UNDER THE BRITISH RULE AND THE BIRTH OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN:

 

 

 

 

During the 1500’s, British, Dutch, French, and Portuguese traders competed for control of the profitable trade between the East Indies and Europe. By the 1600’s, European trade settlements had been established in Bengal. At first, the Europeans met strong resistance from the provincial nawabs, who demanded taxes in return for trade privileges. But after the Mogul Empire began the weakening the 1700’s, the Europeans increased their influence. Ambitious Mogul nawabs, nobles, and generals competed for power. The Europeans took sides in many of these conflicts, offering their support in return for monopoly trade privileges and other rewards.

 The English government in 1600 to develop trade with India and the Far East chartered the East India Company. By the mid-1700’s, the company had become the strongest trade power in Bengal.

  Nawab Sirajudowla, 1756-1757, was the last independent Nawab of Bengal. With his defeat to the British Empire by company forces led by Robert Clive in the battle of Plassey, 23 June 1757, the Muslim rule over Bengal ended; the rule that had began 500 years before by the Turk Shaberbid Bakhtiar.

 Of the few heroes who fought the British rule valiantly was Tipu Sultan, son of King of Mysore, Haider Ali. He was the bravest of them all. In 1799, he was killed in the battlefield by the British soldiers, while valiantly fighting for his motherland.

 The people of Bengal could never accept the British rule. ‘Fakir’ and ‘Sanyashi’ revolutions during 1760-1800, and ‘Nil-Chashi’ (Indigo farmers) revolution shook the British reign from the very beginning. Under the leadership of Haji Shariatullah and Titumir the Bengalis kept niggling the British from 1831-1839.

 In 1757, the Indian Soldier, including the Bengalis, revolted against the British in 1857. Karl Marx termed this revolution as the first movement for Independence by Indians. In May 1857 they revolted in Berakhpur, West Bengal, and on 18 November in Chittagong. On 22 November when the fire of this revolt spread in Dhaka it was subdued with the help of Khaja Abdul Ghani, who was later rewarded with the 'Nawab' title by the British rulers.

 An English officer stated 'United Bengal is a dangerous force for the British. Once divided they cannot make trouble for us.’ On 16 October 1905 the British rulers with a proclamation declared the division of Bengal.

 In 1915 Revolutionary leader Rashbihari Bosu escaped to Japan and in 1921 formed 'Independent India League' in exile. At the same time popular Bengali leader Netaji Shubash Bosu escaped to Germany and formed 'Azad Hind Force'. On 21 October 1943 Bosu formed the provisional Azad Hind Government in exile in Singapore.

 Under the leadership of Masterda Shurjo Sen on 18 April 1930 the revolutionary Bangalees revolted against the British in Chittagong. They attacked two British armory and kept Chittagong liberated from 18th to 22nd November. On 16 February 1933 Shurjo Sen was captured by the British soldiers and on 22 January 1934 he was sent to the gallows.

 Throughout British India, independence movements began to gain strength in the 1900’s. By 1940, league leaders were demanding that a separate Muslim nation to be called Pakistan be created out of Indian territory. Riots between Hindus and Muslims in the 1940’s convinced government leaders that India would have to be divided.

 In 1947 the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan. 14 August 1947, the British gave Independence to Pakistan and India. Thus were born two nations: India and Pakistan, Pakistan comprising of East (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (now Pakistan). Present Bangladesh became the Eastern Wing of the then Pakistan.