SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Lord Minto's policy towards the Indian Nationalist movement has been examined in this thesis. Curzon had ignored the Indian National Congress, Minto, on the other hand, recognized it as an important factor in Indian political life. Besides his policy towards the Congress, we have discussed his attitude towards the partition of Bengal and Fuller's administration of East Bengal and Assam. Special attention has been paid to Minto's policy towards various 'interests' in India, particularly the Muslims. An attempt has been made to trace the origin and growth of the Simla Deputation of 1 October 1906, with particular reference to the hypotheses of previous writers, and the Muslim political awakening as a whole, Muslim efforts to secure separate representation have also been discussed. Unrest in the Punjab, the growth of a militant group in Bengal and Maharashtra and Minto's policy towards militant nationalism has been studied in the light of new material. The origin and growth of the reforms and the enactment and enforcement of the Indian Councils Act of 1909 have been discussed in great detail. This thesis is based on the unpublished private papers of Minto and Morley, the official records of the Grovernment, parliamentary papers and debates, newspaper reports and other sources.