Political evaluation of Muslims in modern age

1. The Political Aspects Of Aligarh Movement

In political arena of the Sub-continent, Aligarh Movement has played the following important
roles.
 Political Awareness
Muslims of the Subcontinent were completely unaware of the western political system and
had no idea how it works. Aligarh Movement not only imparted knowledge of western
political culture but also trained Muslims and guided them to fight for their rights.
 Resolved British-Muslims Relations
British government and its forces in Sub-continent were considering Muslims sole
responsible for the 1857 War of Independence and therefore they had adopted very strict
policies to crush them. Muslims on the other hand were at odds with British forces too. Such
an air of conflict and mistrust between Muslims and Britain had resulted in the deplorable
conditions of the Muslims of India. To pacify the situation and create a sentiment of trust and
friendship between the two nations, Aligarh Movement published Magazine on the causes of
revolt of 1857 in which other nations of the Subcontinent were held as equal responsible as
Muslims. Similarly to further strengthen the relations between Britain and Muslims, Indian
Patriotic Association and British Indian Association 1866 were created by the Aligarh
Movement.
 Urdu-Hindi Controversy
Aligarh Movement also played an important role in 1867 Urdu-Hindi controversy for the
protection of Urdu, the language of Muslims of the Subcontinent. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
using Aligarh Movement platform demanded from the government for the establishment of
an institution where modern western knowledge can be translated into Urdu..
 Developed Two Nation Theory
One of the major political services of Aligarh Movement was the presentation of Two Nation
Theory, presented by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, which became the basis of Pakistan Movement
and finally the establishment of Pakistan in 1947.
2. War of independence 1857-causes and reasons of failure

Military causes
 Local Indian soldiers in EIC army were less
 Hindu soldiers in EIC army were forced to travel by sea which was not allowed in Hindu
religion.
 British introduced cartridge greased with cow and pig fat, which was not allowed in
Hindu and Muslim religion. Indian soldiers had to chew the cartridge before use so they
revolted against British.
 Teaching of bible was included in the training of soldiers, Indian soldiers were afraid that
British would change them into Christians.
 Muslim soldiers of EIC army were angry because British forced them to fight in Sindh
and Afghanistan against their Muslim brothers.
Due to these reasons local soldiers pf EIC army revolted.
Religious causes
 British tried to spread Christian religion in India
 Hindu widows were allowed to re-marry angered Hindus
 British tried to change Indians to Christians
These reforms were not welcomed by Hindu and they revolted against British.
Economic causes
 British collected heavy taxes from Indians
 British forced farmers to grow only cash crops so millions of people in Bengal were
killed due to food shortage.
 Indian industry was destroyed due to cheap British goods. A large number of Indians
were unemployed.
Educational reasons
 Persian and Sanskrit languages were replaced by English as medium of education.
 Bible was taught in school and co-education was introduced.
 Parda (veil) was banned in schools.
These reforms deeply upset both Hindu and Muslims.
Cultural reasons
 British considered their culture superior
 British adopted insulting behavior with Indians
 Indian thought that British wanted to spread western culture through railway and
telegraph wire.
Political reasons
 Mughal king bahadur shah Zafar was moved from red fort to less important building
Qutab shah, Indian Muslims considered it as an insult.
 British introduced doctrine of lapse. Local states were captured by British after death of
ruler if they got no son. British captured Jhansi, Nagpur, sitara and Oudh states under
doctrine lapse. Noble and royal families were ready to take revenge so they revolted.
3. Fourteen points of Jinnah
1)  India should be a federation, in which residuary powers should be given to the
provinces.
2) Provinces should be given uniform type of autonomy.
3) In the legislative bodies there should be adequate representation to the minorities.
4) In Central Legislature at least 1/3 of the total members should be the Muslims.
5) There should be system of separate electorates for communal groups.
6) There should be no territorial re-distribution which was likely to disturb Muslim
majority provinces.
7)  There should be full liberty of worship and belief for the people of all
communities.
8) If 3/4 members of a particular community in any elected body felt that a particular
resolution adversely effected their interests that resolution should not be passed.
9) Sindh should be separated from Bombay.
10) Immediate reforms should be introduced in Frontier Provinces and Baluchistan.
11) The Muslims should be given adequate representation in civil services.
12) The Muslims culture, religion and personal law should be duly protected.
13) Each cabinet should have at least 3 Muslim members.
14) Central legislature should have no power to change Constitution without the
approval of the provinces.

4. Round Table Conferences

There were increasing demands of granting dominion status to India among a certain
section of the British polity.
In India, the freedom movement was in full swing with its demand for swaraj or self-rule
spearheaded by the charismatic Gandhi.
The conferences were based on the recommendation of Muhammad Ali Jinnah to Lord
Irwin, the then Viceroy of India and James Ramsay MacDonald, the then British Prime
Minister, and the Simon Commission report.
It was for the first time that the Indians and the British were meeting as ‘equals’. The first
conference started on November 12th, 1930.

Issues discussed in the First Round Table Conference

 Federal structure
 Provincial constitution
 Provinces of Sindh and NWFP
 Minorities
 Defense services
 Franchise
 Executive responsibility to the legislature
 Dr B R Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for the ‘untouchables’.
  Tej Bahadur Sapru moved the idea of an All-India Federation. This was supported
by the Muslim League. The princely states also supported this on the condition
that their internal sovereignty is maintained.

Participants in the First Round Table Conference

 58 political leaders from British India.
 16 delegates from the native princely states.
 16 delegates from the three British political parties.
 The Indian National Congress decided not to participate in the conference. Many of
the INC leaders were imprisoned due to their involvement in the civil
disobedience movement.
 Among the British-Indians, the following representatives attended the conference:
Muslim League, Hindus, Justice Party, Sikhs, liberals, Persis, Christians, Anglo-
Indians, Europeans, landlords, labor, women, universities, Sindh, Burma, other
provinces, and the representatives from the Government of India.

5. Lucknow pact-khilafat movement

Lucknow pact 1916

In 1913, the Quaid-e-Azam’s inclusion in the Muslim League was a historic event which gave
new dimensions to Muslim League’s struggle.  He succeeded in persuading both the Congress
and the Muslim League parties to hold their annual sessions in Bombay in 1915. Both the parties
set up Reform Committees for making a scheme for constitutional changes in consultation with
other political parties. The atmosphere of Lucknow in 1916, where the Muslim League and the
Congress, for the first time in the history of India, held their joint sessions, was even more
cordial. The scheme for constitutional reforms prepared by the Reform Committees of Congress
and Muslim League, in which the Quaid-e-Azam played a major role, was placed before the joint
session for approval. Finally the scheme was approved and an agreement on the scheme of
constitutional reforms was reached between Congress and Muslim League known as Lucknow
Pact
Khilafat Movement
 The Lucknow Pact made Hindus and Muslims of India work together in matters of the
constitutional and political issues.
However, the Hindu-Muslim unity came to its conclusion during the Khilafat Movement. At the start of
WWI, the Ottoman Empire of Turkey held the seat of Khilafat. The Turks stand beside Austria
and Germany to fight against Russia, Britain, and France. The British wanted Indian Muslims to
join in the fight alongside them and promised them that they will protect the Khalifa and the
Ottoman Empire. As a result, thousands of Muslims joined the army. But the Turkish side lost
the war and Muslims became concerned about the Khalifa and the Ottoman Empire.
 Reasons for the Rise of the Khilafat Movement
 After the Turkish side lost, Britain captured the Ottoman Empire including Madinah
and Makkah. To protect these places the movement was launched.
 The Khalifa (Caliph) of Turkey was dethroned.
 The British wanted to end the Ottoman Empire and force Turkey to be treated like a
normal country.
 The British forgot their promise to treat Turkey better.
 The Muslims of India were grieve stricken because Turkey was the last great power
left to them.
 They believed, if Britain destroyed Turkey then Muslims will become like Jews,
people without a country of their own.

Objectives
- To protect the holy places of Muslims.
- To defend the Khalifa.
- To protect the Ottoman Empire.
Failure of the Khilafat Movement
 The demands and arguments made by the Khilafat Delegation were rejected.
 Under British policy of repression, around 30,000 supporters were arrested.
 The Ali brother, Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Muhammad Ali were arrested.
 After the incident of Chauri Chaura, Gandhi also withdrew his support from the Khilafat
Movement.
 In 1924, under the leadership of Mustafa Kamal Turks announced the end of Khilafat, it came as
a blow to the Indian Muslims.