Chapter 5: The Muslim League and Its Objectives

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Chapter Overview

This chapter explores the reasons behind the rise of communalism in India and the subsequent formation of the All-India Muslim League.

Factors Responsible for the Growth of Communalism

While Hindus and Muslims had co-existed for centuries and even united during the Revolt of 1857, this unity began to weaken by the end of the 19th century due to several factors.

1. British Policy of 'Divide and Rule'

British Strategy

After the 1857 Revolt, the British initially viewed Muslims with suspicion. However, as the Indian National Congress gained strength, the British changed their strategy. They began to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims to weaken the nationalist movement and secure their rule.

Encouraging Anti-Congress Sentiments: British officials like Theodore Beck, the principal of the Mohammedan College, worked with Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to convince Muslims that the Congress was a "Hindu Organisation" to be avoided.
Partition of Bengal (1905): Lord Curzon openly stated that a key reason for partitioning Bengal was to create a new province with a Muslim majority, thereby winning over the Muslim community.

2. Educational and Economic Backwardness of Muslims

Socio-Economic Factors

For much of the 19th century, a large section of the Muslim community was opposed to Western education.

This created an educational and economic gap between them and other communities like Hindus, Christians, and Parsis, who had embraced modern learning earlier.
Muslims were led to believe that supporting the British government was the surest way to secure government jobs and other benefits, which fostered communal thinking.

3. Communal Interpretation of History

British authors wrote history textbooks that created friction between the two communities.

They portrayed Muslim rulers of the past as cruel to their Hindu subjects and depicted Muslims as descendants of foreign invaders.
This communal version of history provoked negative reactions from both sides, damaging mutual respect.

4. Rise of Assertive Nationalism

Assertive Nationalist leaders, while not communal themselves, used religious symbols and festivals to inspire people.

For example, Bal Gangadhar Tilak started the Ganapati festival and revived the memory of Shivaji's battles against the Mughals.
The British government cleverly used these instances to create a perception among Muslims that the nationalist movement was Hindu dominated.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement

Key Figure & Movement

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898) was an influential figure whose ideas greatly shaped the Muslim community's response to British rule.

Initial Views He was initially a progressive nationalist who famously described Hindus and Muslims as the "two eyes of the beautiful bride that was India".
Change in Stance Later, he grew fearful that in a democratic India, the Hindu majority would dominate Muslims after the British left. He, therefore, advised Muslims to stay away from the Congress and remain loyal to the British.
Aligarh Movement He founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh, which aimed to popularize Western education among Muslims and promote loyalty to the British rulers. This college became the center of the Aligarh Movement, which emphasized loyalty to the government as the path to progress for the Muslim community.

Events Leading to the Formation of the Muslim League

1. The Hindi-Urdu Controversy (1900)

In 1900, the government in U.P. announced that official offices and courts would accept petitions written in Hindi (Devanagri script) in addition to Urdu. This angered many Muslims, who held protest meetings, leading to counter-meetings by Hindus. This controversy worsened the relationship between the two communities.

2. The Simla Deputation (October 1, 1906)

A group of 35 prominent Muslim leaders, led by Aga Khan, met the Viceroy, Lord Minto, in Simla. They presented a set of demands to safeguard Muslim interests.

Key Demands of Simla Deputation

1. Separate Electorates

The right for Muslims to elect their own representatives to the legislative councils through separate, communal electorates.

2. Weightage

Representation in councils should be greater than their population percentage, based on their historical "political importance".

3. Representation in Other Bodies

Fair representation in municipal bodies, district boards, and university senates.

4. Share in Government Jobs

A greater share for Muslims in civil, military, and judicial services.

5. A Muslim University

Government aid in founding a Muslim University.

Lord Minto's Assurance

The Viceroy gave a positive response, assuring the deputation that the political rights and interests of the Muslim community would be protected by the government. This assurance was a major encouragement for the Muslim leaders.

Formation and Objectives of the Muslim League

Encouraged by the Viceroy's response, Muslim leaders decided to form a political organization to protect their interests exclusively.

Foundation Details

Foundation: The All-India Muslim League was formally founded on December 30, 1906, in Dhaka.
Key Figures: Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka proposed its formation and presided over its first session.
Constitution: The League's constitution was framed in 1907 at Karachi.

Aims and Objectives of the League

Main Aims

The main objectives of the Muslim League were:

To promote feelings of loyalty to the British Government among Indian Muslims.
To protect the political and other rights of Muslims and present their needs and aspirations to the government.
To prevent the rise of feelings of hostility between Muslims and other communities in India.

Impact and Early Role of the League

The formation of the Muslim League had a significant impact on the Indian national movement.

Historical Impact

Deepening the Communal Divide: The League acted as a loyalist organization, aiming to keep the Muslim masses away from the mainstream national movement led by the Congress. The British welcomed its formation as it strengthened their 'Divide and Rule' policy.
Opposition to National Movements: The League actively damaged the Anti-Partition Movement in Bengal, arguing that the partition was beneficial for Muslims.
Nationalist Muslims: However, not all Muslims supported the League. Nationalist leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and others from the Deoband School opposed the League’s separatist politics and urged Muslims to join the Congress in the freedom struggle.