STEPS TOWARDS POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

The Indian national congress was formed by an Englishman, Sir Allan Octavian Humes.
He created this party to create a meeting point for Indians and Britishers. This would
lead to greater understanding between the two, so the British could rule more
successfully.

Congress party was dominated by Hindus. Therefore congress demand for local
representation based on a democratic form of government would not have benefited
the Muslims. Their political voice would have been silenced.

Congress demand for a competitive exam to be held for government posts would have
gone against Muslims, since few Muslims were educated in the western system.
Congress also demanded that Urdu be replaced by Hindi.

These events convinced Sir Syed Ahmed Khan that the Hindus and Muslims were two
distinct entities and could not possibly live together in harmony. This gave rise to two
nation theory.

THE TWO NATION THEORY

The Two nation theory was put forward by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in 1867 after noticing
the far more differences between Muslims and Hindus. He stated that two different
creeds, races are living in India having complete different religious and political back
ground. He stopped the Muslims from joining Indian National Congress.

URDU HINDI CONTROVERSY

In 1867 Hindus started demanding replacement of Urdu (written in Arabic script) by

Hindi (written in Devanangari script). The Muslims strongly argued that Urdu was not
a religious language and it was spoken by both Muslims and Hindus. The Hindus on
the other hand claimed that Urdu is written in Arabic script and it is a Muslim
language. The Hindu demand was eventually accepted in 1900 with Hindi given equal
status to Urdu in the courts.

PARTITION OF BENGAL

British viceroy lord Curzon divided Bengal into eastern Bengal and western Bengal.
This partition was done on administrative reason because of its large population it
was difficult to rule. Muslims got happy over this partition as it gave them majority in
one province but it divided Hindus and Muslims on communal lines. The Hindus took it
as a favor to Muslims since it created a Muslim majority area.

In protest the Hindus started the Swadeshi movement under which all British goods
were boycotted. The movement soon became militant and gave rise to riots and
arson. As a result the British were forced to reconsider and on 12 Dec 1911 King
George V reversed the partition of Bengal.

After partition Bengal got divided in to two halves East Bengal and West Bengal. In
western half 42 million Hindus and 12 million Muslims and Eastern Bengal l 18 million
Muslims and 13 million Hindus were there.

SIMLA DELEGATION

The British assured Muslims that partition of Bengal was permanent. Even so Muslims
feared that the British might give in to Hindu demands to reunite it. The Muslims felt
that there was weak and they had no political voice. In October 1906 a Muslim
delegation led by Sir Agha Khan met the viceroy Lord Minto at Simla. They demanded
separate representation for Muslims and that the number of Muslim seats is increased
in accordance with the correct weightage in their majority areas. Minto accepted the
Muslim demand for separate electorate.

THE ALL INDIA MUSLIM LEAGUE

Back ground

After the death of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Nawab Viqar ul Mulk a very close associate
of Sir Syed and a prominent Muslim political personality tried to carry out the struggle
of Sir Syed related to separate representation for Muslims of India.

The success of Simla delegation represents a crucial turning point for Muslims of
British India. Efforts of Sir Syed helped to remove the misunderstanding between
British and Muslims of India. The Muslims had made it clear that they have little faith
in the Hindu majority and wished to have constitutional protection.

The question of forming a political party was finalized in the annual meeting of
Mohammadan Educational Conference at Dhaka. The Nawab of Dhaka moved a
resolution calling for an organization to be established with name All India Muslim
League. The resolution was appreciated by majority and Muslim league came into
being. The League adopted these demands as objectives.
Aims

To promote among the Muslims of India feeling of loyality to the British Government
and to remove any misconception that may arise as to the intentions of government
with regard to any of its measures.

To protect and advance the political rights and interests of Muslims of India and
respectfully to represent their needs and aspirations to government.

To prevent the rise among Muslims of India of any feeling of hostility towards other
communities without prejudice to other objectives of the Muslim league.

MORLEY MINTO REFORMS

The Morley Minto reforms were passed as the Indian councils act of 1909. The
reforms ensured that Indians be given a chance to express their opinions but did not
give them the power to amend any law or change any decisions. The main features of
the act were:

i. The Muslim demand for separate electorates for Muslims was accepted.
ii. The method of election was partly indirect and partly direct.
iii. Provincial Councils were enlarged.
iv. Besides viceroy and his executive council, nearly 60 members were added to
the central legislative council.
v. Members of central legislative council were given authority to raise questions
relating to administration and policy.

Congress renounced these reforms as they did not approve of separate electorates for
the Muslims. At the 1910 session the congress the provision of separate
representation for the Muslims and demanded their removal. From then on up to the
passing of the 1935 act, the congress made a habit of it to pass a resolution at its
gathering in condemnation of separate electorates and in favor of their removal. The
only occasion on which the congress agreed to their retention was t he Lucknow pact
of 1916.

REVERSAL OF PARTITION OF BENGAL

As a result of the Hindu agitation the partition of Bengal was annulled by a royal
announcement by King George V on 12 December1911.