SSC
The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906 at:
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Answer: Option B — Dhaka
Detailed Solution
The All-India Muslim League was founded on 30 December 1906 at Dacca (Dhaka), in present-day Bangladesh, during the annual session of the All India Muhammadan Educational Conference. The meeting was hosted by Nawab Khwaja Salimullah of Dacca, who proposed the formation of the League. The session was presided over by Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk. Aga Khan III became its first President, and its headquarters was later set up at Lucknow.
Background:
The Partition of Bengal (1905) created a Muslim-majority province of Eastern Bengal and Assam, which many Muslim leaders supported.
On 1 October 1906, a delegation of 35 Muslim leaders, led by Aga Khan III, met the Viceroy Lord Minto at Simla (the "Simla Deputation"). They demanded separate electorates for Muslims and representation in excess of their numerical strength, in view of their "political importance". Lord Minto assured them that their demands would be considered.
The main aims of the Muslim League at its foundation were to promote loyalty to the British government among Muslims, to protect and advance the political rights and interests of Muslims, and to prevent hostility towards other communities.
The British accepted the demand for separate electorates in the Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms), under which Muslims could vote for Muslim candidates in constituencies reserved for them. Lord Minto is therefore called the "Father of Communal Electorate".
Later developments:
In the Lucknow Pact of 1916, the Congress and the Muslim League agreed on joint demands, and the Congress accepted separate electorates.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the dominant leader of the League. At its Lahore session of 1940, the League passed the Lahore Resolution (Pakistan Resolution), demanding separate states for Muslims.
The League's campaign led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Aligarh was the centre of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan's educational movement (MAO College, 1875).
- ✗Lucknow later became the League's headquarters and the site of the 1916 Lucknow Pact.
- ✗Lahore was where the Pakistan Resolution was passed (1940).
Quick tip
Remember: Muslim League = founded at Dhaka (30 December 1906, Nawab Salimullah, first President Aga Khan III); Simla Deputation (1906); separate electorates (1909, Morley-Minto); Lahore Resolution (1940).
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Swadeshi Movement & Early Nationalism — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Swadeshi Movement & Early Nationalism, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the growth of Indian nationalism from the early 1900s to the First World War: the partition of Bengal in 1905, the Swadeshi and Boycott movement, the rise of extremist leaders such as Lal, Bal and Pal, the Surat split of 1907, and the Home Rule Leagues of Tilak and Annie Besant. Typical questions cover the year the partition of Bengal was announced and annulled (1905 and 1911), the slogans and leaders of the Swadeshi movement, and the founders of the two Home Rule Leagues (1916). Be clear about the difference between the moderates, who used petitions, and the extremists, who called for swaraj and mass action. Practise the Swadeshi movement and early nationalism questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.