MUSLIM LEAUGUE AND HINDU MAHASABHA

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks accusing the Congress manifesto of resembling that of the Muslim League, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge retaliated by pointing fingers at the BJP's historical ties. Kharge alleged that the BJP's "ideological ancestors" were aligned with both the British and the Muslim League during India's struggle for independence.

He stated, "The ideological ancestors of Modi and Shah were against Mahatma Gandhi's 'Quit India' movement in 1942... It is widely known how Syama Prasad Mukherjee formed coalition governments with the Muslim League in Bengal, Sindh, and NWFP during the 1940s."

The All-India Muslim League, commonly known as the Muslim League, was a political party in British India that played a pivotal role in advocating for the rights and interests of Muslims. Founded in 1906, the League emerged in response to growing concerns among Muslim leaders regarding their representation and protection within the Indian National Congress, which predominantly championed Hindu interests.

Founding and Objectives

• The Muslim League was established at the All-India Muhammadan Educational Conference held in Dhaka (then in British India, now in Bangladesh) in December 1906. Its founding members included prominent figures such as Nawab Salimullah Khan and Aga Khan III.
• One of the primary objectives of the Muslim League was to safeguard the political and socio-economic rights of Muslims in India, who felt marginalized within the predominantly Hindu-dominated political landscape.
• Initially, the Muslim League advocated for separate electorates, whereby Muslims could vote for Muslim candidates to represent their interests in legislative bodies.

Leadership and Ideology

• Throughout its existence, the Muslim League was led by influential leaders such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who played a central role in shaping its ideology and strategy.
• The League's ideology evolved, gradually embracing the concept of separate nationhood for Muslims in India. This ideology culminated in the demand for the creation of a separate Muslim-majority nation, eventually leading to the establishment of Pakistan in 1947.
• Jinnah's Two-Nation Theory became a cornerstone of the League's ideology, asserting that Muslims and Hindus were distinct nations with irreconcilable differences, necessitating separate political entities.

Role in Indian Politics

• The Muslim League actively participated in the Indian independence movement, albeit with a distinct focus on safeguarding Muslim interests.
• Over time, especially during the 1940s, the League's demand for a separate Muslim state gained momentum, leading to the Lahore Resolution in 1940, which called for the creation of Pakistan.
• The League's negotiation with the British and the Congress, coupled with mass mobilization efforts, eventually led to the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

Legacy

• The Muslim League played a crucial role in articulating and advancing Muslim interests during the struggle for independence, its demand for a separate nation also led to the partition of India, resulting in widespread violence and displacement.
• After the partition, the Muslim League transformed into the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), which continued to be a prominent political party in Pakistan, albeit with various factions and iterations over the years.

4. Congress Dominance in 1937 Provincial Elections

Under the Government of India Act of 1935, provincial elections were held in 1937, showcasing the political landscape of colonial India.

• Congress Triumph: Congress emerged as the dominant force, securing 711 out of 1,585 provincial assembly seats. It attained absolute majorities in five of the eleven provinces, namely Madras, Bihar, Orissa, Central Provinces, and United Provinces. Additionally, Congress enjoyed a near-majority in Bombay, clinching 86 out of 175 seats. Consequently, Congress ministries were established in all these provinces, demonstrating its widespread influence.
• Non-Congress Governments: In the remaining three provinces - Sindh, Punjab, and Bengal - non-Congress entities assumed power. The Sind United Party led a coalition government in Sindh, while Sikandar Hayat Khan's Unionist Party secured a majority in Punjab. Bengal saw Fazlul Huq's Krishak Praja Party (KPP) form a coalition government with the Muslim League, despite Congress holding the largest share of seats (54) in the province.
• Muslim League's Performance: The Muslim League, despite claiming to be the exclusive voice of Indian Muslims, faced dismal results in the elections. It secured merely 106 out of the 482 seats designated for Muslims under separate electorates. Notably, the League failed to win any seats in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and performed poorly in Muslim-majority provinces like Punjab and Sindh. This underscored the challenges to its claim of representing Muslims effectively.
• Decline of Communal Parties: The Hindu Mahasabha, under V D Savarkar's leadership, also faced significant setbacks in the elections. The outcome prompted communal parties to recognize the necessity of adopting more assertive and mass-oriented political strategies. As noted by Bipan Chandra and others, communal parties pivoted towards exploiting religious sentiments and fears in the subsequent years.

The 1937 provincial elections left a profound impact on Indian politics, reshaping power dynamics and setting the stage for future developments in the struggle for independence.

• Ideological Convergence: Scholars have highlighted the ideological parallels between the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha, suggesting a shared belief in the concept of two nations within India. Dr B R Ambedkar noted this alignment, asserting that both Vinayak Damodar Savarkar of the Mahasabha and Muhammad Ali Jinnah of the League concurred on the notion of separate Muslim and Hindu nations in India.
• Political Alliances: Following the Congress's resignation from ministries in protest against Viceroy Linlithgow's decision to involve India in World War II without consulting Indian representatives, the political landscape underwent significant changes. Sensing an opportunity, both the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha swiftly moved to join provincial governments.
• Coalition Formation: In Sindh and the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), where Muslim populations were predominant, alliances between the League and the Mahasabha materialized. Meanwhile, in Bengal, the Mahasabha lent support to Fazlul Huq's Krishak Praja Party (KPP), another Muslim-centric political entity. The Forward Bloc, led by Subhas Chandra Bose, also backed this coalition.
• Justification by Savarkar: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a prominent figure in the Mahasabha, justified these alliances as "reasonable compromises" in pursuit of political power. He highlighted instances such as the Mahasabha's cooperation with the League in Sind and the collaboration with Fazlul Huq's government in Bengal. Savarkar asserted that such alliances were made in the interest of public welfare rather than mere pursuit of office.

6. Opposition to the Quit India Movement

• Launch of Quit India Movement: Mahatma Gandhi initiated the Quit India Movement on August 8, 1942, from Bombay's Gowalia Tank Maidan after failed negotiations between Congress and the Viceroy regarding India's post-war status. The movement aimed to compel the British to leave India.
• Response of Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha: Contrary to the Congress's stance, both the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha refrained from joining the Quit India Movement. Instead, they chose to maintain their positions in the ministries, offering support to the British war efforts. This decision was primarily driven by political considerations to retain power.
• Savarkar's Directive: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, in a well-known letter, instructed members of the Hindu Mahasabha to remain in their respective positions, whether in municipalities, local bodies, legislatures, or the army. He explicitly advised against participating in the Quit India Movement at any cost, as documented in Prabhu Bapu's work.
• Mookerjee's Support: Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a key figure in the Bengal government, expressed his support for thwarting the Quit India Movement. He emphasized the importance of maintaining internal stability during the war and urged trust in the British for the defence and freedom of the provinces, as evidenced in his posthumously published writings.
• Jinnah's Opposition: Muhammad Ali Jinnah, echoing similar sentiments, intensified his campaign for Pakistan while Congress leaders were incarcerated. He portrayed the Quit India Movement as Congress's attempt to establish Hindu dominance, rallying Muslims against it. Jinnah's strategy paid dividends, as noted by Sumit Sarkar, with the Muslim League's ascendancy in various provinces by 1943, establishing Jinnah as the principal spokesperson for Muslims.
• Impact and Political Developments: The refusal of the Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha to participate in the Quit India Movement marked a significant divergence from Congress's approach. It led to a strengthening of Jinnah's position and the Muslim League's political stature, ultimately shaping the trajectory of India's independence movement.