How Did Raksha Bandhan Become A Symbol Of Unity During Bengal Partition?

For centuries, Raksha Bandhan has symbolised the bond between brothers and sisters, along with affection, protection and mutual care. The festival acquired a wider political and social meaning in 1905 when the British government divided Bengal.

At the time, Bengal had become a major centre of Indian nationalism, with the Swadeshi movement and calls of Vande Mataram gaining momentum.

Viceroy Lord Curzon pursued the partition plan, which the nationalist movement viewed as an attempt to weaken growing opposition to British rule.

The British government announced the partition in August 1905, with the division scheduled to take effect on October 16.

The date, however, coincided with Raksha Bandhan, turning the festival into an important moment of protest.

Rabindranath Tagore opposed the partition and viewed it as an attempt to create divisions between communities. Rather than encouraging violent resistance, he promoted a symbolic campaign centred on Raksha Bandhan.

Tagore urged Hindus and Muslims to tie Rakhis on each other’s wrists. He presented the sacred thread as a symbol of friendship, mutual protection, communal harmony and unity against colonial policies.

On October 16, 1905, Bengal observed a day of mourning. People avoided cooking in their homes and took part in public demonstrations.

In Calcutta, Tagore led a procession after people gathered along the Ganga. Songs such as Banglar Mati Banglar Jol echoed through the streets.

Hindus and Muslims tied Rakhis to one another in several cities, including Dhaka and Sylhet.

Tagore personally participated in the demonstrations, tied Rakhis, and visited a mosque to meet Muslim clerics.

The movement could not prevent Bengal’s partition in 1905. Sustained opposition eventually compelled the British government to annul the partition in 1911.

The movement gave Raksha Bandhan a broader significance.

The festival came to represent communal harmony, social unity and national solidarity alongside its traditional association with family relationships.

Shantiniketan continues to remember Tagore’s tradition, where students tie Rakhis to members of the public and promote the message of peace, friendship and communal harmony.

Also Read: PM Modi Expresses Grief Over Death Of Norway’s King Harald V