Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2021 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was opposed to Muslims joining the Congress because :
(i) He feared that this would attract retaliation from the British.
(ii) He suspected that the Congress would be dominated by Hindus
(iii) He did not like the idea of opposing the British.
(iv) He was a separatist.
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (A) (i) and (ii)
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a prominent Muslim reformer and educationist of the 19th century, discouraged Muslims from joining the Indian National Congress for the following reasons:
(i) Fear of British retaliation: He believed that aligning with a political organization like the Congress, which was critical of British policies, could provoke hostility from the colonial rulers. Since he advocated loyalty to the British as a strategy for Muslim upliftment, he feared that political activism might jeopardize their position.
(ii) Concern over Hindu dominance: Sir Syed was apprehensive that the Congress, being largely led by Hindu elites, would not adequately represent Muslim interests. He felt that political representation based on population would marginalize Muslims, who were a minority.
(iii) He did not like the idea of opposing the British: While this is historically accurate, it is not the primary reason he opposed Congress membership. His stance was more strategic than ideological opposition to British rule.
(iv) He was a separatist: This is an oversimplification. Although he later advocated for Muslim distinctiveness and is associated with the Two-Nation Theory, labeling him a separatist in the context of his opposition to Congress is misleading and not supported by contemporary sources.
