Question

What did the British do to foster the policy of Divide and Rule, which gave rise to the formation of the Muslim League?

Answer 1

Hint: Divide and rule is a technique for obtaining and keeping authority by dividing bigger concentrations of power into smaller portions. That is, each of which has less authority than the person who is implementing the approach. The adoption of this approach is intended to provide the sovereign more control over subjects that might unite against the rule.

Complete answer:
The Muslim League, originally known as the All-India Muslim League, was a political organization that led the campaign for the creation of a distinct Muslim nation during the partition of British India (1947). In 1906, the Muslim League was established to protect the rights of Indian Muslims. The league was initially supported by the British and was largely supportive of their rule, but in 1913 it declared independence for India as its aim.

The Muslims were urged by the British to form new groups to protect their interests. They used the press, posters, literature, and public platforms to spread communal hatred. The Muslim League was founded with the objective of defining and advancing the civil rights of Indian Muslims as well as providing them with safety. Separate religious electorates were implemented as part of the Morley-Minto reforms, sowing the seeds of communalism and widening the divide between Hindus and Muslims.

Note: States can utilize divide and conquer to weaken opposing military alliances. This usually occurs when propaganda is spread among adversary states in an attempt to cast doubt on the alliance. A vacuum will allow the state to establish military dominance if the alliance weakens or dissolves.