The Simla Deputation and the establishment of Muslim League (1906)

After winning the Battle of plassey¹ on 23 June 1757, the British East India Company faced a good number of mentionable fights. All the challenges came from the Muslims because they lost their reign. From the Battle of Buxar² to Syed Ahmed Shahid, the British hatred to Muslims increased day by day. It also accelerated when Mir Nisar Ali, Hazi Shariatullah and his son Dudu Mian put challenges to the Raj. The final hit came from the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The Muslims became the sworn enemy of the British. The situation deteriorated. As a result the Indian councils Act³ of 1892 was placed hampering the Muslims interest.

In 1905 Lord Minto⁴ became the Viceroy⁵ of British India. He declared the constitutional reforms. The Muslims felt that they should take the opportunity. Nawab Mohshin-ul-Mulk, the Secretery General of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, managed W. A. J. Archbold, the then Principal of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, to meet a deputation to the Lord. Lord Minto gave his consent positively. So, the Muslim leaders at their special Lucknow session on 6 September, 1906 set the agenda to be discussed in the meeting. On October 01, 1906 a deputation met with Lord Minto at Simla.

After the success of Simla Deputation the Muslims were inspired to establish a political party. It was decided that in the next meeting of All-India Muhammadan Educational Conference which would be held in Dhaka in December a political party would be formed. In the mean time Nawab Salimullah Khan⁶ published a detailed scheme through which he suggested the party to be named All-India Muslim Confederacy⁷. Finally, on 30^th December 1906 the party was formed with the name All-India Muslim League having Aga Khan III⁸ as its honorary President.