Lecture 5

Partition of Bengal 1905, Shimla deputation, Formation of All India

Muslim League 1906
Partition of Bengal 1905
 Bengal was the largest of the provinces of India, it included western Bengal with a population of 54 million (42 million
Hindus and 12 million Muslims) and East Bengal and Assam with a population of 31 million ( 12 million Hindus and 18
million Muslims ) this was a huge area to govern as one unit.
 The administrative problem that faced Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, was the hugeness of the Bengal presidency,
he claimed that Bengal was too large to govern and that it would be more efficient to govern it as two smaller
provinces, so he divided Bengal into two provinces West Bengal and East Bengal, by combining its eastern part with
Assam, a new province of Eastern Bengal was created. The majority of population in the new province were muslims
who were now in a dominant position with chances of great developments and rehabilitations, the muslims were
delighted with the partition but the Hindus reacted in a hostile and violent manner they believed that they would
come under the domination of muslim majority and their superior position would be downgraded, before the partition
Hindus enjoyed dominant position in the political sphere of the province over the mulims. The Hindu landlords,
capitalists, traders, Lawyers, Hindu press and media did not like the partition as it was to put an end to their
exploitation of the poor muslims, they also feared that their income would seriously be lessened in the new province.
 The Hindus therefore, launched an intensive movement against the partition of Bengal. They proclaimed 16 October
1905, the day partition was put into effect, as a day of mourning, strikes were held throughout the country the Hindu
students put up violent demonstrations against the partition, the political disorder and unrest largely prevailed in the
country.
 The vigorous Hindu agitation rocked the government which could not withstand the extreme pressure of the movement
and the British government surrendered in front of Hindu agitation and in 1911The partition of Bengal was cancelled to
the great dismay of the Muslims of Eastern Bengal.
The Simla Deputation 1906
 The Muslims had watched the reaction of the Hindus to the partition of Bengal with dismay. They saw a massive wave of
organized protest which they feared would result in the partition being reserved. They knew that they were not able to
provide such a level of protest to maintain the partition.
 Liberal party was elected in Britain in1905, the new government stated that they would increase local participation in the
government of India through elections. Since the Hindus were in the majority, the Muslims feared that they would soon be
dominated by Hindus in local government.
 Therefore, to safeguard their interests at this critical moment, Mohsin-ul-Mulk and other prominent Muslim leaders drew up a
plan of separate electorates for their community and presented it to the Viceroy, Lord Minto, at Simla on 1 st October 1906
through a representative deputation headed by Sir Aga Khan. They asked that:
 Separate electorate for Muslims.
 In all local and provincial elections Muslim should have their own representatives, who would be elected only by Muslim
voters.
 Seats in the legislatures, quota in government services and seats of judges in the court for Muslims.
 Lord Minto gave a patient hearing to the demands of the Muslims. It was a great achievement of the Simla Deputation to have
convinced the Viceroy about the genuineness of Muslims demands. The Muslims were now convinced that organized efforts
were always essential to press for the acceptance of the demands, they badly needed a forum for the projection and
safeguard of their interests to counter the false propaganda of Congress.
The Formation of All India Muslim
League 1906
 The Muslims were encouraged by Lord Minto’s assurance about separate
electorate for the Muslims and they decided that the time was now right to form
their own political party, the politics of Congress was extremely detrimental to
the cause of Muslims and a dire need was felt for a political platform of Muslims.
 On 30th December 1906, the annual meeting of the Muhammadan Educational
Conference was held at Dhaka. After the conference had finished a meeting was
called, chaired by Nawab Waqar ul Mulk to consider setting up an organization to
be called ‘All India Muslim League’.
 Sir Agha Khan was appointed President of the party and Nawab Mohsin ul Mulk as
General Secretary. A constitution committee was set up to draft the constitution
of Muslim League. The first annual meeting of the party was held at Karachi in
December 1907. The constitution of the league was approved with unanimity.
Aims and Objectives of Muslim League
 To protect and advance the political rights and interests of Muslims in India.
 To represent Muslim needs and aspirations to the government of India.
 To promote feelings of loyalty to the British government.
 To remove any misunderstanding amongst the Muslims as to the intentions of any
government measures.
 To prevent the rise of hostility in Muslims towards other communities in India.
The main purpose of the formation of AIML was to safeguard interests of the Muslims and
their political training to equip them with the basic political knowledge so that they should
be able to face the Congress propaganda and counter it effectively. The Muslim League met
with immediate success and its demand for the separate electorate was accepted by the
government and incorporated in Minto Morley Reforms in 1909. Muslim League rendered
invaluable services to the cause of Muslims, they were at last able to re-establish their lost
importance in the Indian society and finally succeeded in achieving Pakistan as a separate
homeland.