Bengal Politics: Documents of the Raj (Vol. I)

This is the first volume of a three volume series of selected documents on Bengal politics created by the Governor of Bengal during the era of provincial autonomy, 1936 to 1947. The documents included in this series are the fortnightly reports of the Governor of Bengal to the Viceroy and Governor-General of India and deal with a variety of subjects, issues and events that were perceived by the Governor during those crucial appraisal to the Governor-General. In summarizing and underscoring many significant developments in the province, not otherwise reported or recorded, these fortnightly reports present, in addition to a myriad of facts and interpretations, a close look on the working of British colonialism and imperialism in Bengal. Within the time range of the present volume, 1936 to 1940, the focus of the documents is primarily on the implementation of the Government of India Act, 1935; the activities of the ministry; and party politics both within and outside the legislature. Volume II of this series will cover the period from 1940-1943. The documents in this sequel are replete with intrigues and machinations, resulting in the dissolution of the Proja-League coalition in 1941; the formation and difficulties in the working of the Syama-Huq ministry; and the exigencies of the war on the province. Documents in the final Volume III will deal with the eventful years of 1943-1947 leading to the second partition of Bengal. The focus in this volume is on the activities of the League ministry; Congress ineptitude; increasing communal tensions; deterioration of law and order; and the emergence of the concept of united sovereign Bengal. Together, all the documents in this three volume series unquestionably constitute valued primary sources to the political history of Bengal for the most momentous decade of the Raj. To examine and evaluate the subsequent movement for provincial autonomy in East Pakistan and the Bangladesh war of independence, materials presented in these volumes may provide critical perspectives.