In 1905, Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy decided that Bengal should be partitioned into two. Though the British claimed that this drastic step was taken for administrative purposes, the real motive was to curb the growth of nationalism in Bengal.
The Bengalis believed that the British wanted to drive a wedge between the Bengali speaking Hindus and Muslims. They accused the British of trying to destroy the solidarity of the Bengali people. The partition of Bengal raised a great political storm in India. Grounds were prepared for a country-wide agitation.
The Indian National Congress and the nationalists of Bengal firmly opposed it. The partition led to a widespread agitation which assumed the shape of a national movement. This movement became famous in history as the Swadeshi Movement.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was instrumental in setting India on the path to freedom.