Definition
Launched after the failure of the War of Independence (1857), with three objectives: restore trust between Muslims and the British; encourage modern science/English education for government jobs; and keep Muslims away from active politics until educationally advanced.
Key steps: a school at Muradabad (1859); the Ghazipur Scientific Society (1863) to translate European works into Urdu; the M.A.O. School (1875) and College (1877) at Aligarh — later Aligarh Muslim University (1920); the Muhammadan Educational Conference (1886); the journal "Tehzib-ul-Akhlaq"; and writings such as "Causes of the Indian Revolt" and "Tabyin-ul-Kalam" to reduce British-Muslim distrust and answer biased Western writings.
Definition
Factors: the Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon and the strong Hindu agitation against it; discriminatory British/Hindu attitudes towards Muslims; and political awareness gained through the Simla Deputation (1906), led by the Aga Khan, which secured a promise of separate electorates from Viceroy Lord Minto.
The All India Muslim League was founded on 30 December 1906 at Dhaka. The Minto-Morley Reforms (1909) formally introduced separate electorates for Muslims in legislative councils.
Definition
Lucknow Pact (1916): signed between the Muslim League and Congress; Congress accepted separate electorates for Muslims. Quaid-e-Azam presided over this joint session and earned the title "Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity".
Khilafat Movement (1919): began after Turkey (an ally of Germany in World War I) was defeated, threatening the Ottoman Khilafat; the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) was launched jointly with it to pressure the British.
Hijrat Movement (1920): some Ulema declared British India "Dar-ul-Harb" (land of war), prompting thousands of Muslim families to abandon homes and migrate to Afghanistan.
Definition
Presented in response to the Nehru Report (1928), the Fourteen Points demanded: a federal constitution with residuary powers in the provinces; uniform provincial autonomy; adequate minority representation; at least one-third Muslim representation in the central legislature; continuation of separate electorates; no change harming the Muslim majority in Punjab, Bengal and NWFP; full religious liberty; safeguards allowing a community to block harmful legislation; separation of Sindh from Bombay; reforms in NWFP and Balochistan; a fair Muslim share in services; protection of Muslim culture, language and personal law; at least one-third Muslim ministers in cabinets; and no constitutional change without the provinces' consent.
- 1930: Allama Iqbal's Allahabad Address proposed a separate Muslim state in the north-west.
- 1930–32: Round Table Conferences held in London.
- 1934: Quaid-e-Azam returned to reorganise the Muslim League and became its permanent president.
- 1937–39: Congress ministries ruled several provinces; their period was seen by Muslims as harmful to Muslim rights.
- 22 December 1939 — Day of Deliverance: observed when Congress ministries resigned at the outbreak of World War II; Quaid-e-Azam called on Muslims to celebrate relief from Congress rule.
- 23 March 1940 — Lahore Resolution: passed at the historic Lahore session presided over by Quaid-e-Azam, demanding separate, independent states for Muslims.
- Cripps Mission (1942): offered India dominion status after the war, British control of defence/external affairs during the war, and a constitution-making body — rejected by Indian parties.
- Simla Conference (1945): called by Viceroy Lord Wavell; failed because the Muslim League insisted on the sole right to nominate Muslim members while Congress refused.
- 1945–46 Elections: the Muslim League won almost all Muslim seats, establishing itself as the sole representative party of Indian Muslims.
- Cabinet Mission (1946): aimed to keep India united while protecting Muslim rights via grouping of provinces.
- Interim Government (October 1946): five Muslim League members inducted — Liaquat Ali Khan, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan, I.I. Chundrigar, and Jogendra Nath Mandal.
- 16 August 1946 — Direct Action Day: observed by the Muslim League to show public support for Pakistan; led to serious communal rioting, especially in Calcutta.
Definition
The Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament on 18 July 1947, ending British rule and creating two independent dominions, Pakistan and India, in August 1947.
The Radcliffe Award, headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, drew the Punjab-Bengal boundary; despite a clear Muslim majority, Gurdaspur and other areas of eastern Punjab were awarded to India, giving it direct land access to Kashmir and cutting Pakistan off from some Ravi tributary waters — a root cause of the Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan came into being on 14 August 1947, with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah as its first Governor-General; he guided the new state through its difficult early months despite failing health, until his death on 11 September 1948.
Definition
British rule economically exploited the subcontinent (cheap raw materials exported, expensive finished goods sold back); destroyed local industries such as the famous muslin textile trade, which could not compete with British manufactured goods; and caused social/religious harm by favouring Hindus over Muslims, deepening distrust between the two communities.
Quick Recap
- ●Aligarh Movement (Sir Syed): M.A.O. School (1875)/College (1877) → Aligarh Muslim University (1920); Muhammadan Educational Conference (1886)
- ●All India Muslim League founded 30 December 1906 at Dhaka, after Bengal Partition (1905) and Simla Deputation (1906)
- ●Lucknow Pact (1916); Khilafat Movement (1919) and Hijrat Movement (1920, "Dar-ul-Harb" fatwa)
- ●Fourteen Points (March 1929) in response to the Nehru Report (1928)
- ●Allahabad Address (1930); Day of Deliverance (22 Dec 1939); Lahore Resolution (23 March 1940)
- ●Cripps Mission (1942), Simla Conference (1945), 1945–46 elections, Cabinet Mission (1946), Direct Action Day (16 Aug 1946)
- ●Indian Independence Act (18 July 1947); Radcliffe Award (Gurdaspur controversy); Pakistan created 14 August 1947 with Quaid-e-Azam as first Governor-General
