1. Formation of the All India Muslim League (1906)
Background and Need for a Separate Political Platform
- After the partition of Bengal in 1905, Hindus strongly opposed the division, leading to political unrest.
- Muslims realized they needed their own political party to safeguard their rights against Hindu dominance.
Key Meeting in Dhaka (December 1906)
- Held at the end of the Annual Muhammadan Educational Conference in Dhaka.
- Convened by Nawab Salimullah Khan of Dhaka and chaired by Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk.
- Attended by prominent Muslim leaders including:
- Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar
- Maulana Zafar Ali Khan
- Hakim Ajmal Khan
Decisions Taken
- Unanimously agreed to form the All India Muslim League (AIML).
- Officially established on 30th December 1906.
- Headquarters set up in Aligarh.
- First Office Bearers:
- President: Sir Aga Khan
- Secretary General: Syed Ali Hassan Bilgrami
2. Aims and Objectives of the Muslim League
- Improve Relations with British Government
- Build friendly ties between Muslims and British rulers.
- Remove British misunderstandings about Muslims after 1857.
- Coordinate with Other Political Groups
- Work with other Indian communities for common welfare.
- Protect Muslim Political Rights
- Secure separate electorates and political representation.
- Ensure Muslims get government jobs and educational opportunities.
3. Role of Muslim League in India’s Freedom Struggle
Phase 1: Protecting Muslim Interests (1906-1913)
- Acted as the sole representative body for Indian Muslims.
- Presented Muslim demands to British authorities.
- Followed a two-track policy:
- Cooperated with Congress against British rule.
- Also worked to improve Muslim-British relations.
Phase 2: Lucknow Pact (1916) – Major Political Victory
- Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah joined Muslim League in 1913 and bridged gaps between Congress and League.
- Key terms of Lucknow Pact (1916):
- Congress officially accepted Muslims as a separate nation.
- Separate electorates for Muslims approved.
- Muslim seats in Central Assembly fixed at 1/3 (33%).
- In Bengal & Punjab, Muslims got majority seats in legislatures.
- In minority provinces, Muslim representation doubled.
Phase 3: Breakdown of Unity (1920s) & Nehru Report (1928)
- Brief Hindu-Muslim unity in:
- Khilafat Movement (1919-1924)
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)
- But Nehru Report (1928) destroyed all agreements by:
- Rejecting separate electorates.
- Revoking Muslim weightage in minority provinces.
- Ignoring Muslim demands completely.
- Proved Hindus wanted permanent domination, forcing Muslims to demand Pakistan.
4. Later Developments (1930s-1947)
- Allama Iqbal’s 1930 Allahabad Address – First clear demand for separate Muslim state.
- 1937 Elections – Congress rule showed anti-Muslim policies.
- 1940 Lahore Resolution – Muslim League formally demanded independent Pakistan.
- 1947 – After intense struggle, Pakistan created under Jinnah’s leadership.
Conclusion
- Muslim League founded in 1906 to protect Muslim rights from Hindu-British threats.
- Initially sought political safeguards through pacts like Lucknow Agreement.
- After Hindu betrayal (Nehru Report), it became clear only a separate homeland could protect Muslims.
- Under Quaid-i-Azam’s leadership, Muslim League led the movement that created Pakistan in 1947.