social and institutional bases of politics (1906-1947)

WELCOME TO OUR

PRESENTATION

SOCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BASES OF POLITICS (1906-1947)

CONSEQUENCES OF BENGAL PARTITION(1905)

The issues of partition led the Muslims to find the real enemies.Political strategy was to highlight the socio-economic inequalities between two communities.They & we pattern of politics was created by the partition.Political developments from social and institutional points of view were not satisfied.

INADEQUATE STUDIES OF POLITICAL HISTORY Our knowledge of the twentieth-century

political history is woefully inadequate Detailed narrative of the Indian

nationalist movement in the old undivided British province is unavailable

The development of Muslim politics has been neglected

Of late some serious studies on Bengal Muslim politics have been made

MERITS OF SOCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS Permitting us to say something

logically Analysis of membership &

executive committee An examination of the stated

purposes of institutional Look over the social activities

CHRONOLOGY

1905- partition of Bengal 1906- bringing radical departures, the

mobilization of the congress volunteer brigades, a militant campaign of economic boycott

1912- reunification of Bengal 1918- new leadership of rising star, C.R Das 1925- the tragic early death of Das and splint

ration of congress, repudiation of Bengal pact 1937- appointment of Ak Fazlul Huq as chief

minister of Bengal, leader of krisok proja party 1943- fall of Fazlul Haq & triumph for the

ideals of Muslim league 1947- the final phase ,the Muslim League held

in office in Bengal and the prospect of province within Pakistan was overriding political issue

THE NINETEENTH CENTURY LEAGACY

At the opening Bengal had an extensive network of political institutions

INFLUENCE OF LANDHOLDERS AND BAR ASSOCIATIONS Had a lively political involvement Coordination of activities supplied from

aristocratic and influential British Indian associations

Prominent on the executive committees on the district

Landholders associations representing their interests locally

Availability of chambers of commerce to represent the interest of different class people

THE EQUATION OF NATIONALISM WITH POLITICS Nominally economic, social or religious

institutions are used for political ends Educational politics considered as

obvious area Prominent Local men were engaged in

voluntary educational administration Muslims were only active in madrassa

and moktab College students’ association less

directly involved with politics

CONTRIBUTION OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION Less directly involved

with politics Private libraries,

reading rooms and cultural societies found in many districts

Concerned with the Hindu cultural heritage of particular localities

Less lively cultural life of Muslims

To highlight this part a word of caution is necessary::: Institutional and social development had not proceeded evenly throughout the province

PHASES

Phase one(1906-

1918)

Phase two(1918-

1926)

Phase three(1926-1937)

Phase four and

five(1937-1947)

PHASE ONE (1906-1918)

REASONS BEHIND CONSIDERING (1906-1918) AS A PHASELord Curzons partition gave an extraordinary boost to politics in Bengal. The time dimension of phase one started after this partition. Some revolutionary events occurred in phase one which are as follows:

Immediate jump in newspaper circulation which results in: Lively journalism in the latter half of nineteenth

century at kolkata. Sufficient expand in readership. Newspaper and periodical offices became the

focal points of political. Dhaka capital of eastern Bengal and Assam was

now able to sustain a daily newspaper. In line with capital mofussal towns intermittently

produced weeklies. Start of some small commercial presses and their

publishers.

Lively Journalism

REASONS BEHIND CONSIDERING (1906-1918) AS A PHASE

Volunteer brigades were organized by the militant congressmen to:

Boycott the stores selling imported cloths.

An increase in buying sawdesi goods. Increase self-help in society.

The ideal of economic self-reliance paralleled by the ideal of national education which has given importance on:

Glorious cultural heritage. Emphasis on technical and physical

education. Establishment of sports club and

gymnasiums. Cultural Heritage Of India

REASONS BEHIND CONSIDERING (1906-1918) AS A PHASE

Clandestine revolutionary summit which includes:

A heady doctrine of political self-sacrifice as a service of Ma Kali.

Training with revolvers and bomb in preparation of attacks upon British.

Linkers between religious tradition and nationalism were jatra and loksongits which spreads in urban areas. The providers of songs and dramas are:

Mukunda Das Dijendralal Ray Atulprashad Sen Jatra

REASONS BEHIND CONSIDERING (1906-1918) AS A PHASE

The social service ideal also played vital role. Its functions in to meet the recurrent disasters were as follows:

Raising funds. Assembling relief supplies. Ministering the needs of the sufferers.

Foundation of all-India and Bengal Presidency Muslim leagues.

It was the first significant muslim institutional innovation in this period.

Anjumans was founded to support the league efforts.

Praying for the success of Muslim League in 1906

PHASE TWO (1918-1926)

BENGAL PROVINCIAL CONGRESS COMMITTEE It was the Bengal branch of the Indian

National congress. The Provincial congress was founded in the year 1920. C.R.Das And his fellow extremists organized an All Bengal Political Conference In kolkata,Acting with their approval they seized control of the BPCC and immediately reconstituted it to provide direct representation for the district association.

By 1921 BPCC had its own office in kolkata.A congress News service dispensed Party propaganda and the congress Volunteers,were at work Throughout the province collecting for the Swaraj Fund.

KHILAFAT COMMITTEE From 1918-

1925,Muslim involve in Indian Nationalists Politics In Bengal. In addition, The Muslim politicians had their own Khilafat committee. These committees had central district in kolkata and branches in every district town.

SWARJIST PARTY After the calling off of the Non-Corporation Movement And The boycott of Legislatures,A group pf leaders of the Indian Congress Led by C R Das and Pandit Motilal Nehru started thinking in favour of entering the legislative council.The annual Session of the Indian National Congress rejected the proposed of council entry. He then formed A party called Swarjist Party.

REMARKABLE SUCCESS OF SWARJIST PARTY

It became the largest single party.

Captured 46 seats out of 139.

C R Das became the leader.

PHASE THREE (1926-1937)

BENGAL PACT(1923) An Agreement aimed at resolving the

question of Hindu-Muslim differences,Chitta Ranjan Das, A man of vision, came forward to take up the task of strengthening relations between Hindu and Muslims. The terms Of the Pact, commonly known as the Bengal Pact, were passed in the meeting of swarjist party held on 16 Dec,1923.The pact also held in the BPCC meeting held on 18DEc,1923.

THE TERMS OF THE PACTRepresentation in the Bengal

legislative Council would be on population besis.

Representation In the Local bodies would be on the proportion of 60%on the majority Community,and 40% to the minority community

Music in procession would not to be allowed.

It was decided that 55% Of the appointment should go to the Muslims.

No resolution or enactment would be allowed without the consent of 75% of the elected members.

No Legislation in respect of Cow killing for food would be taken up in the Council.

Endeavour should be made outside the council to bring about an understanding between two communities.

POSITIVE OUTCOME OF THE BENGAL PACT C R Das was supported in his stance

by a considerable number of Congressman in bengal.

The Latter welcomed the pact wholeheartedly as they thought it was the sensible solution to their problems.

The Muslim Press thanked those Hindu leaders for their greatness in meeting.

OUTCRY OF THE PACT Middle class Bengal Hindus who

opposed the Pact stubbornly.

Surendranath Banerjea and BC Pal were among the Hindu leaders who stood up against the Pact.

The Members of their community accused CR Das of opportunism and even Muslim bias.

REST PART OF PHASE THREE(1926-1937)

EXREMIST ORGANIZATION & BROKE BRITISH CONTROL In violent years activeness of

extremist organizations Fascists and communist parties

model of Bengal agitators Gaining strength and weapons to

engage British police and military Home-grown terrorists extended

network Broke British control and Congress

able to run parallel government

COMMUNAL CONFLICTS & REDUCTION OF DISMAL PICTURE Aggressive Muslim revivalist groups and

Hindu organization`s battle Oppose of cow slaughter and music

before mosque Kolkata`s goonda dal made of politicians

both religion to complete the dismal picture

Experience of Bengali nationalists institution

People of different ages ,ideologies, regions incarceration in British jail

PHASE FOUR & FIVE (1937-1947)

THE DECADES OF POLITICAL EXCITEMENT AND TRAGEDY

POLITICAL EXCITEMENT & ADMINISTRATION OF INDIA

Decades of political excitement and tragedy Some developments and co-operative movement First administration to take office under 1935

Government of India Act Including Krishac praja and Scheduled Caste

parties a new element in Bengal politics Radical legislation gave the support of the host

of Marxist cells Many of young terrorists converted to

communism Their release added to complexity of Bengal

politics

STRUGGLE FOR POWER STRIKING DEVELOPMENT Struggle of rival parties to control trade

unions ,associations and municipalities etc Dual functions of them for lobbying to

protect their corporations In last phase –some strikingly divergent

developments Raising funds and help to organize formal

political parties Skirmished of some private armies of both

religions through1940-1946 The bloodshed ensured partition of Bengal

in 1947

SKIRMISHED & PARTITION OF BENGAL(1947) Many of Marxists had to set work among

Bengal`s proletariat They started campaign for agricultural

rent and tax resistance Militia and vigilant groups organized by

extremists of both religions Skirmished of these private armies of

both religions through1940-1946 The bloodshed ensured partition of

Bengal in 1947

THE SOCIAL BASES OF POLITICS

INDIAN ASSOCIATION SANK INTO INSIGNIFICANCE

After 1918, The Indian association sank into insignificance. But the leadership of the Bengal Congress, which superseded it ,came from Same Bhadrolok status group that had dominated nationalist politics in Bengal Since the late nineteenth century.

CHARACTERISTICS OF BHADROLOK

SUPERIOR GROUPECONOMICALLY DEPENDANTSTAY AWAY FROM THE MASSESSHARING A PRIDESUSTAIN THEIR COMMUNAL INTEGRATION

BENGAL’S TOPOGRAPHY

Hindered easy communication

Shifting river courses

Treacherous climate

Debilitating endemic diseases

Fluctuations in population density and agricultural productivity

These fluctuations meant that even into the early years of Bengal there remained unused lands-for example The Sundarban, The char, The Terrai which were available for economic enterprise as transportation, agriculture and health technologies were improved.

PERVENU CLASS (1920)

This class was best situated to take

advantage of the devolution of

power,

Enlargement of the provincial legislature,

Extension of the franchise,

Gained the organizational backing of the

Caste association and the

Consolidated Islamia Anjumans.

THE STATE OF AFFAIRS OF RURAL COMMUNITY

Once outside the cities and Past the rajbari of the great zamindars, was an undifferentiated peasant mass.

There were a number of ‘Fat acts’ among the generally poor rural populace.

The dispossessed tribals and other landless labourers had no institutional representation before independence.

THE REASON BEHIND FINANCIAL CRISIS The years following World War I were

seminal. War demands had artificially stimulated industrial and mining development in Bengal.

Early in 1920’s there was a severe trade recession,

Natural disasters in 1918 and 1919,including great Infuenza epidemic.

Wages did not respond to the price inflation.

The work conditions for industrial labour and the terms of employment were generally deplorable.

IN THE LONG RUN, HOWEVER, THE POLITICIANS WERE FACED WITH A THRONY PROBLEM:-

They were Bengalis while almost all the

Industrial labourers were from Bihar and the United provinces,

The sustained disinclination of these men to accept Bengali Leadership,

Their working lives had been the source of serious instability for 20th century.

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HEARTED THANKS TO ALL