Murshid Quli Khan was the first Nawab of Bengal. - He was originally born a Hindu as Surya Narayan Mishra. - The city of Murshidabad was named after him. - He was Nawab of Bengal from 1717 to 1727. - Unlike other Islamic rulers, Murshid Quli Khan had only one wife, Nasiri Banu Begum, and no - concubines. He had three children, two daughters and one son
-Murshid Quli Khan Character: - He took no delight in hunting; He never indulged in wine nor in any intoxicating drugs; neither did - he amuse himself with singers or dancers. He always kept constant to one lawful wife, and, out of - excess of delicacy, would not suffer any strange woman, or even eunuchs, to enter the apartments of - his seraglio - so much so, that any slave girl once out of the harem would not be - allowed to re-enter it. He possessed very extensive learning, and paid great respect to men who were - eminent for their piety - or erudition. He was a brave soldier, a liberal benefactor, upright and just in his dealings, and a - steady protector of the weak. - He made no retrenchments in any royal grant, nor in those of any former Subahdar, for charitable - purposes. - He despised all the refinements of luxury, particularly in dress; no highly seasoned dishes were - served on his table. - He slept but little, and carefully observed the stated times for prayer. From breakfast till noon he - employed himself in copying the Koran, and in administering justice; and every year he sent Korans - of his own writing, with valuable offerings, to Mecca, Medina, Najaf, and other holy places. - - - FROM: https://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-murshid-quli-khan.htm
-Bidhan Chandra Roy was the Chief Minister of Bengal from 1948 to 1962 until his death. Dr. Roy was - awarded with Bharat Ratna on Feb4, 1961. - - He was a renowned Indian doctor, an educationist, a philanthropist and a freedom fighter. He is - considered to be the founder of five very prominent cities of Bengal; Durgapur, Howrah, Ashoknagar, - Kalyani and Bidhannagar. - - National Doctor's Day in India is celebrated each year in his memory, as he was the only few people - from history who obtained a degree in FRCS and MRCP. - - Dr. Roy was born in a bengali family in Bankipore, Patna, with his father working as an Excise - Inspector and a very pious and social worker mother. - - The partition of Bengal was happening when Bidhan was still in his college, he was emotionally - touched by this but he controlled his emotions and chose to continue on his education, so he could - serve the nation better this way. - - One of the example of his strict determination is when he went to St. Bartholomev's Hospital, - England with only 1200rs and applied for his masters, he was kept being rejected by the Dean because - he was an Asian. But Dr. Roy didn't stop by this, and after applying 30 times in a row, the Dean had - to accept his application. After completing his Post Graduate, he became a member of Royal College - of Physicians and a fellow of Royal College of Surgeons. - - Dr. Roy then believed that Swaraj (the call for India's freedom) would remain a dream if people - were unhealthy with their body and mind. He taught and contributed at many medical institutions like - Calcutta Medical College, Campbell Medical School, Carmichael Medical College, Jadavpur TB Hospital, - Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital, Victoria Institution, and Chittaranjan - Cancer Hospital. - - In 1942, when Rangoon fell to Japanese attack, it caused an exodus of people fearing Japanese - invasion, Dr. Roy was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. He there acquired air-raid - shelters for schools and colleges to have their classes and also provided shelter and relief for - students, teachers and other employees. He was awarded Doctorate of Science in 1944 for his noble - and dynamic contributions. - - "My young friends, you are soldiers in the battle of freedom - freedom from want, fear, ignorance, - frustration and helplessness. By a dint of hard work for the country, rendered in a spirit of - selfless service, may you march ahead with hope and courage". These was the words he spoke to the - young crowd at a convocation in University of Lucknow in 1956. - - He was also a friend and doctor of Mahatma Gandhi. Once when Gandhi was going under some fast and - got unwell, Dr. Roy came with some medicine to treat him and Gandhi refused to take those medicines - citing they are not Made in India and also told Dr. Roy that why don't he treats the fellow Indian - citizens free? - In reply of this, Dr. Roy said to Gandhi "I have come here to treat someone who represents the four - hundred million people of my country" and Gandhi accepted his medicines. - - Post Independence in India, Congress Party proposed his name for Chief Minister of Bengal, which he - refused but later accepted after Gandhiji's advice and became the Chief Minister of Bengal on 23 - January, 1948. Bengal was seeing a pool of problems including communal violence, food shortage, - large flow of refugees in Bengal, unemployment etc. Dr. Roy did an amendable work by reuniting the - party ranks, worked for every aspects he could and within 3 years normalcy settled down in Bengal. - - - Just after receiving the most prestigious award of Bharat Ratna in 1961, one year later he died on 1 - July 1962 on his 80th birthday. He had gifted his house to be run as a nursing home in the name of - his mother, Aghorkamini Devi. He had also formed a trust for his properties in Patna to carry out - social service, with Ganga Sharan Singh, a eminent nationalist, being it's first trustee. - - In memory of his excellence, The B. C. Roy National Award was introduced in 1962 and has been - awarding people for their excellent contributions in the field of medicine, politics, science, - philosophy, literature and arts, annually since 1976.
-Jyoti Basu, (cofounder of Communist Party of India) who almost became the Prime Minister. - - Jyoti Basu was the Chief Minister of Bengal from 1977 to 2000, for a record 23 years 4 months 17 - days. He is known as the beacon of communism in Bengal. He would be the India's first Bengali and - Marxist Prime Minister if CPI(M) hadn't decided to not join the government. - - He was born at 43/1 Harrison Road Calcutta (Now Mahatma Gandhi Road). His father was a doctor at - Bardi village, Dhaka (Now Bangladesh). - - His birth name was Jyotirindra Basu but his father changed his name in school and he became Jyoti - Basu. He completed his bachelors in English Literature from Presidency College in Kolkata and did - Law from England. - - Having developed a strong belief in the Communist ideals, Basu returned to India in 1940 and joined - the Communist Party of India, he also became the secretary of the Friends of the Soviet Union and - Anti-Fascist Writers’ and Artists’ Association in Calcutta. - - In 1944, Basu started working with trade and railways unions of Bengal. He established the Bengal - Nagpur Railway Workers’ Union, and became its General Secretary. He was elected to the central - committee of the CPI Bengal in 1951. - - Communist Party of India knew the loss and corruption done by congress, they formed an anti-congress - front with Socialist Republican Paarty, Bolshevik Party of India and the Forward Bloc, no doubt - Jyoti Basu was a member of this front. - - After the India-China War of 1962, differences arose in the CPI, leading Basu co-found Communist - Party of India (Marxist). - - - When Basu came into power as a Chief Minister of Bengal, it was congress in ruling before him. Basu - was a hardcore democratic supporter, he ordered probes into many matters which occurred during the - previous congress govt. such as inordinate increase in prices of essential commodities, release of - political prisoners, atrocities against anyone done by govt. He abolished the nefarious Maintenance - of Internal Security Act which gave a full hand to the Congress govt to arrest anyone on mere - suspicions in the name of security. - - - As the Chief Minister, he from the beginning took bold reforming steps for Bengal. He industrialized - programs for small, medium and cottage industries. Unemployment allowances, stoppage of retrenchment - of workers, cutting down on the tax of essential commodities. - - When Jyoti Basu started administrating Bengal, within 3years, nearly more than 10 lakh acre more - ceiling surplus land was identified and three-fourth of this land was distributed within a year. - This resulted in a distribution of surplus lands to landless people at such a large scale alone in - Bengal, than that of few states of India combined to date. Bengal was the only state which put a - ceiling on landholding from the beginning which Basu changed after coming to a ruling position. - - His innovative strategy was to take administration to village levels, where someone with oral - evidence could challenge the paper evidence in courts, and the powerful landlords could not - illegally acquired the lands anymore. - All measures of land reforms were taken together by Basu including distribution of homestead lands. - - - It was a golden period for Bengal in 1980s when Bengal was marching ahead with a 4.2% highest annual - rate of foodgrain growth comparing to other states at 2.5% average. - - - According to National Sample Survey, when CPI(M) came in rule with Basu as Chief Minister, it was - 40% of the population of whole Bengal who could not spend enough money to get 1800 calories energy. - After 15 years to this time, Bengal saw a 17% decrease in this population. This was the biggest - reduction of extreme poverty anywhere in India over any period. - In the rural areas it dropped from 67% to 42% in fifteen years. - - After the incident of Babri Mosque demolition, there was a rise of communal violence elsewhere in - the country including the capital Delhi in 1984, but Bengal remained free of any communal violence, - which is seen as a major achievement of Jyoti Basu's ruling period. - - - He had brought big initiatives in the history of Bengal, such as land reforms, minimum wages for - agricultural labourers, a three-tier panchayati system, dole for the unemployed and widows, and the - establishment of a separate department for youth services. - - Basu retired from politics in 2000, though he remained a member of the CPI(M) politburo till 2008. -
-For the traveler with limited time, the best way to explore Calcutta is roughly to trace the route of - the Hooghly, meandering on and off the main thoroughfares by foot, tram and subway, known here as - the Metro. This is not a luxury destination. It is more a journey through the grimy layers of time. - History is inscribed on every lane, like tattoos on a body. Calcutta was once quite a diva.
-On the left side of Calcutta the iron trusses of Howrah Bridge towers over the Hooghly river. The - pale yellow waters are dotted by Bengali canopy boats and you see occasional steel riverboats - ferrying passengers from Howrah Railway Station to Fairlie Place in Kolkata side across the river. - An alighting passenger has to walk just a block across Fairlie Palace, and he will see a grand red - greco roman styled three storied building that holds keys to the power in West Bengal. On the first - floor of the building towards the old Calcutta Stock Exchange lies the chambers of the Chief - Minister.
-The atmosphere in Kolkata is set to turn political as we are inching towards 2021. Most subjects - being discussed in Nabanna must be concerning the state elections to be held next year. It, however, - serves as a temporary State Secretariat to West bengal. The original Secretariat is a 150-meter long - building that covers the entire northern stretch of the iconic Lal Dighi pond in the downtown area - of B.B.D. Bagh called the Writers’ building or just the Writers. The building with historical - importance has a distinct Greco-Roman style, with several statues of Greek gods as well as a - sculpture of Roman goddess Minerva that constitutes the prime attraction of this historical - heritage. - - The building, as of today, has been under renovation since October 2013.
-The Writers Building is currently under renovation since 2013. - Next year sometime between April and June in 2021, about 294 constituencies will vote to decide who - will become the next occupant of the chair in Writers Building
-Next year in sometime between March and June of 2021, about 67 million registered voters will chose - 294 representations to the state assembly. Writers Building has been under renovation since 2013. If - the renovation is finished by then, then 294 members of state legislative assembly will decide the - next occupant of the Chief Minster's chamber in Writer's Building. The chair is currently occupied - by a frail but fiestly lady who has never married Mamata Baneerjee.
-As a young firebrand 29 year old, she caught attention of political pundits by defeating a stalwart - of the communist party, Mr Somnath Chatterji in the central parliamentary elections in 1984 in the - aftermath of sympathy wave generated due to assassination of Indira Gandhi representing Congress - Party. - - - Later in 1997 the veteran leaders in Congress Party could not hold her, and she split to form her - own party Trinamool Congress which over time became the principle opposition party in West Bengal, - and by 2011 she entered Writers Building as a Chief Minister. It was kind of a reversal of fortunes - as she was dragged out forcefully from the same corridors in 1993 during a protest against police - killings.
-Establishment of Calcutta, now called as Kolkata in modern independent India, was a long and messy - ordeal for the British East India Company. Calcutta, as we know it, didn’t exist as a city back - then. Infact, what we know as Calcutta today was actually formed by - merging a cluster of three small villages; Sutanutti, Kalikata & Gobindpur. Job Charnok, who was an - employee & an administrator in the British East India Company, is largely credited for the formation - of the Calcutta. - - The British East India company first came to Calcutta in the period of Ibrahim Khan( 1617-1624) the - Subahdar Governor of Bengal at the time when Mughal Emperor Jahangir was ruling. They first setup - factories in the city of Surat( 1620) and then later in Agra. Scouts were sent across the area to - find out more suitable places to setup trade bases, though this plan was soon abandoned due to - logistical reasons. In January 1644, Emperor Jahangir’s daughter got severely burned in a - unfortunate incident when a British doctor named Gabriel Boughton was called upon for treatment. - Boughton was successfully able to treat the Emperor’s daughter for which as a reward the British EIC - were allowed to establish a factory in Pipilli, Oddisha. This was the first time English ships - arrived at Eastern ports. Boughton’s medical services were availed again by the new Subedar of - Bengal, and in return the company was allowed to establish factories in Balasore, Odisha and - Hooghly, Bengal.
-Emperor Aurangzeb was the one sitting on throne during the major period of tension and conflict - between the Mughals and the British East India Company. The EIC wanted to establish a trade base on - the eastern shore of India because of its strategic trading and military advantages. - - - In the year 1982 when Shaista Khan, the Governer of Bengal, was going to Delhi the EIC requested him - to ask the Emperor to give permission to permanently trade in Bengal. Till this point they were - allowed to open factories in multiple places, but British couldn't be sure of their position. The - Emperor was pleased to provide them with a Firman and this event was celebrated with 300 gun shots - in Hoogly. Though one shouldn't be fooled by this happy start to the agreement, this was the start - of a very long & painful cat and mouse chase between both. - - - Tensions started arising soon, as the Firman granted wasn't very clear. A conflict with a local - zamindar ended resulted in a putting a few Englishmen behind bars. Further the EIC requested the - state to give them a permission to build a fort on the mouth of Hooghly on the grounds of protecting - their trade. But Shaista Khan didn't trust the intentions of British, he knew letting them build a - fort right on the mouth of Hoogly would make the Mughals a little more vulnerable. Upon hearing this - request he immediately turned it down and imposed another 3.5% tax on top of the agreed 3000 rupees, - breaking the Firni. - - - The company got very enraged with this situation and requested King James II in the year 1685 to - permit the use of force against the Mughals. The plan was to attack Chittagong, fortify it and make - an alliance with the King of Arakan who was against the Mughals. Jon Carmock, who was in the Madras - division at that time was told to join this expedition along with 400 soldiers from Madras division. - The plan went awry though; because of high winds and bad weather conditions a lot of the ships ended - up in Hoogly instead of Chittagong. Upon seeing large number of battle ships on the bank, Governer - Shaista Khan got alarmed and immediately offered them truce. This didn't last long though, there was - a dispute between British troops and the Mughal troops which led to an altercation between them and - the latter beat the crap out of the former. The admiral then opened up fire on the city burning down - 500 houses; a property loss of about 30 lakh rupees. Upon Shaista Khan immediately sent troops to - drive out the British from the area and capture all their factories and assets.
-The historical city of Murshidabad-the earstwhile nawabi capital –a city founded in the year 1704 by - Murshid Quli Khan, the Mughal diwan of Bengal. In 1704 Murshid Quli Khan had transferred the capital - of Bengal from Dhaka to Murshidabad which he named the city after his name .The town is situated on - the left bank of river Bhagirathi. Under the Nawabs Murshidabad’s glory reached to the highest peak - in almost all arenas. As a trading centre Murshidabad became famous. Many scholars came here - ,settled and mixed with the local people freely and hence there developed a cosmopolitan culture. By - the middle of the 18th century Murshidabad became one of the greatest centres of culture and - education as the nawabs were the patrons of the learned.
-In the Nawabi period Bengali literature also flourished .The learned men of this period made a great - contribution in Urdu, Hindi, Persian literature. We ought to mention the Sufi literature of this - period .For the expansion of Islam Sufi litterateurs wrote books in Bengali to make the common men - understand the Islamic knowledge and education. This proves that the state of education under the - nawabs was excellent. During this period a different stream of Bengali language,Musalmani Bangla, - arose which is a mix of Peresian, Urdu and Bengali languages. There was also a different form of - literature ,mixed languages, which was popular among the lower section of the society. The elite - were less influenced by this literature. Persian was the official language of the era. The Muslims - and Hindus both practiced this language which gave them the opportunity for a job in the government - departments. Under the nawabs Murshidabad gained eminent position in the fields of education and - culture. Ghulam Hussain gives a long list of learned men, physicians, mathematicians and other - scholarly persons from this we can assume that educational institutions were there at Murshidabad - during the period of review .Murshid Quli Khan established a Madrasha for the uplift of the - education. This institution , Kara Madrasha, as it was used as a guest house and was also maintained - by the nawab.
-Alivardi Khan was the last strongman in Bengal whom the foreign powers feared. After his death, in - 1956, the dorrs to the paramount power in Bengal subah reopened.
-While Britishers first entered into India from the west the true expansion and seeds of colonialism - were sown in the east, particularly from Bengal. It was the year 1775 when a young British governor - named Robert Clive must return to India as the governor of Fort St. David with a mission to uproot - French administration from India. However, destiny must pull his attention towards Calcutta (now - Kolkata), a city that was rivaling Madras as a major trade centre in India. Clive knew the strategic - importance and opportunities associated with Calcutta which, however, was under the administration - of Siraj Al-Dawlah, the then Mughal viceroy of Bengal. For decades Britishers have had a mutual - understanding and cooperation with the Mughals. In order to strengthen British administration in - Bengal the new governor must make a decision. Clive decides to fortify the city. In response, Clive - receives a brutal retaliation from Siraj Al-Dawlah who attacked and captured the fort. - - - Fall of Calcutta was a major setback for the British empire. It was perhaps Clive’s biggest - challenge to wrest Calcutta back from Mughals and to restore British supremacy in the region. An - angry and humiliated British governor had decided to establish British dominance in the region and - restore British honor. An army of 900 Europeans and 1500 Indian soldiers marched towards Calcutta - and recaptured it on January 2, 1757. The nawab is humiliated and forced to pay compensation and let - the British fortify the city. Six months later, the humiliated nawab declares war against the - British popularly known as the Battle of Plassey. However, it was a one sided war where British - cannons unleashed havoc on the Siraj’s army. Clive overthroned Siraj and replaced him with Mīr - Jaʿfar, an elderly general secretly hostile to Sirāj al-Dawlah. With Mir Ja’far under his influence, - Clive virtually became the master of the Bengal province. The event marked the advent of British - empire in India. - - - The same Britishers in 1905, however, partitioned Bengal which came to be known as the first - partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon, then viceroy of India. The partition was done for territorial - reorganization of the Bengal Presidency. The partition separated the largely Muslim eastern areas - from the largely Hindu western areas. The sentiments of a separate state on the basis of religion, - faith and language were sown. - - - It's the year 1929, in a primary school in Gopalganj district, a young boy is protesting against the - removal of his school principal for his hostile behavior against students. He organized a student - union in order to achieve so. Such protests and rebels against any injustice were soon to become a - part of his political career ahead for he was to become Bangabandhu Mujibur Rehman, the father of - Bangladesh. - - - - - “Amar desh tomar desh..Bangladesh Bangladesh” - “Amar desh tomar desh..Bangladesh Bangladesh” - - - “My country. Your country. Bangladesh Bangladesh”. Surrounded by a huge mass gathering in Dhaka in - the year 1971, angered by the negligence and hostility of the West Pakistan army and government - Mujibur Rehman, this time well popular and experienced is marching towards the podium to address his - supporters. Since the inception of Pakistan in 1947, west Pakistan had a racist approach towards the - people of East Pakistan. Pre-independance Mujib supported Jinnah's idea of partition of India on the - basis of religion. But his hero turned villain when post independence Jinnah forced Urdu as the only - official language of the whole of Pakistan which included its east counterpart as well. Mujib - protested. - - - Mujib’s rebellious behavior against west Pakistan marked a new phase in his political career which - irked many in the west who were actually in power. From 1947 to 1971, jail became his second home. - He opposed the biased behavior of his west counterparts towards Bangla people. - In 1958, General Ayub Khan declared martial law in the country. This period saw a significant rise - of Islamic fundamentalism and degrading humanitarian rights and law especially towards the people of - East Pakistan. After almost a decade of violence and distrust against Bangla people, in 1966, Mujib - gave up the hope of equal status with western counterparts and demanded full autonomy for East - Pakistan in the form of Our Charter of Survival from West Pakistan. His demands, however, were - outrageous - a separate stock exchange and army to name few. The charter must have made Pakistani - Generals either laugh or fume over it. Because Mujib was indirectly asking for a separate country. - - - Nevertheless, Mujib was again arrested, invoking huge mass protests in East Pakistan for his release - scaring the Pakistan army of a civil war. They agreed to release Mujib unconditionally. When Mujib - reached Dhaka he was welcomed by people with great emotions and support for him. Surrounded amongst - thousands of supporters he was conferred Bangabandhu or the friend of Bangla. - - - Finally, in 1970, the decade-long martial law was lifted and the general elections were announced. - The results, however, invited more political unrest in Pakistan. Mujib’s Awami league came - victorious but were denied to form a government. Tensions between East Pakistan and West Pakistan - rose to all time high. Under these situations Mujib retaliated by calling for full autonomy and - independence. He gave the slogan of “Joy Bangla” and declared independence. The ideology of - Bangladesh was formed. - - - He was again arrested, this time, on the charges of sedition. To suppress civil support for him - Pakistan army launched Operation Searchlight which even today is remembered as one of the most - barbaric and inhuman assaults on citizens. Thousands of people were killed, women raped, children - crushed on the roads. Streets and houses of Dhaka were painted in red by the blood stains of - innocent Banglas. The Pakistan army men infiltrated each and every house of East Pakistanis and - launched fire. To this menace the people had no choice but to evade their homeland and flee to more - secure neighbouring Indian states. - - - Thousands of East Pakistani crossed the border to find refuge in east India. It was the largest - humanitarian refugee crisis of that time. The sudden incursion of refugees alarmed people sitting in - New Delhi. It was no more an internal issue of Pakistan. In the winters of 1971, Indira Gandhi, the - then Prime Minister of India, declared war with Pakistan to support the local Bangla freedom - fighters called the Mukti Vahini. Field Marshal General Sam Manekshaw was given the responsibility - to liberate Bangladesh from the brutalities of the west Pakistani regime. 13 days later about 91000 - Pakistani soldiers surrendered to India. Yahiya Khan resigned. Under international pressure the - Pakistan government released Mujibur Rehman on 8th January, 1972. Bangladesh was born and Mujibur - Rehman emerged as first the President and later the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
-The same Britishers in 1905, however, partitioned Bengal which came to be known as the first - partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon, then viceroy of India. The partition was done for territorial - reorganization of the Bengal Presidency. The partition separated the largely Muslim eastern areas - from the largely Hindu western areas. The sentiments of a separate state on the basis of religion, - faith and language were sown. - - - It's the year 1929, in a primary school in Gopalganj district, a young boy is protesting against the - removal of his school principal for his hostile behavior against students. He organized a student - union in order to achieve so. Such protests and rebels against any injustice were soon to become a - part of his political career ahead for he was to become Bangabandhu Mujibur Rehman, the father of - Bangladesh.
-The election result of 1971 was not honoured, leading to a civil war on March 26, and Sheikh Mujib - declared Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan . The declaration coincided with a ruthless show of - strength by the Pakistani military, in which tanks rolled out on the streets of Dhaka and several - students and intellectuals were killed. - A woman only 13, had already learned to fear people around her. She saw her father being to - death.One day in late afternoon people barged into her house. They snatched her two little brothers, - tied them to a tree and beat them.She ran out of the front door , but the men caught her. They - tethered her arms to two trees. They ripped off her earrings and bracelets, and stripped off her - clothes. - - - Between 300,000 and 3,000,000 people were killed and around 200,000 to 400,000 women were raped. - - - India under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi provided full support to Rahman and Bangladesh’s - independence movement, resulting in the creation of a sovereign government at Dhaka in January 1971. -
-“Amar desh tomar desh..Bangladesh Bangladesh” - “Amar desh tomar desh..Bangladesh Bangladesh” - - - “My country. Your country. Bangladesh Bangladesh”. Surrounded by a huge mass gathering in Dhaka in - the year 1971, angered by the negligence and hostility of the West Pakistan army and government - Mujibur Rehman, this time well popular and experienced, is marching towards the podium to address - his supporters. Since the inception of Pakistan in 1947, west Pakistan had a racist approach towards - the people of East Pakistan. Pre-independance Mujib supported Jinnah's idea of partition of India on - the basis of religion. But soon, his national hero and ideal turned villain when post independence - Jinnah announced Urdu as the only official language of the whole of Pakistan which included its east - counterpart as well. Mujib protested.
-One of the great grandsons of Mir Zafar was Iskandar Mirza, who assumed the first Presidency of - Pakistan after giving his country a constitution in 1956, full 9 years after Pakistan's - Independence. A proud and stout Bengali, he found it difficult to get along with the Prime - Ministers he appointed. Like a musical game of chairs, he changed four Prime Ministers in his - Presidency from March of 1956 to October of 1958. His third Prime Minister was Huseyn Suhrawady, an - influential Bengali Muslim freedom fighter who also once held Prime Ministership of united Bengal - province during Britsh times.
-Sheikh Hasina was sworn in as prime minister of Bangladeh in January 2009. In 2017, in the midst of - Hasina's premiership, more than 700,000 Rohingya arrived in Bangladesh, fleeing genocide in - neighbouring Myanmar . - The Bangladesh government provided refuge and assistance, however, it did not grant refugee status - and worked to repatriate the Rohingyas on a voluntary basis. - Hasina's government received praise both internationally and domestically for helping the Rohingya. - In past years Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is in discussion with West Bengal Chief - Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss a range of bilateral issues. - The Teesta river water sharing issue was discussed by the two leaders and New Delhi and Dhaka both - are keen to seal an agreement on it since September 2011. - Sheikh Hasina has time and again acknowledged the friendly and cordial relation between the two - countries to continue and flourish.
-Under Hasina, Bangladesh has made significant strides towards educating girls and giving women a - greater voice, both in the household and the public sphere whose efforts have translated into - improvements in children’s health and education, such that Bangladeshis’ average life expectancy is - now 72 years, compared to 68 for Indians and 66 for Pakistanis. - The Bangladesh government deserves credit for supporting grass-roots initiatives in economic - inclusion which includes Bangladeshi adults with bank accounts, 34.1% made digital transactions in - 2017, compared to an average rate of 27.8% for South Asia. - Hasina’s government has offered a better environment for manufacturing firms to achieve economies of - scale and create a large number of jobs, and though Bangladesh still needs much stronger regulation - to protect workers from occupational hazards, the absence of which curtails labour-market - flexibility has been a boon for job creation and manufacturing success.
-Mamta Banerjee has also extended her support to Sheikh Hasina by protesting Modi's govt on CAB and - NRC Bill. - Mamta's stand on the above issue explains why the bilateral relation between Hasina and her is going - to last long.
-The dynamics of democratic politics in West Bengal, a major state of eastern India had taken its own - shape despite some aberrations due to the politics of violence in the sixties. Whenever there has - been any communication gap between the ruling party and the people, as it occurred during 1964-66 - and again during 1974-76, the electorate democratically registered its protest at the next available - opportunity by rejecting the imperious attitude of the ruling party .Such a gap has been very much - bridged by the direct and personal type of leadership adopted by the left politicians ideological - slant of the political process in West Bengal has, in general, prevented the growth of regional - patriotism or politics Of parochialism, except for the minor political impact left by Ghisingh and - his GNLF movement. It is one of the sings of politics in West Bengal.
-The elected Leftist coalition since 1977 (often described as sound ‘political stability’), but also - because of its widely acknowledged successes in fertility transition, execution of re-distributive - land reform and political decentralization programmes. Ironically, yet, the state, in almost all - comparative assessments of social, human and infrastructural developments occupies a lagged position - vis-à-vis many other states, especially in the south and even against all-India records. A - well-disciplined grassroots political mobilization network, and the machinery of the Left Front - parties, have been highly instrumental for comparatively fast declines of fertility and population - growth and for lasting political stability in an otherwise ‘dilatory’ development regime. However, a - government geared to ensuring mass electoral support overwhelmingly via a grassroots mobilization - network but, with a relative neglect of social movements, economic infrastructure and human - development, is likely to suffer adverse consequences in the longer term.
-The ripple effects of Russian revolution in 1917 reached British India that was fighting against a - similar “class” ideology. Consequently, in 1925 the foundation of communism was set in Kanpur. - However, due to weak leadership and dominance of Gandhian philosophy, communism in India was finding - it difficult to sustain its roots in Indian politics. 20 years later, a young Jyoti Basu was - attending the lectures of Harold Laski, a prominent member of the British Labour Party turned - Marxist. This small event was going to change everything in Basu’s ideological philosophy as well as - Indian politics in future. In the years that followed, Basu’s activities in politics significantly - increased and, in 1939, selected as the General Secretary of the London Majlis he came into contact - with prominent Indian political leaders like Nehru and Bose. He returned to India in 1940 and joined - the Communist Party of India.
-At the time of independence, all of India from north to south was governed popularly by one party, - the Indian National Congress. Bengal was no different. Basu realized that if he had to establish - communist ideology in Bengal he must establish communications with the lower sections of the society - especially with farmers and peasants. He got this opportunity in the form of Te-Bhag movement under - which small farmers united against the zamindars or the landlords with the demand to only give - one-third of the land tax. The movement was heavily supported by CPI led by Jyoti Basu. Over the - years he established various worker unions and also played a pivotal role in uniting various - communist parties (like the Forward Bloc, the Socialist Replublican party and the United Socialist - party) all across India to build an anti-Congress front. However, after the Sino-India war in 1962 - CPI split into two parts - CPI(Marxist) and CPI(Maoist) following ideological differences.
-The influence of CPI(M) in Bengal gave a stiff competition to Congress and in 1977 when CPI(M) came - to power Jyoti Basu served a (then) record 23 years as the Chief Minister of Bengal. The prime - reason for such a long tenure of communism in Bengal can be found in its basic ideology which stands - up for the rights of workers class. Under his long 33 years tenure Jyoti basu made several landmark - reforms for the deprived class. Empowering villages from grassroot level by empowering the Panchayat - System, boosting labour reforms and land reforms were among few of them which tightened his - political grip on the socially backward class. His secular personality further improved his image - amongst people of all backgrounds and race.
-Operation Barga was a land reform movement throughout rural West Bengal for recording the names of - sharecroppers (bargadars) while avoiding the time-consuming method of recording through the - settlement machinery. It bestowed on the bargadars, the legal protection against eviction by the - landlords, and entitled them to the due share of the produce. Operation Barga was launched in 1978 - and concluded by the mid-1980s. - - - Introduced in 1978, and given legal backing in 1979 and 1980, Operation Barga became a popular but - controversial measure for land reforms. The ultimate aim of these land reforms was to facilitate the - conversion of the state's bargadars into landowners. To date, Op Barga has recorded the names of - approximately 1.5 million bargadars. Since then, it has been marked as one of the more successful - land reforms programs in India.
-From time Immemorial the State in India has claimed a certain proportion of the produce of every - bigha or acre of land. The laws of Manu declare that a king is entitled to an eighth, a sixth, or a - twelfth of the gross product. according to the difference of the soil and the labours necessary to - cultivate it: in times of emergency, even a fourth. Alauddin Khilji levied a tax equal to half the - gross produce of the lands in his kingdom. Under Sher Shah and Akbar the share of the State was a - third; thereafter the demand increased, reaching up to a half. - - - Land Revenue was the chief source of public income in India till 1916.
-The word Zemindar means literally a land-holder. In Bengal the Mughal conquerors used the term to - denote those persons, drawn from almost every level of society, whom they employed to collect the - revenue from the land. In lieu of salaries, these zemindars were given grants of land free from - revenue, and allowed to retain a specified portion of the collections, to levy transit duties, and - to dispose of the waste lands. In origin, ilierefore, the zemindari tenure in Bengal was an official - one. Its sole foundation was the sanad, or charter of appointment. Its essential feature was the - collection and transmission of public revenue. In the heyday of Mughal ride sanads were often - revoked on failure to render prompt payments. Some zemindars, it is true, succeeded in stabilising - their position, and claimed a customary and prescriptive right to collect the revenue. But this in - itself did not divest the zemindari tenure of its official character; for under the Mughals all - offices tended to become hereditary.
-Ijarah System was introduced in Mughal empire under Jahandhar Shah by Zulfiqar Khan. - - - Under this system the government gave the right to collect tax revenue on production to a third - party (middle man) and in return got an assured sum from the third party. The third party could levy - any percentage of tax on the people. - - - This was different from the earlier system as incase of the older system tax was collected at a - fixed rate (fixed by the state) and could not be arbitrarily changed by individuals/tax officials. - - - Ijarah system exposed the population to a tyrranous tax system because they were left at the mercy - of the middlemen who continuously exploited them.
-Revenue system of Mauryan Empire was devised by the Minister of Chandragupta Maurya, Kautilya. The - principal items of revenue in town and country have been listed by Kautilya while describing the - duties of the Samaharta (collector-general). - - - The main heads of revenue were: A share of land output. Other dues and cesses levied on land - including a water-rate. The water rate varied according to the nature of the land and crop and tax - on houses in towns. Income from crown lands, from forests, from mines and manufactures, some of them - monopolies like salt, undertaken by government Customs at the frontiers and tariffs, tolls and - ferry dues in the interior levied on merchandise in transport Profits of coinage and gains from - trade operations carried on by the government Fees for licenses of various kinds to be taken out by - artisans, craftsmen, professionals and traders Fines levied in law courts and Miscellaneous - receipts like presents like transferred possession. In - emergency 'benevolences' were resorted to and the rich had to pay considerable amounts to the state - under. Mauryas introduced images with a view to gain gold. Granting exemptions from payment of - revenue was common particularly land-revenue to Brahmins and religious institutions and to - state-officials. A register of such remissions and assignments was maintained. - Industries were taxed, using a vast mix of techniques, all of which - were derived from the original land revenue tax system. This entire system was the creation of - Kautilya, the prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya. As the taxation system developed the government - had money to further develop the kingdom. The government also introduced state owned farms where the - king owned the land and his subjects were employed for its cultivation. The government had the - resources to organize the procedure and once the land was ready it would employ the cultivator to - work on the land. The Mauryas had developed - extensive trade relations. There were many foreign traders who took up residence in Mauryan cities. - There were a variety of goods being exported thereby generating revenue. The exports were items of - luxury like fine muslin cloth. The development of trade became profitable for the empire and - eventually a separate department looked after trade and commerce. Land revenue of Mauryan Empire - Land revenues from the rural areas were appropriated in the form of crown - lands (sita), land revenue (bhaga) from cultivators, taxes on orchards, ferry charges and so on. - - - Different types of taxes that were imposed on rural population are: - (i) Bhaga - It was levied at the rate of one-fourth to one-sixth. Sharecroppers and other - agricultural support by the state had to pay half of the produce to the state. \(ii) Pindikara - - It was a tax levied on groups of villages and paid by farmers. This was customary. Often the - villages were supposed to supply provisions to the royal army when they pass through their - respective territories. - (iii) Hiranya - It was a tax paid in cash. - (iv) Bali - This was popular in the Vedic times and continued under the Mauryas. - (v) Pranaya - This literally means a gift of affection. It was levied imposed by the state during - emergency. This was first mentioned by Panini, it was elaborated upon for the first time in - Arthashastra. Pranaya amounted to one-third or one-fourth of the produce according to the nature of - the soil. - - - Export-Import Tax:- Import tax was 20 per cent, but there is no - definite knowledge about the export tax. Import tax was called prabeshya, while export tax was - called nishkramya. Sales Tax:- The Sulkadhyaksha collected toll tax on every item - before it was sold or purchased. There were three rates of toll tax or sale tax: 9.5 per cent on - iteIns sold on the basis of calculation; 5 per cent on the iteIns sold on the basis of measurement; - and 6.5 per cent on items sold on the basis of weight. Income Tax:- - The following taxes were imposed on the sources of income in cities: (i) wine manufacturing tax; - (ii) salt manufacturing tax; (iii) taxes on ghee, oil and edible oil; (iv) taxes on animal - slaughterers; (v) taxes on artisans and artists; (vi) taxes on gamblers and gambling houses; (vii) - taxes on prostitution, (viii) taxes on the income of temples; and (ix) taxes on additional incomes - of the wage earners.
-Taxation in Gupta Empire - - The Economy during the Gupta period was moving from 18 sources or types of Taxes levied on the - peolple; the greater part of it was spent on works of public welfare. Land revenue was the main - source was generally fixed at one-sixth of the produce.
-Lord William Bentinck was born in London, the second son of the 3rd Duke of Portland. He was educated - at Rev. Dr Samuel Goodenough's school in Ealing, before moving on to Westminster School. After - completing his education, he embarked on a military career, moving swiftly up the ranks on account - of his family's influence and his ability to purchase commissions. - - - In 1799, Lord William went to Italy, where he served for two years as liaison officer with the - Austro-Russian forces. In 1801 he embarked for Egypt to command the cavalry, but saw no active - service. His star continued to rise with his appointment, in 1803, as Governor of Madras. The - appointment had been secured largely by the lobbying of his father, but was not popular with the - East India Company and the Board of Control. Lord William had a number of significant achievements - in India, but his work was largely overshadowed by the mutiny at Vellore in July 1806. He left his - post in 1807. - - - In 1808 he served in the Battle of Corunna and by 1811 had been appointed envoy to the Court of the - Two Sicilies. From here, he promoted plans for an independent and united Italy, until he was - recalled to Britain in 1815. - - - After a period at home in Britain when he served as a commissioner for drainage and navigation in - the fens, he returned to India in 1828 as Governor General - a post which he then held until 1835. - In this role he undertook sweeping social, economic and political reforms which, it has been argued, - laid the foundations for modern India.
-He refused reappointment to the governorship of Madras in 1819, waiting to attain his real - ambition—the appointment as governor-general of Bengal, which came in 1827. Bentinck’s immediate - instructions were to rescue India from its financial difficulties; at this time the government in - India operated on an annual deficit of about £1.5 million. Bentinck soon succeeded in turning the - deficit into a surplus of about the same amount. The result of his efforts was the renewal of the - East India Company’s government by the Charter Act of 1833, whereby Bentinck became the first - governor-general of India. He next turned to personnel reforms, which included making more - administrative and judicial positions available to Indians and improving the salaries and status of - Indian judges. Bentinck also made English, instead of Persian, the language of the higher courts and - of higher education and arranged for financial aid to colleges, which were to be adapted to the - Western models. - - - Bentinck showed great courage and humanity by his decision to abolish suttee (sati), the Hindu - custom of burning widows alive with the corpses of their husbands. Previous governors-general had - shrunk from prohibiting the custom as an interference in religion and one particularly likely to - upset the Indian army, but Bentinck cut through these hesitations without facing much open - opposition. He was also responsible for the measures taken to suppress the murder of unwanted - children, human sacrifice, and the thags—bands of robbers, bound together by oaths and ritual, who - murdered unsuspecting travelers in the name of the goddess Kālī. Flogging in the Indian army was - also abolished, long before it ended in the British army.
-At his tenure Governor General of Bengal became Governor General of India. He was responsible for - introduction of English as a language of instruction in India. He reformed the finances, opened up - judicial posts to Indians, and suppressed such practices as suttee, or widow burning, and thuggee, - or ritual murder by robber gangs
-Lord Canning 1858 to 1862 - - - The Government of India Act, 1858 - System of Budget introduced - Formation of Imperial Civil Services - Indigo Revolt in Bengal in 1859-60 - Enactment of Indian Penal Code in 1860 - Establishment of Archaeological Survey of India
-He reorganised Calcutta Secretariat and appointed a Lieutenant Governor for Bengal to relieve the - administrative burden of the Governor General. He laid down the main lines of development of railway - system in India. Telegraphs were setup and the postal system was reformed.
-The Santhal rebellion (sometimes referred to as the Sonthal rebellion), commonly known as Santhal - Hool, was a rebellion in present-day Jharkhand, in eastern India against both the British colonial - authority and zamindari system by the Santhal people. It started on June 30, 1855 and on November - 10, 1855 martial law was proclaimed which lasted until January 3, 1856 when martial law was - suspended and the movement was brutally ended by troops loyal to the British. The rebellion was led - by the four Murmu Brothers - Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairav
-The insurrection of the Kolarian Santals of Bengal against the extortions of landlords and - moneylenders had been severely repressed, but the causes of the insurrection had still to be - reviewed and a remedy provided. By removing the tract of country from local rule, enforcing the - residence of British officers there, and employing the Santal headmen in a local police, he created - a system of administration which proved successful in maintaining order.
-Partition of Bengal, (1905), division of Bengal carried out by the British viceroy in India, Lord - Curzon, despite strong Indian nationalist opposition. It began a transformation of the Indian - National Congress from a middle-class pressure group into a nationwide mass movement.
-Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa had formed a single province of British India since 1765. By 1900 the - province had grown too large to handle under a single administration. East Bengal, because of - isolation and poor communications, had been neglected in favour of west Bengal and Bihar. Curzon - chose one of several schemes for partition: to unite Assam, which had been a part of the province - until 1874, with 15 districts of east Bengal and thus form a new province with a population of 31 - million. The capital was Dacca (now Dhaka, Bangl.), and the people were mainly Muslim. - - - The Hindus of west Bengal, who controlled most of Bengal’s commerce and professional and rural life, - complained that the Bengali nation would be split in two, making them a minority in a province - including the whole of Bihar and Orissa. They regarded the partition as an attempt to strangle - nationalism in Bengal, where it was more developed than elsewhere. Agitation against the partition - included mass meetings, rural unrest, and a swadeshi (native) movement to boycott the import of - British goods. The partition was carried through despite the agitation, and the extreme opposition - went underground to form a terrorist movement.
-In 1898 it was announced that he would succeed Lord Elgin as viceroy of India, and, in September of - that year, he was created Baron Curzon of Kedleston. He was the youngest viceroy of India in - history, and he cherished the prospect of it, for it was an office filled with the pomp and ceremony - he loved. India was the most-treasured jewel in Queen Victoria’s crown, and, after the pageantry of - his arrival in Calcutta on January 3, 1899, Curzon wrote: “I suddenly saw what had come into my - hands, and what prodigies of energy and inspiration would be needed on my part to guide them.” He - demanded obedience and a bent knee from the rajas, maharajas, and provincial governors he now ruled, - but there was no doubt of his sense of mission toward the Indian people. He initiated commissions of - inquiry into education, police, and civil services; he reduced taxes; he ordered immediate - punishment of any Briton (including members of the army) who ill-treated Indian nationals. In - external affairs he paid special attention to India’s frontiers, toured the Persian Gulf, and sent a - successful mission to Tibet to frustrate Russian ambitions there. On his return from what he called - a “triumphal” tour of the Indian provinces, he ordered the restoration of the Taj Mahal, which was - decaying, and thereafter took a personal interest in India’s artistic and cultural heritage.
-At the end of his first five years in India, his successes were recognized by the government at home - by a renewal of his term, but, in fact, the period of blazing glory was over and now came political - tragedy. At Curzon’s personal request, the job of commander in chief of the Indian army and military - member of the viceroy’s cabinet had been given to England’s military hero of the day, Lord Kitchener - of Khartoum. Curzon believed that to have such an illustrious soldier on his staff would embellish - his own image, though his friends in England warned him repeatedly that Kitchener was, in Lord - Esher’s words, “an uncouth and ruthless man.” It was a clash of personalities, and the two were soon - unscrupulously intriguing against each other. A final confrontation between the two men, which ended - in Curzon’s bursting into tears, brought matters to a climax. Curzon, confident that the government - would take his part, cabled that either his views must be accepted or he would go. On the morning of - August 16, 1905, he received a cable from King Edward VII telling him that his resignation had been - accepted. He delayed his return to England, and, by the time he was once again in London, the Tories - were out of office, and his Indian achievements had been forgotten. He was not even given the - earldom usually awarded to retiring viceroys.
-In 1911, the year that the capital was shifted from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi, east and west - Bengal were reunited; Assam again became a chief commissionership, while Bihar and Orissa were - separated to form a new province. The aim was to combine appeasement of Bengali sentiment with - administrative convenience. This end was achieved for a time, but the Bengali Muslims, having - benefitted from partition, were angry and disappointed. This resentment remained throughout the rest - of the British period. The final division of Bengal at the partitioning of the subcontinent in 1947, - which split Bengal into India in the west and East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) in the east, was - accompanied by intense violence.
-B.C. Roy was a great planner for the improvement of education and culture of West Bengal. Due to the - efforts of B.C. Roy Viswa Bharati, established by Rabindra Nath Tagore in 1921 was elevated as Viswa - Bharati University under the Governance of the Government of India in 1951. It may be noted here - that the planning for the establishing of the above mentioned Kalyani University was initiated by - B.C. Roy in 1954. It was B.C. Roy who took the special drive for the passing of the Jadavpur - University Bill in the Legislative Assembly in 1955. As a President of the National Education - Council, B.C. Roy himself moved the Jadavpur University Bill in the month of September 1955. - Jadavpur University was occasionally opened by Dr. Sarvapally Radhakrishan, the then Vice- President - of India on 18th March 1956 for opening up a new era in the history of the higher education in India - particularly in West Bengal. ‘Academy of Dance, Drama and Music’ was established in 1955. As a - result of B.C. Roy’s vision for commemorating to Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore a plan was formulated - for establishing Rabindra Bharati University in 1959. He was also the founder President of Indian - Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management in Calcutta.
-Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of free India, was also the personal friend of - Bidhan Chandra Roy, the Chief Minister of West Bengal. In course of discussion between the two the - former approached the later to locate a site for setting up one of the five regional engineering - colleges sometime in the year of 1950-51. The Chief Minister B.C. Roy accepted the offer at once and - selected Hijli at Kharagpur in the district of Midnapur which is a distance of 100 miles from - Calcutta for the purpose of setting up engineering college. Due to the insistence of Maulana Abul - Kalam Azad prior to the approval of I.I.T. Kharagpur B.C. Roy agreed to take overall charge of the - Institute as its Chairman in his personal capacity. With the help of his personal sagacity and - indomitable spirit for doing something for the betterment of the state, B.C. Roy selected Jnan - Chandra Ghosh, an eminent scholar and scientist as its first Director.
-His Bihar Bengal merger scheme with Srikrishna Sinha failed
-One of the main causes behind the shortage of food was the partition of the country which gave almost - 20 million acres of excellent rice-growing paddy fields to the East Pakistan and thereby rice became - comparatively unavailable and more expensive in West Bengal. In addition the influx of lakhs of - refugees from East Pakistan to West Bengal, diversion of 200,000 acres of rice growing lands to jute - cultivation and damage of crops due to natural calamities - collectively resulted in a yearly - deficit of 200,000 tons food grain in the state.
-Zamindari Abolition Bill There were some important Bills relating to the land system passed during - the chief ministership of B.C. Roy. In the ‘Bargaders Acts’ of 1950 some provisions were there to - protect the share croppers. According to the Acts a ‘share croppers conflict –removal board’ was set - up. Not only that ‘Zamindari Accusation Acts, and ‘Land Reforms Acts’ were passed in 1953 and 1955 - respectively. According to the ‘Zamindari Accusation Acts of 1953, the permanent settlement and - Zamindari systems were declared null and void. There were provisions to give compensations to the - Zamindars. However, on and from 1st Baishak, 1362 (Bengali Callender) i.e.1955 155 the accusation - of Zamindari was started by the Government of West Bengal. The shares of the share-croppers were - fixed 60% instead of tebhaga i.e. 2/3. It was circulated that the owner of the vested lands would be - allowed to retain 25 acres of cultivable lands and 15 acres of housing as well as garden lands. - Measures were taken to distribute the surplus lands among the share croppers and landless peasants. - The abolition of Zamindari system by the West Bengal Government in 1953, marked the beginning of one - of the most revolutionary measures in the history of the land reforms in the country to stop - exploitation of peasantry by the landlords.173With the passage of the Bill the power and prestige of - the landed aristocracy began to decline steadily. The Zamindars started selling their palatial - buildings which they could no longer maintain. In that connection, the State Government was advised - by the Central Government to examine the cases and purchase such properties for utilization of - nation- building purpose.
-As Chief Minister of West Bengal, he laid the foundation of five cities, namely, Durgapur, Kalyani, - Bidhannagar, Ashokenagar and Habra.
-In the obituary to Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, the British Medical Journal wrote, “… at his professional - zenith, he may have had the largest consulting practice in the world, news of his visit to a city or - even railway station bringing forth hordes of would-be patients.”
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