Consider the following assertion: The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion? 1. Reforms retained and extended the principle of separate electorates. 2. Separate electorates were supposed to counter Indian nationalism, which was growing stronger. 3. Deprived classes rallied around the favours inherent in separate electorates.

Option (D) — 1, 2 and 3

• The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 retained and extended the system of separate electorates first introduced by the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909, now extending them to Sikhs and others.
• Separate electorates were a deliberate colonial strategy to divide Indian society along communal lines and weaken the growing nationalist movement by encouraging community-based political identities.
• The provision of separate electorates and reserved seats incentivized deprived and minority communities to organize around communal identities to secure political representation, thereby creating community-based political alliances.

• 1. Reforms retained and extended the principle of separate electorates: Correct. The 1919 reforms continued and expanded the separate electorate system introduced in 1909, supporting the assertion about community-based political alliances.
• 2. Separate electorates were supposed to counter Indian nationalism, which was growing stronger: Correct. The British used communal electorates as a divide-and-rule strategy to weaken the unified nationalist movement.
• 3. Deprived classes rallied around the favours inherent in separate electorates: Correct. Various communities saw separate electorates as a means to secure political representation and benefits, leading to community-based political mobilization.