Test: The Muslim League - Class 10 MCQ

Following the 1857 uprising, the British government discriminated against Muslims by blaming them for the revolt, which led to their exclusion from civil and military services, significantly impacting their socio-economic status in India.

Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875, which later became Aligarh Muslim University. This institution aimed to enhance education among Muslims, promoting modern education and reform within the community.

The Muslim delegation, led by Agha Khan, demanded the establishment of separate electorates for Muslims in various legislative bodies to ensure that their political representation was safeguarded, reflecting their unique identity and interests.

The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association was formed to curb Muslim participation in the Congress and to foster loyalty among Muslims towards the British, reflecting a concern over the growing influence of the Congress in Indian politics.

Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan believed that continued British rule would be beneficial for Muslims, as it would lead to educational advancements and socio-economic development, reflecting his approach of cooperation with the British rather than outright resistance.

British policies that promoted separate identities and communities among Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs fostered communalism. This division was used strategically by the British to weaken the nationalist movement and maintain control over India.

Muslims in India faced significant economic backwardness during British rule, largely due to their limited involvement in organized industry and discrimination in civil service opportunities, leading to a lack of economic progress compared to other communities.

The Khilafat Movement was initiated by Indian Muslims in response to British hostility towards the Ottoman Empire. It aimed to unite Muslims against British rule and highlight their grievances, demonstrating the communal solidarity of Muslims during that period.

The 'Divide and Rule' policy was implemented by the British to create divisions among the Indian communities, particularly Hindus and Muslims. This was aimed at weakening the nationalist movement by fostering distrust and discord, thereby preventing a united front against colonial rule.

The partition of Bengal was intended to create divisions between Hindus and Muslims by establishing a Muslim-majority province, which the British argued would prevent Hindu economic dominance. This move was seen as a strategy to further divide the communities.

After the revolt of 1857, the British depicted it primarily as a Hindu attempt to assert dominance, which led Muslims to realize the necessity for their own political representation to safeguard their interests against potential Hindu majority dominance.

The Aligarh Movement, particularly under Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk, aimed to instill a sense of loyalty among Muslims towards the British, believing that such loyalty would help secure their interests and political rights in a time of growing communal tensions.

The "Two-Nation Theory," articulated by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, posited that Hindus and Muslims in India represented two distinct nations with different religious, cultural, and social identities, which justified the demand for a separate state for Muslims, later becoming Pakistan.

The annulment of the Partition of Bengal was perceived as detrimental to the economic interests of Muslims and contributed to a shift in attitudes, making Muslims more receptive to collaborating with the Congress in their struggle against British rule.

The upper-class Muslims, including zamindars and aristocrats, resisted British rule and Western education, which hindered their community’s progress in learning and economic development, leading to significant disparities compared to Hindus.

The British supported the formation of the Muslim League as they believed it would serve as a counterbalance to the Congress, which was increasingly seen as a threat to their authority. This support was part of their broader strategy to maintain control over India by fostering divisions among its communities.

The Deoband School played a crucial role in inspiring young Muslims to participate in the national movement, advocating for an active role in the struggle against British colonialism, and promoting Islamic education aligned with social reform.

The Lucknow Pact was a significant agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, representing a united front for the first time against British rule. It sought to secure greater rights and representation for Indians in governance.

British historians, notably James Mill, divided Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods, which fostered communal divisions by suggesting inherent differences and conflicts between these communities, undermining the idea of a composite Indian history.

One of the main objectives of the Muslim League was to foster a sense of loyalty towards the British among Muslims, as they believed that cooperation could help advance their political rights and representation.