History & Civics
Read the excerpt given below and answer the question that follows:
Tagore's 'Banglar mati, Banglar jol', and the sentiment of brotherhood and patriotism that it invokes
In 1905, Curzon partitioned Bengal on communal lines which Rabindranath Tagore opposed strongly, and wrote a hymn for communal harmony, brotherhood, and a united Bengali identity. The TMC government has now declared 'Banglar mati, Banglar jol' the state anthem.
The song calls for unity for all Bengalis by invoking the beauty of Bengal - its natural environs, its language, its people, and its soul. This is perhaps best expressed in the final stanza of the song which is loosely translated as:
The soil of Bengal, the water of Bengal; The air of Bengal, the fruit of Bengal; Let them be blessed; Oh my Lord.
[All] Bengalis' life, [all] Bengalis' soul; All brothers and sisters in Bengal's homes, may they be united; Oh my Lord
— Indian Express, September 9, 2023
(a) What official reason did Lord Curzon give for partitioning Bengal?
(b) Name another song composed by Rabindranath Tagore during the Anti-partition agitation.
Answer
(a) The official reason given by Lord Curzon for partitioning Bengal was that, the Bengal province was too big to be efficiently administered by a single provincial government.
(b) Rabindranath Tagore composed the patriotic song, 'Amar Sonar Bangla' (My Golden Bengal), during the Anti-partition agitation which was sung by huge crowds parading the streets.
Related Questions
(I) The Assertive Nationalists wanted immediate attainment of Swaraj or complete independence as it existed in the United Kingdom.
(II) The Early Nationalists wanted to achieve self-government and autonomy within the Empire and not complete independence.
- (II) contradicts (I)
- (II) is the reason for (I)
- (I) is true but (II) is false.
- (I) and (II) are independent of each other.
Who composed the Bande Mataram? State the reaction of the masses to the proclamation of the Partition of Bengal.
Who were Assertive Nationalists? Why were they so called?
What was the aim of the Assertive Nationalists as far as the National Movement was concerned? How did it differ from that of the Early Nationalists?