Change in Attitude of Muslim League

Factors that Created the Muslim League

British plan: British wanted to divide Indians into communal lines and that is why they included divisive tendencies in Indian politics, the proof of this was to arrange separate electorates and play the game of caste politics between Brahmins and non-Brahmins. Lack of education: Muslims were untouched by western and technical education. The decline of Muslim Sovereignty: The Revolution of 1857 forced the British to think that Muslims could be a threat to their colonial policies as they had laid the foundation of their rule by removing the Mughal power. Expression of religious sentiments: Most historians and ultra-nationalists glorified only one aspect of Indian composite culture. They praised Shivaji, Rana Pratap, etc. but remained silent about Akbar, Sher Shah Suri, Alauddin Khilji, Tipu Sultan, etc. Economic backwardness of India: Unemployment had taken a severe form in the absence of industrialization and the attitude of the British towards domestic industries was pathetic....

Objectives of the Formation of the League

To encourage allegiance to the British Government among Indian Muslims To protect the political and other rights of Indian Muslims and to present their needs and expectations to the government To reduce resentment among Muslims against other communities...

Background of Muslim League

The British officers contributed to promoting the communal element in India. The rise of Hindu nationalism created fear among the Muslims. The role of Sir Syed Ahmad in improving the social, economic, and political life of the Muslims was commendable. In the 20th century, there was a constant effort to settle the linguistic disputes, elect the council representatives, and get the Muslims appointed to the government services. Seeing the anti-government stance among the Hindus, the British authorities had adopted the policy of giving protection to the Muslims, leaving behind the old policy of repression. The partition of Bengal had given direct impetus to Muslim communalism. Lord Curzon visited East Bengal several times and made it clear that he would create East Bengal only as a Muslim-majority area where Muslims would get ample opportunity to develop....

Birth of the Muslim League

The credit for the establishment of the Muslim League can be given to the British. The Muslim League was established only to create an obstacle in the path of the national movement. This organization was of sycophants. Viceroy Lord Minto and India Minister Marley also had the support in uplifting the Muslims. In the first session, there is no clear outline regarding the purpose of the Muslim League. The second session of the Muslim League was held in Karachi in 1907, in which a constitution was made for the League....

Communal Representation by Muslim League

The Muslim League came to be considered the representative body of the Muslims. The principle of communal representation was severely criticized by only a few Muslims. But their voice was suppressed. The Muslims gradually started living separately from Congress. The Muslim League also could not take the form of a representative body. On political questions, the government used to advise the representatives of the Muslim League only....

Change in Attitude of Muslim League

Till 1911, the Muslim League continued with the communal policy, but gradually the attitude of the League changed and the Muslim League moved away from the British rule and came closer to the Congress. The adoption of a policy hostile towards Turkey by the Government of England and the annulment of the partition of Bengal became the immediate reasons for the change in the attitude of the League....

Simon Commission and the Split in the League

The British Government appointed Simon Commission in 1927 for the purpose of studying the constitutional problem of India and for constitutional reforms. The Indians decided to boycott this commission, as no Indian was placed in it. There was a split in the league on the question of opposition to the Simon Commission. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his supporters decided to oppose the commission, but on the other hand, Muhammad Shafi decided to cooperate with the Simon Commission....

Nehru Report and Muslim League

At the time of the appointment of the Simon Commission, the Minister of India, Birkenhead, challenged that Indians could not present any unanimous plan on their part regarding constitutional reforms. To answer this challenge, an all-party conference was organized in Delhi in February 1928 with the efforts of Congress. Under the chairmanship of Pt. Motilal Nehru, a committee was constituted to plan the constitution in India. At the time of preparation of the report of this committee, the representation of Muslims was accepted through a joint election system. But this report was widely debated, so Muhammad Ali Jinnah presented the following three suggestions:...

Elections under the Act of 1935 and Congress-League Conflict

In the elections held for the legislatures in 1937 under the Government of India Act of 1935, the League did not get much success. Congress cabinets were formed in 8 out of 11 provinces and mixed cabinets were formed in the remaining three provinces. The League could not form its cabinet in a single province. So it was natural for the league to be disappointed. In Uttar Pradesh, where the League and the Congress contested elections together, the Muslim League demanded the formation of a joint cabinet from the Congress. But the Congress put the following conditions for the inclusion of the League in the cabinet:...

Conclusion:

Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the ‘Muslim League’ led the movement demanding the division of British India into Hindu and Muslim nations, and after the formation of Pakistan in 1947, the League became the main political party of Pakistan. In the same year, its name was changed to ‘All Pakistan Muslim League’....

MCQ Questions on Muslim League

Q1. Who founded the Muslim League in India?...