Shimla Deputation & All India
Muslim League
By
Raj Muhammad Khan
M. Phil (Pakistan Studies)
National Institute of Pakistan Studies, (QAU) Islamabad
Shimla Delegation
Simla Deputation organised by the Indian Muslim leaders,
met the Governor General and Viceroy lord minto in Simla
on 1 October 1906. The aim of the deputation was to win
the sympathies of the Raj on their side concerning matters
relating to their interests as a community. The meeting
was extremely significant. As such it has gone down in the
history of the sub-continent as the Simla Deputation.
Liberal Party won the election in England in 1905. It
believed in giving adequate safeguards to Indian people by
introducing constitutional reforms . So a delegation of
prominent Muslim Leaders from all over the country was
formed under the leader ship of Sir Agha Khan.
Background
On 20 July 1906, Secretary of State for India Lord Morley
announced in the House of Commons reforms
concerning the Indian constitution. The announcement
created much excitement among the Muslim leadership.
The Indian Councils Act of 1892 had badly hurt Muslim
interests. The process envisaged in the Act for sending
representatives to the Central and Provincial Assemblies
had failed to ensure a fair representation of the Muslims.
In this situation, the leaders of the Muslim community
felt the need for bringing into the notice of the
government their own views regarding the formation of
the proposed council which would preserve the interests
of the Muslims in the future constitution of India.
With this end in view, Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk, secretary of
Aligarh College, appealed through the Principal of the college WAJ
Archbold to the Viceroy Lord Minto to kindly accept a deputation
of Muslim leaders to discuss the forthcoming constitutional
reforms. Lord Minto agreed to see the proposed deputation.
Following this, Muslim leaders joined in an informal meeting
chaired by Sir Abdur Rahman in Lucknow on 6 September. In the
meeting a memorandum of demands of the Indian Muslims for
presentation to the Viceroy was drawn up. On 1 October a
deputation of 35 Muslim leaders led by Aga Khan met Lord Minto
in Simla. The deputation included five members from West Bengal
and only Nawab Ali chowdhury from East Bengal and Assam.
Demands of Muslims
Main demands put forwarded by the delegation were as
under:
i) The Muhammadans may be granted the right of a
separate electorate to choose their representatives.
ii) Muslim judges may be appointed more frequently.
iii) The Muslims may be given due representation in the
imperial legislative council.
iv) At least one Muslim may be appointed in
Viceroy’s Executive council.
v) Muslims may be given due representation in
Gazetted and Sub-ordinated Ministerial Services.
Vi) Representation in Senate and Syndicate of
Universities Making of University.
Lord Minto’s Response to the Muslim Leaders
Response of Lord Minto I am aware of injustices and
aggression indicted upon the Muslims and I am also trying
to compensate them. I will definitely take these demands to
the committee which come to India to implement
constitutional reforms and will compile the
recommendations.
Importance of Shimla Delegation Basis of Pakistan
Movement Security for Islamic Ideology Protection of
Muslim Rights and Interests
Importance Of The Simla Deputation
Simla Deputation enjoys great importance in the history of
Pakistan Movement. It was through this deputation that the
Muslims of India for the first time highlighted their demands as a
community on national level. According to I.H. Qureshi:
"The Simla Deputation occupies a crucially important place in the
history of Muslim-India. For the first time the Hindu-Muslim
conflict was lifted to the constitutional plane. The rift in the society
was now to be reflected in legal and political institutions. The
Muslims made it clear that they had no confidence in the Hindu
majority that they were not prepared to put their future in the
hands of assemblies elected on the assumed basis of a homogenous
Indian nation. By implication the Muslims rejected the idea of a
single Indian nation on the ground of that the Muslim majority had
an entity and could not be merged into Hindu majority."
Cont.
It was a great achievement of Shimla Deputation to have
convinced the Viceroy about genuineness of the
Muslim’s demand. Them Muslims were now that
organized efforts were essential to press for the
acceptance of demands.
Conclusion
In response Lord Minto expressed his indirect support to
the principal demand of the Muslim leaders as enunciated
in the memorandum, eg, a separate electorate for the
Muslims. This showed the success of the deputation.
Eventually in 1909 the morley-minto reforms made
provisions for a separate electorate for the Muslims of India.
With this, the Muslims gained constitutional status as a
separate community, which led to the rise of Muslim
nationalism and to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
Factors leading to the formation of Muslim
League
LOSS OF SOVEREIGNTY OF THE MUGHAL
EMPIRE
PARTICIPATION IN REVOLT 1857.
BRITISH DISCRIMINATION TOWARDS MUSLIMS
AFTER 1870 APPEASEMENT OF MUSLIMS
The British Policy Of Divide And Rule
Unity of the Muslims and Hindus was a threat.
Encouraged communal and separatist politics.
Under Lord Mayo’s rule, Urdu was made the medium of
instruction and huge grants were given to schools run
by Muslims.
To Hindus- they portrayed Muslims as foreigners who
plundered Indian wealth and the rule of the Rajputana
Dynasty.
Justified the partition of Bengal to create Muslim
majority and Muslim state, as Hindus would not work
for the welfare of Muslim population
Use the caste system- Brahmins and lower castes.
Treated Hindus , Muslims and Sikhs as different
communities and recognized their respective leaders
as authentic.
Spread communal hatred- through posters, literature
and public platform.
BACKWARDNESS OF THE MUSLIMS
Backward in Education, Trade and Industry.
Upper class Muslim, against modern education, so
majority of Muslims remained uneducated.
Very few Muslims received modern western
education.
British discrimination in recruitment of civil and
military services.
Not involved in growth of organized industry.
Muslims were too proud of their literature , did not
accept western education.
Western education necessary for the government jobs.
Muslims continued to remain backward whereas
Hindus accepted the western education and
developed.
Role of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan
Educationist and Social reformer.
Regarded Hindus and Muslims as one nation.
Founded Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at
Aligarh with the patrons of Hindu as well as Muslims
Later changed his views…….
Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan Changed View
Political interests of Muslims and Hindus are
different.
Opposed the formation of INC.
Founded the United Indian Patriotic Association in
1888 to oppose the INC.
Supported by Mr Beck, Principal of MAO college.
Beck opined- Anglo- Muslim unity is possible but
Hindu – Muslim unity is impossible
Hindu population is in majority , they would
dominate after the Britishers have left.
The British Rule is advantageous for the growth and
welfare of the Muslim Community.
Educated Muslims should support the British so that
they are rewarded with government jobs and special
favours.
Mis-interpretation of History
Divided Indian history into two phases- – Hindu
History : Hindu rule- Rana Pratap, Shivaji – Muslim
History- Turks, Akbar, Aurangzeb.
Failed to interpret to Composite culture.
Hindu culture was not developed in the Muslim
period, but Muslim literature and culture was
developed.
Communalism propagated through poetry, drama,
novels and newspapers.
Assertive Nationalism
Speech and Actions of the some the Assertives hurt
the feelings of the Muslims.
Propagation of the Shivaji and Ganpati festivals.
Aurobindo’s concept of India as Mother and
Nationalism as religion.
Dips in Ganga and barefoot march near the Ganga as
anti partition movement ( Bengal)
The Formation Of Muslim League
Hindi Vs Urdu: Court language in Muslim dominated
areas was Urdu, many hindu sections unhappy about
this, so govt made the also included hindi as court
language. This hurt the sentiments of Muslims.
Congress became more popular than the MAO.
President of MAO Nawab Mohsin- ul- Mulk (after the
death of Sir Sayyed) raised the agitation for hindi –
urdu controversy.
Lt Governor of UP, Macdonnel very angry, asked
Nawab to resign.
Muslim decided to form political party.
Cont.
Muslims in East Bengal happy to have independent
state and supported the Partition of Bengal.
Lord Minto announced more representation to
Indians in the Legislative council.
Muslims decided to address the Viceroy. Content of
their address was decided by Mr Archibald new
principal of MAO. – Begin the address with pledging
loyalty to British rule. – request for representation on
basis of religion.
The Demands.
35 influential Muslims presented the address to
Viceroy in Shimla on 1 Oct 1906.
Representation to Muslim as per political importance
and not numerical strength.
Separate Electoral Constituencies.
Preference should be given to Muslims while filing the
nominations.
Reservation of seats for Muslims in State services.
State aid for Muslim universities.
December 1906, all the emminent muslims met at
Dacca and proposed to form a centrally orgainsed
political party named – All India Muslim League. –
President : Nawab Salimullah – Permanent President :
Agha Khan. – Head Quarters : Aligarh – Central Office
: Lucknow – Formed a party constitution in Karachi on
December 1907 – Held the first session in Amritsar on
Decemeber 1908 – Session Chairman : Syed Ali Imam
Aims And Objectives
Support British government and earn a good rapport
with them.
protect and advance the political rights of the
Muslims.
Maintain peace between Muslims and other
communities.
The Impact…
More importance to political representation than welfare of
the muslim masses.
Morley – Minto reforms formed the separate electorate for the
muslims.
Turko- Italian and Balkan War (where British Massacred many
muslims) hurt the feelings of the Indian Muslims and they
criticized the British for such policies and launched the Khilfat
Movement
Annulment of the Partition of Bengal- detrimental for the
Muslim
Young member of the League disliked the loyalty to the British.
Conclusion
The Lucknow Pact- 1916 – Congress and Muslim
League came to an agreement – Congress accepted
communal electorate. – in 1930 the League made a
demand for a separate nation PAKISTAN.
Thank You!
