Morley Minto Reforms 1909

The 1909 Indian Council Act, often known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, was mainly aimed at satisfying the country's moderate groups. Along with the British, it resulted in several improvements for the legislative councils and increased Indian participation in national administration. The Morley-Minto Reforms are among the most significant measures enacted by the British Parliament to date. It bears the names of Lord Minto, the former Viceroy of India, and Lord Morley, the former Secretary of State for India. They all implemented several significant and lasting systemic changes.

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This Story also Contains

1. What is Morley Minto Reforms 1909
2. Background of Morley Minto Reforms 1909
3. Main features of the Morley Minto Reforms 1909
4. An assessment of the Morley Minto Reforms 1909
5. Importance of the Morley Minto Reforms 1909
6. Defects of the Morley Minto Reforms 1909
7. Criticism of the Morley-Minto Reforms 1909
8. Conclusion

First and foremost, the Morley-Minto Reforms amended the Indian Council Acts of 1861 and 1862. They intended to appease the Congressmen who lean more moderately. It also sought to increase Indian representation on the legislative council. The establishment of a unique voting mechanism under this Act is its most notable feature. Native Americans were granted the ability to vote with the passage of the Morley-Minto Reforms, but their ability to do so was conditioned on their ability to pay taxes to the government. Furthermore, the voting system that was specifically designed for Muslims created resentment between Hindus and non-Muslims.

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What is Morley Minto Reforms 1909

• The Morley-Minto Reforms were approved by the British Parliament with the goal of increasing the representation of Indians in the management of British India.

• The Indian Councils Act of 1909 introduced the concept of a distinct electorate, while also modernising the Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and 1892.

• Often called the Indian Councils Act (1909), the Morley-Minto Reforms were formulated by John Morley, who served as the Secretary of State for India from 1905 to 1910.

Background of Morley Minto Reforms 1909

• The 1892 Indian Council Act did not achieve the essential goals of the Indian National Congress.

• Bengal was likewise partitioned by Lord Curzon in 1905. Bengal consequently went through a big rebellion.

• The British rulers decided that the matter required a solution by enhancing the Indian administration following this realization.

• The Indian National Congress (INC) was also advocating for more reforms and Indian independence. Although the original members of the Congress were considered moderates, an increasing number of radical personalities were now advocating for more forceful tactics.

• The Indian National Congress made its first appeal for self-governance in 1906.

• During his trip to Morley, England, Gopal Krishna Gokhale highlighted the importance of reforms.

• The Shimla Deputation, led by Agha Khan, met with Lord Minto in October 1906 to demand separate voting areas for Muslims. This was done to guarantee that Muslims' political influence outstripped their population size because of their substantial 'contribution' to the empire's defence.

• The Muslim League, which was originally founded in December 1906 by Nawab Salimullah of Dacca together with Nawabs Mohsin-ul-Mulk and Waqar-ul-Mulk, was quickly taken over by the organisation in a couple of months.

• After Bengal was divided by Lord Curzon, John Morley, the Liberal Secretary of State for India and the Conservative Viceroy of India, Minto, believed that putting an end to the uprising in Bengal was necessary but insufficient to restore order to the British Raj.

• They believed that a big move was required to stoke the ardent portions of the Indian elite and the growing community of Westernised individuals.

Main features of the Morley Minto Reforms 1909

• The scale of the provincial and federal legislative assemblies grew.

• The Central Legislative Council consists of members ranging from 16 to 60.

• The United Provinces, Madras, Bengal, and Bombay Legislative Councils each feature 50 members.

• The 30 members of the Legislative Councils in Punjab, Burma, and Assam came from different backgrounds.

• Each provincial legislative council had a different number of members.

• These councils were allowed to form a majority without officials, but the Federal Legislative Council could continue to hold a majority under official rules.

• It was planned that elected members be selected indirectly. The electoral college, which was decided by local bodies, selected members of province legislatures, who then picked members of the central legislature.

• It increased the deliberative powers of legislative councils from both parties.

• Members were permitted to ask more questions, make budget motions, and so forth.

• For the first time, Indians were allowed to serve in the executive councils of the Viceroy and Governors. Satyendra Prasad Sinha was the first Indian to join the Viceroy's Executive Council.

• He was selected as a legal member. The Secretary of State for Indian Affairs named two Indians to his Council.

• It developed a system of communal representation for Muslims by adopting the concept of a distinct electorate. This meant that Muslim legislators could only be elected by Muslim voters. As a result, the Act 'legalised communalism,' and Lord Minto became known as the Father of the Communal Electorate.

• It also provided for the autonomous representation of presidential corporations, chambers of commerce, universities, and zamindars.

An assessment of the Morley Minto Reforms 1909

• The 1909 changes fell short of solving the issue, leading to the failure to tackle the political challenge in India. Lord Morley explicitly stated his opposition to the adoption of parliamentary or accountable rule in India and argued that the Congress's suggestion for self-rule within the British Empire was not suitable for India.

• Actually, by dividing Indians into separate electorates, the "constitutional" changes acted as a dividing wedge to prevent Indians from rallying behind the Moderates and to impede the growth of Indian unity.

• In opposition to the escalating nationalist movement, the administration sought to bring Muslims and Moderates together.

• In reality, however, this meant caving into the demands of a small but influential segment of the Muslim elite. When the authorities and Muslim leaders spoke about the various electorates, they often spoke for the whole community.

• Congress saw divided electorates as anti-democratic and as preventing the development of a shared Hindu-Muslim sense of Indian nationalism.

• Furthermore, the election process was unduly circumstantial, creating the appearance that MPs had passed through several hoops.

• Additionally, little accountability was provided even when parliamentary forms were introduced, which occasionally led to thoughtless and dangerous criticism of the administration.

• Few members, like Gokhale, took use of the opportunity to speak in the councils, voicing concerns about repressive legislation, advocating for universal primary education, and drawing attention to the plight of Indian and indentured labourers in South Africa.

• Unwavering constitutional tyranny effectively upheld the Act, and the Governor-General's position and veto power remained intact.

• The 1909 amendments gave the people of the country more shadow than real reforms.

Importance of the Morley Minto Reforms 1909

• Even while certain Indians had previously been assigned to legislative councils, it essentially made it possible for Indians to be elected to many legislative councils in India for the first time.

• The application of the electoral concept, however, went against Morley's intentions and laid the groundwork for a parliamentary system.

• It was also the first time that the underpinning of the legislative council's composition—the elective concept—was acknowledged.

• It gave Indians more avenues through which to express their grievances. They also get the option to guarantee management and offer suggestions for better administration.

• After Jinnah's death in September 1948, Pakistan shifted towards more Islamic conformity, and Dalits suffered from growing persecution.

Defects of the Morley Minto Reforms 1909

• Separate seats were formed in order to further segregate Muslims and Hindus from one another. During this period, Indian politics entered an age of overt communism.

• The number of councils increased, but so did their power and duties. The outcome was irrelevant as the election of nominated members overruled the non-official majority, even though the Provincial Councils had one.

• The position of the General Governor and his veto authority were unaffected by the Act. The budget was up for debate, but members were not allowed to make any significant changes.

• Though they were more akin to recommendations to the government, the CEOs may be questioned about the resolutions but could not be coerced into doing so.

• The Morley-Minto Reform masked the political and economic issues that Muslims and Hindus in India faced.

Criticism of the Morley-Minto Reforms 1909

• The suggested changes for Morley-Minto were not agreeable to the leaders of Congress. The Reform movement sought to enhance the voice of Native Americans in government and promote accountable governance.

• The primary flaw of the reform was the establishment of distinct voting areas for Muslims.

• This caused Muslims and Hindus to split apart, which allowed the country to become divided. Muslims received a significant number of seats in addition to having their own voting districts based on population.

• Voter eligibility was inconsistent, and the voting procedure was too complicated.

• To turn Muslims and Moderates away from the cause, the British made an effort to sabotage the Nationalists' cohesiveness.

• The independent Legislative Councils possessed no power over the Executives.

• The Morley-Minto Reform of 1909 gave the populace a level of dictatorship, despite their desire for autonomy.

Conclusion

The 1909 Indian Council Act was passed to soothe the moderates and appease the spread of Muslims away from the National Movement by allocating them their own voting rights. The citizens sought self-rule but received instead "warm-hearted autocracy". John Morley, the Secretary of State, and Lord Minto, the Viceroy, jointly proposed the Morley–Minto Reforms. Named after Lord Minto, the primary goal of these reforms was to modestly expand Indian participation in both the Central and Provincial Governments. Additionally, the idea of a separate electorate was introduced through these reforms.