Muslim Political Consciousness

By Muhammad Ajmal
Khan
 Impacts of the war of Independence
•As it is observed from history that the war of independence failed abruptly and those who
participated in the war faced harsh consequences, particularly the Muslims. Because
Muslims were the active participants in the war of independence in 1857.
•The colonial rulers considered Muslims as the sole ones responsible for the episode of
1857 because they thought that the Muslim rule came to an end due to which they started
revolting against the company’s Raj.
•The British rulers started preferring Hindus in every field of life and excluded the Muslims
from all key positions in their administration.
•In short, the episode of 1857 created a huge bridge between British rulers and Muslims.
In such a scenario, it was Sir Syed Ahmad Khan who came to the forefront and started
reconciling the British and Muslims.
 Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement
•Introduction: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, was an Islamic pragmatist, Islamic reformer,
philosopher, and educationist in nineteenth-century British India.
•Born: 17 October 1817
•He observed the vacuum between the British administration and Muslims.
Consequently, he started filling the vacuum by convincing the colonial rulers through his
writings and magazines that Muslims are not against the British rulers.
•On the other hand, he started convincing the Muslims to accept the government of British
and get an English and Scientific education. Sir Syed persuaded the Muslims to get an
education first and then go for politics.
 Contributions of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
• Risala Asbab i Baghawat i Hind
• Establishment of Scientific society
• The Establishment of the Aligarh school
• Hindu Muslim Unity
• Urdu Hindi controversy
•Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s view of the Two Nation Theory: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is
considered the founder of the two Nation theory who identified the Muslims as a separate
nation from Hindus. Later on, Muhammad Ali Jinnah recognized the Muslims as a
separate nation by every definition, be it culture, religion, customs and origin. The
subcontinent witnessed the two-nation theory long before the Muslim advent in the
subcontinent.
 The Religious Institutions
•The Aligarh Movement
•Darul Uloom Deoband: Founded by Maulana Muhammad Qasim
•The purpose of the Madrassa was to revive Islam and to bring the Muslims towards Islam.
• The emergence of Nadwat-ul-Ulema
Muslim Political Development
1905-1947
 Muslim Political Organization
•The partition of Bengal 1905: Due to the vast administration of Bengal, the British viceroy
decided to divide Bengal into two parts. The Hindu jealousy and atrocities persuaded the British
administration to take their decision back and annulled the partition of Bengal in 1911.
•Simla Deputation and the formation of Muslim League 1906: Archibald's letter to Mohsin-
ul-Mulk to arrange a meeting with the viceroy.  
• 
 The Lucknow Pact 1916
•A short-lived Hindu Muslim Unity: Two members of the Muslim League (ML)
approached Muhammad Ali Jinnah to join ML. Jinnah joined ML and started efforts to unite
both communities. Finally, in 1916, the annual sessions of ML and congress were arranged
by Jinnah in Lucknow.
•Jinnah got the title of The ambassador of Hindu Muslim Unity. Mrs. Sarojni Naidu
•“Towards the Hindus our attitude should be of goodwill and brotherly feelings.
Cooperation in the cause of our motherland should be our guiding principle. India’s real
progress can only be achieved by a true understanding of harmonious relations between the
two great sister communities.”
 The Khilafat Movement 1919-1924:
• The consequences of World War 1 and the end of the Muslim Caliphate
• Gandhi as leader of Khilafat Movement and Noncooperation movement: October 27,
1919, as Khilafat Day
• Gandhi’s Argument regarding the Muslims of India
• Hindu Muslim Unity
• Ulemas contact with the congress leadership
• Fatwa from Muslim Ulema and declared India as Dar-ul-Harb (region of war)
• Hijrat Movement: 18000 people migrated to Afghanistan
• Tragedy of Chauri Chaura February 5, 1922.
 Allahabad Address
• Iqbal’s views about the communal problems in India
• Allahabad Address:
• Allama Muhammad Iqbal viewed that Punjab, NWFP, Sindh, and Baluchistan
amalgamated into one state with self-government. Because the Muslims would never
change to a constitutional change because they do not want to live with Hindus.
 Congress Ministries
• Elections of 1937
• Elections were held against 1771 seats of the provincial assemblies. Both the Congress
and the Muslim League decided to participate. 
• Congress achieved victory and won 706 seats out of 1771 seats in 11 provinces and the
Congress party also won 26 seats out of 491 Muslim seats whereas the Muslim League
won only 106 seats. 
• The Congress and the Muslim League formed a government. 
 Congress Policies of Persecution
• Communal riots
• Bande Mataram and its slogan
• Mass contact Movement
• Extermination of Urdu
• Enforcement of Hindu customs
• Economic Deterioration and exploitation 
• End of the Congress rule
• Day of Deliverance 22nd December 1939
 Lahore Resolution 1940
• Lahore resolution or Pakistan Resolution 1940
• The episode was held in Lahore from 22nd to 23 March 1940. 
• The Resolution was moved by Molvi Fazal ul Haq Ch. Khaliq uz Zaman
• No constitutional plan would be workable in this country or acceptable to Muslims unless it
is designed on the following basic principles.
• Controversies of the Lahore Resolution
• Congress Reaction to the Resolution
• Quaid-i-Azam Remarks
• The Radcliff Award and the attitude of Mountbatten