Growth of Muslim Separatism (1919–1939)
- The roots of Muslim separatism in India can be traced to political, social, and economic marginalization during British rule.
- Many Muslims feared Hindu political dominance after observing the Indian National Congress’s majorities in provincial elections.
- British policies of communal representation (separate electorates from 1909 onwards) reinforced religious divisions.
- The decline of the Khilafat Movement (1919–1924) ended a brief period of Hindu-Muslim unity and left many Muslims politically alienated.
- By the late 1930s, the All India Muslim League, under Muhammad Ali Jinnah, positioned itself as the sole defender of Muslim interests.
Definition
Separatism
- The belief that Muslims and Hindus were distinct political communities that could not coexist in one state.
Definition
Communal Representation
- Electoral system granting separate voting rights to religious groups, institutionalizing division.
Growth of Muslim Separatism and the Role of Jinnah
Causes of Muslim Alienation
- After the collapse of the Khilafat Movement, Muslim political identity weakened and required reorganization.
- The Indian National Congress, dominated by Hindu leaders, failed to assure Muslims of fair political representation.
- The Nehru Report (1928) ignored Muslim demands for separate electorates and safeguards, which Jinnah rejected.
- The failure of the 1937 provincial elections was pivotal: the Congress formed ministries without including the League, heightening Muslim mistrust.
- Jinnah began promoting the view that Muslims were a distinct nation whose interests could not be protected in a Hindu-majority India.
Political Transformation of the Muslim League
- Under Jinnah’s leadership, the Muslim League evolved from an elite organization into a mass political movement.
- The League used religious symbols, literature, and public rallies to mobilize Muslim identity.
- The slogan “Islam in danger” became a rallying cry, linking religion to politics.
- British officials encouraged communal separation by consulting the League and Congress separately.
- By 1939, Muslim separatism had become a dominant force in Indian politics, setting the stage for the Lahore Resolution.
