THE CONGRESS MINISTRIES [1937-1939]

Outline:
•Introduction
• Provincial elections of 1937 And their Results.
• Settlement Of Congress Ministries
• Dictatorship Of Congress Ministries
i) Hindu-Muslim Riots
ii) Bande Matram
iii) Wardha and Widdia Mander Scheme
iv) Hoisting Of Three Coloured Flag
v) Mass Contact Movement
vi) Ban on Slaughter of Cow
vii) Pirpur Report and other Inquiries
• End of Congress Rule
• Day of Deliverance
• Impact of Congress Rule on Muslims/Conclusion
Introduction:

The period of 27 months from July 1937 to October 1939, when the Congress ministries ruled eight out of
eleven Indian provinces was crucial for the Hindu-Muslim relations and the future of the region. This
policy of persecution was “Far more analogous to the concurrent Nazi regime in Europe than to any
form of democracy.” Birdhood.

Provincial elections of 1937 And their Results.

Under the Act of 1935, the elections were held in the provincial assemblies in 1937. There were total
1771 seats (1585 seats in the lower House and 186 in the Upper House) in the provincial assemblies. Out
of the total 1585 eats, the Congress won 706 seats and in eleven provinces. On the whole, the Congress
captured less than fifty per cent seats which refuted its claim to speak for all Indians, it also won 26
Muslim seats out 491 and Muslim League won only 106 seats.

Settlement Of Congress Ministries

Congress won clear majority in 5 provinces: Madras, C.P, U.P, Bihar and Orissa. Coalition government
was formed in Bombay, Bengal and Punjab. Unionist party of Sir Sikandar Hayat made ministry in the
Punjab. Congress tried to seek assurance from Governors not to interfere in the workings of the ministries
who had powers or set aside the advice of the ministers. Congress refused to make coalition with the
Muslim league by offering nearly impossible terms and conditions. Their demand was simple, “abjure
your party and forswear your policy and programme and liquidate the Muslim League.” I.H
Qureshi:
“No political party with an iota of self-respect could possibly accept these demands.” I.H Qureshi.
Dictatorship Of Congress Ministries:
The Congress ministries in eight provinces lasted from July 1937 to October 1939. During this period,
these ministries used all methods of dictatorship and acted under the Congress High Command to
suppress and persecute the Muslims. For the Muslims and the minorities, the congress rule was nothing
short of troubles and trials. The policies adopted by the Congress were as under:
i) Hindu-Muslim Riots:
The Hindu-Muslim riots were usual during the Congress rule. Organized attempts were made on the
honour, property and lives of the Muslims by indulging in the communal and religious feuds. The Hindus
were free to assault the innocent Muslims in any area. The Muslim houses and property were set on fire
and their women and children abducted. Muslim massacre and plundering of their localities were the
scenes of the day.
ii) Bande Matram:

it was a song which contained degrading verses against the Muslims and Islam. It was written by the
Bengali novelist Bankim Chatterjee in his Book Anadamath. It was a cry and urge to purge the Muslims
from Hindustan.
iii) Wardha and Widdia Mander Scheme:
The Wardha Scheme was the outcome of Gandhi’s philosophy. It preached the Hindu nationalism and
principles of non-violence. It aimed to develop a high respect among the young minds about the Hindu
heroes and religious leaders.

Another attempt was made to erase the Muslim culture by introducing a new educational system. The
educational policy was known as Widdia Mander Scheme and meant to convert the non-Hindus to
Hinduism. It was introduced in all educational institutions. Under this scheme the students were asked to
pay respect and homage to Gandhi’s picture every day in their assemblies in the schools. The students
were asked to bow before Gandhi’s picture and sing hymns in his praise. Dr. Zakir Hussain, a Congress
Muslim, was the author of this scheme.
The Wardha and Widdia Mander schemes sought to isolate the young generation of the Muslims from
their religion, culture and civilization.
iv) Hoisting Of Three Coloured Flag:
The Congress, after taking over the government in the provinces, immediately ordered the hoisting of
three-coloured flag with the British Union Jack to prove that there were only two powers in India which
were the British and the Congress.
v) Mass Contact Movement:
The Congress started a Muslim mass contact campaign. The main objective of this campaign was to crush
the popularity of the Muslim League amongst the Muslims. It was Nehru’s imagination to destroy the
image of Muslim League as the only representative party of the Muslims. The campaign began by directly
contacting the Muslim masses with a view to win them over to the Congress.

The Congress ministries adopted overall negative and cruel attitude, especially towards the Muslim
activists. This unjust treatment compelled the Muslims to be disciplined in every sphere of life.
vi) Ban On Slaughter Of Cow:

Ban on cow-slaughter, forbidding Azan, insistence of noisy procession before mosque during prayer
times and attacks on the worshippers in the mosques was the order of the day. Village wells were denied
to Muslims (The Muslims were considered as Maleech). Official intervention was always biased in favour
of the Hindu.

vii) Pirpur Report And Other Inquiries:

As a result of dictatorial rule of Congress, on 28th March, 1938 the Council of the Muslim League
appointed an eight-member committee under the presidentship of Raja Syed Muhammad to find the truth
about the congress rule. The committee submitted its report on 5th November, 1938 which made the
following revelations:
i) Congress ministries have failed to inspire confidence in the minorities.
ii) Congress leaders tried to purchase Muslim leaders, asked them to liquidate the Muslim League
Parliamentary Board, disband the league parties and sign the Congress pledge.
iii) Congress supported rival Muslim organizations.
iv) Congress tried to destroy the Muslim solidarity.
A companion volume was Sharif Report (1939) which confined its inquiry to Bihar. Fazal-ul-Haq also
made report on the same topic.
End of the Congress Rule:

The Second World War began in 1939. Britain declared war against Germany. The government appealed
to all political parties for help and assistance in this hour of need. Congress convened its meeting to
consider Government’s appeal and put the following conditions for assistance in war:

1. The British Government should explain the objective of the war.

2. The Government should announce that the elected legislature would draft the constitution of India.
3. The members of the Viceroy’s Executive Council should be those only who enjoy the support of the
Central Assembly.

The acceptance of these demands would have meant the transfer of power to the Congress as these
demands clearly showed that the Congress was asking for the right of constitution making. The
government could not accede to these demands as it wanted to pacify both Congress and the Muslim
League. Viceroy declared that due consideration would be given to the point of view of every party and
that dominion status would be given to India after the war.

The Congress did not believe the promises of the government. The Congress leaders expressed their utter
disappointment on the decision of the government. The Congress with a view of putting more pressure on
the government refused to extend co-operation to government in the war activities and announced to
resign from the ministries. The Congress High Command asked its ministers to tender resignations in
protest against the decision of the government. In November, 1939 the Congress ministries resigned from
their office. The poor Muslim population took a sigh of relief as they have been relieved of the most
tyrannical and oppressive rule of the Congress.
Day of Deliverance:

With the resignation of the Congress ministries the Muslims of India were relieved of the most dreadful
domination of the Congress and Hindu majority. The two and half years of the Congress rule was a bitter
and painful experience for the Muslims of India who had seen the real Hindu mentality. The Quaid-e-
Azam appealed to the people to observe the Day of Deliverance on 22nd December, 1939. The Muslims
of India, in accordance with the appeal of the Quaid-e-Azam celebrated the day with happiness. Public
meetings were held and thanksgiving prayers were offered in token of relief from the tyranny, oppression
and high-handedness of the Congress regime.

The Muslim League redefined its position during the World War II. They expressed their enthusiasm that
no constitution to be enforced without the consent of the Muslims. They eradicated their organizational
weaknesses and refined their objectives keeping the experiences of the Congress ministries.
Impact Of The Congress Rule On Muslims/Conclusion:

Congress rule in eight provinces was, no doubt, a period of sufferings for the Muslims but as it proved
subsequent atrocities of the Hindu dominated ministries brought unprecedented unity among the Muslims.
It convinced the Muslims that Hindus were their sworn enemies and it would not be possible for both
communities to live together in one country. This newly found reality strengthened the belief of the
Muslims in the Two-Nation Theory which henceforth made the basis for the demand for a separate
independent Muslim State.

Similarly, the Congress ministries’ dictatorship led to the unity of the Muslims under the banner of
Jinnah-led All India Muslim League. During the months intervening between the resignation of Congress
ministries and the passage of the Lahore Resolution in March, 1940, the popularity of Jinnah rocketed
sky-high and he was given the title of Quaid-e-Azam. This conviction can also be supported by the fact
that the great Muslim Leaders like Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, Sir Muhammad Saadullah and Maulvi Fazl-
ul-Haq accepted the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam.