Assalamu alaikum we are having lecture number 10 of Pakistan studies.

The topic for this lecture is

The 1937 elections the Congress ministries in the provinces

and their policies towards the Muslims
In this connection we will be focusing on four major issues
1) the 1937 elections
2) provincial governments how these governments were formed
3) their policies
4) what was the Muslim response to the policies of these ministries
The Government of India act 1935 was formulated after long deliberations that we have discussed in our
previous lectures. We can go back to the Simon Commission, report 1930 then roundtable conferences
which were held in London, then the white paper issued by the British government, and after that the
British Parliament deliberated on it and passed this law, the Government of India act 1935. And then King
signed the law and therefore it became Government of India act 1935, under which these elections were
held.
The British government introduced only the provincial part of the Government of India act 1935. The
central part or the federal part was not introduced. Only the provincial part was introduced. Therefore the
British government decided to hold provincial elections, because only the provincial part was introduced.
The Muslim League criticized the Government of India act for a number of reasons. The same was the case
with the Congress party .however both the parties agreed to take part in the elections to make advantage
of the opportunities that were being provided under the Government of India act.

1st
The 1937 Elections
Now let's take up the first topic .our first issue that is “the 1937 general elections’’’. These general
elections at the provincial level were held on the basis of restricted franchise. The principle of universal
adult franchise implies that citizens of certain minimum age are entitled to vote. That minimum age could
be 21, 18 or 16 that is determined by law. But in case of 1937 elections they had the British head for
certain restrictions, so that it was not a universal adult franchise. If you compare with the previous laws the
electorate had been extended, more people were given right to vote under the Government of India act
1935. Then was the case in the past.
The second important feature of the 1937 elections was that the people of separate electorate were
observed. You would recall that the principle of separate electorate was introduced in 1909, under the
Government of India act nineteen o nine, by the British government on the demand of the Muslims and
since then the principle of separate electorate been ineffective. And this principle of separate electorate
implied that the Muslims, voters will elect Muslim representatives. That you elect the representative of
your own community. That is what separate electorate is. For this election Congress projected itself as an
all-India organization, an organization that represented all parts of India and all sections of Indian society.
The unique focus attention only on the Muslims .it contested Muslim seats not the other seats, because it
was claiming to be the representative of the Muslims .however there were several other Muslim
organizations, political parties in different process that also claimed to represent Muslims in their
provinces. In this way the Muslim League was competing for votes not only with the Congress but also for a
number of Muslim groups and Muslim political parties at the provincial level.
 The provincial elections were completed by February 1937. And if we look at the results of these elections.
We find that the Congress party got clear majority in five Indian provinces. and the provinces where the
Congress got very clear majority were Madras, u P or United province as it was known at that time, CP
central province ,Bihar and Orissa. These were the five provinces where the Congress had clear majority. In
KK it emerged as the largest political party. In fact the Congress got 704 seats out of 1585 general seats
reserved for non-muslims. The Congress party was able to get only about 30 seats that were out of
reserved Muslim seats. In fact four Muslim seats were about 485 and the Congress got less than 30 seats .if
we move from Congress to the Muslim League what we find in 1937 elections is that the Muslim League
also performed poorly. Muslim League was able to get only 21% of the Muslim seats. And the Muslim
League did not get majority in any Muslim majority province. (the province of Punjab, Northwest Frontier,
sindh, a Bengal which were muslim-majority provinces. the Muslim League did not get many seats. the
Muslim seats in these provinces for one by local political, parties, local Muslim parties or parties that had
Muslim as well as non Muslims .and Muslim League succeed poorly in these provinces. for example in case
of Bengal, Punjab and NWFP or our sindh. These seats were very limited, which the Muslim League got. in
case of Bengal it got some seats but those were only a few seats. the most interesting situation developed
in the province of Punjab which was a Muslim majority province. here the UNIONIST party was leading and
Muslim League got only two seats. and out of those two members that were elected on the Muslim League
seat, one of them left the Muslim League and joined the UNIONIST party .the result was that the Muslim
League was left with only one member in the province of Punjab. the Muslim League performed relatively
better in Muslim minority provinces. but overall it was a weak performance. The reason was that Muslim
League was still facing organizational problems. the Quaid e Azam returned to India from England in 1934
and he took command of the Muslim League and began to organize Muslim League. but three years that is
from 1934 to 37 was a period and therefore the Muslim League was still facing organizational problems.
Furthermore, the Muslim League was facing tough competition in muslim-majority provinces by other
Muslim organizations and Muslim groups. Therefore it could not establish its credentials in 1937 elections
as the sole representatives of the Muslims of India.

2nd
Formation of provincial Governments
Now let's take up the second part that deals with the establishment of provincial governments. The
Congress had one clear majority in five and it was largest group in one more province. Therefore it was
able to form provincial governments in six provinces; however the formation of the Congress ministries in
these provinces was delayed. The provincial system was inaugurated on April 1st 1937. But in case of the
Congress provinces the new ministries took over in July 1937. The reason was that the Congress wanted
categorical assurance from the British government, that the provincial governors will not exercise their
special powers against the ministries. there was a dialogue between the British Indian government and the
Congress High Command and ultimately the British government gave a vague kind of commitment not a
very clear but a vague kind of commitment that the governor's will not interfere in day-to-day affairs of the
government .so this was a good basis for the Congress party to form the government because they wanted
to form the government .now in case of the provinces, where Muslims were in majority, in all the four
provinces that is the Punjab, Northwest Frontier Province, Sindh and Bengal ,non Muslim League ministries
were formed. In case of Northwest Frontier Province the Khudai Khidmatgir party that was the leading
party there in the elections formed the government. And this party Khudai Khidmatgir enjoyed the support
of the Congress party .in case of Punjab, UNIONIST party led by Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, formed the
government. In Sindh the United Party which was a Muslim party formed the government. In Bengal a
coalition government was formed, Muslim League was part of it but it was a kind of a minor party in that
coalition. so it was essentially a non Muslim League government, although Muslim League supported it .the
Muslim League wanted that it should be given some representation by the Congress party in some of the
provinces ,where Congress had formed the government. Because in three out of six provinces where
Congress had formed the government it could not win even a single Muslim seat. In the province of Uttar
Pradesh U P or at that time United province Muslim League wanted to join the government. However the
negotiations between the Congress and the Muslim League produced certain demands. Which were not
acceptable to the Muslim League? The Congress demanded, that if Muslim League wants to be part of the
government in UP.
It will have to do three things
i. one it will have to dissolve Muslim League parliamentary board which was there for
elections
ii. Second condition was that the Muslim League members in the assembly will not function.
They will not operate as a separate group.
iii. Third the Muslim League member has to formally express their allegiance, their loyalty to
the Congress party.
These three conditions meant that the Muslim League was to come to an end in that province.
Because once you sign loyalty and allegiance to Congress party, you don't function as a separate
party. Your entity disappears. These conditions were not acceptable to the Muslim League
leadership. Therefore a coalition government could not be formed. Muslim League refused to
accept these conditions and stayed out of the government. Which was understandable. Because
these conditions were not acceptable in fact the Congress also knew. That these conditions will not
be acceptable to the Muslim League that is why they offered such strict and difficult conditions.

3rd
Policies of the Congress Governments
Now we move on to the third aspect of today's lecture that is, the policies which different Congress
governments adopted in the provinces. The Congress provincial ministries were in power from July 1937 to
November 1939 .so you could say little over two years. They resigned because with the beginning of World
War II in September 1939. the British went to war and being the colonial ruler of India ,they declared on
behalf of India, that India is also part the war effort, as the British have declared the war they are in war
therefore India is also in war .
In other words the British government declared war on behalf of India. The Congress protested, Congress
protested that this decision has been made without consulting the Indian leaders, and as a protest they
resigned in the provincial government. So that Congress rule came to an end in 1939.
These Congress ministries very important both for the Congress party and the Muslim League. For two
different reasons. This was for the first time that an all Congress government was set up in different
provinces .this was for the first time that the Congress had freedom to pursue its policies at the provincial
level within the framework of the Government of India act 1935. For Muslims especially the Muslim League
this was the first experience of living under Congress rule, previously there was no representative
government in India. But now at the provincial level the Congress had formed the government and this was
the first occasion that the Muslims had the taste of the Congress rule. There for the first time realized what
kind of policies Congress would adopt and what would be their fate under the Congress rule.
Well if we look at the policies which the Congress ministries adopted. We find that these policies were
there, to adversely affect Muslim interest .the reason was that the Congress had become too confident,
after winning elections and after setting up governments, in six provinces and in seventh province. It had a
pro Congress government .and I thought that this is an opportunity where it could establish itself as an all-
India force. it also felt that this provided the Congress an opportunity to win over Muslim works and
somehow push aside the Muslim League and other Muslim groups and Muslim organizations that existed
in India and the Congress thought that in this way they would, with the passage of time, established
themselves as the genuine and truly all-India party. And they would perform better in the next elections.
Therefore, this started Muslim mass contact movement by emphasizing that the real issues are the
economic issues and that is what the Congress would try to resolve. The Congress effort to launch the mass
contact movement did not succeed. It in fact created greater insecurity amongst the Muslims. Especially,
the Muslim organizations and the Muslim League. These organizations felt that it was an attempt to
undercut the roots of Muslim organizations, amongst the Muslims .and what really undermined the
Congress efforts to make inroads amongst the Muslim population, was the type of policies the Congress
ministries adopted in the provinces.

Let’s take up there cultural and educational policies. Here under the cover of cultural policies what
they were doing .they were projecting Hindu culture, Hindu history and symbols in the name of
Indian culture and Indian history. The Congress did not realize that and over emphasis on Hindu
symbols will cause reaction amongst the Muslims. Because the Muslims were defining their identity
with reference to their own history, culture civilization, and Islam. And this approach by the
Congress was coming in conflict, with that perspective and that outlook.
Then gained the question of language most of the provincial governments were now projecting
Hindi language .Hindi language in place of URDU. That also perturbed the Muslims.
Then let's take up their education policies the Congress introduced an education scheme the
Wardha education scheme. Again under the cover of the new education policies, they were
projecting certain ideas which conflicted with the notion of Muslim identity. For example Hindu
culture, Hindu history which obviously meant distortion of the Muslim history.
Then the famous anthem which was often used during that time was the anthem vande mataram
(national song of India). If we go back in the context of vande mataram. This had an anti-muslim
connotation. The context is anti-muslim. Therefore when this anthem mataram, virtually became a
part of the system. The Muslims objected another was the projection of Gandhi's philosophy that
was also objected to by Muslim leaders. Because that was incorporated in the courses, they were
introducing or they were trying to introduce.
In addition to these cultural issues and issues of interpretation of history there were a couple of
other issues that alienated the Muslims. A large number of Muslim civil servants complained about
discrimination. Discrimination in terms of promotions or moving up indicator and different kind of
appointments. These were the complaints which a good number of Muslim officers made to the
Muslim League. Additionally there were complaints about discrimination in new recruitment. A
good number of applicant, Muslim applicant for different jobs complained that in case of the
selection board which comprised mainly of non-muslims .they had to face a difficult time. The
overall attitude of these ministries was negative towards Muslims especially, the activists those
who are involved in politics those who were involved with Muslim League or other Muslim
organizations in the provinces.
The major problem was that the Congress party was not able to understand the Muslim
sensitivities about their identity, about their culture about their interests .they did not realize that
Islam and the heritage and the political experience, which they had over generations in India, was
playing a vital and central role in creating their political identity. All that experience had become
 basis of their political identity and their political demands. And unfortunately the Congress
government in provinces and the Congress High Command was insensitive to all these issues and
that is why the Congress ministries in the provinces could not win over the Muslims. In fact they
alienated the Muslims.

4th
Muslim Response
Let’s now move over to the next part that is the Muslim response. How did the Muslim League responded
to the situation that I have described .that is to the policies different Congress ministries were adopting in
the provinces. During this period, that is period over two years. The Muslim League was not sitting idle .the
Muslim League was closely monitoring, what was happening in different provinces .they were also
mobilizing Muslims. They were interacting with the people in different provinces, mobilizing them and
taking into account, their concerns, their anxieties and their complaints.
Here we can talk about certain reports that were prepared during these two years, on the treatment of
Muslim interests by the Congress ministries.
Pirpur Report,
i. The first report is entitled the Pirpur Report, which came out in November 1938. And this
report talks about the policies which the Congress pursued in different provinces and how
those policies adversely affected the Muslims of those provinces.
Sharif report
ii. There is another report the Sharif report that was released in March 1939. And this report
focuses on the province of Bihar. What was the Congress ministry in Bihar doing and how
Muslims suffered under the Congress government in Bihar.
A statement
iii. The third report is a statement detailed statement or detailed account given by the chief
minister of Bengal Maulvi Fazalul Haq, at that time Chief Minister was described or labeled
as premier. So he prepared a report and that report is also, a list of complaints, a list of
grievances which the Muslims developed against the Congress ministry in different parts of
India.
if we look at all these three reports what we get, is an overall impact of how the Muslims were
perceiving the Congress ministries .what were their reaction to the policies and what we get is a
negative perception. A sense of insecurity caused by the policies of the provincial government and a
desire to protect their interests that was the prominent feature that comes out of the Congress
ministry rule, so far as Muslims are concerned. And many of the Muslim leaders especially the
Muslim League leaders were arguing that what the Congress is doing in these provinces where it
has government. Trying to establish a Hindu rule. A rule that would overwhelm or that would
dominate Muslim culture and their identity .and they were generally feeling that this kind of
governance will in the long run undermine their interests. That is what the perception of the
Muslim League leadership was.
Muslim League Activism
The Muslim League remained very active during this period. It was highlighting the complaints that were
being received by the Muslim League. All the policies, the Muslim League thought were adversely affecting
Muslim interest. So it was highlighting all those issues. And trying to bring Muslims closer and under the
Muslim League fort.
1937 session of the Muslim League at Lucknow
The most significant development so far as Muslim League was concerned was the 1937 session of the
Muslim League at Lucknow. In this 1937 session, three chief ministers or you could call them premiers as
it was known at that time, participated in the Muslim League session. They were Maulvi Fazalul Haq
premier of Bengal, sir Sikandar Hayat Khan Premier of Punjab, Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla premier of
Assam. These three important provincial leaders participated in the October 1937 session of the Muslim
League at Lucknow .and promised to extend support to the Muslim League .although the Muslim League
had problem of managing relations with Maulvi Fazalul Haq premier of Bengal, sir Sikandar Hayat Khan
Premier of Punjab later on. But the fact that three Muslim chief ministers were there and expressed their
support for the Muslim League was a big achievement for the Muslim League. It was a major success.
Comparison :( the position of the Muslim League in 1934, with the position in October 1937)
You could compare the position of the Muslim League in 1934, with the position in October 1937. In 1934
Muslim League was weak and divided. There were factions in the Muslim League and the Muslim
leadership requested the Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to come back to India and when he
returned he assumed the responsibility of the Muslim League, he reorganized it. But in 37 elections the
Muslim League did not perform. Now with the entry of the chief ministers on the side of the Muslim
League. Muslim League felt more confident and more secure, because it could now talk about the support.
Which it was enjoying. So in other words the Muslim League fate had started changing from 1937. this is
ironic, that in 1937 elections, February 1937, muslim league performed poorly ,then by October its
situation was changing and it was moving up and if we go back to the later period that we would be
discussing in our subsequent lectures we will find that muslim league becomes a very powerful and
effective organization. Now coming back to the 1937 session of the Muslim league. In this session the
congress policies in the provinces were criticized and speakers after speakers explained how these policies
are working against the Muslims. They also expressed their determination to resist these tendencies of the
Congress ministries and to work for protection and promotion of Muslim interest in this subcontinent.
There was a realization that what has happened in the Congress ministries at the provincial level, would
perhaps be the fate of Muslims, if Congress assumes power in all India. They were saying that in a way this
is at a limited scale, a display of what Congress would or Congress could do. And that is how it is going to
behave. It gets power at the central level or at All India level. This kind of feeling led the Muslim League
leadership to give a serious thought to alternatives, the political alternatives. Previously, the Muslim
League and other Muslim leaders were primarily and essentially talking of a federal model were talking
about certain safeguards, certain constitutional guarantees that should be provided to Muslims .but here,
after these provincial ministries some of the Muslim leaders began to question whether a provincial model
with autonomy can solve their problems. That is if they have a federal system with provincial autonomy,
will that solve their problems. If the situation is to go as it is going in the provinces then perhaps that may
not provide a satisfactory solution to the Muslims .it is because of this kind of feelings that Muslim League
leadership began to think about alternative.
In fact the Sindh Muslim League was the first regional organization or regional body of the Muslim League
that argued that the Muslim League should look beyond the fair model. That is instead of demanding a
federal system in India where provinces have autonomy and in provinces where they are in majority then
they would have security .so the Muslim League was arguing that they have to think beyond a federal
model and they have to talk about some constitutional scheme that talks about freedom for Muslims.
 With the passage of time this thinking caught on and then in 1939, when the Second World War started.
The Congress party decided to withdraw its ministries, those ministries resigned which was an occasion of
pleasure and happiness and satisfaction for the Muslim League. the Muslim League observed a day of
deliverance on December 22nd 1939 ,to express satisfaction that they are no longer Congress ministries
and when the issue of Second World War came, the Muslim League argued that new constitution should
be framed keeping in view the Muslim League interest. They also argued that no constitutional framework
can be imposed without taking into account Muslim interest. This brings us to the end of this lecture where
we focused on the Congress ministries.