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| {{Infobox former subdivision
| | #REDIRECT [[Partition of Bengal]] |
| | native_name = বিংগল প্রেসিডেনসি
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| | conventional_long_name = Bengal Presidency
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| | common_name = Bengal
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| | subdivision = Presidency
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| | nation = British India
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| | status_text = Region of the British Empire
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| | year_start = 1765
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| | year_end = 1947
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| | event_start = Treaty of Allahabad
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| | event_end = Indian Independence
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| | capital = [[Calcutta]] (now [[Kolkata]])
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| | today = [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], parts of [[Myanmar]]
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| }}
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| '''Bengal Presidency''' was one of the largest and most important administrative divisions of [[British India]]. It played a crucial role in the colonial administration and economy, encompassing regions that are now parts of [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], and [[Myanmar]].
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| == History ==
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| The Bengal Presidency was established in 1765 following the [[Treaty of Allahabad]], which granted the British East India Company the right to collect revenue (Diwani) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The History of Bengal |author=Sarkar, Jadunath |publisher=Orient Blackswan |year=1997 |isbn=978-8178240014}}</ref> Calcutta, later known as Kolkata, served as the capital of both the presidency and British India until 1911, when the capital was shifted to [[Delhi]].
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| == Partition of Bengal (1905) ==
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| In 1905, the British government, under Viceroy [[Lord Curzon]], implemented the [[Partition of Bengal (1905)]]. The province was divided into two regions: [[Eastern Bengal and Assam]] and [[West Bengal]]. The official rationale was to improve administrative efficiency, but the partition sparked widespread protests as it was perceived as an attempt to divide and weaken nationalist movements. The partition was annulled in 1911 due to the intense opposition it faced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Partition of Bengal (1905) |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/partition-of-Bengal |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=2024-11-18}}</ref>
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| == Administrative Significance ==
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| * The Bengal Presidency was initially governed by the [[British East India Company]] and later became part of the British Crown’s administration after the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]].
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| * It served as the administrative, economic, and cultural hub of British India, influencing policies across the subcontinent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bengal Presidency |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bengal-Presidency |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=2024-11-18}}</ref>
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| * The region’s fertile lands and access to key trade routes made it a significant contributor to the colonial economy.
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| == Economy ==
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| The economy of Bengal Presidency was heavily reliant on agriculture, trade, and industries like jute, tea, and textiles. The region also played a pivotal role in the global opium trade.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Opium and Empire |author=Richards, John F. |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0674008524}}</ref>
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| == Cultural Contributions ==
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| * Bengal was the epicenter of the [[Bengal Renaissance]], a socio-cultural and intellectual movement that reshaped Indian society during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
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| * Prominent figures such as [[Rabindranath Tagore]], [[Swami Vivekananda]], and [[Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay]] emerged from the region, influencing literature, philosophy, and nationalist movements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bengal Renaissance |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095510334 |website=Oxford Reference |access-date=2024-11-18}}</ref>
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| == Partition and Legacy ==
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| The Bengal Presidency was eventually divided in 1947 during the partition of India, leading to the creation of [[West Bengal]] in India and [[East Pakistan]] (now Bangladesh). Its legacy remains in the region’s rich cultural heritage and historical significance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Partition of Bengal |url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/partition-bengal-1947 |website=History Today |access-date=2024-11-18}}</ref>
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| == See also ==
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| * [[British Raj]]
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| * [[Partition of Bengal (1905)]]
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| * [[Indian Independence Movement]]
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| == References ==
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| <references />
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