Pakistan Movement (Selected Articles)

SIMLA  DEPUTATION

1. Simla Deputation was the name given to a 35 members delegation of  Muslim leaders, headed by Sir Agha Khan which met the Viceroy, Lord Minto at Simla on  01 October,1906.

                 

Background

2.   With the passage of time, it became clear that the congress party was ignoring the rights of minorities and only represented Hindus. The Hindu opposition to Urdu and partition of Bengal intensified the feelings that Hindus would never allow Muslims a respectable place in the Indian society. The rise of Hindu nationalism further awakened the Muslim feelings of a separate identity. The political scene of India was affected with this situation and particularly by the vigorous activities of Congress Party, a sole organized forum having no rival. The Muslims believed that only an organized endeavor would lead them to success. In Briton, the new government of Prime Minister Lloyd George announced to soon introduce constitutional reforms in India including the representative form of Government.

3. Under these circumstances the Muslim leaders, therefore decided to avail this opportunity to apprise the Viceroy of the Muslims demands. A delegation of prominent Muslim leaders from all over the country was formed under the leadership of Sir Agha Khan for the purpose. The delegation carefully deliberated and formulated their demands covering all aspects of Muslims interests.

Demands

4.  The most important demands included in the memorandum were as follows:--

      a.  An electorate system should be introduced to give right to Muslims to elect their own representatives for the  Legislative Councils as well as for the local bodies.

      b. In the provinces where Muslims are in minority, they should be given more seats than their proportionate share of population.

     c.  The Muslims should be allocated seats in  higher grades posts of  government service. They should be appointed to the posts of judges in Chief Courts and High Courts and taken as representatives in the Executive Council of Viceroy

Meeting with Viceroy
 

5.  The delegation met the Viceroy at Simla on 01 October, 1906. Lord Minto gave a patient hearing to the demands of Muslim leaders of Simla Deputation. He expressed his complete agreement with the principle of separate electorate. He promised to give sympathetic consideration to the demands and assured the delegation that he would do all what was possible to accept the demands.

Achievements

6.  It was a great achievement of the Simla Deputation to have convinced the Viceroy about the genuine and logical demands of Muslims. The Muslims now were confident that their organized efforts were essential to press for the acceptance of their demands. They seriously felt the need for their own political party

   7.  Consequently, the government agreed to the major demand of separate electorate and incorporated it in the Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909. The right of separate electorate ultimately paved ways for the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

Article By:  Syeda Qasmina Ashraf