Content area
Full Text
Abstract
The All India Muslim League (AIML) was formed on December 30, 1906 mainly to protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India but the extra-territorial issues also did not escape its attention. Therefore, references to the international issues continued to emerge in the AIML proceedings in the coming years. The first major international issue which attracted the AIML's attention was mistreatment of the Indians in the British colonies particularly in the Transvaal state of South Africa. The AIML urged the British cabinet to secure complete and equal rights and privileges of the British citizenship for the Indians with a permission to settle in the British colonies on equal terms with the 'white races'. The Pan-Islamic sentiments also got reflected in the AIML proceedings. However, international concerns of the AIML, rather whole of the Muslim India, were best exhibited in the case of Turkey.
Key Words: Muslim League, South Africa, Turkey, British, India
The western styled political parties and associations were introduced in South Asia after the British assumption of power. The first political organization established by the Muslims of the British India was the Muhammaden Association formed at Calcutta, which held its first meeting on January 31, 1856 (Mujamdar, 1965: 221). In April 1863, Nawab Abdul Latif (1828-93), the first Muslim member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly, founded the Muhammaden Literary Society at Calcutta, which inter alia aimed at creating interest in politics among the Muslims and bringing the Muslim requirements to the notice of rulers. Soon more than 500 distinguished Muslims, from all parts of India, became its members and consequently, the Society presented various addresses to the Viceroy and the Lieutenant Governors requesting redressal of Muslim grievances. The Government of India (GOI) also approached the Society on several occasions to get its opinion on issues affecting the Muslim community (Ikram, 1965: 102).
On May 12, 1878, Syed Ameer Ali (1849-1928) founded the Central National Muhammaden Association at Calcutta and soon its branches were formed throughout India. The Association aimed at the well being of the Muslims using all legitimate and constitutional means, and their political regeneration by moral revival, and to obtain a recognition of their just and reasonable claims (Mujamdar, 1965: 224-227; Chughtai, 1962: 61-62)....