Muslim League

 

Today's Topic: Muslim League (ముస్లిం లీగ్)

• Focus: Formation of the Muslim League in 1906 and its background.

• Establishment Year: 1906 (Stressed as very important for exams **).

• Context: Understanding why it was formed and the origins of the Hindu-Muslim divide concept.

Background: British Policy & Hindu-Muslim Relations

1. Post-1857 Revolt:

   • The leader of the revolt was Bahadur Shah II (last Mughal Emperor), a Muslim.

   • This angered the British, leading to an "anti-Muslim" policy in the 1850s-1860s.

   • The British supported Hindus during this initial phase post-revolt.

   • The Wahabi movement was also a contributing factor to British suspicion of Muslims.

2. Queen Victoria's Proclamation (1858):

   • Promised non-interference in Indian religious and cultural matters (aimed partly at appeasing Hindus).

3. Shift in British Policy (1870s onwards):

   • Rise of Indian Nationalism, particularly strong in Bengal (seen as the "Nerve Centre of Nationalism").

   • This nationalism was predominantly Hindu-led.

   • To counter this, the British adopted a "Divide and Rule" strategy.

   • They began favouring Muslims to create a divide and weaken the nationalist movement.

   • Started taking an "anti-Hindu" / "pro-Muslim" stand.

4. Role of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan & Theodore Beck:

   • Sir Syed Ahmed Khan: A major Muslim social and educational reformer.

     • Initially secular (లౌకికవాది). Famous quotes: "India is a bride with two eyes - Hindus and Muslims"; emphasized living and dying in Hindustan.

     • Influenced by Theodore Beck (British principal of Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College). Beck highlighted Hindu advancement and Muslim backwardness (due to Pardah, polygamy, lack of Western education).

     • Advised Muslims to focus on education (especially English/Western) and remain loyal to the British.

   • Aligarh Movement:

     • Sir Syed founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh in 1875 (later became Aligarh Muslim University - AMU).

     • Established the All India Muhammadan Educational Conference in 1886 to promote education and loyalty among Muslims.

Formation of the All-India Muslim League (1906)

• Immediate Context: Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon and the subsequent Swadeshi Movement.

• Swadeshi Movement's Perception: Perceived by some Muslims (and highlighted by the British) as having Hindu religious overtones (e.g., dips in Ganga, pledges before Goddess Kali).

• British Propaganda: Portrayed the INC as solely a Hindu party.

• Dhaka Meeting (December 1906):

  • Held in Dhaka (important location **).

  • Attended by ~3000 Muslim delegates.

  • Chaired by Waqar-ul-Mulk (important name **).

  • The All India Muhammadan Educational Conference provided the platform.

  • The name "Muslim League" was proposed by Nawab Salimullah Khan of Dhaka.

  • Aga Khan III became the first Honorary President (important name **).

• Initial Objectives (1906):

  • Promote loyalty to the British government.

  • Protect and advance the political rights and interests of Muslims in India.

  • Prevent hostility between Muslims and other communities.

  • Not initially demanding a separate country, but focused on representation (e.g., separate electorates, more seats).

• Headquarters: Initially Aligarh, later shifted to Lucknow (important location **).

Rise of Communalism & Demand for Pakistan

• Related Organizations:

  • Hindu Mahasabha (1915) founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya (counter to Muslim League).

  • RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) (1925) founded by Hedgewar.

• Key Figures in Pakistan Movement:

  • Muhammad Iqbal (1930s): Poet ("Sare Jahan se Accha"), first proposed the idea of a separate "Autonomous State" for Muslims in North-West India. Considered the father of the idea of Pakistan.

  • Choudhry Rahmat Ali: Cambridge student who coined the term "Pakistan" in the 1930s and demanded a "Sovereign State". (Pakistan acronym: Punjab, Afghania [NWFP], Kashmir, Sindh, Baluchistan).

  • Muhammad Ali Jinnah:

    • Initially secular, joined INC. Joined Muslim League in 1913.

    • Became increasingly communal, especially after the 1937 provincial elections. The Muslim League performed poorly, and the INC refused to form coalition governments with them (e.g., in UP). This angered Jinnah significantly.

• Lahore Resolution (1940):

  • Muslim League, under Jinnah's leadership, officially passed the resolution demanding a separate Muslim state (Pakistan).

• Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946):

  • Called by Jinnah and the Muslim League after the failure of the Cabinet Mission Plan talks.

  • Slogan: "Either Divided India or Destroyed India" / "Ladkar Lenge Pakistan" (We will fight and take Pakistan).

  • Led to widespread communal violence, especially the "Great Calcutta Killings".

• Partition (1947):

  • Creation of Pakistan (August 14) and Independence of India (August 15).

  • Radcliffe Line: Boundary drawn by Cyril Radcliffe, who had little knowledge of India, leading to chaotic division.

Speaker's Analysis & Views

• The partition resulted in India, Pakistan, and later Bangladesh (1971).

• Concept of Akhand Bharat (Undivided India).

• Speaker supports the idea of Akhand Bharat or an Asia Union (like EU/AU) for peace, economic benefits (reduced military spending), and free movement. Believes it requires political will and improved Hindu-Muslim relations.

• Critique of James Mill's historical periodization (Hindu, Muslim, British eras) as communal and inaccurate (portraying Muslim rulers like Akbar as "foreign").

• Argues that major communal violence is a modern phenomenon, linked significantly to the introduction of democratic elections (post-1930s), which exacerbated religious divides for political gain. Ancient and Medieval India saw fewer communal riots despite religious differences.