The Indian Muslims, in general, were not attracted to the Extremist movement because of the

The correct answer is Option 4. While several factors influenced the political alignment of Indian Muslims, the primary reason for their alienation from the Extremist movement was the Extremists’ policy of harping on a Hindu past.

To mobilize the masses, leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Aurobindo Ghosh utilized religious symbols, icons, and festivals rooted in Hindu tradition. Examples include:

• The celebration of Ganpati and Shivaji festivals.
• The depiction of India as Mother Goddess (Bharat Mata), which involved image worship.
• The use of Ganga snan (holy dips) and taking oaths before Hindu deities during the Swadeshi movement.

These methods gave the national movement a distinct Hindu religious color, which inadvertently created a sense of exclusion among Muslims. While Option 1 reflects an earlier educational shift and Options 2 and 3 are oversimplifications, it was the cultural and religious revivalism inherent in Extremist rhetoric that prevented the movement from acquiring a truly secular, pan-Indian character at the time.