The Muslim League (ML)

Time had come to formally organize the Muslims after the success of the Simla Deputation. The Muslim leaders desired to create a permanent political forum. After the meeting of the Mohammedan Educational Conference, the Muslim leaders met to set up the All India Muslim League. Wiqar-ul-Mulk chaired the meeting. Nawab Salimullah proposed Muslim League and Hakim Ajmal Khan and Maulana Zafar Ali Khan seconded.

Group photo taken at the Annual Mohammedan Educational Conference in Dhaka, 1906

In the Karachi session Dec. 1907 its constitution was approved and in March 1908 at Aligarh, Agha Khan was formally elected its president.

         London Branch: May 1908 Syed Ameer Ali

Justice Amir Ali Syed organised a branch of Muslim League at London in 1908 and responded effectively to the misunderstandings and conspiracies of the Hindus against the Muslims.

   GOALS:

1.     Protection and promotion of political rights and interests of the Muslims.

2.     Cooperation with other communities without prejudice to the above goal.

3.    Fostering sense of loyalty, among the Muslims, towards the government.

Maulana Muhammad Ali Jouhar wrote the constitution of the Muslim League

Change in the Goals of the Muslim League 1913

Important developments occurred during the first decade of the 20th century like annulment of the Partition of Bengal and Western aggression towards Muslim countries, Balkan wars, Libya-Italy war, Demolition of the mosque in Kawnpur (1913), etc. weakened Muslim faith in the British. This led to a major drift in the Muslim League’s policy. In 1913, the League changed its goals:

• Self government under the British Crown keeping in view the peculiar conditions in India.  

• Good relations with other communities’ cooperation with any party working for similar goals.

              This change brought the ML and Congress closer. In this way the era of cooperation between Hindus and Muslims set in. The role of the Quaid-i-Azam is highly noteworthy to bring the Congress and the Muslim League to the table. He joined the Muslim League in 1913.

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