, birthplace of All-India Muslim League in 1906 in 1906, held at the
Ahsan Manzil palace of the
Dhaka Nawab Family, laid the foundation of the Muslim League. With the sincere efforts by the pioneers of the Congress to attract Muslims to their sessions, the majority of the Islamic leadership, except for a few scholars (like
Syed Ahmad Khan and
Syed Ameer Ali, who focused more on Islamic education and scientific developments), rejected the notion that India has two distinct communities to be represented separately in Congress sessions.
Syed Ahmad Khan, in 1888, at Meerut, said, "After this long preface, I wish to explain what method my nation — nay, rather the whole people of this country — ought to pursue in political matters. I will treat in regular sequence of the political questions of India, in order that you may have a full opportunity of giving your attention to them. The first of all is this — In whose hands shall the administration and the Empire of India rest? Now, suppose that all English, and the whole English army, were to leave India, taking with them all their cannon and their splendid weapons and everything, then who would be the rulers of India? Is it possible that under these circumstances two nations — the Mahomedans and the Hindus — could sit on the same throne and remain equal in power? Most certainly not. It is necessary that one of them should conquer the other and thrust it down. To hope that both could remain equal is to desire the impossible and the inconceivable." In 1886, Sir Syed founded the
All-India Muhammadan Educational Conference, but a self-imposed ban prevented it from discussing politics. Its original goal was to advocate for British education, especially science and
literature, among
India's Muslims. The conference, in addition to generating funds for
Sir Syed's
Aligarh Muslim University, motivated the Muslim upper class to propose an expansion of educational uplift elsewhere, known as the
Aligarh Movement. In turn, this new awareness of Muslim needs helped stimulate a political consciousness among Muslim elites. For a few of them, many years after the death of
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the All-India Muslim League was formed in
Dhaka, Bangladesh. The formation of a Muslim political party on the national level was seen as essential by 1901. The first stage of its formation was the meeting held at
Lucknow in September 1906, with representatives from all over India in attendance. The decision to reconsider the formation of the all-Indian Muslim political party was taken, and further proceedings were adjourned until the next meeting of the All India Muhammadan Educational Conference. The
Simla Deputation reconsidered the issue in October 1906 and decided to frame the party's objectives on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Educational Conference, which was scheduled to be held in Dhaka. Meanwhile, Nawab Salimullah Khan published a detailed scheme suggesting that the party be named the All-India Muslim Confederacy. Pursuant to the decisions that had been taken earlier at the Lucknow meeting and later in Simla, the annual meeting of the All-India Muhammadan Educational Conference was held in Dhaka from 27 December until 30 December 1906. Three thousand delegates attended, The draft proposals for the reforms communicated on 1 October 1908 provided Muslims with reserved seats in all councils, with nominations only being maintained in Punjab. The communication was a clear indicator of how much the Government had accommodated Muslim demands and reflected an increase in Muslim representation in the Imperial and provincial legislatures. But the Muslim League's demands were only fully met in UP and Madras. However, the Government did accept the idea of separate electorates. The idea had not been accepted by the Secretary of State, who proposed mixed electoral colleges, causing the Muslim League to agitate and the Muslim press to protest what they perceived to be a betrayal of the Viceroy's assurance to the Simla deputation. On 23 February, Morley told the House of Lords that Muslims demanded separate representation and accepted them. This was the League's first victory. But the Indian Councils Bill did not fully satisfy the demands of the Muslim League. It was based on the October 1908 communique in which Muslims were only given a few reserved seats. The Muslim League's London branch opposed the bill and, in a debate, obtained the support of several parliamentarians. In 1909, the members of the Muslim League organised a Muslim protest. The Reforms Committee of Minto's council believed that Muslims had a point and advised Minto to discuss with some Muslim leaders. The Government offered a few more seats to Muslims in compromise, but would not agree to all of the League's demands. Minto believed that the Muslims had been given enough, while Morley was still not certain because of the pressure Muslims could apply on the government. On 12 September 1909, the Muslim League's central committee once again demanded separate electorates and more representation. While Minto was opposed, Morley feared that the Bill would not pass parliament without the League's support, and he once again discussed Muslim representation with the League leadership. This was successful. The Aga Khan compromised so that Muslims would have two more reserved seats in the Imperial Council. The Muslim League hesitantly accepted the compromise. ==Early years==