Modern History Lecture - 4

Modern History Lecture - 4
Date : 10-08-2024
Professor : MT
1906 - Muslim League
1909 - Indian Councils Act
1911 - Delhi Darbar
1916 - Lucknow Pact
1906 - Muslim League

Founders : Some Muslim elites mostly Nawab's and Zamindari's met at Dhaka and found Muslim
League in 1906 among them some prominent are Nawab salim-ul-lah (Dhaka), Aga Khan (Spiritual leader
of Shia Muslims), Waqar-ul-Mulk, Mohsin-ul-Mulk etc.
→ Muslim league leaders met Lord Minto-II, The Viceroy and Governor General(1905-1910) at Shimla
(Summer Capital) and demanded separate Electorates for Muslims in Legislative bodies and they argued
that Muslims were under represented compared to Caste Hindus.
→ Because the Election was based on Limited Franchise i.e; Economical and Educational qualification and
the Caste Hindus were Economically and
Educationally better than most Muslims.
1909 - Indian Councils Act or Morley Minto Reforms

Morley - Secretary of the state, Minto - Viceroy + Governor General
Background/Circumstances :
1. In the early years of 20th CE Nationalist activities were on rise especially in Bengal, Bombay and
Madras region, Swadeshi movement became a mass movement in Bengal which mobilize various
sections of the society and created nervousness in the power corridor. Therefore, Thinktank of the
govt. was convinced that some reforms were needed to please the Moderates.
2. Muslim league leaders met Lord Minto-II and demanded separate Electorates for Muslims in
Legislative bodies and they argued that Muslims were under represented compared to Caste Hindus.
3. For government, Muslim League provided an opportunity to use that against Congress party.
4. In this background, Morley and Minto suggested some constitutional reforms which were enacted as
Indian Councils Act 1909.
Clauses/Provisions :
1. The size of the members in the Imperial Council or Central Legislative Council would be increased to
68; earlier it was 12 to 18 Max.
2. The size of the Provincial Legislative Council was also increased.
3. Separate electorate (Candidate and Voter from same Community) would be given to:
• Indian Muslims
• Hindu Zamindaris
• Chamber of Commerce Calcutta
• Chamber of Commerce Mumbai
4. One Indian would be included in the Governor General Executive Council:
• S. P. Sinha became the first Indian to join the Governor General's Executive Council.
5. Two Indians would be included in the Indian Council Office, London:
• Syed Hussain Bilgrami
• K. C. Gupta
6. Legislators got some power to vote on the budget, which they would discuss.
Critique/significance :
1. India's Councils Act had broadened the size of Legislative Council, which gave opportunity to many
Indian leaders to enter into the Houses rise questions and critique government policies.
2. Leaders like Pheroz Shah Mehta, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Mohammad Ali Jinnah made distinguished
names among the list of great parliamentarians. They became examples for later-generation
parliamentarians.
3. But the Act failed to satisfy Indian nationalists. The Governor-General continued to enjoy
discretionary powers and legislators had no control over the executive.
4. The number of nominated members and official members are quite high against the ratio of the
elected members, which make the House full of loyalties.
5. Separate electorate given to some minorities in the name of representation was in fact based on
divide and rule principle, which communalized election and polarized society. Size of electorate was
very small; majority Indians over 95% does not have right to cast their vote.
1911 - Delhi Darbar

1. Delhi Durbar was held at Red Fort Delhi to welcome and honour King George V. This was the 3rd
Delhi Durbar.
2. In this Delhi Durbar, Lord Hardinge-II (1910-1916), the Viceroy and Governor General in Delhi Durbar
announced:
a. Transfer of capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
b. Annulment of partition of Bengal. Orissa and Bihar would be separated, with Patna has capital.
1916 - Lucknow Pact

Background :
1. During the course of World War I, Indians faced several hardships such as:
a. Death and injury of a large number of soldiers.
b. High rate of taxation.
c. Hyperinflation up to 300%.
d. Curtailment of civil liberty, etc. Which compelled leaders to join hands and form Lucknow Pact.
2. The moderates and extremists divide has already been bridged. Tilak was readmitted in Congress.
3. Muslim League leaders has also differed from earlier leaders. The new leadership came from middle-
class, educated background, who were traders, lawyers, doctors, Journalists. They were modern,
nationalist, and secular. Many of them are also members of Congress, including Muhammad Ali
Jinnah, Ali Brothers, Hakeem Ajmal Khan, Dr. N.A. Ansari.
Pact :
1. Congress and Muslim League held their annual joint session in Lucknow in December 1916 and
agreed to hold annual sessions jointly every year.
2. They agreed to work together against imperialism or colonial rule and for the cause of Swaraj (self-
rule).
2
3. They agreed to promote communal harmony, strengthen Hindu-Muslim unity. Muslim leaders would
appeal to Muslim masses not to slaughter cow and Hindu leaders would appeal to Hindu masses not
to play music near mosque at the time of prayer.
4. Congress agreed not to oppose a separate electorate congress.
5. They agreed that one-third elected seats of imperial council should be reserved for Muslims.
6. They agreed that if a bill was opposed to majority Muslim members which may be against their
interest, such bill shall not be passed.
Significance :
1. Lucknow Pact became historic because it brought unity at both mass level and class level. The
Muslims stopped slaughtering the cow and Hindus stopped playing music at mosques.
2. Together they participated in several anti-British movements, especially in the anti Rowlatt act
movement, 1919 and in the Khilafat and non-cooperation movement 1922-22.
3. The unity between the two was seen concern by the government and compelled the government to
promise for reforms which came in the form of an Act, Government of India Act 1919.
4. But the unity between the two did not last very long. After 1923 the relationship became bitter and
they parted their ways.

Modern History Lecture - 4

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Modern History Lecture - 4

1906 - Muslim League

1909 - Indian Councils Act or Morley Minto Reforms

1911 - Delhi Darbar

1916 - Lucknow Pact

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