Lord Curzon's objective behind partition of Bengal (1905) was

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
The Partition of Bengal in 1905, orchestrated by Viceroy Lord Curzon, was ostensibly carried out for administrative convenience, as Bengal was a very large and populous province. However, the true, underlying objective was political: to strike a decisive blow against the burgeoning Bengali nationalism, which was the epicenter of political agitation and anti-British sentiment in India. Curzon intentionally divided the province along communal lines, separating the predominantly Muslim eastern areas from the predominantly Hindu western areas, in a deliberate attempt to 'Divide and Rule.' This move was meant to foster communal friction and break the political solidarity of the Bengali people, thereby crippling the nationalist movement.

The incorrect option is 1: To provide representation to the people
The Partition did not aim to increase political representation. In fact, by dividing the politically conscious population, it was an anti-democratic measure intended to suppress their collective voice and power, making popular representation less effective.

The incorrect option is 2: To increase state revenue
While administrative changes might incidentally affect revenue, increasing state revenue was not the primary or stated objective of the partition policy. The core motivation was purely political and strategic, aiming to quell nationalist resistance, not fiscal gain.

The incorrect option is 4: To create employment
The creation of employment was neither a stated goal nor a significant outcome of the Partition. The reorganization of administrative boundaries is a political exercise and does not typically function as an employment generation program. The outrage it caused severely disrupted economic and political stability instead.