Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909 and Growth of Communalism

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Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909

  • Increased the number of elected members in the Imperial Legislative Council and the provincial council
  • However, most of the elected members were elected indirectly
  • The reformed councils still enjoyed no real power, being merely advisory bodies.
  • Introduced separate electorates under which all Muslims were grouped in separate constituencies from which Muslims alone could be elected. This was aimed at dividing the Hindus and Muslims. It was based on the notion that the political and economic interests of Hindus and Muslims were separate.
    • This later became a potent factor in the Growth of Communalism
    • It isolated the Muslims from the Nationalist Movement and encouraged separatist tendencies
  • The real purpose of the reforms was to confuse the moderate nationalists, to divide nationalist ranks and to check the growth of unity among Indians
  • Response of Moderates
    • They realized that the reforms had not granted much
    • However, they decided to cooperate with the government in working the reforms
    • This led to their loss of respect among the nationalists and masses

Growth of Communalism

  • Definition
    • Communalism is the belief that because a group of people follow a particular religion they have, as a result, common secular, that is, social, political and economic interests.
    • Second stage: Secular interests of followers of one religion are dissimilar and divergent from the interests of the followers of another religion
    • Third stage: The interests of the followers of different religions or of different religious communities are seen to be mutually incompatible, antagonistic and hostile.
  • Communalism is not a remnant of the medieval period. It has its roots in the modern colonial socio-economic political structure.
  • Divide and Rule
    • After 1857, British initially suppressed Indian muslims. However, after the publishing of Hunter’s book ‘The Indian Mussalman’ they actively followed the policy of divide and rule and hence started supporting the Muslims.
    • They promoted provincialism by talking of Bengal domination
    • Tired to use the caste structure to turn the non-brahmins against Brahmins and the lower caste against the higher castes.
    • It readily accepted communal leaders as authentic representatives of all their co-religionists.
  • Reasons for growth of communal tendencies in Muslims
    • Relative backwardness: educationally and economically

The Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909, also known as the Indian Councils Act of 1909, were a major step in the development of self-government in India. The reforms introduced a system of dyarchy, in which some subjects were transferred to the control of Indian ministers, while others remained under the control of British officials. The reforms also increased the number of elected Indian members in the legislative councils.

The growth of communalism in India was a major challenge to the development of a united nation. Communalism is the belief that people of different religions or ethnic groups have separate and conflicting interests. The growth of communalism was fueled by a number of factors, including British policies, the rise of Hindu nationalism, and the partition of Bengal.

The Morley-Minto Reforms were a response to the growing demand for self-government in India. The reforms were named after John Morley, the Secretary of State for India, and Lord Minto, the Viceroy of India. The reforms introduced a system of dyarchy, in which some subjects were transferred to the control of Indian ministers, while others remained under the control of British officials. The reforms also increased the number of elected Indian members in the legislative councils.

The Morley-Minto Reforms were a significant step forward in the development of self-government in India. However, they did not satisfy the growing demand for independence. The reforms also exacerbated the problem of communalism, as they gave more power to the different religious communities in India.

The growth of communalism in India was a major challenge to the development of a united nation. Communalism is the belief that people of different religions or ethnic groups have separate and conflicting interests. The growth of communalism was fueled by a number of factors, including British policies, the rise of Hindu nationalism, and the partition of Bengal.

British policies in India often favored one religious community over another. For example, the British government supported the Hindu majority in India, while discriminating against the Muslim minority. This policy of favoritism helped to create a sense of resentment among the Muslim community.

The rise of Hindu nationalism was another factor that contributed to the growth of communalism in India. Hindu nationalism is the belief that India should be a Hindu nation. Hindu nationalists often view Muslims as a threat to Hindu culture and identity. This view has led to violence and discrimination against Muslims in India.

The partition of Bengal in 1905 was another major factor that contributed to the growth of communalism in India. The partition of Bengal was the division of the province of Bengal into two separate provinces, one for Hindus and one for Muslims. The partition was seen by many Muslims as a betrayal by the British government. It also led to increased tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India.

The Morley-Minto Reforms, the growth of communalism, and the partition of Bengal were all major challenges to the development of a united nation in India. These challenges would continue to plague India for many years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions 

  1. What were the Morley-Minto Reforms?
    The Morley-Minto Reforms, also known as the Indian Councils Act of 1909, were a series of reforms introduced by the British government in India. The reforms were named after John Morley, the Secretary of State for India, and Lord Minto, the Viceroy of India.
  2. What were the main provisions of the Morley-Minto Reforms?The main provisions of the Morley-Minto Reforms were:
    • The expansion of the Indian Legislative Councils, both central and provincial, to include elected members.
    • The introduction of separate electorates for Muslims.
    • The recognition of the principle of dyarchy, whereby certain subjects were transferred to the control of Indian ministers responsible to the legislative councils
  3. What was the impact of the Morley-Minto Reforms?
    The Morley-Minto Reforms had a significant impact on Indian politics. They marked the beginning of the end of British rule in India, as they led to the growth of Indian nationalism and the demand for self-government. The reforms also contributed to the growth of communalism in India, as they created separate electorates for Muslims.
  4. What were the criticisms of the Morley-Minto Reforms?
    The Morley-Minto Reforms were criticized by some for being too limited. They did not give Indians any real control over their own affairs, and they did not address the fundamental problem of British rule in India. The reforms were also criticized for creating separate electorates for Muslims, which led to the growth of communalism in India.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Growth of Communalism

  1. What is communalism?
    Communalism is a form of identity politics that emphasizes the importance of religious or ethnic identity. It is often characterized by hostility and violence towards members of other groups.
  2. What are the causes of communalism?
    The causes of communalism are complex and varied. Some of the factors that have contributed to the growth of communalism in India include:
    • The legacy of British rule, which divided Indians along religious lines.
    • The partition of India in 1947, which led to mass violence and displacement.
    • The rise of Hindu nationalism in recent years.
  3. What are the consequences of communalism?
    The consequences of communalism can be devastating. Communal violence can lead to death, injury, and displacement. It can also damage the economy and social fabric of a country. In extreme cases, it can even lead to civil war.
  4. What can be done to prevent communalism?
    There is no easy solution to the problem of communalism. However, some of the things that can be done to prevent it include:
  • Promoting Education and Tolerance.
  • Addressing the root causes of communalism, such as POVERTY and inequality.
  • Building strong institutions that can protect the rights of all citizens.
  • Promoting inter-faith dialogue and understanding.

MCQs

  1. The Morley-Minto Reforms were introduced in:
    (a) 1909
    (b) 1919
    (c) 1935
    (d) 1947
  2. The Morley-Minto Reforms introduced the principle of:
    (a) Dyarchy
    (b) Responsible Government
    (c) Universal Adult Franchise
    (d) Communal electorates
  3. The Morley-Minto Reforms were a response to:
    (a) The Indian National Congress‘s demand for self-government
    (b) The growing unrest in India
    (c) The British government’s desire to maintain control over India
    (d) All of the above
  4. The growth of communalism in India can be attributed to a number of factors, including:
    (a) The British policy of divide and rule
    (b) The rise of Hindu nationalism
    (c) The partition of India
    (d) All of the above

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