BACKGROUND
The political manifestos of both parties were almost identical, although there were two significant differences. Congress stood for the joint electorate, and the Muslim League for separate electorates. Congress wanted Hindi as the official language with Deva Nagri writing script, while the Muslim league wanted Urdu with Persian calligraphy.
PREFACE
The Government of India Act of 1935 was practically implemented in 1937. The provincial elections were held in the winter of 1936-37. There were two major political parties in the subcontinent at that time, the Congress and the masses, before these elections and put before them their manifesto.
ELECTION RESULTS
Congress captured 701 out of 1555 seats in lower houses of all the provinces taken together; it was returned with a clear majority. The Congress formed ministries in eight areas out of eleven sections.
THE LEAGUE’S FAILURE
In 1937, it was still a middle-class organization that had made little effort to obtain a mass following. The league forced particularly poorly in Punjab. Sindh and NWFP In Punjab, the Nationalist party swept the Muslim seats. The league’s overall achievement was that it won 106 out of a total of 491 Muslim seats.
THE HINDU MINISTRIES
Congress had majorities in five provinces: Madars, the United Provinces, Bihar, the Central Provinces, and Orissa. In the other two provinces, Bombay and NWFP, it was also able to form Ministries with the help of small minority groups
1. Government of India Act 1935 implementation
The Government of India Act of 1935 was not fully promulgated, but the only provincial part was introduced in the country.
2. Formation of Provincial Government
In July 1937, Congress formed governments in 6 provinces. In the Muslim-majority provinces, the Muslim League could not start the Government. The Muslim league desired to be in Government in the UP, but the Congress consented to conditional support.
QUAID’S REACTION
Mr. Jinnah was still ready to seek compromise. Even before the Congress ministries came into power, he expressed his views that the conflict between the two parties was not irresponsible and his readiness to cooperate with Congress in working for Unity and independence.
MUSLIMS MASS CONTACT MOVEMENT
Nehru announced in March 1937 that Congress would soon start a Muslim Mass Contact movement. It was an attempt to weaken and demoralize the league and to discredit its leadership. The problem, in Nehru’s opinion, was economic and not communal. His suggestion was to leave the top fringe, which is continually talking about the percentage of seats in legislatures.
POLICIES OF THE CONGRESS GOVERNMENTS
First, the congress governments in the provinces launched anti-Muslim drives to exclude the Muslim League and other Muslim Organizations from the government-making process. Following were the attitudes and policies of the Congress ministries towards Muslims;
1. Bande Matram
Bande Matram was adopted as a national anthem and was to be recited before the start of official business every day.
2. Wardha and Widdia Mandar Schemes
Under this scheme, the students were asked to pay respect and homage to Ghandhi’s Picture every day in their assemblies in the school. The students were asked to bow before Gandhi’s picture and sing hymns in his praise.
3. Hoisting of three Colored Flag
The Congress, after taking over the Government in the provinces, immediately ordered the hoisting of three coloured flags with the British Union Jack to prove that there were only two powers in India, which were the British and the Congress.
4. Hindu Muslims Riots
The Hindu-Muslim Riots were usual during the Congress to rule organization attempts were made on the honour, property, and lives of the Muslims by indulging in communal and religious feuds. The Hindus were free to assault innocent Muslims in any area.
5. Muslim Mass Contact Campaign
Congress started a Mushion mass contact campaign. The main objective of this campaign was to crush the popularity of the Muslim League among Muslims.
6. Cow Slaughter
The cow is considered a sacred animal among the whole Muslim community. On the other hand, the Hindus worship it. They banned cow slaughtering.
MUSLIMS RESPONSE
The Muslims were well aware of the theocratic inclination of the Hindu people. They arranged a close monitoring of the Government. They publicized their policies and raised the issue.
1. The PirPur Report
On March 28, 1938, the council of the Muslim League appointed an eight-member committee under the leadership of Raja Syed Muhammad Mehdi of Pirpur that presented its report on November 15, 1938. It tried to dig at the cruelties of the congress ministries in several provinces.
2. The Fazal-ul-Haq Report
A.K. Fazl-ul-Haq published a pamphlet entitled Muslim Sufferings under the Rule of Congress and made many alarming revelations forbidding the azan, Attacks in mosques, and banning of Cow slaughter.
3. Muslim League Activism
The Muslim leaders shed a sharp criticism on the congress policies. They protested against reducing the status of Urdu and Other Muslim-related issues.
END OF THE CONGRESS RULES
The Second World War began in 1939. Britain declared war against Germany; the Government appealed to all political parties for help and assistance in this hour of need. Congress convened its meeting to consider the Government’s appeal and put the following aid conditions in the war.
- The British Government should explain the Objective of the World War II.
- The Government should announce that the elected legislature would drait
DAY OF DELIVERANCE
Waheed-uz-Zaman Writes;
“Soon after their exit, Mr Jinnah, a skilful tactician and a hard-hitting opponent, intending to dramatize the event, appealed to the Muslims to unite in the observance of a Day of Deliverance on December 22, 1939.
FINAL NOTE
Congress’s Rule from 1937-39 is often termed “Hindu Rule” due to several steps Congress took during power. It was considered a dark period for Muslims because of the Congres’ policies. One of these controversies was the singing of the Congress Anthem.
REFERENCES
- Pakistan Studies by Waqar Ahmad Cheema
