Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 238
238 AHMADIYY AT clarification of certain points. He also said that he had taken careful note of the suggestions made in the address, two or three of which he intended to incorporate in his report so that they should not be overlooked when final proposals would be formulated. This was the Khalifatul Masih's debut in the field of politics and public life. Thereafter he never let any opportunity pass without making his valuable contribution ,towards safeguarding the rights, interests and position of the Muslims in the political and constitutional spheres. In pursuance of the report of the Secretary of State, the Government of India Act 1919 was passed by the British Parliament under which the system known as dyarchy was set up in the British provinces of India, and the Imperial Legislative Council at the centre was replaced by the Legisla- tive Assembly and Council of State, both of which were composed of a majority of elected members with a certain proportion of official and non-official nominated members. At the provincial level the legislature, known as the Legisla- tive Council, was given a large majority of elected members with a small number of nominated official members. The provincial subjects were divided into two categories, reserved and transferred. The administration of transferred subjects was committed to Ministers who were chosen from among the elected members and were made responsible to the legislature. The reserved subjects were committed to Executive Members, one of whom was generally an official and the other non-official. They were responsible to the Governor, though they were nominated members of the legislature and had to defend their policies and actions in the legislature. This system of dyarchy worked with varying degrees of success in different provinces. In the Punjab it worked with marked success due mainly to the ability, political skill and acumen of Mian Sir Fazl-i-Husain, who was senior Mini~er in the Punjab for five years and then became one of the two Executive Members, which position he held for another five years. In both positions he rendered great service to the cause of the advancement of India and the