the Indians. He tried to justify the partition of Bengal by explaining that Bengal was too large as a province to be administrated by a single Governor. He, even in this dispatch, mentioned the view-points of Sir A. Fraser, Lt. Governor of Bengal. He said that the Presidency of Bengal had become large and unwieldy. It consisted of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Chhota Nagpur and some other far off areas. It extended over an area of about 4,89,500 sq. km. It had a huge population of about 7.8 million. The Royal assent was given on 18th September, 1905 to the proposals of Lord Curzon for the division of Bengal. According to this, the new province was created by amalgamating Assam and Chittagong with fifteen districts of old Bengal. The area of this new province was about 2,74,540 sq. km. and its population was about 31 million.