Was Bengal a part of India?

A hotbed of the Indian independence movement through the early 20th century, Bengal was partitioned during India’s independence in 1947 along religious lines into two separate entities: West Bengal—a state of India—and East Bengal—a part of the newly created Dominion of Pakistan that later became the independent nation …

Why was Bengal the first kingdom to be occupied by the British?

Importance for the British: Bengal became the first kingdom to be occupied by the British in India. The East India Company carried on profitable trade with this province. The enormous resources of Bengal came in handy for financing the British expansion.

Why was Bengal divided?

October 16, 1905 is an important date for Bengal. The then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon decided to divide the region in a way that the western part was home to the Hindu majority area and the eastern part for the Muslim majority. Bengal was as large as France and had a significantly larger population too.

Is Bengal still a country?

Bengal was thenceforth the base for British expansion in India. With the end of British rule in 1947, West Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha became part of the Republic of India. East Bengal became East Pakistan, but in 1971 it separated from the parent country to become the independent state of Bangladesh.

Who banned Bengal partition?

The partition animated the Muslims to form their own national organization along communal lines. To appease Bengali sentiment, Bengal was reunited by Lord Hardinge in 1911, in response to the Swadeshi movement’s riots in protest against the policy.

Who stopped Bengal partition?

Lord Hardinge
But the primary purpose behind this was to separate the Hindu Province and the Muslim Province. In 1911, Lord Hardinge scrapped the Partition of Bengal because there were riots and violence spread all around against the partition. People started the Swadeshi and Boycott movement after the division of Bengal.

Why was Bengal divided into East Bengal and West Bengal?

Bengal Presidency. The Partition of British India in 1947 resulted in Bengal’s division on religious grounds, between the Indian state of West Bengal and East Bengal, which became the nation of Bangladesh .

What is the present economic condition of West Bengal?

For many decades the state underwent political violence and economic stagnation. Today, the economy of West Bengal is the sixth-largest state economy in India with a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of ₹12.54 lakh crore (US$180 billion), and has the country’s 23rd-highest GSDP per capita of ₹115,748 (US$1,600).

What happened to the western part of India after independence?

Indian independence and afterwards. The western part went to the Dominion of India (and was named West Bengal), while the eastern part went to the Dominion of Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan in 1956). The latter became the independent nation of Bangladesh in 1971.

What is the history of Bengal?

British Bengal roughly consisted of modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. Like North India’s Muslims, Hindus in Bengal were wary of the British exiting, leaving them a minority.