Unite# 1 – Ideological
Basis of Pakistan
(1857-1940)

1.3.7 Discuss the impact of Congress Rule and the significance of the Day of Deliverance 1939.

Background

The Government of India Act 1935 introduced representative government at the provincial level, leading to elections based on separate electorates in 1937. In these elections, the Congress won most of the seats reserved for Muslims, Hindus, and Scheduled Castes, forming its government in 8 provinces. In 3 provinces where other parties had majority seats, the Congress formed coalition governments.

Congress rule began in 1937 and ended on December 22, 1939, when it resigned in protest against the British decision to declare war on Germany without consulting Indian leaders.

Despite expecting fairness and religious impartiality from the Congress government due to their overwhelming support, Muslims were disappointed. Instead, the new government treated Muslims with tyranny and brutality. Congress made a grave mistake and underestimated its consequences, leading to Muslim alienation from the party.

Mistreatment of Muslims and its impact

The mistreatment of Muslims during the Congress Rule, 1937-39 and its impact are as follows:

Introduction of Bande Mataram

The introduction of “Bande Mataram,” a nationalist Hindu song, was seen by Muslims as promoting their expulsion from Hindustan. Muslims viewed this song as considering them impure and alien to Mother India, leading to concerns that their expulsion was necessary to purify the country. While the expulsion of Muslims was not an official policy of the Congress, the widespread adoption of “Bande Mataram” as the national anthem in provincial assemblies, schools, and other institutions worried and offended Muslims.

The Wardha Scheme

The Congress government introduced the Wardha Scheme, an educational program endorsed by Gandhi, in schools across India. The scheme advocated for Hindi as the medium of instruction, manual spinning of cotton, exclusion of religious education, and students bowing to a portrait of Gandhi. Muslims viewed these measures as a diversion from their faith, as they considered religious education important and had their own schools for it. The Wardha Scheme would have prohibited religious teaching in those schools.

Hindrances in Religious Practices

During the Congress rule from 1937 to 1939, Muslims in India felt that Congress and its supporters were trying to erase their Muslim identity. Some anti-Muslim activities and the Congress government’s inaction exacerbated these fears.

According to the textbook “History and Culture of Pakistan” by Nigel Kelly, some of the anti-Muslim incidents during this period included a ban on cow slaughter with harsh punishment for violators. There were also reports of banning the Azaan (Muslim call to prayer) and attacking mosques for any violation. Additionally, anti-social elements created disturbances outside mosques during prayer times, making Muslims feel increasingly insecure in practicing their faith.

The authorities did not intervene to stop these anti-Muslim activities, and complaints by Muslims were often ignored or dismissed. Moreover, during its two-year rule, Congress remained silent on deliberate anti-Muslim riots, such as attacks on houses and property being set on fire.

Conclusion

The mistreatment of Muslims during the Congress rule from 1937 to 1939 had a significant impact. The introduction of “Bande Mataram” and the Wardha Scheme were seen as attempts to marginalize Muslims. Hindrances in religious practices, such as bans on cow slaughter and the Azaan, along with attacks on mosques and anti-Muslim riots, fueled fears and insecurities. These experiences contributed to a growing sense of alienation and distrust towards the Congress government, shaping the political landscape and eventually leading to the emergence of the Muslim League as a prominent voice for Muslim rights and the partition of India.