Topic 9

SIMLA DEPUTATION AND MUSLIM LEAGUE 1906:

What was the Simla Deputation?

The Simla Deputation of 1906 was the first systematic attempt on the part of the Muslims to present their demands, to the
British government and to seek their acceptance. The Simla deputation comprised 35 Muslims from all over India. It was a galaxy
of Muslims leaders from all the provinces, from one end of India to the other and it had Muslims of all background. Therefore,
when in 1906, this deputation called on the Viceroy, it was the most representative Muslim delegation. This delegation was led
by Sir Agha Khan and Nawab Mohsin ul Malik served as a secretary and this delegation met the Viceroy in Simla that was why it
was called as Simla Deputation.

The memorandum which they presented was a kind of demands which were the uppermost in the minds of the Muslims at that
time. The delegation emphasized that the Muslims should not be viewed simply in numerical terms but they should take into
account their historical importance and the kind of contribution the Muslims had made to British India.

The delegation also emphasized that democratic principle should be introduced keeping in view the peculiar conditions and
circumstances of India. There are different kinds of people living in India and that’s the fact that the Muslims have a separate
entity, all these things had to be taken into account and when you introduce some kind of system then these realities had to be
accommodated.

Demands of Simla Deputation

Muslim leaders presented following demands:

1.Representation more than their population because of their importance.

2. Separate electorate
3.Reservations of Muslims seats in government jobs.
4. Special share in University senates (councils) and syndicates
5.Muslim representation in Viceroy Executive Council.
6. Muslim University at Aligarh

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The Viceroy was sympathetic towards the demands. It encouraged the Muslims to launch struggle for their rights parallel to the
Indian National Congress but it required an organized platform. (This led to the formation of All India Muslim League.)

Reasons for the formation of MUSLIM LEAGUE 1906:

1. The Success of Simla Deputation: The Simla Deputation of 1906 was the first systematic attempt on the part of the Muslims
to present their demands, to the British government and to seek their acceptance. The Simla deputation comprised 35 Muslims
from all over India. It was a galaxy of Muslims leaders from all the provinces, from one end of India to the other and it had Muslims
of all background. Therefore, when in 1906, this deputation called on the Viceroy, it was the most representative Muslim
delegation. This delegation was led by Sir Agha Khan and Nawab Mohsin ul Malik served as a secretary and this delegation met
the Viceroy in Simla that was why it was called as Simla Deputation. These Muslim leaders presented their demands.
Representation should be given to Muslims more than their population because of their importance. Right of Separate electorate
for Muslims. Reservations of Muslims seats in government jobs. Special share in University senates (councils) and syndicates.
Muslim representation in Viceroy Executive Council. Muslim University at Aligarh. The Viceroy was sympathetic towards the
demands. It encouraged the Muslims to launch struggle for their rights parallel to the Indian National Congress but it required an
organized platform. (This led to the formation of All India Muslim League.)

2. Indifferent Attitude of the Congress towards Muslims: All India National Congress was a pre-dominantly Hindu body. Its
interests were always at odds ends to those of the Muslims. By 1906, Muslim leaders were convinced that they must have their
own party which may speak for the community on all important occasions.

3. The agitation against the partition of Bengal conveyed to the Muslims the Hindu designs of domination over the whole of
India. Muslims wanted to use the new party as a forum to confront the movement of the Hindus against the partition of Bengal.
And finally the Muslim desire to have their exclusive electorate for all representative institution. Muslim intelligentsia believed
that it was impossible to acquire the right of separate electorate & due share in government services without political plate form.

4. To Save Muslim Entity: The belief uttered by sir Syed Ahmed Khan that the Muslims were somehow a separate entity. The
Muslims did not believe that Hindus and Muslims formed one nation. They were different by religion, history, languages and
civilization. It became essential for Muslims to establish a political party of their own.

5. Urdu-Hindi Controversy: The Urdu-Hindu controversy began with the demand of Hindus to replace Urdu by Hindi as official
language in Deva Nagari Script. Sir Anthony Macdonal, the then Governor of UP banished Urdu from public offices. Congress
clearly sided with Hindi and supported the movement against Urdu and there was no other political party to support Urdu. Thus,
the need of formation of a Muslim political party was felt severely.

6. Educational and Economic Backwardness: Muslims had lagged far behind from the Hindus in education and economic
progress. Educational and economic conditions could only be up graded by establishing a separate Muslims organization that
could represent the wishes of the Muslims.

A resolution to form the All India Muslim League was passed by Nawab Salimullah Khan and was seconded by Hakim Ajmal Khan,
Maulana Muhammad Ali and Moulana Zafar Ali. The resolution was passed by All India Educational Conference on 30th
December 1906. A committee was formed to prepare its draft constitution. In this way Muslim league was established and
become the sole representative of Muslims.

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 INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS:

Founded in 1885 with the objective of obtaining a greater share in government for educated Indians, the Indian National Congress was initially not opposed to British rule. The
Congress met once a year during December. It was Allan Octavian Hume, who brought about its first meeting in Mumbai, with the approval of Lord Dufferin, the then-Viceroy.

W. C. Bonerjee was the first President of the INC. The first Session of INC was held from 28-31 December 1885, and was attended by 72 delegates. A few years down the line, the
demands of INC became more radical in the face of constant opposition from the government, and the party became very active in the independence movement.
In its time as the nation's leader in the freedom struggle, it produced the nation's greatest leaders. Before the Gandhi Era came leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra
Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Mohammed Ali Jinnah (later leader of the Muslim League and instrumental in the creation of Pakistan), all starting with the first
legendary icon of Indians:

REVIEW ON PAST PAPERS QUESTIONS:

Question No. 1: Explain the reasons for the establishment of the Muslim League in 1906. 7 Nov.2001, Q.3 b

Question No. 2: Why was the Muslim League founded in 1906? 7 June 2003, Q.2 b

Question No.3: why was the Muslims League founded in 1906? 7 June 2005, Q.2 b

Question No.4: why was the Simla delegation of 1906 an important turning for the Muslims of the sub-continent? 7 Nov. 2006 Q.2b

Question No.5: Why was the Muslim League established in 1906? 7 June 2009, Q.3 b

Question No.6: The Muslim League was established in 1906 because the Hindus had their own political party. Do you agree? Give reasons for
your answer. 14 June 2010, Q.2 c
Question No.7: why was the Simla delegation of 1906 an important event for the Muslims of the sub-continent? 7 Nov. 2010 Q.3 b

Question No. 8: why was M.L established in 1906? 7 June 2012 Q.2 b

Question No. 9: Was the need for their own political party the most important reason why the Muslim League was established in 1906? Explain
your answer. 14 Nov. 2013 Q.2 c
Question No.10: Explain why the Muslim League was formed in 1906. 7 Nov.2014 Q.2 b
Question N.o.11: Was the partition of Bengal the main reason for the formation of the Muslim League in 1906? Give reasons for your answer
14 Oct 2016 Q. 3 c
Question N.o.12: Explain why the Muslim community felt it necessary to form their own political party in 1906. 7 June 2018 Q.3 b
Question No.13: Why was the Simla delegation of 1906 most important reason for the formation of the Muslim League later that same year?
14 Nov. 2019 Q.3 c
Question No.14: Explain why the Muslim League was formed in 1906. 7 June 2021 Q. 3 b

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