Correct Option
The correct option is (b) 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The All India Muslim League (AIML) was established in 1906 during the height of the anti-partition agitation in Bengal. It emerged as a political organization primarily representing the interests of the Muslim elite (landlords and nawabs) and sought to safeguard Muslim political rights through loyalty to the British government.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct. The All India Muslim League was founded on December 30, 1906, at Dacca (now Dhaka). It was established by a group of Muslim landlords and nawabs, including Nawab Salimullah of Dacca, Aga Khan III, and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk. Its primary objective was to promote loyalty to the British government and protect the political rights of Muslims.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect. The Muslim League supported the Partition of Bengal (1905). The creation of a separate province of East Bengal and Assam was viewed by the League's leadership as beneficial, as it created a Muslim-majority province that offered better economic and political opportunities for Muslims, distinct from the Hindu-dominated Calcutta establishment. The opposition to the partition was primarily led by the Indian National Congress and the Swadeshi Movement.
- Statement 3 is Correct. In October 1906, a delegation known as the Shimla Deputation, led by the Aga Khan, met Viceroy Lord Minto. They demanded separate electorates for Muslims, arguing that Muslims should be represented by Muslims elected only by Muslim voters. This demand was accepted by the British government and formally incorporated into the Indian Councils Act of 1909 (popularly known as the Morley-Minto Reforms).
Key Takeaway: The All India Muslim League was formed in 1906 by the aristocratic Muslim elite; it supported the Partition of Bengal and successfully secured separate electorates under the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909).