Lecture 6

An Evaluation of the Struggle of Muslim League, Efforts for Hindu Muslim

Unity
 Muslim League rendered invaluable services to the cause of Muslim of sub-
continent. It was under the guidance of Muslim League that the Muslims of India
were at last able to re-establish their lost importance in the Indian society and
finally succeeded in achieving Pakistan as a separate homeland.
 THE MINTO-MORLEY REFORMS
 In 1906 both Lord Minto the Viceroy of India and John Morley the Secretary of
State for India were convinced that the Indians demand for an increased share in
the government of their country was fully justified, they decided to introduce
constitutional reforms in India. In the meantime, a Muslim delegation met the
Viceroy, this Shimla deputation had demanded separate electorate, seats in the
legislatures, quota in government services and seats for the judges, Minto gave a
patient hearing, he promised to give sympathetic consideration to the demands.
 In 1909 Lord Minto, in collaboration with Lord Morley, prepared a draft bill for the
introduction of constitutional reforms which were passed by the British Parliament
in 1909 popularly known as Minto Morley Reforms, the longstanding demand of the
Muslims for the separate electorate was accepted in the Act, which was a great
achievement of the Muslims.
 The Hindus argued that this was undemocratic and for the next 25 years, Congress
was to pass an annual resolution calling for an end to separate electorate.
The Muslim League Changes Its Course
 Both Muslims and Hindus had set up their own political organizations and were
campaigning for greater rights. Muslim League had observed that the
government always responded in harsh and hostile manner and yielded only to
pressure. The reversal of the partition of Bengal was bitterly opposed by the
Muslims but the British were not to be moved. Muslims League decided to
change its line of action in the wake of government attitude and came out
with a new course towards the Hindu Muslim Unity, as it had come to realize
that unity between Hindus and Muslims would compel the government to
kneel down and accept the demands of the Indian people.
 In view of the new development the Muslim League had to change its policy
and included, in its demands, the introduction of self-rule for India.
 It was also decided that the leaders of both parties would sit together to
chalk out programme to accomplish Hindu-Muslim Unity in the shortest
possible time.
Efforts for Hindu Muslim Unity
 It was during the end of 1913 when Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah joined the
Muslim League, at that time he was the greatest advocate of Hindu-Muslim
unity.
 On 31st December, 1915 the annual session of the Congress was held at
Bombay Mr. Jinnah invited the Muslim League to hold its session at Bombay.
So both the Congress and the Muslim League, in a joint session, agreed to
constitute committees for both political bodies which would consider the
special needs of both the Hindus and Muslims and to sort out the way for
political reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims by negotiation.
 These two committees drew up a scheme for the constitutional reforms in
India