The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until (UPSC Prelims 2014)

Question

The correct answer is [B] King George V abrogated Curzon\'s Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911. The Partition of Bengal, implemented by Lord Curzon in 1905, was one of the most controversial decisions of the British Raj. It triggered the Swadeshi Movement and widespread anti-British protests, eventually forcing the British government to reverse the decision.

1905 (The Partition): Bengal was divided into two provinces: Bengal (including Bihar and Odisha) and Eastern Bengal and Assam. The official reason was administrative convenience, but the real motive was to \"divide and rule\" by splitting the Hindu-majority west from the Muslim-majority east.
1905–1911 (The Resistance): The partition led to the rise of radical nationalism. Leaders like Rabindranath Tagore led mass protests, and the day of partition was observed as a day of mourning (Raksha Bandhan was used as a symbol of unity).
1911 (The Annulment): During the Delhi Durbar, held to commemorate the coronation of King George V, two major announcements were made:
1. The annulment of the Partition of Bengal.
2. The shifting of the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi.

Comparison of the Provinces (1905 vs. 1911):

Feature	Partitioned Bengal (1905)	Reunited Bengal (1911)
Western Part	Hindu majority (Calcutta as capital)	Reunited Bengal (Bengali-speaking)
Eastern Part	Muslim majority (Dhaka as capital)	Assam became a separate province
New Provinces	—	Bihar and Odisha were separated

Why the other options are Incorrect:

Option [A]: While Indian troops were vital in WWI, the partition had already been ended three years before the war started.
Option [C]: The Civil Disobedience Movement began in 1930, long after the partition was resolved.
Option [D]: While Bengal was partitioned again in 1947, the specific \"Curzon\'s Act\" of 1905 had been dead for 36 years by then.

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

King George V abrogated Curzon\'s Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911 The correct answer is [B] King George V abrogated Curzon\'s Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911. The Partition of Bengal, implemented by Lord Curzon in 1905, was one of the most controversial decisions of the British Raj. It triggered the Swadeshi Movement and widespread anti-British protests, eventually forcing the British government to reverse the decision.

1905 (The Partition): Bengal was divided into two provinces: Bengal (including Bihar and Odisha) and Eastern Bengal and Assam. The official reason was administrative convenience, but the real motive was to \"divide and rule\" by splitting the Hindu-majority west from the Muslim-majority east.
1905–1911 (The Resistance): The partition led to the rise of radical nationalism. Leaders like Rabindranath Tagore led mass protests, and the day of partition was observed as a day of mourning (Raksha Bandhan was used as a symbol of unity).
1911 (The Annulment): During the Delhi Durbar, held to commemorate the coronation of King George V, two major announcements were made:
1. The annulment of the Partition of Bengal.
2. The shifting of the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi.

Comparison of the Provinces (1905 vs. 1911):

Feature	Partitioned Bengal (1905)	Reunited Bengal (1911)
Western Part	Hindu majority (Calcutta as capital)	Reunited Bengal (Bengali-speaking)
Eastern Part	Muslim majority (Dhaka as capital)	Assam became a separate province
New Provinces	—	Bihar and Odisha were separated

Why the other options are Incorrect:

Option [A]: While Indian troops were vital in WWI, the partition had already been ended three years before the war started.
Option [C]: The Civil Disobedience Movement began in 1930, long after the partition was resolved.
Option [D]: While Bengal was partitioned again in 1947, the specific \"Curzon\'s Act\" of 1905 had been dead for 36 years by then.

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