THE SIMLA DEPUTATION

THE SIMLA DEPUTATION

(1^st October, 1906)

The Hindu opposition of Urdu and partition of Bengal revealed it to the Muslims that the Hindus would never allow the Muslims a respectable position in the Indian society. The political scene of India, at that time, was dominated by the vigorous activities of the Congress who had no rival in the political arena. The Muslims believed that only as organized endeavor would lead them to success.

The Simla Deputation is a landmark in the history of modern Muslim India, because for the first time the Hindu-Muslim conflict was lifted to the constitutional plane. The Indians were not satisfied with the Indian council Act of 1892. Particularly, the act failed to ensure the fair representation of Muslims. So, the Indians were agitating for more power. Due to the growing political pressure and increasing social unrest, the British Government decided to make constitutional reforms relating to the electoral bodies. On 20th July 1906John Morley the Secretary of State for Indian affairs, speaking on the Indian budget in the British parliament, announced that the Government wanted to increase the number of seats for the legislative councils and also their powers. This formation would have reduced the Muslims to an irreversible state of subjugation to Hindu majority.

The weekly Muslim Patriot penned down this important issue to clarify the assumption that India was inhabited by one class. It stated that India consists on a heterogeneous mass of different races whose interests were often different. It although supported the extended representation in the legislature, but also wished that the extension should be based on the class recognition and each distinct community should have representatives of its own in proportion to its population.

Now, many Mohammedans (Nawab Ismail Khan Datawali, Khawaja Yousaf Shah, Nawab Ali Ch. And Nawab Viqar ul Mulk) drew the attention of Mohsin-ul-Mulk, the secretary of the M.A.O College, Aligarh, to John Morley’s speech. So, Nawab Mohin-ul-Mulk wrote a letter on August 04 1906, to Archbold, Principal of the college, in which he expressed his apprehensions about the forthcoming constitutional changes. He was of the view that if combined election would be held on a more extended scale, Mohammedans will hardly get a single seat, while Hindus will carry more advantage because of their majority. He asked Archbold to advise for submit memorial from the Mohammedans to the Viceroy and to request his permission to accept a deputation for discuss the issue of forthcoming constitutional amendments. Archbold contacted to Viceroy’s secretary and on 10th August 1906. He informed Mohsin-ul-Mulk that the Viceroy was ready to meet the deputation. The extract of letter was:

“you must have read and thought over Morley’s speech. It is very much talked of among the Indian Muslims. There is a general complaint that we take no part in politics”

A delegation comprising 35 Muslim notables, it was led by His Excellency Sir Agha Khan who was his way to China and broke his journey at Colombo to render this valuable national service. Memorial which was presented to the viceroy carried 14611183 signatures of Muslims from Peshawar to Madras.

i.              Jagirdars, Zamindars, Taluqdars, Lawyers

ii.             Retired sub Judge

iii.            Most of its members were closely connected with the Aligarh Movement through AIMEC.

iv.           Associated with various political and Semi-political parties.

a.            Anuman-i-Islamia, Lahore.

b.            Anjuman-i- Islamia, Amritsar

c.             Mohammadan Political Association

d.            Mohammadan Literary Society, Calcultta, Central Assam.

Demands Of The Muslims:

Main demands put forwarded by the delegation were as under:

i) The Muhammadans may be granted the right of a separate electorate to choose their representatives.

ii) Muslim judges may be appointed more frequently.

iii) The Muslims may be given due representation in the imperial legislative council.

iv) At least one Muslim may be appointed in Viceroy’s Executive council.

v) Muslims may be given due representation in Gazetted and Sub-ordinated Ministerial Services.

HINDU ALLEGATIONS

“It was engineered”

“ A staunch resistance to all nationalist ambitions and activity”

“Command Performance”

“Congressite Newspaper “Amrita Bazar Patrika” opposed vehemently by saying “did not represent the whole of India and self-serving British officers were involved in its formation.”

Main opponents are Rajindra Prasad, G.N. Singh and above all, Molvi Tufail Ahmad Manglori’s book in which he presented ‘Conspiracy Theory’ -------------vested interests of Anglo-Indian rather than the well-being of wretch Muslims.

After a prolonged bickering (                   ) and acrimony, the Hindu historian have seen a light Tripathi’s  “The Extremist Challenge”, Dr. Shila Sen “Muslim Politics in Bengal, Delhi”

Importance of The Simla Deputation

The Simla Deputation was successful because the Muslims were strongly urged to protect their separate identity, whereas the British responded to their demands, as Lord Minto was anxious to pull them out of their political discontent. Separate electorates were given statutory recognition in the Indian Councils Act of 1909. Muslims were accorded not only the right to elect their representatives by separate electorates, but also the right to vote in general constituencies. In addition, they were also given weightage in representation. Simla Deputation enjoys great importance in the history of Pakistan Movement. It was through this deputation that the Muslims of India for the first time highlighted their demands as a community on national level. According to I.H. Qureshi:

"The Simla Deputation occupies a crucially important place in the history of Muslim-India. For the first time the Hindu-Muslim conflict was lifted to the constitutional plane. The rift in the society was now to be reflected in legal and political institutions. The Muslims made it clear that they had no confidence in the Hindu majority that they were not prepared to put their future in the hands of assemblies elected on the assumed basis of a homogenous Indian nation. By implication the Muslims rejected the idea of a single Indian nation on the ground of that the Muslim majority had an entity and could not be merged into Hindu majority."

The Distinct Identity:

In the words of Aga Khan

“its final and inevitable consequence was the partition of Indian and emergence of Pakistan”

Even the die-hard congressite Maulvi Tufail Ahmed Manglori had admitted the fact that

                                “the Muslims at large were very happy at the success of deputation”

Conclusion:

After the Simla Deputation the Muslims decided to continue the spirit of Muslim coordination and cooperation in the political field. Nawab Mohsin-ul-Malik took a step forward in this connection and wrote to Agha Khan,

"The deputation which went to Simla should be kept alive, and I suggest that a committee of members of deputation should be appointed to correspond with the Government for the realization of the representation made. This is the work of All-India Conference and if you agree, I should make detailed proposals."

Agha Khan agreed with the Proposals in December 1906 and the leaders who took part in the Muhammadan Educational Conference at Dacca in December in 1906 founded All-India Muslim League.