The Swadeshi Movement

The Swadeshi movement in 1905 holds a special place in the Indian independence movement due to the partition of Bengal. It sheds light on the agitation of the general public and the harsh measures taken by the British government.

- Kumud Kumar

This movement also demonstrates how it influenced people throughout the entire country. Let us explore the significance of this movement.

The British government desired to administratively divide the state of Bengal due to its vast size (approximately 190,000 square miles) and dense population (785 million). However, the people of Bengal opposed this partition. They believed that it would jeopardize the Bengali identity and the British government aimed to undermine the unity of Bengalis by dividing them.

Although the British government had initiated discussions on the partition of Bengal in 1874, the opposition from the Bengalis slowed down its progress. When Lord Curzon assumed the position of Governor General of India on January 6, 1899, the process gained momentum. In 1903, proposals for the partition of Bengal began to surface. Extensive debates took place until the British government ultimately passed the proposal for the partition of Bengal on July 19, 1905. The following day, on July 20, the Calcutta Press published this news, announcing the partition of Bengal.

As soon as the news was published, there was chaos in Bengal. Protests against the partition started in various locations. Several meetings were held. According to government records, approximately 2,000 such meetings were held in villages and cities.

The largest and most historic gathering took place on August 7, 1905, at the Town Hall in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Raja Sir Manindra Chandra Nandi of Kasim Bazar presided over this meeting. Although scheduled for 5 PM, a massive crowd had already started gathering as early as 2 PM.

Individuals from all classes and age groups attended, including groups of students who carried banners adorned with black flags and slogans such as "United Bengal," "Unity is strength," "Vande Mataram," and "No Partition."