Independence

West Bengal, an epicenter of Bengali culture is shrouded in history that dates back to the antiquarian Vedic era. The state’s historic saga records the triumphs and tribulations of the powerful monarchs, oppressive days as a British colony as well as the pivotal role it played in India’s tumultuous war for independence.

The Bengali youths and revolutionaries were actively involved in India’s freedom movement. Guided by the able leadership of visionaries of the likes of Chittranjan Das, S. N. Bannerjee, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Prafulla Chaki, Khudiram Bose and Rashbehari Bose, the people of Bengal were stirred up in patriotic fervor and were unified in the cause of liberating their country from the tyrannical British Raj.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose played a vital role in challenging the British authority. He formed the Indian National Army and established a liaison with the axis powers lead by Adolph Hitler to free India. Muslim leaders like A. K. Fazlul Huq and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy were noted for their active participation in liberating India.

The Swadeshi movement commenced in Bengal and was a triumphant strategy to free India of the British Rule and boost the country’s fiscal profile. Swadeshi, a local term meaning self-reliance consisted of a simple policy of boycotting all British goods and promoting the resurgence of all domestic products and thereby improving the economy. This movement found tremendous support and approval from the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

The political unrest within Bengal was a threat to the British government and this prompted Lord Curzon to take the initiative and partition Bengal. His plans however were met with great resistance and thus were abandoned. However India’s independence in 1947 was achieved at the cost of Bangladesh being snatched from Bengal and the Indian subcontinent and handed over to the newly formed Pakistan. However, Bangladesh, too earned its freedom after the battle of 1971.