Role of Bengal in Indian National Movement: Contributions and Significance

Q: What was Bengal’s role in the Swadeshi Movement?

Bengal was the epicentre of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement (1905) following the Partition of Bengal, introducing mass mobilisation, economic nationalism, and cultural resistance to colonial rule.

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Picture Courtesy: The Hindu

Context:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed a discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha but added that central government were not aware of the contribution of Bengal in the freedom struggle.

Must Read: Socio-Religious movement | LORD CURZON |

What are the contributions that Bengal made towards Indian National movements?

Ideological Leadership:

Bengal spearheaded the ideological awakening of nationalism in India. The Bengal Renaissance fostered modern political thought, rationalism, social reform, and anti-colonial consciousness. Thinkers and leaders such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore, and Swami Vivekananda shaped ideas of national identity, self-respect, and cultural revival, laying the philosophical foundation of Indian nationalism.

Birthplace of organised nationalism:

Modern Indian nationalism first took organised political shape in Bengal. The formation of the Indian National Congress (1885) was preceded by political associations in Bengal such as the Indian Association (Surendranath Banerjee), which mobilised educated Indians and popularised constitutional agitation.

Role in the Swadeshi and Anti-Partition Movement (1905):

The Partition of Bengal (1905) marked a decisive turning point in the freedom struggle. Bengal became the epicentre of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement, introducing:

Economic nationalism through indigenous industries
Mass mobilisation involving students, women, and peasants
Institutions like the National Council of Education aimed to create an education system free from colonial control, linking nationalism with self-reliance.

This movement transformed nationalism from elite politics to mass participation.

Literary Resistance:

Bengal used literature, art, music, and theatre as instruments of resistance.

Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra, became the national song.
Newspapers like Amrita Bazar Patrika functioned as organised centres of resistance
Tagore’s works promoted moral resistance, humanism, and unity beyond sectarian lines.

Organisational foundations of nationalism:

Bengal pioneered the creation of early political organisations that laid the groundwork for all-India nationalism.

The Indian Association (1876), founded by Surendranath Banerjee and Ananda Mohan Bose, was among the first mass-oriented political organisations, aiming to unite Indians across regions and promote constitutional agitation.

Role of trade unions and labour organisations:

Calcutta emerged as an early centre of labour organisation.

Bengal-based trade unions mobilised industrial workers, linking nationalism with workers’ rights.
Leaders like Chittaranjan Das supported labour causes, integrating economic demands with political freedom.

Agrarian movements:

Bengal’s contribution included strong peasant mobilisation through organised movements.

The Tebhaga Movement was backed by organised peasant groups demanding fair sharecropping arrangements.

How British responded to the National Movement in Bengal?

Partition of Bengal (1905): The Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon was a political strategy to divide and weaken nationalist unity by exploiting communal and regional differences. Though justified on administrative grounds, it was widely perceived as a punitive response to Bengal’s rising political consciousness and mass mobilisation.

Press censorship

To suppress nationalist journalism emerging from Bengal, the British enacted stringent press controls:

Vernacular Press Act (1878) targeted Indian-language newspapers critical of the government.
Press Act (1910) empowered authorities to confiscate printing presses and demand security deposits.

Papers like Amrita Bazar Patrika and Bande Mataram were frequently censored, fined, or forced to shut down, reflecting fear of public opinion mobilisation.

Preventive detention and emergency powers

To counter revolutionary organisations, the British enacted extraordinary laws:

Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908 empowered authorities to ban revolutionary organisations and detain suspects without trial.
Defence of India Act, 1915 introduced preventive detention, restrictions on movement, and special tribunals during World War I.

Suppression of revolutionary organisations

Secret societies such as Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar were targeted through mass arrests, deportation to the Andaman Cellular Jail, police surveillance and informant networks. The execution of revolutionaries like Khudiram Bose and trials such as the Alipore Bomb Case exemplified the state’s hardline response.

Conclusion:

Bengal made a foundational and multidimensional contribution to the Indian National Movement by shaping its ideas, organisations, leadership, and methods of struggle. From intellectual awakening and cultural nationalism to mass mobilisation, revolutionary activism, and institution-building, Bengal acted as the vanguard of Indian nationalism. Its initiatives not only challenged colonial authority but also set the tone, strategy, and direction of the freedom struggle across India, leaving a lasting imprint on the nation’s path to independence.

Source: The Hindu

Attempt Daily Quiz

Practice Question

“Bengal was not merely a participant but a pioneer of the Indian National Movement.”
Critically examine (250 words)

With reference to the Brahmo Samaj, consider the following statements:

1. It was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Calcutta in 1828.

2. The Brahmo Samaj supported idol worship and traditional priestly rituals.

3. It played an important role in promoting women’s education and social reform.

4. Leaders like Debendranath Tagore and Keshab Chandra Sen were associated with its later development.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 3 and 4 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: B

Explanation

Statement 1 correct: The Brahmo Samaj was founded in 1828 at Calcutta by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, marking the beginning of organised religious and social reform in modern India.
Statement 2 incorrect: The Brahmo Samaj rejected idol worship, rituals, and priestly dominance. It emphasised monotheism, reason, and ethical living, distinguishing it from orthodox Hindu practices.
Statement 3 correct: The movement actively promoted women’s education, widow remarriage, opposition to sati, and social equality, contributing significantly to social reform during the Bengal Renaissance.
Statement 4 correct: After Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Debendranath Tagore strengthened its philosophical base, while Keshab Chandra Sen expanded its social reform agenda, though internal differences later led to splits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Bengal witnessed the earliest political awakening through social reform, modern education, nationalist literature, and organised political associations, making it the first region to articulate a coherent nationalist ideology.

Bengal was the epicentre of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement (1905) following the Partition of Bengal, introducing mass mobilisation, economic nationalism, and cultural resistance to colonial rule.

Bengal produced several revolutionary organisations such as Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar, and revolutionaries like Khudiram Bose, Bagha Jatin, and Surya Sen, who challenged British authority through militant action.