Page 1 of 11
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 06 Issue 05
May 2018
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 73
Communal Politics in Punjab during 1906 - 1947
Dr. Gopal Parshad
Associate Professor of History,
University College,
Kurukshetra University,Kurukshetra.
Abstract:
The All India Muslim League was the main political organization that played a
significant role in the partition of India. It successfully mobilized the Muslims against the Indian
National Congress or Hinduism. The birth of Indian Muslim League, in 1906, was the product of
reaction as well as of nationalist consciousness that grew in the Muslims of Punjab in the second
half of the nineteenth century. Social base slowly expanded after 1940, when Jinnah raised the
demand of ‘Pakistan’. In 1946, Muslims issued a sort of fatwa in favour of Pakistan and
therefore, it was no more in need of a plebiscite in order to prove its strength and to justify the
demand of Pakistan. The attitude of the Colonial rulers and the deteriorating relationship
between the Congress and the Muslim League further strengthen the demand of Pakistan.
Communal politics in India was a predominantly reactive phenomenon.1 The imagination
and then articulation of a communal nationalism may be seen as a reaction to the development of
a Hindu ethno-religious or communal identity as espoused by the Arya Samaj (1875) and Hindu
Mahasabha (1907) in particular and the perceived communalization of the nationalist movement
Page 2 of 11
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 06 Issue 05
May 2018
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 74
led by the Congress, reflecting as Nehru correctly identified, the fear and martial interests of the
Muslim elite, particularly in the provinces where the Muslims were in a minority.2
The attitude of the Muslims towards the Congress in early days has become subject of
great importance. From the beginning of its establishment in 1885, the representation of the
Muslims in the Congress remained very marginal. Sir Syed Ahamad Khan opposed the
establishment of the Congress. He said that the Muslims in India must stand by themselves and
work out their own salvation as community with the help of colonial rulers. Further, he argued
that remember that the Hindus and the Muslims and even Christians who inhabit this country, are
one nation. Now the time is gone when only on account of differences in religion the inhabitants
of a country should be regarded as of two different nations. In fact, Sir Sayad Ahamad Khan
mobilized the Muslims against the Congress.3
Communal theory of nationalism was given by the Muslims in 1906 when the All India
Muslim League was set up under the leadership of the Agha Khan, Nawab Salimullah of Dacca
and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk. The self-interests and the reactionary vested interests of the
Muslim zamindars and upper class were responsible for the formation of the League.
Consequently, the Muslims not only opposed the partition of Bengal and Swadeshi Movement,
but also demanded special safeguards for the Muslims.4 The colonial rulers made full use of it,
and gave assurance that they would protect the interests of the Muslims. The Muslim League
also spread the idea that the interests of the Muslims were different from those of the rest people
of country.5
Page 3 of 11
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 06 Issue 05
May 2018
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 75
The Indian National Congress always took care to project itself as a secular party of
India. It assured the Muslims that by joining it (Congress) their interests would always protected.
As a result, in urban areas, the Muslims showed some unity with the Congress during Non- cooperation Movement (1920-1922).6 However, Muslims of countryside in western Punjab did
not show much interest in the Movement. They were under the influence of the local Sufis of
Punjab.7
In second decade of the twentieth century, the communal violence between the Hindus
and the Muslims was witnessed in many places of the province. The religious movements of
Hindus (Shuddhi and Sangthan) and the Muslims (Tabligh and Tanzim) increased communal
tension in both communities.8 David Page rightly argues that it was primarily the working of
diarchy in the Muslim dominated provinces, namely Punjab and Bengal which proved crucial in
rise of Hindu – Muslim tension.9
In 1924, the Hindus started an agitation against separate electorate system. At the same
time, the Muslim League called its annual session at Lahore in May 1924 under the chairmanship
of M. A. Jinnah. This session was nominated by the Muslim Unionists, and they prepared plan
to prevent the Muslims from being overwhelmed by the agitation. In fact, Fazal-i-Hussain
himself invited Jinnah to hold the annual session of the Muslim League at Lahore. 10
The idea of a separate state helped in the growth of the communal politics in India. This
idea was first articulated by the Muhammad Iqbal in December 1930. The state he envisaged
centered on the Punjab, comprising also of neighboring the Muslim majority provinces to the
West, Sindh, North-West Frontier Province and Sindh. He conceived of a Muslim State within
India. But, this idea did not attract much attention of the Muslims of Punjab, especially of the
