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Pak Studies History IGCSEPDF 58
181 pagesrevision 46928
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reserved (important) subjects or portfolios i.e. police, justice, revenue, power resources,
press and publication, etc were under the control of Governors who were British.
These reforms were not acceptable to both Muslim League and Congress because both
hoped for greater concessions. The Viceroy and Governors were given more executive
powers than Indian ministers through system of diarchy. They could even appoint Indian
ministers and dissolve assemblies so the administrative control was in the hands of British.
Consequently, the Govt. of India Act 1919 did not resolve the constitutional
problem within India.
Important developments occurred during the first and second decade of the 20th century like
Minto-Morley reforms which increased the number of members in legislative assemblies and
have given a separate platform for the Muslims to contest elections.
Hostility of Muslims towards British grew firstly through the annulment of the Partition of
Bengal and secondly by Western aggression towards Muslim countries, Balkan wars,
Demolition of the mosque in Kanpur (1913), etc. This weakened Muslim faith in the British
and ultimately led to a major drift in the Muslim League’s policy. This change
of policy brought the AIML and INC closer.
Hindus had their own reasons for antagonism such as partition of Bengal which according to
them was a political gimmick of British to let the Indians away from the self-rule. They had a
view that British was pursuing their ‘divide and rule policy’ through division of two major
Indian communities i.e., Muslims and Hindus. Muslim had then known that if they seriously
want to pursue their demands and to protect their
political rights, they had to take the majority (Hindus) in confidence. That’s how Muslims and
Hindus came closer and agreed to sign Lucknow Pact from where HinduMuslim unity had
started. It was a great success for Muslims that Hindus had accepted the Muslim demand of
separate electorate and a greater number of seats in Imperial
Legislative Council for Muslims was agreed upon, but the spirit of Lucknow Pact did not last
long. The friendly atmosphere created by the pact soon waned out and an extremist Hindu
element soon took over Congress.
British also extended the Defense Act of 1915 through Rowlatt Act in 1919. It gave the
powers to the police to arrest anyone without warrant and detain without the right to bail.
People could not hold meetings. They could be tried privately by three high court judges and
had no right to appeal. It had tragic results as it caused uproar in India, strikes and
demonstrations took place. The protests were so violent that British thought it could prove to
be another war of 1857.
Consequently, it can be implied that Lucknow Pact is the most important political
development from 1909 to 1919 because firstly for the very first time in the history of
subcontinent Muslims demand of separate electorate was accepted by the Hindus and
secondly it was right for the first time Hindus were united with Muslims.
Q: Were the Montague-Chelmsford reforms the main reason for the outbreak of
violence across India in 1919? Explain your answer. [14]