Question

How did the relative economic backwardness of the Muslim foster communal feelings in India.

Answer 1

Hint: The collective and separatist trend of thought arose among the Muslims due to their relative backwardness in trade, education, and industry.
Because of the enmity of upper-class Muslim zamindars towards the British, Muslims largely remained distant from modern western education.
 In the end, they did not get influenced by liberalism as the Hindus of that time did.

Complete answer:
The exploitation of sources and the colonial policies of the British, India lack modern development and there was severe unemployment among the educated youth. There were some jobs available for them which directed fierce competition among them. Since the British also held them responsible for the 1857 rebellion, they were distinguished against. Muslims were not very engaged in the growth of any organized industry and didn’t take the assistance of western education to join government services. Moreover, the situation got worse by the divide and rule policy of the British people and the demand for reservation for jobs on the foundation of caste creed or religion. Consequently, communal feelings emerged among the Indians.
Hence we conclude the answer.

Note: Hindu nationalists like Raja Rammohan Roy noticed that English Education was a boon for the Indians and not a bane. He urged the Hindus to join the government colleges controlled by the British. However, the Muslims had much to fear. Muslims were minor in number in India. Christianity was increasing its popularity.
So, they believed that their religion was in danger. Therefore, they decided not to enroll in Government colleges and stayed apart from Western education.