Answer: 

Introduction:

Lord Curzon served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905. During his tenure, he implemented various policies that had a significant impact on India’s political, social, and economic landscape.

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Some of the key policies included:

• Education policy: The Universities Act of 1904 aimed at reforming the Indian education system. This policy was met with resistance and fueled the national movement as Indians saw it as an attempt to limit their intellectual growth and undermine their aspirations for self-governance.
• Partition of Bengal in 1905: The partition had far-reaching consequences, as it galvanized the Indian National Congress and various other groups to intensify their efforts for self-rule, eventually leading to the reunification of Bengal in 1911.
• Curzon’s foreign policies:
• North-West Frontier Policy: Curzon focused on consolidating and securing the British-occupied territories in the north-west. He kept Chitral under British control, constructed a road connecting Peshawar and Chitral, and withdrew small British troops from the Khyber Pass, Khur Valley, and Waziristan. These measures reduced costs and brought peace to the region.
• Afghan Policy: Curzon’s Afghan policy aimed to counter Russian expansion in Central Asia and the Persian Gulf area. An agreement signed between Abdur Rahman, the Afghan Amir, and the British provided financial aid to Afghanistan, ensuring British influence in the region.
• Policy towards Persia: To secure British influence in the Persian Gulf area, Curzon took firm measures to protect British interests from competing powers like Russia, France, and Turkey.
• Relation with Tibet: Curzon’s Tibet policy was driven by the fear of Russian dominance in the region. Despite a signed trade agreement between Tibet and the British in 1890, trade relations had ceased by the time Curzon became Viceroy. Through his efforts, trade relations were revived, and Tibet agreed to pay a large indemnity to the British.
• Co-operative Credit Societies Act: The 1904 act was aimed at promoting rural credit and cooperative societies in India. However, it was also a tool for strengthening British control over the Indian agrarian economy.
• Railway policy: Curzon undertook several railway projects aimed at improving transportation and trade. While these projects had a positive economic impact, they were also used to maintain British control over India’s resources and exploit the colony economically.
• Military policy: Curzon sought to modernize the Indian Army and increase the British presence in the army hierarchy. This policy was met with discontent among Indian officers, who were denied promotions and equal opportunities. The discrimination contributed to the growing resentment and nationalist sentiment in the Indian armed forces.
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): Curzon established the ASI to protect and conserve India’s cultural heritage. While the ASI made significant contributions to the preservation of Indian monuments and artifacts, it was also a means for the British to exert control over India’s cultural narrative.

Conclusion:

His policies in education, military, and cultural spheres heightened the Indian sense of nationalism and desire for self-governance. In the years following Curzon’s tenure, India saw an increase in revolutionary activities and the emergence of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, who would go on to play crucial roles in India’s struggle for independence.