Which of the following Viceroys of India announced the decision to partition Bengal in 1905?

Appeared in: Haryana CHO - 2022

Explanation

Lord Curzon served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905.
He was the chief architect of the plan to partition the Bengal Presidency.
The decision was formally announced in July 1905, during his tenure.
The stated aim was administrative efficiency, but the move was widely interpreted as a 'divide and rule' policy to weaken the nationalist movement in Bengal.
This action directly led to the start of the Swadeshi movement across India.

Option A: Lord Chelmsford's tenure as Viceroy was from 1916 to 1921, more than a decade after the partition was announced.
Option B: Lord Hardinge is associated with the reversal, not the implementation, of the partition.
Option C: There was no Viceroy of India named Lord Earley. This is an invalid option.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain History of Modern India: Partition of Bengal as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical topic, understanding major historical events like the Partition of Bengal is crucial for general knowledge, which is often part of nursing entrance examinations.
The 'divide and rule' policy is a significant concept in political history, and its application in Bengal is a classic example with long-term socio-political consequences.
This event highlights how administrative decisions can have profound and often unintended social and political impacts on a population.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: the event (Partition of Bengal) and the year (1905).
This is a factual recall question from Modern Indian History. The task is to match the event and date with the correct historical figure.
Access your knowledge about the Viceroys of India and their timelines.
Evaluate each option: Lord Curzon's tenure (1899-1905) aligns perfectly with the event.
Eliminate other options based on their timelines. Lord Hardinge (1910-1916) came later and is known for annulling the partition. Lord Chelmsford (1916-1921) was even later.
Recognize that 'Lord Earley' is not a valid name in the list of Viceroys, making it an easy elimination.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full Haryana CHO - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.