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2. Promotion and protection of rights of the An extremely active organization was the Ghadar
Muslims and to demand special concessions (rebellion) Party, which operated mostly in
in government services. Canada and the United States. It sent arms and

3. Demand separate electorates for the revolutionaries to India and even published
Muslims without infringing on the interest of journals, this party organised and planned a
other communities. revolution in India, but the British had prior
information and the leaders were arrested and
4. To keep the Muslim masses away from the
national movement and the Congress. confined.
Later, in 1913, however the Muslim League THE HOME RULE MOVEMENT DURING
adopted the attainment of self-government as its THE FIRST WORLD WAR
aim as the Congress had done seven years The moderates were not too successful in achiev-
earlier. ing their aims and the radicals were eager to get
Were the British successful in their policy of their demand of self-rule introduced in India as
divide and rule? Yes, to a large extent they were soon as possible. When the First World War
and the formation of the Muslim League is proof broke out in 1914 between Britain, France and
of it. Yet it may be noted that in spite of the Russia on one side and Austria, Hungary, Italy
actions of the government some Muslim leaders and Germany on the other, India too, was drawn
saw through the British game and joined the into the war, as it was a colony of Britain. Many
national movement. Prominent among them Indian troops fought in different parts of the
were Abul Kalam Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan and world as part of the British army. India supported
Mazharul Haque who opposed British rule. Even Britain in the war with the hope that they would
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of get some concessions in return, but they were
Pakistan, was a supporter of the Congress ini- soon disillusioned.
tially. Some leaders like Tilak and Annie Besant were
convinced that the British would not grant them
their demand of self-rule till they pressurized
them. Tilak started the Home Rule league, which
demanded self-government. Annie Besant also
started another Home Rule League and was later
arrested. Both the Leagues were supportive of
each other. The Home Rule Movement increased
consciousness among the people and intensified
the national movement.
LUCKNOW SESSION 1916
Mohammad Ali Jinnah
GHADAR PARTY When the Muslim League was formed in 1906, it
was a relatively moderate organisation with a
The revolutionaries were active not only in India
pro-British stance. After the First World War, the
but also in different parts of the world. These
revolutionaries like Lala Hardayal, Madam Viceroy Lord Chelmsford had solicited reform
suggestions from Indians in return for the Indian
Cama, M.N. Roy, etc. became active in London,
support to the British war effort. The Muslim
USA, Canada and other parts of Europe and
League led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah wanted to
Asia.

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