The Indian National Congress (1885)The Indian National Congress, formed in December of 1885 was a political party established by educated Indian politicians to help increase Indian representation to the British, who ruled India at the time.
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Formation of the All-India Muslim League (1906)
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The Lucknow Pact- 1916The Lucknow Pact is said to be the only moment in history when Hindus and Muslims got along. "The Pact granted the Muslims many of the safeguards which they had demanded, including separate electorates and 'weightage' in the Legislative Councils of those provinces in which they formed a minority of the population." (Ian. A. Talbot- "Jinnah and the Making of Pakistan")
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The growing sense of nationalism in India lead to the creation of the Nehru Report in 1929, a constitution for a self-governing India devised by the Indian National Congress . However this constitution tarnished the short lived peace between Hindus and Muslims, created by the Lucknow Pact by disregarding many of the Muslim political aspirations.
The Nehru Report
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Response to Nehru Report-
http://storyofpakistan.com/nehru-report/
Looking at the Nehru Report it is no wonder that Muslims were dissatisfied by the principles of the constitution that the Indian National Congress constructed.
"Swaraj, it can't be gainsaid, is the rule of the majority, and yet a section of the Hindus who have now a strong hold on Congress would not care for the most important minority. Their main object seems to be that Muslims should merge themselves culturally, economically and even religiously."
- Syed Mortaza, letter to Motilal Nehru, 1929
"Swaraj, it can't be gainsaid, is the rule of the majority, and yet a section of the Hindus who have now a strong hold on Congress would not care for the most important minority. Their main object seems to be that Muslims should merge themselves culturally, economically and even religiously."
- Syed Mortaza, letter to Motilal Nehru, 1929
"Not a single demand of the Muslims was upheld."
Outside the political world, the tense and distressing relationship grew worst between Hindus and Muslims as religious and political conflicts lead to violence and eventually full blown riots and strikes.
In 1925-26 the antagonism between the Hindus and the Muslims became widespread....l scenes of riots, some of which led to regrettable losses of life...An unprecedented feature of the riots was the attacks on temples by Muslims and on mosques by Hindus which naturally led to intense bitterness. There were 44 deaths and 584 injured. There was a certain amount of looting and business was suspended, with great economic loss to Calcutta...The year 1926-27 was one continuous period of communal riots.... April and May 1926, 40 riots took place during the twelve months ending with April 1st 1927, resulting in the death of 197 and injuries, more or less severe, to 1,598 persons...The year 1930-31 saw the eruption of the Civil Disobedience Movement. It gave rise to riots and disturbances all over the country.... 6 Hindu-Muslim riots in 1939. On the 21st January there was a riot at Asansol in which one was killed and 18 injured. It was followed by a riot in Cawnpore on the 11th February in which 42 were killed, 200 injured and 800 arrested. |