Chapter 8 From Communalism To The Partition Topic A The Rise Of Communalism In Colonial India
Question 1. Discuss the background of the establishment of the Muslim League.
Answer: The Background Of The Establishment Of The Muslim League:-
Introduction:
The success of the Simla Deputation (1906) encouraged Muslim leaders to establish an all-Indian Muslim political institution to protect the interests of their community.
Therefore, the Muslim League was established on December 30, 1906, under the initiative of Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka.
Background Of The Founding Of the Muslim League-
1. Primary initiative:
Muslim leaders like Vikar ul Mulk, Mohsin ul Mulk, and others thought of forming a separate political organization to protect the interests of the Muslims.
For this purpose, they called a meeting at Lucknow in October 1901 but their attempt failed.
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2. Letter of Vikar ul mulk:
Vikar ul Mulk wrote a letter to the editor of the Pioneer in October 1903.
He wrote that the personal demands of the Indian Muslims, who were a minority, had to be placed in front of the government.
This letter helped form public opinion in favor of establishing a separate political organization for Muslims.
3. Demand For Forming A Political Party:
On the eve of the Simla Deputation, the Muslim leaders met at a private conference in Lucknow on September 16, 1906, and had a serious discussion about The establishment of an all-India political party for their own community.
Then they placed the proposal before Lord Minto on October 1. Aga Khan has written in his autobiography.
“The Muslim leaders who participated in the Simla conference have unanimously agreed that their future depended on an independent organization and a fixed strategy.
4. Formation of Muslim League:
Finally, on December 30, 1906, the All India Muslim League was founded at the Mohammedan Education Conference in the presence of 8000 representatives under The presidency of Vikar ul Mulk.
Aga Khan became the first President and Vikar ul Mulk and Mohsin ul Mulk became the Joint Secretaries of the League.
Significance:
The Two Nation theory propounded by the Muslim League later on partitioned India permanently.
The Muslim League said that social alliance between the Hindus and the Muslims was possible but political alliance was absolutely impossible.
A. B. Rajput said, “This proves beyond doubt that India is no more a single nation, it can no more be made so.”
Question 2 Give an account of the Khilafat Movement.
Answer: Khilafat Movement:-
Introduction:
The Khilafat Movement was an important phase of the Indian freedom movement. It created a golden opportunity for Hindu Muslim alliance. Gandhiji said that such an opportunity would not come again even if one waited for a hundred years.
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Description Of the Khilafat Movement
1. Beginning:
It was decided to celebrate the Khilafat Day on October 17, 1919. Both Hindus and Muslims celebrated the day jointly.
When Muhammad Ali, Shaukat Ali, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad were released from prison in 1920 the Khilafat Movement gained momentum.
2. Causes:
In the First World War, Turkey joined Germany against England. So after the war ended the Allies split up the Turkish empire.
The Turkish Sultan was revered by the Muslims as a Caliph or religious head. The action of the Allies aggrieved all the Muslim societies of the world.
The Indian Muslims then started the anti-British Khilafat Movement.
3. Demands:
The Khilafat Movement had three chief demands
- Keep the Caliphate intact,
- Keep the Caliph’s control over Arabia, Syria, and Palestine undisturbed and maintain the sovereignty,
- Stop foreign interference over Mecca and Madina.
4. Agenda:
In June 1920 the central Khilafat committee announced their program of the Non-cooperation Movement. Their agenda. included
- boycott of governmental titles and unpaid posts,
- resignation from government and military services,
- Stop paying revenue.
5. Khilafat Conference:
The All India Khilafat Conference was held in 1919 by the initiative of Shaukat Ali, Muhammad Ali, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and Azmal Khan.
Gandhiji was elected the President of the session.
In this session, it was decided that a non-cooperation policy would be adopted against The government if the Khilafat issue was not sorted out soon.
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6. Gandhiji’s support:
Gandhiji regarded the Khilafat Movement as a golden opportunity for Hindu-Muslim unity.
In Young India, he wrote, “If I regard the Muslims as my brothers then I have to help them at the utmost when they are in trouble and are working towards keeping justice.
” These words of Gandhiji overwhelmed the Khilafat Committee.
7. End of Movement:
Gandhiji refused the Kaizer I Hind medal given by the British government and thus initiated the Movement.
In 1922 Mustafa Kamaal Pasha came to power in Turkey. He abolished the Caliph’s post and declared Turkey a secular state. So the Khilafat Movement lost its importance.
Chapter 8 From Communalism To The Partition Topic A The Rise Of Communalism In Colonial India Short Analytical Type Questions
Question 1. State the significance of the Aligarh Movement.
Answer: Significance Of The Aligarh Movement:-
1. Initiation of Two Nation Theory:
The Aligarh Movement initiated the Two Nation Theory in national politics. This movement initiated the concept that the Hindus and Muslims were two different nations.
2. Emergence of separatist tendency:
The Aligarh Movement sowed the seeds of separation among the Indians. The effect of such separation was the collapse of communal unity between the Hindus and the Muslims.
3. Partition of India:
A far-reaching effect of the Aligarh Movement was that it paved the way for the partition of India. Later on, the leaders of the Muslim League demanded a separate Muslim territory under the leadership of Jinnah.
Question 2. State the importance of the Khilafat Movement.
Answer: Importance Of The Khilafat Movement:-
The Khilafat Movement was a very important part of the Indian national struggle.
1. Increase in Gandhiji’s acceptability:
The Khilafat Movement increased Gandhiji’s prestige.
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He became more popular among the Muslims as a national leader through this movement.
2. Disillusion against the British rule:
This movement succeeded in disillusioning the Muslims towards British rule to a large extent. Research scholar Aziz has written,
“The Khilafat movement put an end to Muslim loyalty like a folktale.”
3. Foundation for Non-Cooperation Movement:
The Khilafat Movement served as the foundation or stepping stone for the Non-cooperation Movement.
Question 3. State the features of the Aligarh Movement.
Answer: Features of the Aligarh Movement:
- The Movement lacked the support of the poor and backward classes of society.
- The chief aim of the Movement was to bring about an overall development of Muslim society through reformation programs with the help of the British.
- This Movement was opposed by the orthodox Maulavis and Mollahs who were against reforms.
- The root of this Movement was the fact that students from all classes were not allowed to enter. So people from all sections of society did not participate in it.
- This Movement had two streams one was orthodox and anti-British, and the other was progressive and loyal to the British.
Question 4. What was the role of Theodor Beck in the Aligarh Movement?
Answer:
Role Of Theodor Beck In The Aligarh Movement:-
Theodor Beck was the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh University. He edited a literary journal named Institute Gazette through which he began to spread Communalism.
However, it was the British government that encouraged Beck’s activities because Beck was made the Vice Chancellor to put the divide-and-rule policy into action while maintaining political faithlessness.
Beck himself acknowledged in Rajendra Prasad’s ‘Divided India’ that he had played an important role in opposing the National Congress and had formed an association named the United Patriotic Association.
Question 5. Mention the background of the Aligarh Movement.
Answer:
Background Of The Aligarh Movement:
1. Deprivation In Securing High Posts:
The Hindus availed themselves of Western education and secured high governmental posts and thus improved their position. The Muslims remained aloof and backward.
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So leaders like Syed Ahmed and Theodor Beck tried to take them forward.
2. Compromise With The British:
The Muslim leaders could make the people understand that their community would benefit if they would compromise with the British and avail themselves of the privileges offered by the British.
Question 6. What were the limitations of the Aligarh Movement?
Answer:
Limitations Of The Aligarh Movement:-
Limitations: The Aligarh Movement had some limitations which were as follows
1. Communal:
The Aligarh Movement was based on religious bigots from the very beginning and went on to assume an ugly communal form.
2. Urban-centered:
This Movement was confined to the educated upper classes of the cities. So it failed to influence the whole country.
3. Lacked mass character:
The agenda of the Movement had nothing to do with the majority of the Muslim society. So it could never assume the character of a mass movement.
WBBSE Chapter 8 From Communalism To The Partition Topic A The Rise Of Communalism In Colonial India Very Short Answer Questions
Question 1. Who was the founder of the Aligarh movement?
Answer: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was the founder of the Aligarh movement.
Question 2. When did Sir Syed Ahmad die?
Answer: Sir Syed Ahmad died in 1898.
Question 3. What did Sir Syed Ahmad think about the Congress?
Answer: Sir Syed Ahmad considered Congress as a representative organization of the Hindu community and instructed the Muslims not to join it.
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Question 4. Which movement initiated the modernization of Muslim society?
Answer: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s Aligarh movement initiated the modernization of Muslim Society.
Question 5. Name two young Muslim leaders who were deeply influenced by the Ulema at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Answer: Muhammed Ali and Shaukat Ali were two young Muslim leaders who were deeply influenced by the Ulema at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Question 6. Name a person who opposed Sir Syed’s idea of Westernisation.
Answer: Jamaluddin Al-Afghani opposed Sir Syed’s idea of Westernization.
WBBSE Chapter 8 From Communalism To The Partition Topic A The Rise Of Communalism In Colonial India State Whether The Following Statements Are True True Or False
Question 1. Syed Ahmed Khan was called the Father of the Two Nation Theory in India.
Answer: True
Question 2. Nawab Salimullah was the Nawab of Dhaka and the architect of the Muslim League.
Answer: True
Question 3. Aga Khan preached the Two-Nation theory.
Answer: False
Question 4. Salimullah was the Nawab of Murshidabad.
Answer: False
Question 5. The All India Muslim League was founded at the Mohammedan Educational Conference in Dhaka under the leadership of Nawab Vikar ul Mulk.
Answer: True
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Question 6. The British government introduced Persian instead of Urdu as the medium of education and as an official language in governmental jobs in Ayodhya and the northwestern province.
Answer: True
Question 7. The British government gave many privileges to the Muslims through the Morley-Minto Reforms Act.
Answer: True
WBBSE Chapter 8 From Communalism To The Partition Topic A The Rise Of Communalism In Colonial India Fill In The Blanks By Selecting The Appropriate Expressions From The Brackets
Question 1. Muslim League was established in _________ (1905/1906/1907).
Answer: 1906
Question 2. _________ (Syed Ahmed Khan/Theodor Beck/ Archbold) was the first Principal of Aligarh College.
Answer: Theodor Beck
Question 3. _________ (Syed Ahmed Khan/A.K.Fazlul Huq/ Jinnah) was the first to introduce the Two Nation Theory in Indian politics.
Answer: Syed Ahmed Khan
Question 4. (Urdu/English/Hindi) recognized as an official language instead. of Persian in 1837.
Answer: English
Question 5. The All India Muslim League was founded at the Mohammedan education conference held in _________ (Dhaka/Kolkata/ Lahore) in 1906.
Answer: Dhaka
Question 6. The post of the Caliph of Turkey was abolished in _________ (1920/1924/1928).
Answer: 1924
Question 7. The election for the provincial legislature was held according to _________ (Montague Chelmsford/India Government/Morley Minto) Act.
Answer: Indian Government