The fight for unity: All India Muslim League

Survival is the primal instinct in humans, be it in the jungles, on a deserted island, or on a battlefield. The order dictates, 'kill or be killed'. So when the Indian subcontinent stands to fight its final battle against the colonial oppressors, who do you think will actually emerge as the victors?

Dacca delegation of 1906; Image credit: Wikipedia

'How can a religious minority organize most effectively to protect its interests without weakening the distinction between religion and politics by which advocates of a secular state justify equal treatment for the minority?'

If the faith of the minority gravitates towards a geographical area that may end up constituting their majority, then either provincial autonomy or independence is a likely solution to the perceived dangers of losing religious identity to assimilation. This was the case for the Islamic minority of India, who through the All India Muslim League, found a voice to raise their concerns.

Indeed, the All India Muslim League was a remarkable party in the sense that its achievements were comparable' not only with its sparring partner, the Indian National Congress but also with the Chinese Communist Party '.It was established by the 'descendants of the former Mughal service elite' in the 20th century, in hopes of coming to terms with Western learning and British rule.

Furthermore, with the emergence of the Indian National Congress (INC) on December 28, 1885, Muslim leadership became wary of the challenges that the minority might face. This was because Congress's resolution of reconstituting the Legislative Councils based on representation indicated a Hindu dominion. Syed Ahmad strongly suggested against this idea and founded the All India Muhammadan Educational Congress in 1886, whose main aim was to create unity and better educate the Muslim community of India. Further down the line, it was decided that the political viewpoint of Muslims needed better means of expression. Consequently, the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association was formed in December 1893. The association remained active during the years 1894-96. Its demands for concessions and greater representation of Muslims in the administration would be later reiterated in the Simla Deputation.

The twentieth century also brought with it concerns over the Hindi-Urdu controversy, the feeble Muslim presence in the government services, Hindu-Muslim riots, and the absence of separate Muslim representation in the legislative and municipal councils. The absence of a countrywide organization like the Indian National Congress, for the Muslim minority, was increasingly becoming obvious.

Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk Moulvi Mushtaq Husain remarked 'that the Muslim community was in a predicament with difficult alternatives of either joining the INC or establishing a corresponding political organization of their own.'

The sketch of a proposed organization was put forward by Mian Muhammad Shafi in The Observer by the name of the ‘Indian Muslim Patriotic League’. In a meeting held in Lucknow on October 20 1901, it was decided by leading Muslims of India, that a Muslim organization that would look after their social and political interests was necessary.

While all this was happening, John Morley's budget speech,  in 1906 which hinted at constitutional reforms, became a major issue of contention. The Muslims devoid of a political platform began to demand their share.

Meanwhile, Nawab Salimullah of Dacca who was unable to attend the Simla Deputation presented another idea for establishing a Muslim political institution named as, the All India Muslim Confederacy. So during the AIMEC deliberations held in December 1906 at Dacca Salimullah's proposal came under discussion. Following this, in a public meeting held on December 30, 1906, with Muslim leaders and the chairman Viqar-ul-Mulk in attendance, it was decided that a political organization of the Muslims named the All India Muslim League (AIML) would be established. Its objectives were simple:

• 'To promote among the Muslims of India, feelings of loyalty to the British Government, and to remove any misconception that may arise as to the intention of the Government with regard to any of its measures.

• To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India and to respectfully represent their needs and aspirations to the Government.

• To prevent the rise among the Muslims of India of any feeling of hostility towards other communities, without prejudice to the other aforementioned objects of the League.' The formation of AIML was welcomed by the Muslim community and soon various branches of the organization started to emerge at different places. Adamjee Peerbhoy presided over its first annual session, which was held at Karachi on December 29-30, 1907, and the constitution of AIML was passed here.

The All India Muslim League was without a doubt, a remarkable product of the struggling minorities in India. And while it gave the Muslims a much-needed platform to raise their voices, it also created a demarcation that would only end with the partition of the country.