Lecture# 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Finding the Bengal Presidency too large for one governor to administer, in
1905 the English (Lord Curzon; viceroy of India) decided to redraw its
boundaries and divided it into two parts.
• The provinces of Bengal was reconstituted so as to form the two provinces
of manageable size.
• The provinces of Bengal was reconstituted so as to form the two provinces
of manageable size. Western Bengal, with a population of 54 million (42
million Hindus and 9 million Muslims); and Eastern Bengal and Assam with
a population of 31 million (12 million Hindus and 18 million Muslims).
• Dhakka became the capital of the new province and hence the centre of
Muslim political activities
• Process of the Partition:
• Curzon, the Viceroy of India, sent the proposal to London in February
1905. The Secretary of State for India St. John Brodrich sanctioned it in
June, and the proclamation/declaration of the formation of the new
province was issued in September.
• The province of Bengal came into being on October 16 1905.
• Advantage of the Partition:
• Incidentally, the partition went in favor of the Muslims. Before the
partition, Western Bengal, being the first area to come under western
influence, was developed and industrialized.
• It was a striking contrast to the eastern part where the Muslim peasantry
was crushed under the Hindu landlords, the river system was infested with
pirates, and very few funds were allocated for education.
• Background:
• This resulted in a series of unprecedented agitation by the Hindus. They
alleged that Lord Curzon had deliberately tried to divide the Hindus and the
Muslims by drawing a line between the Hindu and the Muslim halves of
Bengal.
• And by favoring the Muslims by giving them a new province in which they
were in a clear majority, had struck a deadly blow to Bengali nationality.
They branded him as the upholder of the devilish policy of 'divide and rule'.
• The Hindu community strongly opposed it. They launched a mass movement,
declaring October 16 as a day of mourning.
• Influenced by the Chinese boycott of American goods, the Hindus started the
Swadeshi Movement against the British.
• In the meantime, the Hindus raised the Band-i-Mataram as the national cry
protecting worship of Shivaji as a national hero. This organized rebel
movement took a terrorist turn resulting in political sabotage and communal
riots.
• British Reaction:
• Keeping in view the fluid political situation in India and the cult of Hindu
revivalism, the British decided to undo their earlier decision to please the
Hindus. The provinces were reunited in 1911.
• This act saddened the Muslims. It was a catalyst in making the Muslims of
India realize the “need for a separate homeland”.
• Influence of Annulment:
• Muslim realized that their loyalty towards British cannot pay fruition
• Thus adopted a new attitude to come closer to congress to find some common
ground on which the two organizations could stand against the British.
• On the other hand there emerged a new set of young political leaders i.e.
Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Shaukat Ali, Abul Kalam Azad, Zafar Ali Khan, and
Hasrat Mohani; who through the press and platform, set the ball rolling in the
direction of a full scale battle for the freedom of the country from the foreign
yoke.
• Background:
• Congress (dominated by Hindus) failed to gain confidence of
Muslims/minorities
• Acid Test of Sir Syed’s apprehensions-Congress announcement of
“Swodeshy Movement”- against partition of Bengal (1905)
• Fissures among the Indian society were deep rooted-religion, tradition
and culture, norms and values-one platform was not possible
• Factors for Formation
1.
Separate Identity
• Conflicting interests between Hindus and Muslims-Congress could not
safeguard interests of Muslims
• Sir Syed’s apprehensions/contentions proved by the events and
circumstances
• Sir Syed’s opposition to joint electorate (demand for separate
electorates) was the first seed to culminate in the formation of AIML
2. The attitude of Congress towards Muslims
• Congress primarily safeguard Hindu Interest- no consideration for
justifiable rights of Muslims
• Congress passed resolution against partition of Bengal
• Congress aanounced “Sowdeshi Movement”-serious Hindu – Muslim
riots
• Thus, a separate political organization was formed
3. Hindu Agitation of Partition of Bengal (1905)
• First partition of Bengal by the British on administrative grounds-not a
Muslim demand but intense reaction of Congress/Hindu was an eye
opener for Muslims
4. Diversity of Political Views
• Joint electorate and separate electorate
• Aims and Objectives
• Phase I
1. Secure Political Rights
2. Create loyalty to the British and to remove misunderstandings
3. Secure supremacy of Urdu Language
• Phase II
1. System of self government under British Government
2. New Constitution passed on 23rd March, 1909 (Minto Morley
Reforms)
3. Hindu Muslim Unity leading to Lucknow Pact (1916)
• Phase III
1. Struggle for Independent State (Starts from 1939)
• Achievements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
A separate political platform for Muslims
Political leadership (Mohammad Ali Jinnah joined in 1913, many others
subsequently)
Filled up the vacuum of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Separate Electorates through Minto-Morley Reforms (1909)
Appointment of Muslim Judges in High/Supreme Court
Approval of Trust Bill- trust a social entity works for social benefit.
Many Trusts in India denied to Muslims-act extended benefits to Muslims
Creation of Pakistan
• Introduction
• Tension between Congress and ML after the Partition of Bengal (1905)
• Muslims demanded “Separate Electorate” during Simla Deputation (1906)
prior to creation of Muslim League
• Muslim League intensified efforts for the said demand and convinced
British who brought reforms in the shape of Indian Council Act 1909
• Indian Council act 1909
• Approved by British Parliament and enforced on 23rd March 1909
• Salient Features
• Muslims’ demand of Separate Electorate accepted
• Modus operandi for election
• Members of Councils could raise questions relating to administration and
policy and discuss budget item wise
• Congress/Hindu Reaction
• Hindu Politicians and Congress launched a campaign against the adoption
of the main demand of Separate Electorate for Muslims
• Hindu-Muslim relation further deteriorated
• Role of Muslim League
• First achievement of ML within two years of the establishment
• British govt for the first time accepted that in India where different
nationalities live western type of democracy was inapplicable-voice of Sir
Syed Ahmed Khan reality
• The status of ML established as the only political organization
representing Muslims
• Importance of Reform for Muslims
• Muslims’main demand of separate electorate was accepted in the provinces
• Muslims were given double vote (they could vote separately for Muslims and
also for general constituency)
• Legal and constitutional status of Muslims in India as a separate entity was
accepted
• Congress had not accepted ML and Muslim as separate entity
• Congress realized that ML was an important factor in Indian Politics
• Conclusion
• The reforms play significant role in the constitutional history/development in
India
• But for Muslims they were of paramount importance and shaped their political
fate
• Had there been no provision of Separate Electorate least Chances of Lucknow
Pact (1916) consequently no concept of Pakistan Resolution.
• Introduction
• An episode of great political and constitutional magnitude
• A bridge to narrow down the gulf between Hindus and Muslims
• A step towards establishment of a bi-national state and self government in
India when Congress and ML agreed over the political and constitutional
future of India
• Salient Features of the Pact
• Congress conceded/approved the ML demand of separate electorate
• Muslim minority provinces: UP (seats 30%), Madras seats 14%; more share
was given to Muslims
• Muslim majority provinces: Hindus were given weightage more than their
population in Bengal (25% more) and Punjab (10%)
• Muslim lost majority in Bengal and Punjab while no real benefit accrued in
Muslim minority provinces
• Communal Veto: no bill, affecting a particular community, should be processed
in any council, if 75% of members of that community in the council opposite it
• Maximum administrative and financial autonomy for provinces
• Significance of the Pact
• First time an agreed solution to the constitutional issues in India was found by
the two parties
• Created trust among Hindus and Muslims
• Three clear benefits to Muslims
• Separate Electorate accepted by Hindus
• More seats in Muslim minority provinces
• Communal veto
• Heavy price paid by Muslisms-lost majorities in Bengal and Punjab
• The Hindu-Muslim honeymoon culminated into
• Khilafat Movement
• Conclusion
• Though Hindu-Muslim unity and the influence of the pact proved short
lived yet it greatly impacted the future course of events in next few years.
• The political strength of Congress and ML increased
• Although this Hindu Muslim Unity was not able to live for more than eight
years, and collapsed after the development of differences between the
two communities after the Khilafat Movement, yet it was an important
event in the history of the Muslims of South Asia.
• It was the first time when Congress recognized the Muslim League as the
political party representing the Muslims of the region. As Congress
agreed to separate electorate, it in fact agreed to consider the Muslims
as a separate nation.
• They thus accepted the concept of the Two-Nation Theory.
1. Introduction:
• The Khilafat Movement was started by Maulana Muhammad Ali, Maulana Shaukat
Ali, Maulana Abdul kalam Azad, Hasrat Mohani, and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari.
• It was started in 1919 to support Ottaman Caliphate and was short lived, ending
in 1924 by the overthrow of the Caliph by Kamal Ataturk in Turkey
2. Background
• The Khilafat movement was a very important event in the political history of India.
The Muslims of India had a great regard for the Khilafat (Caliphate) which was
held by the Ottoman Empire.
• During World War I, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) joined the war in favour of
Germany. But Turkey and Germany lost the war and a pact commonly known as
Istanbul Accord was concluded between the Allied Forces on 3rd November 1918.
• According to this Pact the territories of Turkey were to be divided among France,
Greece and Britain.
3. Mass Movement Started:
• Thus, Muslims organized a mass movement, which came to be known as
Khilafat Movement. The aims of this movement were
• To protect the Holy place of Turkey
• To restore the Territories of Turkey
• To restore the Ottoman Empire.
• In December 1919 both the Khilafat Committee and Congress held their
meetings simultaneously at Amritsar and a delegation was prepared which
was sent to England but British Prime Minister, Lloyd George who paid no
heed to the delegations demand.
4. Non Co-operation Movement:
• When the leaders of Khilafat movement announced the Non Co-operation
Movement, the Congress extended its full support to the Khilafat Movement.
• The leaders of the two met at Amritsar and resolved to launch a country wide
agitation under the leadership of Mr. Gandhi.
• The agitation was against the British government. The Jamiat-ul-Ulama Hind issued
a Fatwa of Tark-e-Mawalat. The following points were included in it:
1. Renunciation of all Government titles.
2. Boycott of legislature and court.
3. Withdrawal of student’s from educational institutions.
4. Resignation from government posts.
5. General civil disobedience.
5. Reaction of Movement:
•
•
•
Muslim ulama had issued a verdict and declared India as Dar-ul-Harab and the
Muslims therefore needed to migrate to some other country or Dar-ul-Salam.
Thousands of families sold out their properties for a tenth of their value and
hastily left for Afghanistan. As many as 18000 people marched towards
Afghanistan, which was unable to bear the influx of the people.
Thus, the Afghan authorities closed their frontiers. Eventually the Muhajarins had
to return to their homes.
•
•
A great number of old man, women and children died on their way during returning
to homes and those who luckily reach alive their former places. They found
themselves homeless and penniless.
In fact they faced great difficulties. Even the preachers of Khilafat Movement
realized the fact.
6. Death blow to Khilafat Movement:
• The abolition of Khilafat by Kamal Ataturk was a serious blow on Khilafat
movement in the sub-continent and he exiled Sultan Abdul Majeed, a helpless
Caliph and abolished Khilafat as an institution, due to this all agitational
activities came to an end in the Sub-continent.
• The Hijrat Movement made the Muslims disillusioned with the Khilafat
Movement due to the declaration of India as Darul-Harab. A large number of
Muslims migrated from Sindh and N.W.F.P to Afghanistan.
• The Afghan authorities did not allow them to cross the border. After this tragic
event those who had advocated the Hijrat movement come to realize their
mistake which resulted in failure of movement.
• When Khilafat movement became mature and was reaching its climax. A tragic
incident took place in the village of Chora Churi in which the police opened fire on
the procession of local resident. The agitated mob in counteraction set the police
station on fires which in result twenty one police constables were burnt alive. Due
to this incident the Ali brother and other Muslim leader were arrested and Mr.
Gandhi put off the movement. As a consequence the movement lost its intensity.
• Conclusion:
• Khilafat Movement reached at its success, the Hindus especially Mr. Gandhi gave
up from movement and leaved the Muslims alone and caused the failure of
Movement.
• The Khilafat movement proved that Hindus and Muslims were two different nations
as they could not continue the unity and could not live together. The Khilafat
Movement created political consciousness among the Indian Muslims, which inspired
them to constitute another movement for then Independence. Thus, they started
Pakistan Movement.
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