To what extent was the INC achieving
its aims?
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Lord Minto – Viceroy after Curzon. Arrived in
India at a time of great tension and protest over
the partition of Bengal. Wanted to diffuse
tension and maintain control for the empire.
John Morley – Liberal secretary of State for
India. 1906 election produced a Liberal landslide. Morley wanted a more humane
administration, leading to Indian selfgovernment.
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The INC had grown and split into militant and
moderate factions. The militants favoured force
and the moderates were fearful of provoking
the British and losing ground.
Fear of mutiny in the Punjabi army.
The British saw the need to use the moderates
to control, or at least influence, the ‘extremists’.
Which tactics were persuading the British to
change?
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The INC protests were aimed at ending the partition of
Bengal and a perceived British policy of ‘divide and
rule’.
The INC was dominated by a Hindu majority, and this
raised worries among Muslims that any future
concessions by the British would favour Hindus at the
expense of Muslims.
A Muslim deputation to Lord Minto at Simla, asked for
a separate Muslim electorate; reminded Minto of the
service Muslims had performed for the empire; and
warned of the dangers of democracy.
Minto pledged to guarantee Muslim rights in the
future – why?
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More Indians were allowed into the
administration – 60 elected Indians were allowed
to serve on the Viceroy’s executive council.
The provincial councils were enlarged. Indians
could be in the majority but the officials were
British.
Separate electorates were provided for Muslims
and Hindus.
Morley appointed 2 Indians to his Whitehall
advisers and Minto appointed the AdvocateGeneral of Bengal as his law member. The reforms
came into effect in 1909.
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Should the INC celebrate the Morley-Minto
reforms as a success for their agitation?
Would ordinary Indians think the INC had
done a good job?
How would British administrators look on
working with the newly elected Indian
councillors?
What might be the attitude of Muslims to a)the
British and b) the INC?