(a) Economic Deprivation of the Muslims in India:

               When the war of freedom (1857) was over, the Muslims were oppressed very badly. Although the Hindus supported the Muslims in this war, they declared that only the Muslims were responsible for all their actions in the war. Thus, they acquitted themselves of any responsibility. The Muslims were the targets of the wrath of the British. So, they suffered a lot and faced serious consequences.

1. The British, dominated by prejudice and enmity, dismissed all the Muslims from government jobs, especially from Army, and shut doors of employment to the Muslims. Despite having the required qualification for some jobs, the Muslims were deprived of them. On the other hand, the Hindus were offered jobs even if they had fewer qualifications as compared to the Muslims.
2. The Muslims were deprived of their properties. Their properties were confiscated. Some Muslim landowners were turned out of their lands. Their properties and lands were allotted instead of the owner of the land. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan has depicted this miserable condition of the Muslims in the following words “No calamity has descended from heaved that had not searched the house of the Muslims before it came down to the earth.”
3. The business of the Muslims was ruined. To get the support of the Hindus, the British gave them special business privileges. The Hindus established a monopoly in local trade. The Muslim traders suffered an economic crisis.
4. As a result of the industrial revolution in Britain, better and cheaper products were manufactured there. These products were imported into India. It destroyed the cottage industry which belonged to various nations of India including the Muslims. The cottage industry collapsed because it could not compete with the modern industry.
5. The goods produced in Britain could be imported into India but Indian products were demanded neither in Britain nor in Europe. The export of the Indian goods was affected and millions of people suffered unemployment including a large number of Muslims.

 

       (b)Origin of Ideology and its significance.

Source of Ideology:

Following elements lead to the formation of an ideology among people:

1. Common Religion:

Religion is only a set of adoration (worships) but it has profound impacts on the whole of the social life. Every religion maintains social relationships in the light of specific ideas. For example, the Europeans, the Japanese, the Hindus, and the Muslims want to lead their lives according to their religions respectively.

2. Common Race:

Common ideas originated from the common race. A common race gives birth to common ideas. It is quite natural that people belonging to the same race develop sentiments of sympathy and brotherhood for each other. Racism is a strong bond, which, because of common ideas, binds human beings in blood like a relationship.

3. Common Language and Residency:

Language is the means of conveying feelings, sentiments, and thoughts to others. These help to form new ideas. The similarity in the ways of living and harmony in ideas depend mostly on the common territory.

4. Common Political Purposes:

Because of common political purposes and political ideas, most of the nations of the present age try to achieve political freedom for the survival of their national life so that they become strong nation.

Significance of Ideology:

1. Man has been sent to this world with some purpose. Purposeless life never gets success. The existence of nations is reflected in their ideas.
2. Ideas create consciousness of purpose among nations. These ideas lead the nations toward success.
3. Ideas provide the foundation for any political, economic, social, or cultural movement.
4. Ideas are the axis around which life revolves. It is the second name of motivating force.
5. Ideas provide discipline to various aspects of human life.
6. Ideas determine national duties and rights.
7. Ideas are just like something invisible but the nations look live and dynamic because of it.
8. If a nation ignores its ideas, it endangers its existence and some new ideas try to merge this nation and change its identity.