ABSTRACT
The partition of Bengal, declared settled and irrevocable, was immediately abrogated. The Act of 1909, the product of four years' deliberation, survived less than ten years. Political innovations, supposedly valuable and durable, were rendered ineffective by opposing political forces; yet these contradictory tendencies produced some permanent features of history. From reform negotiations with the Congress in 1906 to the final transfer of power to Indian hands in 1947, there was a continuous manifestation of the same reasonableness from diverse political schools. The rise of British socialism and the labour movement, with a new political philosophy, had an impact on the traditional imperialist, and brought the ruler nearer to an appreciation of the needs of the ruled. The counterbalance affected the main political trends. For the Congress, it was a time of crisis in the divergent views towards revolution. But the conflict brought about a compromise between extremism and moderation.
