Who among the following was the Viceroy of India during the announcement of the Partition of Bengal in 1905?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. Lord Curzon.
Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India during the announcement of the Partition of Bengal in 1905. Appointed in 1899, he served until 1905 and aimed to improve administrative efficiency in the vast Bengal Presidency. On October 16, 1905, Curzon officially partitioned Bengal, separating it into Eastern Bengal and Assam, and the rest of Bengal. He claimed it was for better governance, but many saw it as a 'divide and rule' tactic to weaken the growing nationalist movement by creating religious divisions between Hindus and Muslims. The decision sparked widespread protests and played a significant role in India's independence movement.