• Dormancy of the Mohammadan Political Association led to the Muslims of India seeking a purely Muslim political organization.
• Factors influencing this move included disillusionment with docile policies of leaders, inability to secure a due share in government jobs, ambition for active political participation, unrest over anti-Urdu policies, and the Hindu agitation against the partition of Bengal (1905), which had benefited Bengali Muslims.
• The immediate reason was Lord Morley’s announcement on 20 July 1906 to consider reform proposals, supported by Lord Minto.
• Mohsinul Mulk, cautious in his approach, sought to present Muslim demands directly to the viceroy in a memorial rather than using public platforms.
• He approached Lord Minto through W.A.J. Archbold, principal of Aligarh College, to gauge support for a Muslim deputation presenting the memorial.
• After receiving a positive response, Mohsinul Mulk and Nawab Imadul Mulk Husain Bilgrami drafted the memorial with input from Muslims across provinces.
• A list of thirty-five prominent Muslims was drawn, representing regions like United Provinces, Punjab, Bengal, Bihar, Bombay, Madras, Sindh, Central Provinces, and Hyderabad.
• On 1 October 1906, led by Aga Sir Sultan Mohammad, the deputation met the viceroy in Simla and presented their demands.
• The deputation demanded separate electoral colleges, representation proportional to their numerical strength and political importance, Muslim judges in high courts, Muslim inclusion in university senates and syndicates, and a share in services across provinces.
• Lord Minto welcomed the representative character of the deputation and assured that Muslim political rights and interests would be safeguarded in reforms.

(A) FOUNDATION

• The deputationists recognized the need for an all-India Muslim political party to pursue the demands from the memorial.
• They resolved to deliberate this in Dhaka during the annual All-India Muslim Educational Conference on 27-29 December 1906.
• Aligarh-educated Muslims and associates took the initiative, coordinated by Mohsinul Mulk, with consensus on the necessity of a political party but minor differences on its direction.
• The party aimed to guide the ‘young restless Muslim radicals’, prevent them from joining the Congress, and avoid actions detrimental to Muslim interests.
• Nawab Wiqarul Mulk’s Mohammadan Political Association provided political continuity, with Aga Khan supporting the move and circulating a proposal to form a regular committee.
• Nawab Sir Salimullah proposed safeguarding the Muslim-majority province of Eastern Bengal and Assam and countering the Hindu-led agitation against Bengal’s partition.
• A month before the meeting, Salimullah circulated a detailed scheme, suggesting the name ‘All-India Muslim Confederacy’ for the organization.
• The British government did not oppose the initiative, believing it would channel Muslim emotions into acceptable avenues while some officials feared it could encourage ‘pan-Islamism’.
• Formal deliberations began on 30 December 1906 in Dhaka, chaired by Wiqarul Mulk, with participants from various sectors and regions.
• In prior discussions during the Educational Conference, consensus was reached on the objectives of the political party.
• Wiqarul Mulk emphasized unity, moderation, tolerance, and loyalty to the British rulers, and invited Salimullah to move the resolution for forming the All-India Muslim League.
• The resolution outlined three objectives: loyalty to the British government, protection of Muslim political rights and interests, and prevention of hostility towards other communities.
• The resolution was passed unanimously, and the organization was named ‘All-India Muslim League’ by consensus, influenced by similar names in Bihar and Punjab.
• Despite alternative suggestions, such as ‘All-India Muslim Confederacy’ and an Arabic name during the Khilafat movement, the name ‘All-India Muslim League’ remained unchanged.
• The League’s establishment was the culmination of developments tied to the introduction of representative institutions in India.
• At its foundation, the All-India Muslim League appointed a sixty-member provisional committee with powers to co-opt additional members to draft a constitution within four months.
• Mohsinul Mulk and Wiqarul Mulk served as members and joint secretaries of the committee, which represented various regions of the Indian subcontinent and Burma.
• The committee was authorized to convene a meeting of representative Indian Muslims to consider and adopt the constitution.
• A meeting was called at Bankipur once the draft constitution was ready, but no decision was reached due to divergent opinions from provincial members.
• The draft constitution was referred to the League’s first annual session in Karachi on 29-30 December 1907.
• At the Karachi session, the League formed a more representative special committee, comprising members of the provisional committee, Simla deputation members present in Karachi, and three specially invited delegates.
• The special committee finalized the draft constitution, which was adopted on 30 December 1907.
• The Karachi session adjourned before completing its business, and the adjourned session met in Aligarh on 18-19 March 1908, where further corrections and amendments were made to the League’s constitution.

(B) FORMATION OF THE PARTY

(i) Central League.

• The constitution provided an organizational structure reflecting the political experience of its framers and the needs of the Muslim community as perceived at the time.
• Membership was restricted to the Muslim elite, initially capped at 400 members, raised to 800 in January 1910, with high registration fees (Rs 50 non-refundable) and annual fees (Rs 25, reduced to Rs 20 in 1910).
• A member had to be a British Indian Muslim, at least 25 years old, proficient in any Indian language, and with a minimum income of Rs 100 per month (parent’s income could qualify).
• Non-payment of two consecutive instalments led to membership cancellation, but the central committee could waive conditions under special circumstances.
• Membership allocation was based on the Muslim proportion in the population, their education, financial status, and social standing, revised after every decennial census.
• Members served a five-year term and could be re-elected. Members who damaged party objectives could be removed by a three-fourth majority, subject to approval at the annual session.
• Provisional members were drawn from the Simla deputation survivors, provisional committee members, and special delegates of the Karachi session.
• Membership growth was slow: in December 1908, there were 177 members, in 1909, 182 members, and in 1910, 270 members. By 1911, total membership rose to 700, but only 272 paid dues.
• Active participation was allowed for non-paying members, though they could not exercise voting rights unless dues were cleared.
• Quorum requirements were one-fifth of registered members for the annual session and one-eighth for other sessions, with no allowance for proxy votes.
• Rules could be amended by a two-thirds majority at the annual session following a prescribed procedure.
• The central committee/council was the highest executive organ of the All-India Muslim League, promoting its objectives and implementing its programs.
• Initially composed of 30–40 members, the Aligarh session raised its strength to 40 members, elected by ballot and apportioned by province based on a fixed ratio.
• Provincial representation decisions led to debates, with United Provinces receiving an additional seat as a temporary arrangement to ensure quorum.
• The first central committee was elected at the Aligarh session despite incomplete formation of provincial Muslim Leagues; a proposal for annual re-election was rejected by 12–10 votes.
• The constitution provided for one president, 6 vice-presidents (later expanded to 12–20), one honorary secretary, and two joint secretaries, all serving three-year terms with no term limits.
• Election nominations required proposals from two members and submission six weeks before the session; voting was conducted by ballot, including written votes for absent members.
• The Aga Khan was unanimously elected as the first president.
• Wiqarul Mulk declined the honorary secretary role due to ill health, leading to the election of Dr. Sayyid Hasan Bilgrami, despite his impending departure to England.
• Bilgrami left for England three days after his election, with Haji Mohammad Musa Khan officiating until Bilgrami’s resignation in 1909. Mohammad Aziz Mirza succeeded him in January 1910.
• Members emphasized the need for League branches at provincial and district levels to strengthen organizational reach.

(ii) Provincial Muslim Leagues

• The All-India Muslim League required provincial Muslim Leagues with district branches for complete organizational structure.
• Provincial boundaries often corresponded with British Indian provinces, but some provinces (e.g., West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa) included sub-provinces recognized as provincial Leagues.
• Provincial constitutions had to align with the All-India League’s constitution and required its approval.
• Provinces could determine their internal structure, office-bearers, and executive committee size, though these varied.
• Formation of provincial Leagues spurred unprecedented political activity, fostering communal cohesion and an all-India identity among Muslims.
• The Punjab and Bihar Leagues were the first to affiliate with the All-India Muslim League.
• Mian Mohammad Shafi established a “Muslim League” in Lahore in June 1906, later merged into the Punjab provincial League in December 1907.
• A rival Punjab League, formed in February 1906 by Mian Fazli Husain, sought affiliation, causing division among Muslims in Punjab.
• At the Aligarh session, mediators Sahibzada Aftab Ahmad Khan and Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah resolved the conflict, leading to a unified Punjab League with shared representation.
• Mian Fazli Husain’s demands for executive positions and amendments to the provincial League’s constitution were accepted, ensuring temporary unity.
• Despite initial resolutions, the agreement’s longevity was limited, and conflicts persisted
• After the Aligarh session, Mian Shafi and Fazli Husain interpreted the settlement differently.
• Fazli Husain believed the two Leagues were merged under All-India Muslim League rules with an organizing committee of 35 members (10 by him, 25 by Mian Shafi).
• Mian Shafi maintained Fazli Husain’s League had been merged into his League, and central League support favored this view.
• Fazli Husain received no response to his letters and eventually withdrew temporarily from politics, leaving the Punjab League under Shafi’s leadership.
• In October 1908, Nawab Fateh Ali Khan Qizilbash replaced Mian Shah Din as president of the Punjab League, with Mian Shafi as secretary.
• The Punjab League broadened its base, electing prominent leaders like Dr. Mohammad Iqbal as joint secretary in 1910.
• The All-India Muslim League recognized the Punjab League as its most active branch, though some local members disagreed.
• Fazli Husain later staged a political comeback after consolidating his position in Punjab.
• In Deccan, a provisional committee was formed in April 1907, leading to the formal establishment of the Deccan Muslim League in August 1908, with Aga Khan as president and Rafiuddin Ahmad as secretary.
• The Deccan League expanded into the Bombay presidency by March 1909, uniting districts and garnering significant donations (e.g., Rs 12,000 in October 1910).
• The Bombay League supported initiatives like appointing Muslim leaders to councils and promoting Muslim education, though outcomes were limited.

• The Madras presidency Muslim League faced delays due to disputes over leadership.

• Nawab Syed Mohammad, a moderate Congressman, was a candidate for president, supported by leaders like Mian Shafi and Abdur Rahim.

• Opposition arose as he chaired the reception committee of the Congress session in Madras, leading to rival groups.

• In October 1908, mediation led to the establishment of the Madras League with Ghulam Mohammad Ali Khan as president and Mohammad Mahmud Khan as secretary.

• In 1910, Yaqub Hasan replaced Mahmud Khan as secretary.

• Bengal had two provincial Leagues, one for East Bengal and Assam, and one for West Bengal.

• The East Bengal League formed in July 1908 with Khwaja Kazimuddin as president and Nawab Salimullah as secretary, formalizing in October 1909.

• By July 1911, Nawab Ali Choudhury became secretary.

• The West Bengal League faced internal conflicts after its formation in January 1909.

• Competing factions led to the election of Prince Jahandar Mirza as president, while rival leaders formed a separate League.

• By June 1910, the conflict was resolved, and a unified League was reorganized under Ghulam Mohammad as president and Shamsul Huda as secretary.

• After the annulment of Bengal’s partition, the two Leagues merged into one for united Bengal.

• The Bihar provincial Muslim League was established on 15 March 1908, with Sayyid Ali Imam as president and Mazharul Haq as secretary.

• Many Bihar Leaguers were also active in the Congress, facilitating the Congress-Muslim League rapprochement of 1916.

• In the United Provinces (Awadh and Agra), Wiqarul Mulk began organizational efforts, but due to his other responsibilities, tasks were passed to Musa Khan and later Raja Naushad Ali Khan.

• Disputes arose over having one provincial League versus two; a unified provincial League was established on 26 June 1909 with Nawab Abdul Majid as president and Naushad Ali as secretary.

• After disagreements, the office shifted to Allahabad in April 1910, and Ibne Ahmad became secretary.

• The Central Provinces and Berar League was formed in 1910, driven by H.M. Malak and supported by Aziz Mirza.

• After resistance and suspicion, district branches were organized in all 22 districts, culminating in the League’s formal inauguration on 27 October 1910 with Raja Mohammad Azam Shah as president and H.M. Malak as secretary.

• The Ajmer Muslim League was initially a district League and later elevated to provincial status as the Rajputana Muslim League.

• Formally organized on 18 September 1910, it elected Shaikh Salamuddin as president and Sayyid Abdur Rashid as secretary.

• Leadership changes occurred in 1911, with Sayyid Imamuddin Ali becoming president.

• The Burma provincial Muslim League was founded on 6 January 1910 in Rangoon, with a provisional committee led by A.K. Abdus Shakoor Jamal as president, Ahmad Moolla Dawood as secretary, and M.H.S. Mall as treasurer.

• Abdus Salaam Rafiqi, a joint secretary and editor of Al-Rafiq (Rangoon), proposed making it the League’s official organ, but the offer was declined.

• From 1906-1910, the All-India Muslim League struggled to establish branches in provinces like NWFP, Sindh, Balochistan, Assam, and Orissa, although representatives from these areas participated in central League activities.

• The London Muslim League was initiated in 1907 under Amir Ali’s guidance, with support from Aligarh alumni. It received a yearly financial grant of 100 pounds from the All-India Muslim League.

• Officially inaugurated on 6 May 1908, its leadership included Amir Ali as president, Ibne Ahmad as honorary secretary, and Dr. Mohammad Iqbal as an executive committee member.

• A 1913 controversy over its autonomy vis-à-vis the All-India Muslim League was resolved through Aga Khan’s intervention.

• The London Muslim League played a significant role in advocating separate electorates for Indian Muslims and addressing issues of global Muslim communities.

(C) LOCATION OF OFFICE

• The first office of the All-India Muslim League was in Aligarh, where some members believed it should remain due to the availability of experienced political workers.
• Concerns arose that the League’s presence in Aligarh might negatively impact both the League and Aligarh College, due to student unrest and tensions between the college’s European staff and management.
• Sir John Hewett, the lieutenant governor of the United Provinces, feared the proximity of the League to the college might foster Pan-Islamism.
• After debate, the All-India Muslim League decided at its January 1910 Delhi session to shift its headquarters to Lucknow, where it rented a building.
• When the capital of British India moved from Calcutta to New Delhi in 1911, the Aga Khan suggested relocating the League’s headquarters to Delhi, but no decision was made at that time.
• In 1926, realizing the political center had shifted to Delhi, the League decided to move its headquarters from Lucknow to Delhi. The move was implemented the following month, and the headquarters remained in Delhi until Independence.