Lord Curzon vs Qu Qiubai

Curzon was appointed Viceroy of India at age 39, the youngest to hold the office. His tenure was marked by administrative reforms, including the partition of Bengal, and a strong emphasis on British imperial authority.

Curzon enacted the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act and revitalized the Archaeological Survey of India. He oversaw the restoration of historical sites such as the Taj Mahal and the preservation of India's cultural heritage, though his approach was paternalistic.

Curzon authorized a British military expedition to Tibet under Francis Younghusband, ostensibly to counter Russian influence. The expedition reached Lhasa and forced the Tibetan government to sign the Treaty of Lhasa, granting trade privileges, but was criticized for its aggression.

Curzon ordered the partition of Bengal into East Bengal and Assam and West Bengal, citing administrative efficiency. The move was widely seen as a divide-and-rule tactic against the Bengali nationalist movement, sparking massive protests and the Swadeshi movement.

Curzon resigned as Viceroy after a dispute with the British military commander Lord Kitchener over control of the Indian Army. The conflict highlighted tensions between civilian and military authority, and Curzon's resignation ended his active role in Indian affairs.

Qu Qiubai joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1922 after being influenced by the Russian Revolution. He became a key early member and intellectual leader, translating Marxist texts and shaping early CCP ideology.

After the KMT's violent purge of communists, Qu Qiubai presided over the August 7th Emergency Conference in Hankou. The conference replaced Chen Duxiu as party leader and adopted a policy of armed insurrection against the KMT, marking a radical turn.

Qu Qiubai was captured by KMT forces in Fujian in 1935. He was executed by firing squad on June 18, 1935, after refusing to renounce communism. His death made him a martyr for the CCP.