CLASS: X ICSE SUBJECT : HISTORY
CHAPTER 5 THE MUSLIM LEAGUE [2024 – 25 SYLLABUS]
Mention the factors that led to the formation of the Muslim League.
Ans. i)Loss of Sovereignty by Mughal Rulers
ii)British Policy of divide and Rule
iii)Relative backwardness of the Muslim Community in Education, trade and
industry.
iv)Role of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan
vii)Erroneous Interpretation of History
viii)Rise of Assertive Nationalism
viii)Economic backwardness of the country
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How was the loss Sovereignty by Mughal Rulers was a cause for the formation
of the Muslim League?
Ans .i)The British established their supremacy in India after dethroning the
Mughal Empire.
ii) They discriminated the Muslims holding them responsible for the uprising of
1857.
iii) The Muslims became bitter enemies of the British and participated in Wahabi
Movement which aimed at ending British domination in India
iv)The British government discriminated against the Muslims , holding them
responsible for the Uprising of 1857.
Why and how did the British follow the policy of Divide and rule ?
Ans. After the First War of Independence in 1857, the British became
apprehensive of the safety and stability of their empire in India. They saw the
unity between the Hindus and the Muslims as a threat to them.
Hence they followed the policy of divide and rule in the following manner.
i)They tried to create hatred among the Hindus and the Muslims by portraying
Muslim rulers as plunderers and Hindu rulers as cruel kings.
ii)British Partitioned Bengal in 1905 to create a wedge between Hindus and
the Muslims.
iii)British tried to utilize the caste structure to turn the non – brahmins and the
lower castes against high castes.
iv)They tried to spread communal hatred through the press, posters, literature
and public platform.
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How did the relative economic backwardness of the Muslims foster communal
feelings in India?
Ans.i)The upper class Muslims comprising zamindars and aristocrats, were anti –
British during the early 19th century.
ii)The British government did not appoint the Muslims to civil and military
services after he Uprising of 1857.
iii)The Muslim community was not much involved in the growth of any organized
industry.
iv)Muslims were proud of their own literature and culture and did not adopt the
western system of education. Since, education was essential for entry into
government service, the Muslims had the disadvantage in this respect.
Explain the role of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan in the formation of the Muslim
League.
Ans. i) Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan regarded Hindus and Muslims to be one Quam
(nation)in the beginning. Later , he gave up his earlier views and declared that the
political interest of Hindus and Muslims were different.
ii)When INC was founded , Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan opposed it, founded the United
Indian Patriotic Association to oppose the Congress. He feared that when British
withdrew, the Hindus, would play a dominant role in political, economic and
social affairs of the land.
iii)Sir Sayyid founded a school at Aligarh which in 1875 developed into the
Mohammedan Anglo – Oriental College. This College became the center of a
movement , popularly known as the Aligarh Movement.
iv) The Aligarh movement tried to instil Western education among Muslims.
Explain the erroneous interpretation of Indian history that led to the
communalism.
Ans. i) Some British and communal historians divided Indian history into the
Hindu and the Muslim periods. The rule of Turks, Afghans and Mughals was called
the Muslim rule.
ii)The British and communal historians ignored the notion of a composite culture
in India and tried to create a rift between the two communities.
iii)The communal bias was propagated through poetry, drama, novels, short
stories etc.
iv)Communal historians highlighted the myth that Indian society and culture had
reached great heights during the ancient period but was declining during
medieval period.
Rise of Assertive nationalism was also factor for the formation of the Muslim
League. Justify
i)The propagation of Shivaji and Ganapati festivals by Tilak
ii)Aurobindo Ghosh’s concept of India as mother and nationalism as religion
iii)The initiation of the Anti – Partition agitation with dips in the Ganga did not
appeal to some of the Muslims.
How was Economic backwardness of the country contributed to the growth of
communalism?
Ans. India lacked modern industrial development and there was acute
unemployment among the educated youth.
ii)This led the people to demand reservation in jobs on the basis of caste, creed or
religion.
iii)British used this opportunity to push their policy of divide and rule and fan
communal rivalry among the educated Indians on the question of jobs in
government service.
How did Hindi – Urdu controversy become an important factor in the formation
of the Muslim League?
Ans.i) In Uttar Pradesh Urdu was the court language and all the petitions to the
office and courts were submitted in Urdu.
ii)Hindus protested against this practice.
iii)The government gave instructions on 8th April,1900, that offices and courts
should submit petitions in Hindi i, e Devanagiri script.
iv)This angered the Muslims who called protest meetings in different parts of the
province. This controversy worsened relations between the two communities.
Formation of the Muslim League
When and where was the Muslim League formed?
Who was the first President?
Ans. Muslim League was formed on December 30, 1906 at Dacca under the
Presidentship of Nawab Salimullah.
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Who the Permanent President of the Muslim League?
Ans. Agha Khan.
Mention the aims and objectives of the Muslim League.
Ans.i) To promote among the Muslims support for the British
ii)To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims
iii)To present the needs and aspirations of the Muslims to the government
iv)To prevent the hostility between the Muslims of India and other communities.
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State the significance of the Lucknow Pact of 1916.
Lucknow pact was signed between the Congress and the Muslim League in 1916.
It was a joint scheme of political reforms agreed by both the Congress and the
League.
Significance of the Lucknow Pact were
Ans.i) Hindu – Muslim Unity;
The Congress compromised on its secular character by accepting the scheme of
separate electorates for Muslims. The Muslim League accepted the principles of
election and the majority rule.
ii)Unity within the Congress; Signing of the Lucknow Pact brought about unity
between the Assertive Nationalists and the Early Nationalists.
iii)Pressure on the government:
The unity between the Congress and the League and the Early Nationalists and
the Assertive Nationalists became a threat to the British Government of India.
iv)Necessity to Pacify Indians; As the first world war continued , the British felt it
was necessary to pacify the Indians by constitutional reforms in order to get
their cooperation for the war.
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