Was the Simla Deputation of 1906 the most important reason for the formation of the Muslim League later that same year? Explain your answer.
Answers
The Simla deputation proved a landmark in the history of modern India, because for the very first time the Hindu-Muslim conflict, which stared with the Urdu-Hindi controversy, was lifted to the constitutional plane. The Indians were not satisfied with the Indian council Act of 1892. Especially, 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 1906 John 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.
Answer:
Level 5: Explains with evaluation
(As top of Level 4 plus judgement / evaluation)
2019. 14
Level 4: Explains the Simla Deputation reason(s) AND other reason(s)
9–13 (Two explanations, one on the Simla Deputation and one on other reason,
are worth nine marks. Additional explanations awarded up to 13 marks)
e.g.
Simla Deputation
• The acceptance of demands from Muslim groups proved that there was
a better understanding between the British and the Muslim community
as a result of the work of leaders like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan;
• Many Muslims now recognised that they were a separate community
who should be treated differently to Hindu groups.
Other reasons
• In 1905 a new Liberal government had taken office that seemed likely to
make changes in political representation. Thus the Muslim community
felt they needed their own political party to protect their own interests;
• Congress was demanding that India should be treated as a cultural and
political whole and Hindi should be declared the official language and therefore was seen by
Muslim groups as an organisation which would primarily advance the views of the Hindu
community leading Muslim groups to conclude that their own political party was needed;
• The growth of Hindu nationalist groups demanding that Muslims be forcibly converted to
Hinduism led to a number of prominent Muslim leaders founding the Muslim League as a means
of promoting and safeguarding Muslim identity;
• When the Hindu community started to protest against the partition of Bengal, Muslim groups
saw this as a sign of Hindu influence and became concerned about their own interests – and
began to consider their own survival and political representation;
• The Muslim community became increasingly concerned that their political rights would not be
advanced if they continued to rely on the Indian National Congress and that by organising a
single Muslim political group they would be organised and united.
Level 3: Explains the Simla Deputation reason(s) OR other reason(s)
7–10 (One explanation is worth seven marks. Additional explanations awarded up to 10 marks)
See exemplars in L4
Level 2: Identifies / describes reasons for the formation of the Muslim League 3–6 (One
identification / description is worth three marks. Extra marks are awarded for additional
identification / descriptions up to six marks)
e.g.
• The Simla Deputation happened because of the British reaction to the
Muslim community;
• The partition of Bengal was a problem for the Hindu community;
• There was a growth of Hindu nationalist groups;
• The Muslim community could no longer rely on Congress.
• The Muslim community recognised they should be treated in a different
way from Hindu groups.
Level 1: Simple statement(s) 1–2 (One simple statement is worth one mark. An answer with
additional simple statements is worth two marks)
e.g.
• The Simla Deputation was an important step towards the formation of a political party for
Muslim groups.
No evidence submitted or response does not address the question.
Explanation: