Formation of the Muslim League

Who among the following was not one of the founders of the Muslim League?

1. Agha Khan
2. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
3. Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk
4. Nawab Mohasin-ul-Mulk

Answer

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Who among the following led the Aligarh Movement after the death of Syed Ahmad Khan in 1898?

1. Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk
2. Shaukat Ali
3. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
4. Rehman Ali

Answer

Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk

Name the Viceroy who was associated with the formation of the Muslim League.

1. Lord Chelmsford
2. Lord Minto
3. Lord Hardinge
4. Lord Ripon

Answer

Lord Minto

When the Indian National Congress was founded, ............... opposed it.

1. Dr. M.A. Ansari
2. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
3. Badruddin Tyabjee
4. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Answer

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

The Mohammedan Educational Conference was held at Dhaka in ............... and it accepted the proposal to form a central organisation for the Muslims.

1. October 1906
2. September 1906
3. August 1906
4. December 1906

Answer

December 1906

Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 introduced separate electorates for

1. Sikhs
2. Muslims
3. Buddhists
4. Muslims and Sikhs

Answer

Muslims

Who among the following was successful to a great extent in keeping the Muslims away from the Hindus, the Congress and National Movement and in this way inciting communalism in India?

1. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
2. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
3. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
4. Dr. M.A. Ansari

Answer

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

Who took the lead in the establishment of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association?

1. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
2. Liaqat Khan
3. M.A. Jinnah
4. Agha Khan

Answer

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

The Morley-Minto Reforms of ............... introduced the principle of communal representation in the legislatures.

1. 1901
2. 1909
3. 1904
4. 1905

Answer

1909

Who founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh?

1. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
2. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
3. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
4. Dr. M.A. Ansari

Answer

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

Muslim League was formed in 1906 at

1. Karachi
2. Dhaka
3. Multan
4. Lahore

Answer

Dhaka

In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Assertion (A) : Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk led the Aligarh movement after death of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

Reason (R) : The Aligarh Movement instilled into Muslims a spirit of loyalty towards the British and moved them away from freedom movement.

Answer

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

Explanation — Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk led the Aligarh Movement after the death of Sir Syed in 1898. The Aligarh movement worked to instill into the minds of the Muslims a spirit of loyalty towards the British government and worked deliberately to keep the Muslims away from the main stream of Indian political life.

Identify the reasons for the foundation of the Muslim League.

P : British policy of divide and rule after the Uprising of 1857.

Q : Rise of Radical Nationalism

R : Communal politics incited by M.A. Jinnah.

S : Rise in social status and economic prosperity of Muslims.

1. P and Q
2. Q and R
3. R and S
4. P and S

Answer

P and Q

Read the two statements given below regarding the aims of the Muslim League. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (B).

(A) Promotion of the feelings of loyalty to the British Government.

(B) Prevention of rise of hostility towards other communities.

1. (B) contradicts (A)
2. (B) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (B) is false
4. (A) and (B) are independent of each other

Answer

(A) and (B) are independent of each other

When was the Muslim League founded?

Answer

The Muslim League was found in December, 1906 at Dhaka.

Name any two Muslim leaders associated with the foundation of the Muslim League.

Answer

Two Muslim leaders associated with the foundation of the Muslim League are Agha Khan and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk.

In what way did the economic backwardness of the Muslims lead to the rise of communalism in India?

Answer

The economic backwardness of the Muslims led to the rise of communalism in India in the following ways:

1. The Muslims were not recruited to civil and military services.
2. Government jobs were mostly given to the Hindus. The Muslims remained poor and unemployed.
3. They found few opportunities in trade, industry, business or professions.
4. The crippling of arts and crafts in villages also led to poverty among the Muslims.

Why did the British follow the policy of 'Divide and Rule'?

Answer

After the uprising of 1857, the British treated Muslims with suspicion. The British followed the policy of 'Divide and Rule' to prevent the unification of the different classes of Indian society. This strategy aimed to prevent a unified opposition from forming against their colonial dominance, making it easier to maintain control and exploit resources.

In which two ways did the British encourage communalism in India?

Answer

The British encouraged communalism in India in the following two ways:

1. In 1905, they tried to justify the partition of Bengal by telling the Muslims that Bengal was being partitioned to create a new Muslim majority province where the Hindus would not be able to subvert their interests.
2. The Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 introduced the principle of communal representation in the legislatures.

How did the misinterpretation of the Indian history by the British historians cause communalism in India?

Answer

The British divided the Indian history into Hindu and the Muslim periods. In the Hindu period, they dubbed the Muslims as foreign invaders who settled here as conquerors. In the Muslim period, they identified the Muslims as rulers and the Hindus as a subjugated people. By exposing and playing aloud the atrocities committed by individual rulers, the English historians tried to create hatred among the Hindus against the Muslims and the Muslims against the Hindus. All this created a rift between the two communities.

How did the Radical nationalists add to the communal tension in India?

Answer

Some of the Radical nationalists actions led to the growth of communalism. Tilak organised Shivaji and Ganapati festivals. Aurobindo Ghosh considered India as mother and nationalism as religion. There was a certain tinge of religion in the political work and ideas of the radical nationalists. As a result, a large number of educated Muslims remained aloof or turned hostile to the National Movement.

Who established the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh?

Answer

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College at Aligarh in 1875 .

What two promises were made by Lord Minto to the deputation which met him in 1906 under the leadership of Agha Khan?

Answer

Lord Minto received the deputation of the Muslim leaders under the leadership of Agha Khan on October 1, 1906. Two of their chief demands are given below:

1. The Muslims should have their own separate electorates where the Muslim voters could elect their own members
2. A Mohammedan should be given a seat in the Bench of each of the High Courts and Chief Courts.

With what aim did the British imperialists encourage the foundation of the Muslim League?

Answer

The British encouraged the formation of the Muslim League primarily to weaken the growing Indian nationalist movement by creating a divide between Hindus and Muslims. This strategy, known as the "divide and rule" policy, aimed to prevent a united front against British rule.

Give two objectives of the Muslim League.

Answer

Two objectives of the Muslim lEague are given below:

1. Promotion of the feelings of loyalty towards the British government.
2. Protection and advancement of the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India by checking the growing influence of the Congress.

How did the Hindi-Urdu controversy become one of the factors in the formation of the Muslim League?

Answer

In the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), petitions to the offices and courts were submitted only in Urdu, as it was the court language. The Hindus for long demanded a change in this procedure. Finally on 8 April 1900, the government gave instructions that petitions written in Hindi in the Devanagari script would also be accepted. The Muslims resented this directive and called for protest meetings all over the province. The Hindus held counter meetings and the controversy continued for months, as the rift between the two communities widened, leading to the formation of the Muslim League.

Briefly describe the main factors responsible for the foundation of the Muslim League, with reference to :

(a) British Policy of 'Divide and Rule'.

(b) Rise of Assertive/Radical Nationalism.

(c) Efforts of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

Answer

(a) After the uprising of 1857, the British treated the Muslims with suspicion. They followed the policy of 'Divide and Rule' to prevent the unification of the different classes of Indian society.

1. They presented the Muslim rulers as plunderers and tyrannical bigots to create hatred for them among the Hindus. Similarly, they painted several Hindu rulers as cruel to their Muslim subjects.
2. In 1905, they tried to justify the partition of Bengal by telling the Muslims that Bengal was being partitioned to create a new Muslim majority province where the Hindus would not be able to subvert their interests.
3. The foundation of the Muslim League in 1906 was an attempt to drive a wedge between the two communities. As a result, the Muslims began to support the partition of Bengal and called the Swadeshi Movement a mere hoax.
4. The Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 introduced the principle of communal representation in the legislatures.

(b) The Radical nationalists gave great impetus to the National Movement but some of their actions led to the growth of communalism.

1. Tilak organised Shivaji and Ganapati festivals.
2. Aurobindo Ghosh considered India as mother and nationalism as religion. There was a certain tinge of religion in the political work and ideas of the radical nationalists.

As a result, a large number of educated Muslims remained aloof or turned hostile to the National Movement.

(c) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan played a crucial role in the foundation of the Muslim League. He believed that the interests of Muslims were different from those of Hindus, and he feared that the growing political consciousness among Indians, especially the rise of the Indian National Congress, might harm the interests of the Muslim community.

1. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan advised the Muslims to receive western education.
2. He founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College at Aligarh in 1875 to spread education among the Muslims.
3. He advised the Muslims to remain away from the Hindus, the Congress and the National Movement, and to support the British Rule in India and receive Western education.

Thus, Sir Syed significantly contributed to the separation of Muslim political interests from the national mainstream, ultimately leading to the formation of the All India Muslim League.

Various events led to the foundation of the Muslim League. In this context, describe the following:

(a) The Aligarh Politics

(b) The Hindu — Urdu Controversy

Answer

(a) The Aligarh movement led by Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk, worked to instill into the minds of the Muslims a spirit of loyalty towards the British government and worked deliberately to keep the Muslims away from the main stream of Indian political life. When the Hindu-Urdu controversy raged in 1900, the Nawab criticised the government's order granting equal status to Hindi and Urdu in U.P. The Lt. Governor of UP, Macdonnell, was furious and demanded that he should separate himself from the agitation against the government order. Muslim leaders became angry. They suggested that a political organisation of the Muslims should be set up, thus leading to the formation of the Muslim League.

(b) In the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), petitions to the offices and courts were submitted only in Urdu, as it was the court language. The Hindus for long demanded a change in this procedure. Finally on 8 April 1900, the government gave instructions that petitions written in Hindi in the Devanagari script would also be accepted. The Muslims resented this directive and called for protest meetings all over the province. The Hindus held counter meetings and the controversy continued for months, as the rift between the two communities widened, leading to the formation of the Muslim League.

The foundation of the Muslim League in 1906 had great repercussions on the later history of India. In this context, answer the following :

(a) Main objectives of the Muslim League.

(b) Main impact of the Muslim League on the National Movement.

Answer

(a) The main objectives of the Muslim League were declared as follows :

1. Promotion of the feelings of loyalty to the British Government.
2. Protection and advancement of the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India by checking the growing influence of the Congress, and
3. Prevention of the rise of hostility towards other communities.

(b) The formation of the Muslim League weakened the National Movement.

1. The Muslim League's political activities were directed against the Hindus and the National Congress, hence they began to oppose every nationalist and democratic demand of the Congress.
2. It strengthened the policy of 'Divide and Rule'.
3. Demand for separate electorates for Muslims was only accepted by the Congress after the Lucknow Pact was signed. This added to the communal bitterness.

Hence, formation of the Muslim League weakened the united struggle against the British rule, thus delaying the achievement of independence.

What part was played by the following in the creation of the Muslim League?

(a) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

(b) Principal Beck.

(c) Lord Minto.

Answer

(a) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan played a crucial role in the foundation of the Muslim League. He believed that the interests of Muslims were different from those of Hindus, and he feared that the growing political consciousness among Indians, especially the rise of the Indian National Congress, might harm the interests of the Muslim community. He advised the Muslims to remain away from the Hindus, the Congress and the National Movement, and to support the British Rule in India and receive Western education. He significantly contributed to the separation of Muslim political interests from the national mainstream and created a feeling of communalism, ultimately leading to the formation of the All India Muslim League.

(b) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College at Aligarh in 1875 to spread education among the Muslims. It's principal Mr Beck, brought about a great change in Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. He tried to instigate the communal sentiments among the Muslims. He advised the Muslims to remain away from the Hindus, the Congress and the National Movement. He also advised them to support the British Rule in India and receive Western education. He began to support communalism and Aligarh became the centre of Muslim communalism. He also made Sir Syed Ahmad Khan think on communal lines, thus spreading the feelings of communalism through him.

(c) Lord Minto contributed to the creation of the Muslim League in the following ways:

1. In 1893, under British encouragement, the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association was formed. Its main aim was to promote loyalty towards the British Government and prevent Muslims from joining nationalist movements.

2. Mr. Archibald, the Principal of MAO College, played a role in promoting communal politics. He advised Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk to demand separate electorates for Muslims, knowing that the British Government, including Lord Minto, favored this approach.

3. On October 1, 1906, a Muslim Deputation led by Agha Khan met Lord Minto at Shimla with the demands of :

   • Separate electorates for Muslims.
   • Representation in High Courts and chief courts.
   • Reserved seats in Provincial Councils.
   • Set-up of a Mohammedan university for religious and intellectual development.

4. Lord Minto agreed to fulfill these demands, promising to grant separate electorates and protect Muslim political rights. This led directly to the formation of the All India Muslim League in December 1906, as Muslims now had British backing for separate political representation.

Growth of communalism in India was encouraged by the British authorities as well as certain trends in Indian society. In the light of this observation, explain :

(a) The 'Divide and Rule' policy of the British.

(b) The writings and speeches of the assertive nationalists.

Answer

(a) After the uprising of 1857, the British started following the policy of 'Divide and Rule' to create communal tensions between the Hindu-Muslim communities.

1. The English presented the Muslim rulers as plunderers and tyrannical bigots to create hatred for them among the Hindus. Similarly, they painted several Hindu rulers as cruel to their Muslim subjects.
2. In 1905, they tried to justify the partition of Bengal by telling the Muslims that Bengal was being partitioned to create a new Muslim majority province where the Hindus would not be able to subvert their interests.
3. The foundation of the Muslim League in 1906 was an attempt to drive a wedge between the two communities. As a result, the Muslims began to support the partition of Bengal and called the Swadeshi Movement a mere hoax.
4. The Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 introduced the principle of communal representation in the legislatures.

(b) The Assertive Nationalists or Radical Nationalists used fiery speeches and writings to awaken national pride and promote mass participation in the freedom struggle. However, some of their statements were interpreted by conservative sections and religious minorities, especially Muslims, as being Hindu-centric.

1. Tilak organised Shivaji and Ganapati festivals.
2. Aurobindo Ghosh considered India as mother and nationalism as religion.

There was a certain tinge of religion in the political work and ideas of the radical nationalists. As a result, these speeches and writings, though intended to inspire patriotism, gave rise to communal fears among sections of Indian society.

Several factors led to the foundation of the Muslim League in 1906. In this context, describe :

(a) The partition of Bengal.

(b) The role of the British Government.

Answer

(a) Lord Curzon divided Bengal into two provinces in 1905 on administrative grounds. But the real purpose of the partition of Bengal was to reward the Muslims for their loyalty, to drive a wedge between the Hindus and the Muslims and to check the rising tide of nationalism in India. The British got the support of the Muslims on the ground that the new province would be a Muslim majority province.

(b) The British government played a direct role in encouraging the formation of the Muslim League to counter the rising tide of Indian nationalism and weaken the Indian National Congress. Their main tactics were:

1. 'Divide and Rule Policy: The British deliberately encouraged communal divisions between Hindus and Muslims. They projected the Congress as a Hindu-dominated organisation, to alienate Muslims from the national movement.

2. Support for Separate Electorates: In October 1906, a Muslim deputation led by Agha Khan met Lord Minto, the then Viceroy, at Shimla. The delegation demanded separate electorates for Muslims and the demand was accepted by Lord Minto.

3. Encouragement of Muslim Political Organisations: In 1893, the British had supported the creation of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association to keep Muslims away from the Congress. Later, they facilitated the formation of the All India Muslim League in 1906, providing it political recognition and backing.

With reference to the given picture, answer the following questions :

(a) Identify and name the personality.

(b) Name one famous educational institution founded by him.

(c) Describe two of his ideas or views.

Answer

(a) The given picture shows Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

(b) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College at Aligarh in 1875.

(c) Two ideas/views of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan are given below:

1. Loyalty to the British Government: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan believed that Muslims should remain loyal to the British. He advised the Muslim community not to join political movements against the British, as he felt cooperation with the rulers would help Muslims progress socially and economically.

2. Promotion of Western Education: He strongly advocated for Western education among Muslims. To achieve this, he founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875, which later became Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).