Morley Minto Reforms: Features, Communal Divide & Political Challenges in 1909 India

Morley Minto Reforms: Religious Divisions in 1909 India

The Morley Minto Reforms (1909) introduced separate electorates for Muslims and Hindus, increased elected representation and divided India along religious lines. They were a step forward for democracy, but not enough for nationalists

Historical Background of Morley Minto Reforms: Shaping India’s Political Landscape

In October 1906, the Simla Deputation, led by Agha Khan, met Lord Minto and demanded separate electorates for Muslims as well as representation greater than their numerical strength due to the “value of the contribution” Muslims were making “to the defense of the empire.”

• Muslim League: The same group swiftly took over the Muslim League, which was founded in December 1906 by Nawab Salimullah of Dacca, Nawabs Mohsin-ul-Mulk, and Waqar-ul-Mulk.
• Imperial allegiance: The Muslim League attempted to promote imperial allegiance while keeping the Muslim elite away from the Congress.
• Cracking down is not sufficient: The Conservative Viceroy of India, Minto, and John Morley, the Liberal Secretary of State for India, both agreed that cracking down on uprisings in Bengal was important but not sufficient for restoring security to the British Raj following Lord Curzon’s splitting of Bengal.
• Instil hope: They believed that a drastic step was required to instill hope in the Indian upper classes and the growing Westernized part of the population.

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Empowering Change: Positive Shifts in Morley Minto Reforms (1909)

• Element of self-government: It included an element of self-government by allowing for indirect elections.
• Budget voting: including the ability to vote on a portion of the budget.
• Authority to question: More authority was granted in terms of questioning.
• Representation: There was more representation.

Negatives Feature of Morley Minto Reforms: Communal Divide and Limited Progress

• Separate Electorates: The reforms included, among other things, a separate electorate for Muslims.
• Fostered communalism: It planted the seeds of communalism and hindered India’s historical progress toward unity. Lord Minto was dubbed the “Father of the Communal Electorate.”
• Diversion from plight: It also diverted Indians’ attention away from economic and political issues.
• No real power: extended Legislative Councils, but members were still chosen indirectly and the councils didn’t have any actual powers, such as budget debate, though they were now permitted to pass resolutions, etc.
• Limited Association of Indians: With the Executive Council of the Viceroy and Governors. Satyendra Prasad Sinha (SP Sinha) was the first Indian to be appointed as a legal member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. (The number was limited to one).
• Limited franchise: The franchise was introduced for the first time – it was restricted, however, because women did not have voting rights, and it was also constrained in other ways.

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Morley Minto Reforms: Challenges and Divisions in Indian Politics

No solution to the political dilemma: The 1909 changes provided no solution to the Indian political dilemma.

• No self-governance: Lord Morley Minto Reforms stated unequivocally that colonial self-governance was unsuitable for India, and he was opposed to the establishment of parliamentary or accountable administration in India.
• Tool to divide: In reality, the unpopular tool of separate electorates was used to divide the nationalist forces by confounding the Moderates and hindering the emergence of solidarity among Indians.
• Indirect elections: Furthermore, the election procedure was too indirect, giving the sense of “infiltration of legislators through a number of sieves.”
• No accountability: While parliamentary forms were established, no accountability was embraced, which occasionally resulted in careless and reckless criticism of the administration.
• Stifle the emergence of nationalist unity: Despite that, the revamped council had little power. In reality, the goal of the changes was to confuse moderate nationalists and stifle the emergence of nationalist unity.

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Conclusion

The reforms of 1909 provided the country’s citizens with a shadow rather than substance. The people desired self-government, but all they got was “benevolent despotism.

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