Bengal Province namely Bengal Presidency in the British India was a very influential area in the then time. It was the center of education, culture and also one of the major commercial and industrial hubs in British India. In addition, up to 1911 Kolkata, prime city of Bengal, was the Capital of British India. Bengali Hindus were the most advanced community in culture, education and upper caste Hindus were moderately sound in economically. They were advanced in all the sectors and in the forefront of culture, education, government jobs, business and every thing. But Muslims in Bengal were in lag behindin that time. Muslim community was backward in every sector in Bengal. British government introduced English as official language changing Persian language in the early stage of the then colonial India. This was not initially acceptable to Muslims and for that reason they were very much disinterested in English learning and education. Moreover, Muslims of India would think they were the descendants of ruling class of India and the Britishers snatched their power and position. For that reason, it took about century for the Muslims to work with British Indian authority. In this situation of history Muslims in India and in particular in Bengal used to run behind the Hindus. This was the hard reality of Muslims in India. But in the late 19th century Muslim of India as well as Bengal realized that without learning English, they could not go with the time. For that reason they started English learning. In this situation Sir Syed Ahmad played a vital role. In Bengal, Muslims in general were farmers and they were the subjects of Zeminders. Zeminders were mostly from Hindu community though there were also some Muslim Zeminders. Hindu Zeminders had Kolkata based establishments and their children were used to live in Kolkata for education and career. Whereas, being a majority, Muslims had little advantage in comparison to Hindus. So, it was evident that a clear psychological division between the two big communities in Bengal prevailing since middle of 19th century.
But after the creation of Muslim League in Dhaka in the year of 1906, the leading Muslims in Bengal realized that they were also the competitors of having state power with Hindus. This situation showed that Bengali community in Bengal was grossly divided psychologically. The oppression of Zeminders had made the common Muslims started thinking in a different way. The book of Abul Mansoor Ahmed ” Amar Dekha Rajnitir Panchash Bochor” indicated that situation.
After forming of East Bengal and Assam province, terrorist activities led by Hindu extremists came to the surface and it created tremendous pressure to the British Indian government. That time Kolkata was the central capital of India. Some British nationals were killed in different incidents in many places in whole of Bengal. In addition, the leading Hindu intellectuals based in Kolkata started campaign opposing the partition of Bengal. They held many programs such as cultural functions, Rakhi Bandon, rallies in different places in Bengal. Poet Rabindranath Tagore was one of the organizers of those programs. Bengali Muslims had no participation in those programs but with little exception. Among the prominent Muslims Barrister Abdur Rasul of Brahmanbaria opposed the partition of Bengal. And he actively took part in the campaign against the partition of Bengal.
The partition of Bengal in 1905, establishment of Dhaka University and some other incidents created a very big psychological gap between Hindus and Muslims in Bengal. The great leader Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das tried his best to minimize this gap. But the premature death of Deshbandhu made this try foiled. Sherebangla A K Fazlul Hoq, Husein Shahid Shurawardi and Khaza Nazimuddin were prominent Bengali Muslim leaders in the decade of thirties and forties. After the promulgation of 1935 Act the situation changed gradually. And after 1937 election Sherebangla got chance to form Bengal government though that was a rule of diarchy, however, Bengali Muslims were greatly encouraged by this event. Muslims of Bengal realized that they were also the powerful community of Bengal and nothing would happen bypassing them. After Lahore resolution of 1940, the psychological gap between Indian Muslim and Hindus got momentum and in addition the role of Hindu Mahashava and activities of some influential central leaders of Indian National Congressand Muslim League started strengthening the psychological gap and mutual no-confidence went to the point of no return. Hindu Muslim riots started in Bihar and Noakhali, the great Kolkata killing in 1946 and riot in Punjab in early months of 1947 expedited the partition of India by the British government on the basis of religion. After failing the Cabinet Mission plan Bengali leaders like Husein Shahid Shuhrawardy and Sharot Bose tried to keep Bengal united and separate independent state. But the central leaders of two big parties like Congress and Muslim League were not that much in favor of this idea. As a result of this consequence partition of Bengal between two communities was inevitable. And it was the irony of history that those who opposed the Bengal partition in 1905 were the damn supporter of partition of Bengal in 1947. It only became possible for the mistrust and lack of confidence between the two big communities in Bengal. And ultimately Bengalis got a permanent artificial boundary line dividing their own country and lost the natural boundary.
(Dr. Rumy is a retired civil servant)
