Question
Consider the following assertion:
The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919.
Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?
1. Reforms retained and extended the principle of separate electorates.
2. Separate electorates were supposed to counter Indian nationalism, which was growing stronger.
3. Deprived classes rallied around the favours inherent in separate electorates.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) expanded the system of separate electorates and made community-based representation an important feature of colonial politics. This encouraged political mobilisation around religious and social identities.
Statement 1 — Correct: The Government of India Act, 1919 retained separate electorates for Muslims and extended the system to Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans. This strengthened community-based political representation.
Statement 2 — Correct: The British used separate electorates as part of their broader “Divide and Rule” strategy. By institutionalising communal and social divisions, they sought to prevent the growing nationalist movement from developing into a more unified political force.
Statement 3 — Correct: The 1919 reforms linked political representation and access to certain privileges with communal and class identities. This encouraged different groups to organise politically around their identities in order to secure representation and concessions, contributing to the growth of community-based political alliances.