The Partition of Bengal and Assam, 1932-1947 : Contour of Freedom

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THE PARTITION OF BENGAL AND ASSAM, 1932-1947The fragmentation of Bengal and Assam in 1947 was a crucial moment in India’s socio-political history as a nation state. Both British Indian provinces were divided as much through the actions of the Muslim League as through those of Congress and the British colonial power. Attributing partition largely to Hindu communalists is, therefore, historically inaccurate and factually misleading.The Partition of Bengal and Assam, 1932-1947 provides a review of constitutional and party politics as well as of popular attitudes and perceptions. The primary aim of this book is to unravel the intricate socioeconomic and political processes that led up to partition, as Hindus and Muslims competed ferociously for the new power and privileges to be conferred on them with independence. As shown in the book, well before they divorced at a political level, Hindus and Muslims had been cleft apart by their socio-economic differences. Partition was probably inevitable.Bidyut Chakrabarty is Professor and Chair of Political Science at the University of Delhi, India.