The Muslim League
Factors leading to the formation of the Muslim League
1. Loss of Sovereignty by Mughal Rulers
a. The British established their power after dethroning the Mughal rulers
b. Muslims became bitter enemies of the British
c. British consciously discriminated against the Muslims, holding them responsible
for the Uprising of 1857
d. After the 1870s, the British changed its attitude and followed the policy of
appeasing the Muslims in order to undermine the National Movement
2. Role of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan
a. Sayyid Ahmad Khan considered Hindus and Muslims to be one Quam(nation)
b. Under the influence of Mr Theodore Beck, he declared that the political interests
of Hindus and Muslims were different
c. When Indian National COngress was founded, he founded the United Indian
Patriotic Association(1888) mainly with a view to oppose it
d. He declared that if the educated Muslims support the British, the latter would
reward them with government jobs and other special favours
3. Rise of Assertive Nationalism
a. Some of their actions marked a step back in respect of the growth of national
unity
b. Speeches and actions of them annoyed some sections of the society
c. Example
i. Aurobindo Ghosh’s concept of India as mother and nationalism as
religion
ii. Propagation of Shivaji and Ganapati festivals by Tilak
iii. Initiation of Anti-Partition agitation with dips in the Ganga
4. Economic Backwardness of the Country
a. There was acute unemployment among the educated youth
b. There was fierce competition among the youth to secure the few available jobs
c. This led to demand reservation of jobs on the basis of caste, creed or religion
d. British used to opportunity
e. Unemployed people failed to realise that the British themselves were responsible
for their economic backwardness
5. British policy of Divide and Rule
a. They saw the unity between the Hindus and the Muslims as a threat to them
b. Did in the following manner
i. Lard Mayo increased the government aid to educational institutions run
by the Muslims
ii. Portrayed Muslim rulers as plunderers and Hindu rulers as cruel king to
their Muslim subjects
iii. Justified the Partition of Bengal was to create a new Muslim majority
province
iv. Turned the non-brahmins and the lower castes against high castes
6. Erroneous Interpretation of History
a. Muslim rulers were dubbed as foreign invaders who had settled in India
b. Highlighted the myth that Indian society and culture had reached great heights
during the ancient period but was declining during the medieval period which
was dominated by the Mughal rulers
c. Communal bias was propagated through poetry, drama, novels, short stories,
newspapers, etc.
Formation of the Muslim League
1. Nawab Salimullah - founder
2. December 30, 1906
3. Dacca
4. Agha Khan - Permanent President
Objectives of the Muslim League
1. Promote among the Muslims the support for the British
2. Protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims
3. Present their needs and aspirations to the government
4. Prevent the rise of feelings of hostility between the Muslims and other communities
Significance of the Lucknow Pact(1916)
1. Hindu-Muslim Unity
a. It symbolised Hindu-Muslim unity
b. Both communities agreed to compromise in some areas
c. Congress compromised on its secular character by accepting the scheme of
separate electorates
d. Muslim League accepted the principles of election and majority rule
2. Unity within the congress
a. United the Assertive Nationalists and the Early Nationalists
b. Congress was strengthened
3. Pressure on the Government
a. The unity became the threat to the British
b. They now had no excuse for delaying the political or constitutional reforms
4. Necessity to Pacify Indians
a. The League and Congress impressed that their demands for Constitutional
Reforms should not be rejected if they wish the Indians to remain loyal
b. The government therefore felt it necessary to pacify the Indians by the
Declaration of August 20, 1917
