How did the 1905 partition of Bengal affect Calcutta?

The 1905 partition of Bengal, orchestrated by Lord Curzon, triggered widespread unrest in Calcutta (now Kolkata), which served as the intellectual and political hub of the opposition.12

The partition deeply affected the city in several ways:

• Center of Resistance: Calcutta became the epicenter of the Swadeshi Movement, which was formally launched at a Town Hall meeting on August 7, 1905. The city's bhadralok (intellectual middle class) led the protests, viewing the division as a British attempt to weaken the Indian Independence Movement and fracture Bengali identity.32
• Economic Boycott: Residents of Calcutta organized mass boycotts of British goods, famously burning foreign-made textiles in public bonfires to promote self-sufficiency and indigenous industry.2
• Educational Reform: The movement led to the establishment of Indian-led educational institutions in the city, such as the Bengal National College and the Bengal Technical Institute, to counter the influence of English-medium schools.3
• Political Shift: The city hosted the 1906 Indian National Congress session, where the goal of swaraj (self-rule) was first articulated.2

The partition was eventually annulled in 1911, at which time the capital of British India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.1