These slides can help you in studying Pakistan studies

1. INDIAN ACT 1935 AND CONGRESS
MINISTRIES 1937
Lecture no 11

2. Outline
1. Indian Act 1935
2. Elections of 1937
3. Congress Ministries and policies of Congress towards Muslims.

3. Indian Act (1935)
• Passed in July 1935
• Got royal assent in August 1935
• Act was consisted on 32 sections, 10 schedules, 2 parts.
 Two parts
1. Provincial part 2.Federal part
Three lists of subjects
1. Federal List: Defense, Postal services, External affairs, Finance
and Communication.
2. Provincial List: Education, Police, local government, justice,
agriculture, public services, Fisheries and forests.
3. Concurrent List: Criminal law, Civil marriage, factories.

4. Indian Act (1935)
Federal Part
Two Houses
Council of State(Upper House):
Total members 260.
British provinces 156
Indian States 104
Federal Assembly (Lower House)
Total members 375
British Province 250
Indian States 125
• Limited power were given to legislature.
• They could do law making for two lists but Governor General
could turn down or refuse the bill.

5. Indian Act (1935)
Powers of Governor General
• Independent judgment
• Emergency powers
• Ordinances
• Power to rule provinces directly

6. Indian Act (1935)
Act provided:
• Provided federal system with centre
• 11 Governors and 6 Chief commissioners
• Governors enjoy the powers like Governor General in the centre.
• Diarchy was abolished in the provinces.
• Responsible government was formed.
• Federal courts were formed in the centre
• High courts were formed in the provinces.
• New provinces were established; Sind was separated from
Bombay, Bihar was separated from Orissa, Eden was also made
separate province.

7. Elections of 1937
• Elections were held in January February of 1937
• Congress won the majority in five provinces.
• The league did not performed well it won only 109 seats out of
482 while on the other hand congress won huge number of
votes.
• The elections results were a blow to the League. After election
Muhammad Ali Jinnah offered to form coalitions with congress,
but Congress denied.
• Three reasons of Muslim league failure.
1. Because of Jinnah’s voluntary exile.
2. Because of less experienced leaders.
3. Because less political amongst people.

8. Congress Ministries
• Congress ministries were formed in july 1937 but with bitter
policy against Muslims.
 Hindi became national language.
 Congress flag became the national flag.
 Banda matram became the national anthem.
 Strict prohibition was laid on cow slaughter.
 Construction of new mosques was banned and Muslims were
harassed while they offered prayers.
 Educational reforms were introduced that were purely anti
Muslim in spirit, Wardha educational scheme was to displace the
idea of two nation theory from the minds of Muslim childrens.
• Twenty seven months of congress rule were characterized by
rising political Hinduism, which seemed to be working only for
the welfare of Hindu community.