Activities of All India Muslim League

All India Muslim Leagues:

The British Government anticipating danger from the side of Indians in near future because of the growth of unity under the spell of nationalism decided to apply the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ to break the unity of the people.

Lord Minto decided to use the Indian Muslims against the Hindus and against the Congress.

The Muslims were told that when election would be conducted the majority of people being Hindus only, Hindus would be elected which would be dangerous for Muslims.

The simple minded Muslim leaders believed this statement and hatched a plan for the formation of a separate political forum for the Muslims. On 1st October 1906 the Muslim deputation met Lord Minto at Simla led by Aga Khan. In that Summer Palace Aga Khan was doubly assured by the viceroy that the political rights and interests of the Muslim Community would be safeguarded. Thus the British administrations patronized the process of the formation of the Muslim association. It became an anglo-Mohammadan Conspiracy against Indian nationalism.

The Muslim leaders returned from Shimla much encouraged. In the meantime in the new province of Eastern Bengal the Muslims found themselves as a majority. Then Muslims echoed for the partition to continue when the Vande Mataram movement was gaining momentum. Thus grounds were ready for a political organisation of Indian Musalmans.

The Nawab of Decca Salimullah invited prominent Muslim leaders to assemble at Dacca, the capital of Eastern Bengal. On 30th December 1906 the Muslim leaders gathered at Dacca. The Nawab declared that “India was on the eve of a new era and Mohammedans were awakening from the coma into which they had fallen”. The All India Muslim League was thus born out of the idea provided by Lord Minto. The President of the League declared the objectives of the Association.

They wanted to:

(i) Promote among the Mussalmans of India feelings of loyalty to the British Government and

(ii) To protect and advance the political rights and interests of Mussalmans of India and respectfully represent their needs and aspirations to the government to prevent the rise among Musalmans of India of any feeling of hostility towards other communities without prejudice of other aforesaid objects of the league.

It also passed resolutions unanimously supporting the partition of Bengal and condemning the boycott movement or the Swadeshi movement. The new political party came into being on the British initiation and Muslim support. With the result nationalism got a rude shock at the rise of communalism the seeds of which were shown by the imperialist government.