Originally Posted by Fassi

Q:9. Account for the emergence of All-Indian Muslim League in 1906 and asses its importance in Indian Politics between 1906 and 1913?

Introduction:

After the war of independence 1857, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan adviced the Muslims not to join the congress and also tried to keep them away from the politics. Till his death in 1898 he worked for the Muslim Political Interest itself but after the death of the Sir Syed Ahmad Khan the Muslim felt that there will be a separate political party of the Muslims which worked for the Muslim interest only. As a result of the Aligarh Movement the Muslims of the Sub-Continent acquired political awakening and started thinking in terms of a nation. As a separate nation they developed their own distinct aspirations. However, Indian National Congress failed to come up to the expectations of the Muslims because it protected Hindu interest at the cost of all considerations. Thus, the Muslims felt the need of the political party which could safeguard their interests. Following were the main factors which led to the formations of Muslim League:

i) Urdu Hindi Controversy: Urdu Hindi Controversy (1867) made it clear that the Hindus were prejudiced and the culture of the Muslims is in danger. Defense of Urdu and Muslim culture was the need of time.
ii) Partition of Bengal: The partition of Bengal (1905) on administrative grounds was in the favour of the Muslims, created new situation in politics. The partition proved a blessing for the Muslims but the Hindus reacted violently towards the Partition of Bengal and asked for its annulment.
iii) Extremist Hindu Sectarian Parties and Movements: The Slogan of the Hindu Sectarian parties formed in the eighteenth century was:

iv) Negative Attitude of Indian National Congress: Indian National Congress was hi jacked by the Hindus failed to protect the rights of the Muslim community. This pro-Hindu attitude of the Congress totally disillusioned the Muslims.
v) Deprivation of the Muslims: After the war of independence of 1857, the British and the Hindus jointly victimized the Muslims politically, socially and economically by closing the doors of new jobs for the Muslims and raising a lot of political and economical pressure Muslims.
vi) Success of Simla Deputation: A deputation of Muslim leaders called on Lord Minto, the Viceroy on 1st October, 1906 at Simla. Sir Agha Khan, the Head of the Deputation, presented a memorandum and requested for basic political, economic, cultural and other rights for the Muslims. The success of the Simla Deputation encouraged the Muslim leaders and all India Muslim League emerged on the scene.
vii) Problem of Slaughtering Cow: The Hindu sectarian organization Arya Samaj formed Gao Raksha Sabah for the protection of cows in 1883 whose goal was to stop Muslims from sacrificing cows.

Under these circumstances unity of Muslims was unavoidable to stop the intrusion of Hindus in political, social and religious affairs and for that formation of an organized party was necessary.

Formation Of Muslim League:

After the successful meeting of Simla deputation, the annual meeting of the Muhammadan Educational conference was held at Decca on 30th December, 1906. After the session, the Muslim leaders approved a resolution of Salim Ullah which proposed the formation of a political organization for the Muslims named as All-India Muslim League. Mohammad Ali Johar, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Maulana Zafar Ali supported the resolution. On 30th December, 1906 Muslim League was established. Sir Agha Khan was the first President of the Party. Syed Ameer Ali was made the President of London Branch. The Head Office was decided in Aligarh. First Annual Session of Muslim League was established in Karachi in 1907 in which it was decided that the membership will be given to the Muslims of the sub-continent.


The resolution declared that:


Objectives Of The Muslim League:

The objectives of the Muslim League were as under:
i) To promote among the Muslims of India the feelings of loyalty to the British government and to remove misconception.
ii) To promote and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India and to respectfully represent the needs and requirements to the government.
iii) To prevent the rise among the Muslims of India any feeling of hostility towards other communities without prejudice to the other aforementioned objectives of the Muslim League.


Importance of Muslim League In Sub-continent Politics:

After the establishment of the Muslim League it worked for the Muslim interests and raised the pressure on the British Government:

1. Approval of Separate Election: The first the most important achievement of Muslim League was the attainment of right of separate electorate for the Muslims in 1909. The acceptance of separate electorate was the first step by the Government taken towards the establishment of self-rule in India.
2. Answer to Congress Propaganda: Muslim League answers to the Congress and the British Government on their Propagandas against the Muslims.
3. Representative of Muslims of Sub-continent: In a very short period time Muslim League became the single representative party of the Muslims of the sub-continent.
4. It also worked for the Muslim interests only.

In spite of some early successes the Muslim League could not assume that political importance and significance which All Indian Congress had achieved. The Government too, was not very considerate and sympathetic towards Muslim League as it was towards Congress. Then Jinnah in 1913 injected a new vigour to this Muslim political organization. During the period from 1906 to 1913 Muslim League got itself established as a Muslim political organization. Muslims joined the League and forged unity among their ranks. The annulment of the Partition of Bengal and Western aggression towards Muslim countries, Balkan Wars, Libya-Italy War, Demolition of the Mosque in Kanpur (1913), etc. weakened Muslim faith in the British and provided opportunities to the Muslims to join the Muslim League. This led to a major drift in the Muslim League’s policy. Consequently Muslim League in its annual session held in Lucknow in 1913 adopted a new strategy and changed its goals:
• Self-government under the British Crown keeping in view the peculiar conditions in India.
• Good relations with other communities’ cooperation with any party working for similar goals.
This change brought the Muslim League and Congress closer. In this way the era of cooperation between Hindus and Muslims set in. The role of the Quaid-i-Azam is highly noteworthy to bring the Congress and the Muslim League to the table.

Critical Analyis:

Many Hindu historians and several British writers have alleged that the Muslim League was founded at official instigation. They argue that it was Lord Minto who inspired the establishment of a Muslim organization so as to divide the Congress and to minimize the strength of the Indian Freedom Movement. But these statements are not supported by evidence. Contrary to this, the widely accepted view is that the Muslim League was basically established to protect and advance the Muslim interests and to combat the growing influence of the Indian National Congress.
Consequently, All India Muslim League met with early success the;
1. Government accepted the demand of separate electorate in 1909.
2. In 1916 Muslim League signed a Pact with Indian National Congress and got significant concessions for the Muslims.
3. In its annual Session at Lahore passed an historic resolution in 1940 demanding a separate homeland for Muslims. It was in 1947 that Muslim League succeeded in getting Pakistan for Muslims after a struggle of seven years.