Lord Curzon
Explanation
The Partition of Bengal was a pivotal event in the history of British India, executed to divide the large province of Bengal into two separate administrative units: Bengal (comprising Western Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha) and Eastern Bengal and Assam. This decision was officially attributed to administrative efficiency but was widely perceived as a political maneuver to weaken the growing nationalist sentiment in Bengal.
Analysis of Options:
- Lord Minto Lord Minto (Incorrect): Lord Minto II served as the Viceroy of India from 1905 to 1910. He succeeded Lord Curzon in November 1905, shortly after the partition had already come into effect (October 16, 1905). His tenure is noted for the Swadeshi Movement's peak, the Surat Split (1907), and the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909).
- Lord Curzon Lord Curzon (Correct): Lord Curzon served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905. He was the architect of the Partition of Bengal. The decision was announced in July 1905, and the partition formally came into force on October 16, 1905. His reactionary policies, including this partition, triggered the Swadeshi and Boycott Movements.
- Lord Chelmsford Lord Chelmsford (Incorrect): Lord Chelmsford served as Viceroy from 1916 to 1921. His tenure is associated with the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919), the Rowlatt Act, and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
- Lord Irwin Lord Irwin (Incorrect): Lord Irwin served as Viceroy from 1926 to 1931. Major events during his time included the Simon Commission, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931).
Key Takeaway:
Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905 to curb Bengali nationalism under the guise of administrative convenience. The partition was later annulled in 1911 by Lord Hardinge.