Lecture 6; Pre-partition history of

Pakistan (1857-1909)
Pakistan Affairs
Aiman Nazeer
Contents of the lecture
• Causes of Indian revolt by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan 1858
• Government of India Act 1858
• Queen Victoria’s Proclamation 1858
• Indian Council Act 1861
• Hindi Urdu Controversy 1867
• Formation of Indian National Congress 1885
• Indian Council Act of 1892
• Partition of Bengal 1905
• Simla Deputation 1906
• Formation of All India Muslim League 1906
• Minto Morley Reforms 1909
Situation after War
of Independence
1857
• War of Independence ended on November 1st,
1858:
• East Indian Company was abolished
• India was under control of British crown
• Mughal empire fell completely
• Muslims were in abysmal condition
• James Broadwood Lyall (British
administrator) told His father in 1858, “If
the Musalmans could by any means be
entirely exterminated, it could be the
greatest possible step towards civilizing
and Christianizing the Hindustan”
• Sir Syed started efforts for the
regeneration of Muslims
• He wrote The causes of Indian revolt
• British understood the problem and
started doing reforms
Situation after War of
Independence 1857
• The Causes of Indian revolt by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan:
• Sir Syed wrote it to save Muslims from the persecution by British
• He tried to justify the position of Muslims and traced the actual
causes of the revolt
• The most important cause was the disassociation of Indians in
the legislative process of India
• The activities of Christian missionaries also inculcated
discontent and hatred in the hearts of Indians
• He published 500 copies of this book
• He sent all but two to British Parliament without thinking of his
life
• When warned by his friend about his safety, Sir Syed replied,
“I consider it as a service to the country, nation and the
Government to make all my views public and, therefore, any
harm that befalls me by doing anything which is beneficial
for both for the people and the Government is acceptable to
me”
• the secretary of state of India, Cecil Beadon said,
“This man has written an essay of highly rebellious contents,
therefore, he must be asked to explain and if he fails to give
a satisfactory answer, he must be severely punished”
Reforms by British after
war of Independence

• Government of India act 1858

• Queen Victoria’s proclamation 1858
• Indian council act 1861
• Indian council act 1892
• Partition of Bengal 1905
• Minto Morley Reforms 1909
Reforms by British
after war of
Independence
• Government of India act 1858:
• East India Company was nationalized, and a proper
government was made for India
• India was now under crown directly
• A secretary of state was appointed to run the affairs of
India
• Lord Stanley was the first Secretary of State of India
• Charles John Canning was appointed as the first viceroy of
India
• Doctrine of Lapse was abolished
• Indian Civil service was also established
Reforms by British
after war of
Independence
• Queen Victoria’s proclamation 1858:
• Rights of Indian subjects were recognized
• Equality of opportunity to join government
jobs
• Freedom of religion
• Rebels were pardoned but not the one who
were involved in killing of British citizens
Reforms by British after war of
Independence
• Indian Council act 1861:
• It was passed to associate the locals in the governing processes of
India
• Locals were added in the Governor General’s executive council
(Imperial Legislative Council)
• These members should not be less than six and greater than 12
• These were called additional members
• There to give their feedback
• Appointed by the Governor General for two years
• Rich merchants, landlords, Indian princes, or retired officers
• They could not raise objections or ask any questions on the legislation
• They also showed insufficient interest in the debates
• powers of legislation was given to the presidencies of Bengal and
Mandras
• Vernacular Press Act 1878 (to curtail the freedom of the Indian press
and prevent the expression of criticism toward British policies)
Reforms by British after war of
Independence

Indian Council
Act 1861

Additional members were

Powers were given to
added in GGC These were advisory Elite of India appointed
the presidencies of
(not less than 6 and not members by GG for 2 years
Bengal and Madras
greater than 12)
Efforts of Indians to take
hold of the politics of India
and rift between Muslims
and Hindus

• Hindu-Urdu Controversy 1867:

• The issue was raised in Banaras in 1867
• Hindu wanted Urdu to be replaced by Hindi as the second official
language of India
• Gracine de Tassi, a French orientalist said:
“The Hindus because of their prejudice resist everything that may
remind them of the Muslim rule”
• Hindus also did a great contribution to Urdu
• Ratan Nath Sarshar and Ram Bahadur Saxena wrote first literary history
of Urdu
• Muslim leaders tried to defend Urdu
• Mohsin-ul-Malik established an organization named “Central
Association”
• In March 1898, Urdu was replaced by Hindi by Sir Anthony McDonnell
Efforts of Indians to take
hold of the politics of India
and rift between Muslims
and Hindus

• Formation of Indian National Congress 1885:

• Ilbert Bill 1883 (allow senior Indian magistrates to preside
over cases involving British subjects in India.) showed the
Indians the way to Indian National Congress
• Allen Octavin Hume gave the idea of a social platform
• Its main aim was to support British Raj and create harmony
• There was a sharp difference between the Muslim leaders
and the Hindus
• Sir Syed realized that Muslims and Hindus are two separate
nations and never supported Indian National Congress
• Badruddin Tayabji was the first Muslim President of Indian
National Congress
Reforms by British
Indian Council Act
1892
• Indian Council Act 1892:
• Indians are politically aware now owing to the
establishment of universities in different places
• Indian National Congress has been formed in 1885
• Indians were demanding representation in assembly
• British were giving temporary dosages to Indians to
prevent any rebellion
• Lord Ripon was the viceroy of India
• Additional Members of the executive council should
not be less than 10 and should not be more than 16
• Limited powers were given to them now
• They could ask questions now and discuss the annual
financial statement
• Sir Agha Khan affirmed that the legislative council
became the political training center
 Reforms by British after war of
Independence

Indian Council
Act 1892

Additional members of
Additional members They were given some Additional members Provincial legislature
Provincial assemblies powers now
were added in GGC could ask question on were also given more
were also raised
(not less than 10 and They could raise question the annual financial powers
They were fixed now statement
not greater than 16) between 8 and 20
Reforms by British
and rift between
Muslims and Hindus
• Partition of Bengal 1905:
• East Bengal was 2/3 Muslims and West was Hindus
• Partition was proposed by Charles Grant in 1853
• It was partitioned under Lord Curzon in 1905
• The population of the province was 7 crore 8 lac in 1903
• There were administrative issues
• East Bengal was ignored by government
• Only 3 college in East whereas 26 in West
• No science college in East whereas 3 excellent science college
in West
• No railway network of communication network in East
• On 20 July the decision was taken and on oct 16, it was officially
East Bengal
• Hindus celebrated this day as Black Day
Reforms by British and rift
between Muslims and
Hindus

• Partition of Bengal 1905

• Reaction of Hindus:
• Kicked-up a severe storm of protest
• Lawyers protested as they apprehended the
establishment of Decca High court which would
adversely affect the legal practices of lawyers and
would also damage the political interest
• Newspapers were also not happy with the partition
• Landlords who had lands in East Bengal were not
happy
• They started Swadeshi movement on Aug 7, 1905
• They boycotted imported products
• Muslims faced discrimination in West Bengal
 • Partition of Bengal 1905:

Reforms
• Reaction of Muslims:
• They were happy

by British
• They got opportunities of education and employment
• Education of female was also upgraded

and rift • By 1911, five divisions of Bengal had colleges

• Teaching community also saw more Muslim teachers

between • There were 12 teachers in Decca college but by the end of

1911 there were 30 teachers

Muslims
• During 1906-1911 more than two hundred miles of railway
track was laid down
• Chittagong port was also modernized
and • Annulment of Partition in 1911:

Hindus • Annulled in 1911

• Muslims were shocked and felt betrayed
• Muslims were disillusioned
Simla Deputation
1906
• Hindu-Muslim conflict was raised to constitutional plane
• Lord Morley gave Indians hope of direct elections in his speech
• Muslims were a vulnerable minority
• A deputation of 35 people went to present some demands before John Morley and
Lord Minto
• Agha Khan led the deputation
• Demands of Muslims:
• Separate electorates for Muslims
• Muslims should be given the representation on the imperial legislative
council
• There should be direct elections instead of nominations
• Muslims should be appointed as the judges of high court
• Muslims should be given their due share in the gazette and non-gazette cadre
• Financial help for Muslim university
• Lord Minto satisfied them, and Muslims secured their separate electorate
Formation of All India Muslim League
1906
• It was formed in 1906
• After the annual session of All India Mohammedan Educational Conference in
Dec 1906
• It was formed by the leaders of AIMEC
• Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk, Nawab Saleemullah, Moulana Zafar Ali Khan, Hakim Ajmal
Khan
• A meeting was presided by Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk at his house
• On dec 1906 it came into being
• Events that led to the formation of AIML:
• There were Anti-Muslim movement
• Partition of Bengal kicked up severe protest by Hindus
• Hindi-Urdu controversy of 1867 also awakened the Muslims
• Muslims were insecure in India
• Muslim felt the need to make a political platform for themselves
• There were expectations of introduction of direct elections in India
• Aims and objectives of All India Muslim league:
• To promote feeling of loyalty to the British government
• To protect and advance the political rights of Muslims of India
• To prevent the rise of hostilities in Muslims against any community of India
Minto Morley
Reforms of 1909
• These reforms were to calm the Indians after the division of
Bengal in 1905
• Additional members were increased to 60
• Muslims were given the right of separate electorate
• Powers of the members of the imperial legislative council was
increased
• They could discuss the budget and move resolutions regarding tax
amendments
• Members of the imperial legislative council could also ask the
questions and supplementary questions
• The number of the members of executive council of Bombay,
Madras and Bengal were also increased to 4
• For the first time an Indian was appointed in the Executive Council
of Viceroy. It was SP Sinha and the Muslim was Sayyid Ali Imam