The Partition of Bengal-The Rise of Assertive Radical Nationalism

Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal

The famous triumvirate (team of three) of Assertive Nationalism consisted of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bipin Chandra Pal. They were also known as 'Lal-Bal-Pal' and dominated the National Movement from 1905 to 1919. These leaders believed in more assertive methods compared to the Early Nationalists who relied on constitutional means. They wanted complete Swaraj and were willing to use methods like boycott, Swadeshi, and passive resistance. Gandhi and Nehru came later in the freedom struggle, while Gokhale, Naoroji, and Ranade were Early Nationalists.

Dacca

After the Partition of Bengal in 1905, the new province of East Bengal and Assam had its capital at Dacca (now Dhaka in Bangladesh) with subsidiary headquarters at Chittagong. The province comprised an area of 1,06,540 square miles with a population of 31 million (18 million Muslims and 12 million Hindus). Calcutta remained the capital of the remaining West Bengal province which was combined with Bihar and Orissa. The choice of Dacca as capital was part of the British strategy to create a Muslim-majority province and weaken Bengali Hindu influence.

1907

The Surat Split occurred in 1907 during the annual Congress session held at Surat. The split happened due to fundamental differences between the Early Nationalists (Moderates) and the Assertive/Radical Nationalists. The Moderates wanted to undo the resolutions passed at the 1906 Calcutta session regarding Swaraj, Swadeshi, and boycott, while the Radicals wanted to continue with assertive methods. When conflicts erupted in the session with physical altercations involving lathis and chairs, the session was suspended. This led to the permanent division of the Congress into two groups.

Kesari

Bal Gangadhar Tilak started two well-known newspapers - 'Kesari' (in Marathi) and 'Mahratta' (in English). Through these newspapers, he preached nationalism and taught people to become courageous, self-reliant, and selfless fighters for freedom. Kesari became a powerful medium for spreading assertive nationalist ideas and mobilizing public opinion against British rule. 'Young India' was associated with Lala Lajpat Rai and later Mahatma Gandhi, while 'New India' was edited by Bipin Chandra Pal, and 'Bengalee' was Surendranath Banerjee's newspaper.