Question 1:
When was the partition of Bengal implemented?
A) 1905
B) 1947
C) 1940
D) 1919
Answer: A) 1905
Explanation: The partition of Bengal was implemented on October 16, 1905, by Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India. The province of Bengal was divided into two separate entities: East Bengal and Assam (with a Muslim majority) and West Bengal (with a Hindu majority). The main aim behind the partition was to “divide and rule” and weaken the growing nationalist movement in Bengal.
Question 2:
What was the main reason behind the partition of Bengal in 1905?
A) To create separate Muslim-majority and Hindu-majority regions.
B) To promote economic development in both regions.
C) To facilitate easier governance by the British.
D) To suppress the growing nationalist movement in Bengal.
Answer: D) To suppress the growing nationalist movement in Bengal.
Explanation: The main reason behind the partition of Bengal in 1905 was to suppress the growing nationalist movement that was gaining momentum in the region. The British feared the united strength of Hindus and Muslims in Bengal, so they decided to divide the province along religious lines to weaken the nationalist movement and create division among the people.
Question 3:
Which prominent leader was instrumental in leading the anti-partition movement in Bengal?
A) Mahatma Gandhi
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Rabindranath Tagore
D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: C) Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation: Rabindranath Tagore, the famous poet, philosopher, and social reformer, was instrumental in leading the anti-partition movement in Bengal. He composed the song “Amar Sonar Bangla,” which later became the national anthem of Bangladesh, to evoke a sense of unity and resistance among the people against the partition.
Question 4:
Which of the following regions was NOT part of the new province of East Bengal and Assam after the partition?
A) Bihar
B) Orissa
C) Chittagong
D) Dhaka
Answer: A) Bihar
Explanation: Bihar was not part of the new province of East Bengal and Assam after the partition. The provinces that formed East Bengal and Assam were Bengal (eastern part), Assam, and the princely states of Tripura and Hill Tippera.
Question 5:
When was the partition of Bengal annulled?
A) 1947
B) 1905
C) 1911
D) 1940
Answer: C) 1911
Explanation: The partition of Bengal was annulled on December 12, 1911. As a result of the strong protests and resistance against the partition, the British government decided to reunite Bengal and revoked the partition order. The province of Bengal was reconstituted, but with some territorial adjustments, and the capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.
Question 6:
Who was the Viceroy of India when the partition of Bengal was implemented?
A) Lord Mountbatten
B) Lord Dalhousie
C) Lord Curzon
D) Lord Wellesley
Answer: C) Lord Curzon
Explanation: The partition of Bengal was implemented during the tenure of Lord Curzon, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905. He proposed and executed the partition plan, which caused widespread discontent among the people of Bengal.
Question 7:
Which religious community protested against the partition of Bengal?
A) Hindus
B) Muslims
C) Sikhs
D) Buddhists
Answer: A) Hindus
Explanation: Hindus were one of the major religious communities that protested against the partition of Bengal. They opposed the division of their province and the perceived attempt to weaken their political and economic influence in the region.
Question 8:
The capital of the new province of East Bengal and Assam after the partition was:
A) Kolkata
B) Dhaka
C) Chittagong
D) Guwahati
Answer: B) Dhaka
Explanation: After the partition of Bengal, Dhaka became the capital of the new province of East Bengal and Assam. The partition resulted in Dhaka becoming an important administrative and cultural center for the Muslim-majority region.
Question 9:
Which province was created as a result of the partition of Bengal in 1905?
A) Bengal and Assam
B) East Bengal and Assam
C) West Bengal
D) East Bengal
Answer: B) East Bengal and Assam
Explanation: The partition of Bengal led to the creation of two new provinces – East Bengal and Assam, which had a Muslim-majority population, and West Bengal, which had a Hindu-majority population.
Question 10:
Which significant event is associated with the annulment of the partition of Bengal?
A) Dandi March
B) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
C) Non-Cooperation Movement
D) Delhi Durbar
Answer: D) Delhi Durbar
Explanation: The annulment of the partition of Bengal was announced during the Delhi Durbar on December 12, 1911. The Delhi Durbar was a grand imperial gathering held in Delhi to celebrate the coronation of King George V as the Emperor of India.
Question 11:
Which British official was known for his support of the partition of Bengal?
A) Lord Canning
B) Lord Dalhousie
C) Lord Curzon
D) Lord Cornwallis
Answer: C) Lord Curzon
Explanation: Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, was known for his support of the partition of Bengal. He believed that dividing Bengal would make it easier to govern and administer the province, but the move was widely opposed by the Indian population.
Question 12:
Which city in West Bengal was a prominent center of anti-partition protests?
A) Kolkata
B) Darjeeling
C) Asansol
D) Siliguri
Answer: A) Kolkata
Explanation: Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) was a prominent center of anti-partition protests. The city witnessed large-scale demonstrations and strikes against the partition, with people from all walks of life actively participating in the movement.
Question 13:
Who was the first partition of Bengal’s Governor?
A) Sir Edward Baker
B) Charles McClelland
C) Sir Anthony Macdonald
D) Sir Frederick Bourne
Answer: A) Sir Edward Baker
Explanation: Sir Edward Baker was the first Lieutenant Governor of East Bengal and Assam, which was created as a result of the partition of Bengal in 1905. He held this position from 1905 to 1911.
Question 14:
Which prominent Indian leader was exiled as a result of his opposition to the partition of Bengal?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
C) Bhagat Singh
D) Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer: B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent Indian nationalist and leader of the Indian independence movement, was exiled to Mandalay in Burma (now Myanmar) in 1908 due to his strong opposition to the partition of Bengal and his nationalist activities.
Question 15:
Which was the official language of East Bengal and Assam after the partition?
A) Bengali
B) Assamese
C) Hindi
D) Urdu
Answer: D) Urdu
Explanation: After the partition of Bengal, Urdu was made the official language of East Bengal and Assam. This decision was met with protests and resistance from the Bengali-speaking population of the region.
Question 16:
Which day is observed as the Partition of Bengal Day?
A) October 16
B) December 12
C) August 15
D) January 26
Answer: A) October 16
Explanation: October 16 is observed as Partition of Bengal Day to commemorate the implementation of the partition of Bengal in 1905. On this day, various events and ceremonies are held to remember the significance of this historical event in India’s struggle for independence.
Question 17:
What was the immediate impact of the partition of Bengal on the nationalist movement?
A) It weakened the nationalist movement.
B) It strengthened the nationalist movement.
C) It had no impact on the nationalist movement.
D) It led to the complete dissolution of the nationalist movement.
Answer: B) It strengthened the nationalist movement.
Explanation: The partition of Bengal had an immediate impact on the nationalist movement as it sparked widespread protests and resistance across the country. It brought Hindus and Muslims together in the fight against the divisive policy of the British, thus strengthening the nationalist movement.
Question 18:
Who was the last Governor of East Bengal and Assam?
A) Sir Charles Innes
B) Sir Anthony Macdonald
C) Sir Frederick Bourne
D) Sir John Woodburn
Answer: C) Sir Frederick Bourne
Explanation: Sir Frederick Bourne was the last Governor of East Bengal and Assam before the province was reunited with Bengal. He served as the Governor from 1911 to 1912.
Question 19:
Which Indian festival was used as a platform to protest against the partition of Bengal?
A) Diwali
B) Holi
C) Durga Puja
D) Eid
Answer: C) Durga Puja
Explanation: Durga Puja, the major Hindu festival celebrated in Bengal, was used as a platform to protest against the partition of Bengal. During the festival, public gatherings and processions were organized to voice the opposition to the divisive policy of the British.
Question 20:
Which was the first political organization to be formed in response to the partition of Bengal?
A) Indian National Congress
B) All India Muslim League
C) Bengal Congress
D) Swadeshi Movement
Answer: C) Bengal Congress
Explanation: The Bengal Congress was the first political organization to be formed in response to the partition of Bengal. It played a crucial role in organizing protests and mobilizing people against the partition and its aftermath.
Question 21:
Which region of Bengal was directly affected by the partition?
A) Western region
B) Southern region
C) Eastern region
D) Northern region
Answer: C) Eastern region
Explanation: The eastern region of Bengal was directly affected by the partition. It became East Bengal and Assam after the partition was implemented in 1905.
Question 22:
The partition of Bengal resulted in the creation of how many new provinces?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four
Answer: B) Two
Explanation: The partition of Bengal resulted in the creation of two new provinces – East Bengal and Assam and West Bengal. The province of Bengal was divided into these two separate entities based on religious lines.
Question 23:
Which province was most affected by the partition of Bengal?
A) Punjab
B) Sindh
C) Bengal
D) Bihar
Answer: C) Bengal
Explanation: The province of Bengal was most affected by the partition, as it underwent a significant political, social, and cultural transformation due to the division along religious lines.
Question 24:
What was the primary demand of the Swadeshi Movement that emerged as a response to the partition of Bengal?
A) Full independence from British rule
B) Complete abolition of caste system
C) Adoption of Western education
D) Use of Indian-made products
Answer: D) Use of Indian-made products
Explanation: The primary demand of the Swadeshi Movement was to promote the use of Indian-made products and boycott British goods as a way to protest against the partition of Bengal and the British policies.
Question 25:
The partition of Bengal is often seen as a turning point in India’s struggle for independence. What year marked its formal annulment?
A) 1905
B) 1911
C) 1947
D) 1940
Answer: B) 1911
Explanation: The partition of Bengal was formally annulled in 1911. The British government, in response to widespread protests, decided to reunite Bengal and shift the capital from Calcutta to Delhi during the Delhi Durbar of 1911.
Question 26:
Who among the following was one of the key architects of the partition of Bengal?
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Lord Curzon
C) Lord Wellesley
D) Lord Mountbatten
Answer: B) Lord Curzon
Explanation: Lord Curzon, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905, was one of the key architects of the partition of Bengal. He proposed and executed the plan to divide Bengal along religious lines.
Question 27:
The partition of Bengal was an attempt by the British to:
A) Strengthen the nationalist movement
B) Promote economic development
C) Facilitate easier governance
D) Create a unified Bengal
Answer: C) Facilitate easier governance
Explanation: The partition of Bengal was primarily an attempt by the British to facilitate easier governance of the region. They believed that dividing Bengal would make it easier to administer the province. However, the move was met with strong opposition from the Indian population.
Question 28:
Which of the following is considered one of the long-term effects of the partition of Bengal?
A) Formation of the Indian National Army
B) Rise of the Non-Cooperation Movement
C) Establishment of the All India Muslim League
D) Emergence of the Quit India Movement
Answer: C) Establishment of the All India Muslim League
Explanation: One of the long-term effects of the partition of Bengal was the establishment of the All India Muslim League. The divisive policy of the British, dividing Bengal along religious lines, led to increased communal tensions and demands for separate political representation for Muslims, eventually leading to the formation of the Muslim League.
Question 29:
The Swadeshi Movement that emerged in response to the partition of Bengal emphasized:
A) Boycotting British goods and promoting Indian products
B) Seeking full independence from British rule
C) Promoting interfaith harmony
D) Establishing communal educational institutions
Answer: A) Boycotting British goods and promoting Indian products
Explanation: The Swadeshi Movement that emerged in response to the partition of Bengal emphasized boycotting British goods and promoting Indian-made products as a means of economic protest against British policies. The movement aimed to reduce reliance on foreign goods and promote the use of locally produced items to strengthen India’s economy.
Question 30:
Which Indian leader famously stated, “Bengal united is a power, Bengal divided will pull itself to pieces”?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Subhas Chandra Bose
C) Mahatma Gandhi
D) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: D) Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation: Rabindranath Tagore, the famous poet and philosopher, famously stated, “Bengal united is a power, Bengal divided will pull itself to pieces.” He expressed his strong opposition to the partition of Bengal and its potential negative impact on the unity and strength of the people.