Incidentally, the partition went in favor of the Muslims. As before the partition the Western Bengal, being the first area to come under the western influence, was developed and industrialized, a striking contrast to the Eastern part where the Muslim peasantry was crushed under the Hindu landlords; river system was infested with pirates; a very few funds were allocated for education and was dreaded as a place of banishment. But the partition helped to boost Bengali literature and language; efforts were also made towards social, economic and educational uplift of the Muslims.

The Muslims outnumbered the Hindus in Eastern Bengal and thus alleviated the Bengali Muslims politically and economically. Thus this modification of boundaries was made an occasion for unprecedented agitation by the Hindus. They alleged that Lord Curzon deliberately tried to divide the Hindus and the Muslims by drawing the line between the Hindu and the Muslim halves of Bengal; he had favored the Muslims by giving them a new province in which they were in a clear majority; he had struck a deadly blow at Bengali nationality and that he was the upholder of the devilish official policy of divide and rule.

Whereas the partition of Bengal was welcomed by the Muslims of India, the Hindu community strongly opposed it and started a gigantic mass movement celebrating October 16, as the day of mourning in Calcutta. The Swadeshi movement influenced by the Chinese boycott of American goods was started by Hindus against the British. In the meantime, the sectarian cry of Band-e-Matram was raised as the national cry protecting worship of Shivaji as national hero. This organized anarchist movement took a terrorist turn resulting in political sabotage and communal riots.