Page 72 - SST Class 08

The extremists continued to be Many Muslims joined the League, but a large
popular among the masses as
their weapons of Swadeshi and
Boycott received wide approval.
They became the tools of mass
agitation. Dada Bhai Naoroji
The British government was alarmed at the
increasing popularity of the extremist leaders. It
took repressive measures against them. Lala Lajpat
Rai was arrested and deported to Burma. Bipin
Chandra Pal was arrested and imprisoned for six
months. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was arrested and
deported to Burma for six years.
But these repressive measures failed to suppress
the sentiments. The people rose in resistance. The
British resorted to brutal atrocities. The people
responded with protests, strikes and
demonstrations. The economic interests of the
British had been harmed to some extent, so they
began to feel the pressure.
Formation of Muslim League
The two chief communities of India—Hindus and
Muslims had fought together during the revolt of
1857. The British were against the Muslims in the
beginning, but following their policy of ‘divide and
rule’ they decided to support them, so that the
unity between these two communities was broken.
In 1906, a Muslim delegation represented by
Agha Khan and Nawab Salimulla met Lord Minto,
the then Viceroy. They requested for the formation
of a Muslim organisation which
would serve the Muslim
interests. As this demand was in
tune with the British intentions,
no objection was raised to it,
and thus, the Muslim League
was formed in 1906. Lord Minto
The objectives of the Muslim League comprised
the following—the promotion of Muslim loyalty
towards the British government, promotion and
protection of the rights of the Muslims; demand
for special concessions for the Muslims; demand
for separate constituencies for the Muslims and
keeping the Muslims aloof from the national
movement.
Contemporary Social Science-8
72
number of Muslims remained loyal to the
Congress too, such as Abul Kalam Azad, Hakim
Ajmal Khan, Muhammad Ali, Mazharul Haque etc.
Minto-Morley Reforms
Furthering the policy of ‘divide and rule’, the
British passed the Indian Councils Act, 1909,
popularly called the Minto-Morley Reforms. Lord
Minto was the Viceroy of India while Lord Morley
was the Secretary of State for India. The important
provisions of the act were :
1. An Indian member was included in the
Viceroy’s executive council.
2. The strength of the Central Legislative Council
was raised to 68, having 41 nominated and 27
elected members.
3. The strength of Provincial Legislative Councils
was raised, which now varied from 30 to 50
members in different councils.
4. Under the system of indirect election, most of
the members were nominated; only a few
were elected by the local bodies, such as
municipal committees and district boards.
5. The system of separate electorates was
introduced by which some seats in the
councils were reserved for the Muslims who
were to be elected by the Muslim voters.
The chief purpose of the act was to pacify the
moderates, to divide the nationalists, to divide the
two communities and to maintain the supremacy
of the British. This act extremely harmed the unity
between Hindus and Muslims.
Imperial Durbar
Also called the
Delhi Durbar , the
Imperial Durbar
was held in 1911
in Delhi. It was
attended by the
British King
George V and his Imperial Durbar in 1911
Queen. Two important declarations made in this
were the annulment of the partition of Bengal and
shifting of capital from Calcutta to Delhi.