West Bengal Day, 20 June: History of the Formation of West Bengal in 1947

Contemporary Indian Politics

Political History of Bangladesh 

The Making of West Bengal, Significance of 20 June in Indian History

20 June occupies a distinctive place in the history of West Bengal, for it marks the decisive moment when the political future of Bengal was determined through constitutional means. The date commemorates the historic proceedings of the Bengal Legislative Assembly on 20 June 1947 at Calcutta, when elected representatives voted on the question of whether Bengal would remain united or be partitioned following the impending division of British India. The outcome of that vote laid the foundation for the emergence of West Bengal as a constituent state of independent India and remains one of the most significant political events in the history of modern eastern India.

The origins of this development can be traced to the Partition of Bengal of 1905, introduced by Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, on 16 October 1905. The province was divided into Eastern Bengal and Assam, with Dacca as its capital, and Western Bengal, with Calcutta as its capital. Although justified on administrative grounds, the measure was widely regarded as an attempt to weaken nationalist sentiment by dividing communities along religious lines. The resulting Swadeshi Movement, characterised by boycotts, protests and nationalist mobilisation, compelled the British Government to annul the partition on 12 December 1911. Yet the episode left a lasting impact by intensifying communal consciousness and fostering separate political identities. (See: European Invasions in India)

The introduction of separate electorates under the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 further strengthened communal politics. Bengal possessed a distinct demographic pattern: the eastern districts contained a Muslim majority, while western Bengal was predominantly Hindu. These demographic realities increasingly shaped electoral politics during the 1930s and 1940s.

Among the prominent political leaders of the period was A.K. Fazlul Huq, popularly known as the Sher-e-Bangla. After the provincial elections of 1937, conducted under the Government of India Act, 1935, he became the Premier of Bengal and sought to represent the interests of peasants across religious divisions through the Krishak Praja Party. However, on 23 March 1940, at the annual session of the All India Muslim League held at Lahore, Fazlul Huq moved the historic Lahore Resolution, which called for independent states in Muslim-majority regions of north-western and eastern India. Though ambiguously worded, the resolution later became the ideological basis for the creation of Pakistan.

The provincial elections of 1946 proved to be a turning point. The Muslim League secured a sweeping victory in Muslim constituencies and formed the provincial government under Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, while the Indian National Congress dominated the Hindu-majority areas. Bengal thus became politically polarised. The Muslim League maintained that if India were partitioned, the whole of Bengal should become part of Pakistan.

The situation deteriorated after the Muslim League observed Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946. Large-scale communal violence erupted in Calcutta, an event remembered as the Great Calcutta Killings, resulting in thousands of deaths. In October 1946, violence spread to Noakhali in eastern Bengal, causing widespread loss of life and displacement. Mohandas Gandhi visited Noakhali in November 1946 and remained there for several months in an impractical attempt to restore Hindu-Muslim harmony. The cycle of Muslim violence on Hindus profoundly altered public opinion and intensified demands for political separation. (See: History of Pakistan)

In this atmosphere, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee emerged as the leading advocate of partitioning Bengal. Born at Calcutta on 6 July 1901, he was a distinguished scholar who became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University in 1934. Subsequently entering active politics and associating himself with the Hindu Mahasabha, Mukherjee argued that if Pakistan were to be established on the basis of religion, then the Hindu-majority districts of western Bengal should remain within India. He feared that an undivided Bengal under Muslim-majority rule would endanger the political and economic interests of Hindus.

On 15 March 1947, the Bengal Provincial Hindu Mahasabha adopted a formal resolution demanding the partition of Bengal. Mukherjee launched a vigorous campaign through public meetings, memoranda, newspapers and political negotiations. He emphasised the strategic importance of Calcutta, Howrah, Hooghly, Midnapore, Burdwan, Bankura, Birbhum and Darjeeling, arguing that these regions constituted the industrial and economic heartland of eastern India and should remain part of the Indian Union.

At the same time, an alternative political vision was advanced by Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Sarat Chandra Bose, elder brother of Subhas Chandra Bose. They proposed the creation of a United Bengal, an independent sovereign state that would remain outside both India and Pakistan. The proposal gained prominence in May 1947. On 20 May 1947, Sarat Bose and Suhrawardy announced a five-point agreement, outlining constitutional safeguards for minorities and a separate constitution for a United Bengal.

However, the scheme encountered widespread opposition. Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee argued that an independent Bengal with a Muslim majority might eventually come under the influence of Pakistan and Muslim dominance. Leaders of the Indian National Congress, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, also opposed the proposal of United Bengal. Mohandas Gandhi initially examined the idea sympathetically, he insisted upon overwhelming consent from both communities, which was lacking. Consequently, the proposal gradually lost political support. ( See: Gandhi’s Contradictions and Tragedies)

A decisive development occurred with the announcement of the Mountbatten Plan on 3 June 1947 by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India. The plan provided that provinces such as Bengal and Punjab would determine through legislative procedures whether they would remain united or be partitioned.

Accordingly, on 20 June 1947, the Bengal Legislative Assembly convened its historic session at Calcutta. In the first joint meeting, members voted on whether Bengal should remain united and join Pakistan in the event of India’s partition. The motion was passed by 126 votes to 90. Subsequently, the representatives of the Hindu-majority western districts met separately and voted by 58 votes to 21 in favour of partitioning Bengal and joining the Constituent Assembly of India. Members representing eastern Bengal voted separately to remain united and join Pakistan. These votes effectively determined the creation of West Bengal within India and East Bengal within Pakistan.

The subsequent demarcation of boundaries was entrusted to the Bengal Boundary Commission, constituted on 30 June 1947 under the chairmanship of Sir Cyril Radcliffe. After extensive deliberations, the Radcliffe Award was announced on 17 August 1947, two days after Indian independence. West Bengal became part of India with Calcutta, Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan, Midnapore, Bankura, Birbhum, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, West Dinajpur, and major portions of Nadia and Murshidabad. East Bengal, with Dacca as its capital, became a province of Pakistan. (See: Britain repaid U.S. debts by secretly handing over Pakistan)

The partition triggered one of the largest migrations in human history. Millions of refugees crossed borders in both directions, transforming the social and economic landscape of West Bengal. The challenges of refugee rehabilitation and reconstruction were addressed under the leadership of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, who became the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 23 January 1948. He played a crucial role in developing new townships such as Kalyani, Bidhannagar (Salt Lake), Ashokenagar and Habra, while simultaneously promoting industrialisation at Durgapur and other centres.

Meanwhile, East Bengal was renamed East Pakistan in 1955, but political and cultural tensions with West Pakistan continued to grow. The Language Movement of 21 February 1952 at Dacca became a landmark in Bengali nationalism. Ultimately, the struggle culminated in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, and on 16 December 1971, Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation.

The 20 June 1947 stands as a landmark in the constitutional and political history of Bengal. It symbolises the democratic decision that led to the establishment of West Bengal, preserved the historical continuity of Bengali culture within India, and shaped the political geography of South Asia for generations to come. On 20th June 2026, the West Bengal Government is celebrating the date. The Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has made a Facebook post as below in Bengali:

“আজ ২০ জুন। পশ্চিমবঙ্গের ইতিহাসে এক অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ দিন এবং বাঙালির ভাগ্যনির্ধারক দিন।

এই ঐতিহাসিক দিনে সমস্ত রাজ্যবাসীকে জানাই আমার আন্তরিক শুভেচ্ছা ও গৈরিক অভিনন্দন।

দীর্ঘ কয়েক দশক পর, এই প্রথমবার ভারত কেশরী ডঃ শ্যামাপ্রসাদ মুখোপাধ্যায়ের মহান আদর্শে অনুপ্রাণিত আমাদের রাষ্ট্রবাদী সরকার পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সৃষ্টির প্রকৃত ও ঐতিহাসিক ঘটনাক্রমকে পূর্ণ মান্যতা দিয়ে ‘পশ্চিমবঙ্গ দিবস’ সরকারিভাবে পালন করতে চলেছে।

আমাদের ইতিহাসকে মুছে ফেলার যে ঘৃণ্য চক্রান্ত হয়েছিল, আজ তার অবসান ঘটেছে। অবসান ঘটেছে ভোটব্যাঙ্ক ও তোষণের রাজনীতির এক অন্ধকারময় অধ্যায়ের।

দুর্ভাগ্যজনকভাবে, বিগত সরকার শুধুমাত্র নিজস্ব ভোটব্যাঙ্ক রক্ষা এবং নির্লজ্জ তোষণের রাজনীতি চরিতার্থ করার জন্য এই পবিত্র দিনটির গুরুত্বকে সম্পূর্ণ ধামাচাপা দেওয়ার চেষ্টা করেছিল। ইতিহাসের পাতা থেকে বাঙালির এই আত্মপরিচয়ের লড়াইকে মুছে ফেলার অপচেষ্টা করা হয়, যাতে মানুষ নিজের শিকড় এবং পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সৃষ্টির নেপথ্যের প্রকৃত নায়কদের ভুলে যান। কিন্তু সত্যকে কখনও চিরতরে চেপে রাখা যায় না। আমাদের সরকার সেই ঐতিহাসিক ভুলকে সংশোধন করে আজ বাংলার প্রকৃত ইতিহাসকে স্বমহিমায় প্রতিষ্ঠিত করেছে।

ডঃ শ্যামাপ্রসাদ মুখোপাধ্যায়ের প্রতি বাঙালি চিরঋণী। আজকের এই বিশেষ দিনে আমরা আমাদের মহান রাষ্ট্রনায়ককে গভীর শ্রদ্ধার সঙ্গে স্মরণ করব, যাঁর দূরদর্শিতা না থাকলে আজ ভারতের মানচিত্রে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ নামক কোনো রাজ্যের অস্তিত্বই থাকত না।

অখণ্ড বাংলাকে যখন সম্পূর্ণভাবে পাকিস্তানের অন্তর্ভুক্ত করার এক ভয়ঙ্কর নীলনকশা তৈরি হয়েছিল, তখন তার বিরুদ্ধে বজ্রকঠিন প্রাচীর হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছিলেন ডঃ শ্যামাপ্রসাদ মুখোপাধ্যায়। তাঁর অবিচল নেতৃত্ব, অদম্য আন্দোলন এবং দূরদর্শী ভাবনার ফলেই পাকিস্তানের করাল গ্রাস থেকে মুক্ত করে ভারতের অবিচ্ছেদ্য অংশ হিসেবে ‘পশ্চিমবঙ্গ’ রাজ্যটি গঠন করা সম্ভব হয়েছিল।

ডঃ শ্যামাপ্রসাদ মুখোপাধ্যায়, ভারত সেবাশ্রম সংঘের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা স্বামী প্রণবানন্দ মহারাজ এবং সেই সকল বিশিষ্ট ব্যক্তিত্ব ও তৎকালীন পশ্চিমবঙ্গ আইনসভার সদস্যগণ, যাঁদের প্রচেষ্টা, দূরদর্শিতা ও ঐতিহাসিক সিদ্ধান্তের ফলে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ ভারতের অবিচ্ছেদ্য অংশ হিসেবে প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়, তাঁদের সকলের কাছে আমাদের এই ঋণ অপরিশোধ্য। তাঁরা যদি সেদিন বাঙালির জন্য এই নিরাপদ আশ্রয়ভূমি গড়ে না তুলতেন, তবে আজ আমাদের সংস্কৃতি, ভাষা ও অস্তিত্ব সংকটের মুখে পড়ত।

আজ পশ্চিমবঙ্গ দিবসের এই শুভক্ষণে আমরা সবাই মিলে ডঃ শ্যামাপ্রসাদ মুখোপাধ্যায়ের স্বপ্ন ও আদর্শকে পাথেয় করে এক নতুন, সুরক্ষিত এবং সমৃদ্ধিশালী পশ্চিমবঙ্গ গড়ে তোলার শপথ নিই।

জয়তু পশ্চিমবঙ্গ।

ভারত মাতার জয়।”

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Sarvarthapedia Conceptual Network: West Bengal Day (20 June): History, Significance, and the Creation of West Bengal in 1947

The Making of West Bengal

The constitutional and political process leading to the creation of West Bengal on 20 June 1947 through the decisions of the Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Directly Related Concepts

• Partition of Bengal (1905)
• Annulment of Partition (1911)
• Swadeshi Movement
• Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)
• Separate Electorates in India
• Communal Politics in British India
• Provincial Elections of 1937
• Provincial Elections of 1946
• Direct Action Day (1946)
• Great Calcutta Killings
• Noakhali Riots (1946)
• Partition of India (1947)
• Mountbatten Plan
• Bengal Legislative Assembly
• Bengal Boundary Commission
• Radcliffe Award
• Refugee Crisis in Eastern India
• Formation of Bangladesh (1971)

Historical Background Cluster

Partition of Bengal (1905)

Related to:

• British Colonial Administration
• Lord Curzon
• Eastern Bengal and Assam
• Calcutta Presidency
• Dacca as Provincial Capital
• Divide and Rule Policy
• Swadeshi Movement
• Indian Nationalism

See also:

• European Invasions in India
• British Empire in India
• Rise of Indian Nationalism
• Decline of Christianity in Kolkata

Swadeshi Movement

Related to:

• Boycott Movement
• National Education Movement
• Indigenous Industries
• Political Awakening in Bengal

See also:

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• Aurobindo Ghose
• Revolutionary Nationalism

Constitutional Developments Cluster

Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)

Related to:

• Separate Electorates
• Muslim Political Representation
• Constitutional Reforms in British India
• Communal Representation

See also:

• Indian Councils Act 1909
• Government of India Act 1919
• Government of India Act 1935

Government of India Act, 1935

Related to:

• Provincial Autonomy
• Elections of 1937
• Provincial Ministries
• Bengal Politics

See also:

• Federal Scheme of India
• Constitutional Evolution of British India

Political Leaders Cluster

Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee

Related to:

• Partition of Bengal (1947)
• Hindu Mahasabha
• Calcutta University
• Bengal Provincial Hindu Mahasabha
• Constituent Assembly of India
• Formation of Bharatiya Jana Sangh

See also:

• History of Bharatiya Jana Sangh
• Political Thought of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
• Indian National Integration

A.K. Fazlul Huq

Related to:

• Sher-e-Bangla
• Krishak Praja Party
• Lahore Resolution
• Bengal Peasant Politics
• Muslim League

See also:

• Peasant Movements in Bengal
• Lahore Resolution (1940)
• History of Pakistan

Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy

Related to:

• Bengal Premiership
• United Bengal Scheme
• Muslim League
• Direct Action Day
• Pakistan Politics

See also:

• History of Pakistan
• Politics of Bengal
• United Bengal Proposal

Sarat Chandra Bose

Related to:

• United Bengal
• Bengali Nationalism
• Federalism in India
• Subhas Chandra Bose

See also:

• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
• Forward Bloc
• Indian Independence Movement

Communal Violence

Direct Action Day (16 August 1946)

Related to:

• Muslim League
• Great Calcutta Killings
• Communal Riots
• Partition of India

See also:

• History of Pakistan
• Communal Politics in India
• Bengal in the 1940s

Great Calcutta Killings

Related to:

• Direct Action Day
• Hindu-Muslim Relations
• Political Violence
• Bengal Partition

See also:

• Noakhali Riots
• Bihar Riots
• Partition Violence

Noakhali Riots (1946)

Related to:

• Communal Violence
• Gandhi in Noakhali
• Bengal Partition Debate

See also:

• Gandhi’s Contradictions and Tragedies
• History of Pakistan
• Partition of India

Alternative Political Visions Cluster

United Bengal Scheme

Related to:

• Sarat Chandra Bose
• Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
• Independent Bengal
• Federalism
• Minority Rights

See also:

• Partition of India
• Bengali Nationalism
• Federal Political Models in South Asia

Constitutional Decision Cluster

Bengal Legislative Assembly (20 June 1947)

Related to:

• Partition of Bengal
• West Bengal
• East Bengal
• Constituent Assembly of India
• Pakistan Constituent Assembly

See also:

• Mountbatten Plan
• Partition of Punjab
• Indian Independence Act 1947

Mountbatten Plan

Related to:

• Lord Louis Mountbatten
• Partition of India
• Bengal Partition
• Punjab Partition

See also:

• Indian Independence Act 1947
• British Withdrawal from India

Boundary and Territorial Cluster

Bengal Boundary Commission

Related to:

• Sir Cyril Radcliffe
• Border Demarcation
• District Allocation
• Partition Borders

See also:

• Radcliffe Award
• Punjab Boundary Commission

Radcliffe Award

Related to:

• Murshidabad
• Nadia
• Khulna
• Chittagong Hill Tracts
• India-Pakistan Boundary

See also:

• Britain repaid U.S. debts by secretly handing over Pakistan
• Territorial Disputes after Partition
• India-Pakistan Relations

Refugee and Reconstruction Cluster

Refugee Crisis in West Bengal

Related to:

• East Bengal Refugees
• Displacement
• Rehabilitation Colonies
• Urban Expansion

See also:

• Partition Migration
• Refugee Settlements in India
• Social Transformation of Bengal

Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy

Related to:

• Refugee Rehabilitation
• Kalyani
• Bidhannagar
• Ashokenagar
• Durgapur Industrialisation

See also:

• Industrialisation of West Bengal
• Modern Urban Planning in India
• Chief Ministers of West Bengal

Bangladesh Connection Cluster

East Bengal to Bangladesh

Related to:

• East Pakistan
• Bengali Language Movement
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
• Bangladesh Liberation War

See also:

• Language Movement (1952)
• Bangladesh Liberation War (1971)
• Birth of Bangladesh

Central Knowledge Web

The Making of West Bengal connects simultaneously to:

• Partition of Bengal (1905)
• Swadeshi Movement
• Separate Electorates
• Lahore Resolution
• Direct Action Day
• Noakhali Riots
• Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
• United Bengal Scheme
• Mountbatten Plan
• Bengal Legislative Assembly (20 June 1947)
• Radcliffe Award
• Refugee Crisis
• Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy
• East Pakistan
• Bangladesh Liberation War
• History of Pakistan
• Gandhi’s Contradictions and Tragedies
• European Invasions in India
• Hindutva Politics
• Bharatiya Janata Party
• Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister of West Bengal

This cluster forms the principal Sarvarthapedia knowledge web around the constitutional, political, social, and geopolitical making of West Bengal.

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