Question 88 from UPSC CSE 2014 - Modern Indian History

Question

The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. King George V abrogated Curzon's Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911.

Strategy: Identify the 1911 Delhi Durbar as the pivotal event for the reversal of the Bengal partition. Eliminate options related to later events like the Civil Disobedience Movement and the 1947 Partition, and disregard World War I as it was not the cause of the revocation.

Key Info: **Key Events and Context**

- **Partition of Bengal (1905):** Ordered by Viceroy Lord Curzon for administrative reasons, it was seen as a divisive tactic against Hindus and Muslims. This led to widespread protests, the Swadeshi movement, and a rise in nationalist sentiment.
- **1911 Delhi Durbar:** King George V announced the reversal of the Bengal partition at this event. The Durbar also marked the shifting of the imperial capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
- **Distinguishing from Other Events:**
  - The Civil Disobedience Movement began in 1930 and is unrelated to the partition's reversal.
  - The 1947 Partition of India created East Pakistan, occurring long after Bengal had been reunified.
  - World War I (1914–1918) did not involve the abrogation of the partition.

The 1911 Durbar was the decisive event that ended the partition and represented a major imperial concession.

Answer

Option A: The First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended.

Answer

Option C: Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement.

Answer

Option D: The Partition of India in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan.