Part 4/8:
The Rise of Nationalism and Fragmentation
In response to the rising tide of nationalism, the British leveraged communal tensions, making political concessions to Muslims through separate electorates. This development gave rise to the All-India Muslim League, which articulated the concerns of Muslims who feared their marginalization by a Hindu-dominated Congress.
After World War I, where millions of Indians fought for the British, a sense of entitlement for independence emerged, acknowledged even by the Muslim League. However, disagreements regarding the future of India intensified—while the Congress pushed for a unified state, the Muslim League's factions differed on whether to seek autonomy within a united India or a separate Islamic state.