Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Communalism in Modern India
Communalism in Modern India
Page
6
Muslim League
The Muslim League was formed with the formal name All India Muslim
League in 1906 under the leadership of Agha Khan and Nawab Mohsin ul
Mulk. The membership of the League consisted of rich Muslim zamindars
and maulanas. Historians believe that it was formed with British patronage
with the motive of preventing the young and educated Muslims from joining
the Congress.
The aims of the League were:
To support the British government
To gain better opportunities in public life for educated Muslims
To defend the right of the Muslims
To check the influence of the All India Congress in Indian politics
Lucknow Pact (1916) was an attempt made by the Indian organisations,
namely the Congress and Muslim League, to arrive at a settlement. The
Congress conceded separate electorates as a temporary arrangement, in order
to obtain Muslim League's support.
Page
7
Page
8
Hindu Mahasabha
The Hindu Mahasabha was formed with the formal name All India Hindu
Mahasabha in 1915 under the leadership of Maharaja of Kazim Bazar. It
opposed Congresss anti-imperialist politics and argued that the Hindus
should try to placate the British government in their fight against the
Muslims.
Hindu Mahasabha, the chief political organization of Hindu communalism,
could either liquidate itself into Congress; or wage a difficult battle to prevent
away Hindus from Congress to bring them into its fold; or wait for a suitable
opportunity. It preferred to follow the third option.
The Hindu Mahasabha never gained that popularity with the Hindu masses as
the Muslim League did with the Muslims in India. However, the Hindu
Mahasabhas propaganda of a Hindu race, Hindu culture and civilization, and
Hindu nation in India did harden the Muslim Leagues attitude and made it
more suspicious and more determined to demand Pakistan.
Page
9
Page
10
Page
11
Bibliography
Page
12