Study Material
Class – X
Topic: - The Muslim League
: The Muslim League was an all-India political organisation of
the Muslims, set up in the early twentieth century.
: It was initially an elitist organisation but post the 1937 ‘s,
came to be dominated by the general masses as well.
: Main priority of the organisation was to safeguard the
political rights of the Muslims and gain major concessions
from the government.
: Different factors were said to be at the root of its inception, as
discussed below: -
Factors responsible for the formation of the Muslim League: -
1) British Policy of Divide and Rule: -
: Different forms of state propaganda such as press,
posters literature and public platforms were employed to
incite flames of communal hatred and discord.
: Caste structure was exploited to play the non-Brahmins
against the Brahmins.
: Muslims were given to understand that partition of
Bengal would benefit the muslims, give them a muslim
majority area, where Hindus would not be able to subvert
their interests.
: Indian History was interpreted in a defective manner.
Muslim rulers were dubbed as plunders, invaders. Hindu
king ' s were said to be cruel to their muslim subjects.
: 1871, Lord Mayo ‘s government passed a resolution,
allowing Urdu to be the medium of instruction in Muslim
primary and secondary schools as well provided for an
increase in financial aids, coming from the government.
The same, was not offered to other educational
institutions.
2) Relative Backwardness of the Muslims in Education,
Trade and Industry: -
: Collapse of the Mughal empire had caused a lot of bitterness
and resentment among the Muslim elite class.
: They had opted not to have anything to do with the
government and stayed aloof from western education, at a
time, when other communities like the Hindus, Parsees,
Christians sincerely pursued it.
: As, a result, over a period of time, muslims became backward
and unfit for any kind of government services. Their
involvement in organised trade and industry was also very
low.
: The existing situation was exploited by the government to
their advantage. Muslims were made to understand that
supporting the government, would help them bag jobs and be at
par, with the Hindus.
3) Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan: -
: Supported western education.
: Set up the M.A.O. College, at Aligarh, which eventually
became the centre of the Aligarh movement
: He set up the M.A.O. Defence association and The United
India Patriotic Association. Aim of the organisation was to
promote loyalty and support for the government among the
Muslims and oppose the Indian National Congress.
: Advised muslims to stay away from the Indian National
Congress and the national movement.
4) Economic backwardness of the country: -
: Lack of industrial development had caused acute
employment issues within the country and fierce
competition.
: The Britishers took advantage of it and encouraged
communities to demand job reservations on the basis of
religion, caste and region.
: This created separatist tendencies and encouraged
communal divides, which led to the formation of the
Muslim League.
5) Rise of Assertive Nationalists: -
: Assertives, were harping on India ' s glorious past. In
trying to do so and enlist a mass following, they
inadvertently ended up using Hindu symbols.
: for instance, Shivaji and Ganapati festivals were
organised by Tilak
: Aurobindo Ghosh referred to India as “Bharat Mata “and
nationalism as one ' s religion.
: The partition of Bengal was initiated with a dip in the
river Ganga.
: This kind of partisan attitude was totally against the
prevailing social milieu of a mixed culture.
: It was misinterpreted by the government and effectively
used to create a schism between the Hindus and Muslims.
: As a result, a dominant section of the Indian Muslim’s
remained aloof and away from the Indian National
movement.
6) Erroneous Interpretation of History: -
: History writing was defective and intended to incite
communal hostilities, for instance – Ancient period was
referred to as the “Hindu period “and mediaeval age as the
“Muslim period “.
: Kings like Shivaji and Rana Pratap were depicted as
national heroes. Akbar and Aurangzeb were dubbed as –
outsiders or foreigners.
: Ancient Indian society and culture was supposed to be
progressive. Mediaeval age in comparison, was thought to
have made little or no progress in art, lit, culture,
economy etc.
: India ‘s composite culture or the existing class wise,
region wise and religion wise diversities were never
highlighted.
Events leading to the formation of The Muslim League: -
1) The Hindi – Urdu Controversy: -
: In the United Provinces, Urdu was the court language
and all petitions, be it in the office or the court was
submitted in the same.
: Many Hindus, wanted a change. Influenced by their
protest and demand, the government issued an order on
April 8 th ,1900, - allowing offices and courts to accept
petitions written in Urdu and in Hindi or the Devangiri
script. Summons and official announcements were also
to be made in both the languages.
: The change was resented by the Muslims. They
organised protest meetings. Hindi Urdu Controversy
became a matter of debate and dissent between the
Hindus and Muslims and soured their relations.
2) Foundation of Mohammedan Anglo Oriental Defence
Association (1893): -
: Rise and influence of Indian National Congress had
caused an uneasiness in government circles. They were
eager to find ways and means to curb the same.
: This had promoted Mr. Beck, principal of M.A.O.
College, Aligarh to take a keen interest in the formation
of the M.A.O. Defence Association. He even became, its
secretary.
: Aim of the organisation was to discourage Muslims
from joining the Indian National Congress and advocate
their loyalty to the British government.
3) The Aligarh Politics: -
: Demise of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan had led to Nawab
Mohsin ul Mulk ' s elevation as the leader of the Aligarh
movement. He also happened to be the secretary of the
M.A.O. College Trust.
: Closely associated with the Hindi Urdu protest
movements, he happened to criticize the government
order, providing equal status to the two languages.
: This had earned him the wrath of Lt. Governor of UP,
Macdonnel. He was given the option of either ending his
agitation or resigning, as secretary, from the M.A.O.
College Trust.
: Angry muslims, to evade such pressures in the near
future, strongly suggested the need to form a political
organisation of the Muslims, at the national level.
4) Partition of Bengal: -
: Bengal was divided on 16 th October ,1905, to
expedite administrative functioning.
: Actual reason was to incite hostilities and divide
Hindus and Muslims.
: Muslims, under the influence of conservatives like
Nawab Salimullah of Dacca, welcomed the partition in
the belief, that creation of East Bengal, a muslim
majority state, was but the very first step to the many
concessions, yet to come, from the British government.
: Minus, Hindu competition, East Bengal, would be a
source of Muslim development and strength, as well as a
centre of their political activities.
5) Muslim Deputation to the Viceroy, Lord Minto: -
: To widen the gulf between the two communities and
play over Muslim fears, Lord Minto appointed the
Arundale Committee, to work out an expansion of the
Legislative Council.
: This unsettled communal minded muslims and spurred
them, into action.
: At the suggestion of Mr. Archibald, principal of M. A. O.
College, muslims proposed to form a delegation and
meet the Viceroy.
: A delegation of 35 prominent muslims, led by Agha
Khan, head of the Ismaili sect, met the Viceroy at
Shimla, on Oct 1,1906, with the following demands: -
a) Separate electorates, for Muslims in the provincial
council and the Imperial Legislative Council.
b) Representation of Muslims in elected bodies on the
basis of their political importance and not
numerical strength
c) Preference to be given to muslims while nominating
members of the Viceroy’s council.
d) Reservation of seats for Muslims in the state
services
e) State Aid for promoting new Muslim universities.
Formation of the Muslim League: -
: Success of the Muslim deputation and
encouragement from the Viceroy caused eminent muslims,
assembled for the Mohammedan Educational Conference,
to form an all-India political association, called – “The All-
India Muslim League “.
: All India Muslim League existed as a parallel but anti
Congress organisation. It was pledged to work for the
Muslims of India.
: It demanded and worked for separate electorates and
special safeguards for Muslims, while wholeheartedly
supporting the partition of Bengal.
: The organisation was formed on 30 th December,1906 at
Dacca. First president, was Nawab Salimullah.
: Yet another, founding member, Agha Khan was elected as
the permanent president of the organisation.
: Constitution was adopted at a meeting called, at
Karachi, on December 29 th ,1907.
: The first regular session of the League was held at
Amritsar, under the presidentship of Sir Syed Ali Imam.
Aims and Objectives of the Muslim League: -
: To promote among the Muslims of India support for the
British government
: Remove any misconceptions regarding the intention of
the government in relation to Indian Muslim’s.
: Protect and promote the political rights of the Muslims
: Place their demands before the government in a mild and
moderate language.
: Prevent the rise of hostilities between the Muslims of
India and other communities.
Significance of the Lucknow Pact of 1916: -
: The agreement symbolised Hindu Muslim unity.
: It had United Moderates and Assertives as well.
: The government was pressurized.
: To pacify Indians, the government had come up with the
August declaration of 1917 and promised to gradually
develop self governing institutions in India.
: Please go through the following link for further
reference: -
: https://youtu.be/7-skQkfy2Q8
