12th Standard History — Communalism in Nationalist Politics Online Test
Unit 6 of 12th History traces how Hindu revivalism, Muslim consciousness and the British policy of Divide and Rule bred communalism, from the Aligarh movement and separate electorates to the Hindu Mahasabha, the Lahore resolution, Direct Action Day and the partition of India into India and Pakistan.
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About Communalism in Nationalist Politics
Medium ~55 min study
Communalism in Nationalist Politics is the sixth unit of the Tamil Nadu State Board Class 12 History book. It explains how the Muslims, who had lost power and jobs after 1857, and the Hindu revivalists of the Arya Samaj drew apart, and how the British used the gap to check the Congress.
The lesson follows three competing strands of nationalism: Indian, Hindu and Muslim. It covers the Simla deputation and the Muslim League, separate electorates under the Minto-Morley Reforms, the Hindu Mahasabha, the Communal Award, the 1937 Congress ministries, the Day of Deliverance, the Pakistan resolution and Direct Action Day.
This page gives the twelve one mark questions of the book exercise with answers checked against the lesson, plus additional questions on persons, dates, conferences and proposals, each with a short explanation.
What you'll learn
- Explain how Hindu revivalism and Muslim consciousness gave rise to communalism in British India.
- Describe the British policy of Divide and Rule and the role of separate electorates.
- State the formation and objectives of the All India Muslim League.
- Trace the growth of the Hindu Mahasabha and the RSS.
- Explain the Delhi proposals of 1927, the Communal Award and the 1937 elections.
- Narrate the events from the Lahore resolution to Direct Action Day and partition.
Before you start
- The revolt of 1857 and the early Indian National Congress.
- The partition of Bengal, the Swadeshi movement and the Khilafat movement.
Topics covered in this chapter
Communalism in Nationalist Politics explained
What this lesson covers
Origin of communalism
Hindu revivalism spoke through the Arya Samaj (1875) and Annie Besant; Muslim consciousness grew through the Aligarh movement, the Wahabis and the Bengal order replacing Urdu with Hindi. Elphinstone's Divide et Impera summed up British policy. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, first a supporter of the Congress, turned to the British. Local body politics of the 1880s and Tilak's Ganapati festival deepened the divide.
Muslim League and separate electorates
Aga Khan led the Simla deputation to Lord Minto on 1 October 1906; the All India Muslim League followed in 1907. The Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909 gave Muslims separate electorates, and the Lucknow Pact of 1916 sealed their separate political identity.
Hindu Mahasabha
Started at Haridwar in 1915 with headquarters at Dehra Dun, the Mahasabha revived after the Khilafat movement, the Malabar rebellion of 1921 and the Suddhi campaign. Lajpat Rai urged partition of the Punjab in 1924; the RSS was founded in 1925.
Towards partition
The Delhi proposals of 1927 failed, the Communal Award widened the gap, and the League called Congress's resignation a Day of Deliverance (22 December 1939). The Lahore resolution of 1940 demanded Pakistan. After the League rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan, Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946 brought riots in Calcutta and Gandhi accepted partition.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Crediting the Two Nation Theory to Iqbal or Jinnah. The lesson says it first came from Sir Wazir Hasan at the Bombay session of the League in 1937.
- Confusing the Day of Deliverance (22 December 1939) with Direct Action Day (16 August 1946).
- Giving the Mahasabha's headquarters as Haridwar. It was started at Haridwar in 1915 but headquartered at Dehra Dun.
Test yourself on these with the practice test, then check the worked reasoning in the solved MCQs.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the Muslims keep away from the British and the Congress after 1857?
After the brutal suppression of the 1857 revolt the Muslims lost their land, jobs and opportunities and retreated into a shell. They hated everything British for a few generations and resented competing with Hindus who had taken to English education and new colonial openings.
Why did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan support the British?
He came to believe that in a country governed by Hindus the Muslims, as a minority, would be helpless. Representative institutions and open competition for posts alarmed him, so he worked with the Government hoping to win a larger share for his community.
What were the objectives of the All India Muslim League?
To promote loyalty among Muslims to the British Government, to protect and advance the political rights and interests of Indian Muslims and represent their needs to the Government, and to prevent hostility among Muslims towards other communities.
What is a separate electorate?
Under a separate or communal electorate only Muslims could vote for Muslim candidates. The Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909 gave Muslims eight of the 27 elected seats in the Imperial Legislative Council and reserved seats in Madras, Bombay and Bengal.
What were the proposals of the Delhi Conference of Muslims in 1927?
The conference of 20 March 1927 offered to give up separate electorates if Sind was separated from Bombay, reforms were given to the Frontier and Baluchistan, Punjab and Bengal had representation by population, and Muslims got 33 per cent of seats in the Central Legislature.
Who first gave the Two Nation Theory?
Sir Wazir Hasan, in his presidential address at the Bombay session of the Muslim League in 1937, said Hindus and Muslims should be considered two nations. Iqbal had spoken of a North-west Muslim State in 1930 and Rahmat Ali later pressed the idea.
What was Direct Action Day?
On 29 July 1946 the Muslim League rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan and called on Muslims to observe Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946. Four days of rioting in Calcutta caused thousands of deaths, and Gandhi had to accept the creation of Pakistan.
Last updated 19 October 2026