O Level P1 History and Culture of Pakistan Topic 10 Shimla Deputation, Muslim League 1906 & Indian National Congress
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Shimla Deputation And Muslim League 1906
The Shimla Deputation of 1906 was the first systematic attempt on the part of the Muslims to present their demands, to the British government and to seek their acceptance. The Shimla deputation comprised 35 Muslims from all over India. It was a galaxy of Muslims leaders from all the provinces, from one end of India to the other and it had Muslims of all background. Therefore, when in 1906, this deputation called on the Viceroy, it was the most representative Muslim delegation. This delegation was led by Sir Agha Khan and Nawab Mohsin ul Malik served as a secretary and this delegation met the Viceroy in Shimla that was why it was called as Shimla Deputation.
The memorandum which they presented was a kind of demands which were the uppermost in the minds of the Muslims at that time. The delegation emphasized that the Muslims should not be viewed simply in numerical terms but they should take into account their historical importance and the kind of contribution the Muslims had made to British India.
The delegation also emphasized that democratic principle should be introduced keeping in view the peculiar conditions and circumstances of India. There are different kinds of people living in India and that’s the fact that the Muslims have a separate entity, all these things had to be taken into account and when you introduce some kind of system then these realities had to be accommodated.
Demands of Shimla Deputation
Muslim leaders presented following demands:
- Representation more than their population because of their importance.
- Separate electorate
- Reservations of Muslims seats in government jobs.
- Special share in Municipal or district boards University senates and syndicates
- Muslim representation in Viceroy Executive Council.
- Muslim University at Aligarh
The Viceroy was sympathetic towards the demands. It encouraged the Muslims to launch struggle for their rights parallel to the Indian National Congress but it required an organized platform. (This led to the formation of All India Muslim League.)
Reasons for the formation of Muslim League:
1. Indifferent Attitude of the Congress towards Muslims: All India National Congress was a predominantly Hindu body. Its interests were always at odds ends to those of the Muslims. By 1906, Muslim leaders were convinced that they must have their own party which may speak for the community on all important occasions.
2. Educational and Economic Backwardness: Muslims had lagged far behind from the Hindus in education and economic progress. Educational and economic conditions could only be up graded by establishing a separate Muslims organization that could represent the wishes of the Muslims.
3. Urdu-Hindi Controversy: The Urdu-Hindu controversy began with the demand of Hindus to replace Urdu by Hindi as official language in Deva Nagari Script. Sir Anthony Macdonal, the then Governor of UP ousted Urdu from public offices. Congress clearly sided with Hindi and supported the movement against Urdu and there was no other political party to support Urdu. Thus, the need of formation of a Muslim political party was felt severely.
4. The Success of Shimla Deputation: Minto offered fullest sympathy to the Muslim demands. The success of Deputation compelled the Muslims to have a separate political association of their own.
5. To Save Muslim Entity: The belief uttered by sir Syed Ahmed Khan that the Muslims were somehow a separate entity. The Muslims did not believe that Hindus and Muslims formed one nation. They were different by religion, history, languages and civilization. It became essential for Muslims to establish a political party of their own.
A resolution to form the All India Muslim League was passed by Nawab Salimullah Khan and was seconded by Hakim Ajmal Khan, Maulana Muhammad Ali and Moulana Zafar Ali. The resolution was passed by All India Educational Conference on 30th December 1906. A committee was formed to prepare its draft constitution. In this way Muslim league was established and become the sole representative of Muslims.
Indian National Congress
Founded in 1885 with the objective of obtaining a greater share in government for educated Indians, the Indian National Congress was initially not opposed to British rule. The Congress met once a year during December. It was Allan Octavian Hume, who brought about its first meeting in Mumbai, with the approval of Lord Dufferin, the then-Viceroy.
W. C. Bonerjee was the first President of the INC. The first Session of INC was held from 28-31 December 1885, and was attended by 72 delegates. A few years down the line, the demands of INC became more radical in the face of constant opposition from the government, and the party became very active in the independence movement.
In its time as the nation's leader in the freedom struggle, it produced the nation's greatest leaders. Before the Gandhi Era came leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Mohammed Ali Jinnah (later leader of the Muslim League and instrumental in the creation of Pakistan), all starting with the first legendary icon of Indians.
Why was the Muslim League founded in 1906?
Muslim league was formed in 1906 to protect & safeguard the rights & interest of Muslims. In the opinion of Dr. K.K Aziz, four factors were responsible for the creation of All India Muslim League. First the old belief uttered by Sir Syed that the Muslims were a separate entity & there should be a protection of Urdu language by any mean, secondly the Hindu character of the Indian national congress which did not allow the Muslims to associate themselves with other Indians. Thirdly, the agitation against the partition of Bengal which conveyed to the Muslims the Hindu designs of domination over the whole of India. Muslims wanted to use the new party as a forum to confront the movement of the Hindus against the partition of Bengal. And finally the Muslim desire to have their exclusive electorate for all representative institution. Muslim intelligentsia believed that it was impossible to acquire the right of separate electorate & due share in government services without political plate form.
So, keeping in view all these reservations the Muhammadan Educational Conference was holding its annual meeting at Dhaka on 30 December 1906, a resolution proposed by Nawab Salim Ullah Khan of Dhaka was unanimously adopted & All India Muslim League was founded.
