1940-----1947 POLITICAL EVENTS. Political Events From 1940 to 1947 Introduction The era from 1940 to 1947 is the era of rapid changes. Many important events in the history of the sub Continent took place. The demand of Pakistan is the most prominent among them. In the past, the demand of Pakistan was not raised clearly. It was due to Muslim achievements in this period that now we are living in a sovereign and independent state. The political events from Pakistan Resolution to the establishment of Pakistan are summarized under: 1940 23rd March – Pakistan Resolution The attitude of the Hindus made it clear that the Hindus and the Muslims were two separate nations. On March 23rd, at the annual session of Muslim League at Lahore, the famous resolution, commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution was passed. It was presented by Maulvi Fazlul Haq. Quaid-e-Azam said in his address: “By all means Muslims are one nation and they need a separate homeland where they could live their spiritual, cultural, econmical, social and political lives independently.” 8th August – August Offer It was proposed to enlarged governor general councils to include members from political parties. War Advisory Committee was also launched. Both league and Congress rejected the offer. 1942 12th-15th April – Civil Disobedience Movement 28th session of League was held at Madras in which a resolution was adopted on Civil Disobedience Movement launched by Congress. 23rd March – Cripps Mission Sir Stafford Cripps was sent by the British Government to India, to discuss with Indian leaders, the future Indian Constitutions. His proposal was rejected by both the Congress and the League. The Congress characterized them as “a post-dated cheque on a failing bank.” Jinnah said that if these were accepted “Muslims would become a minority in their majority provinces as well.” 8th August – Quit India Congress initiated it against British, it was “open rebellion” due to which many people were killed League raised a slogan of “Divide and Quit India.” 1943 27th December – Action Committee It was formed to prepare and organize Muslims of India for coming struggle for achievements of Pakistan. 1944 9th September – Gandhi Jinnah Talks Gandhi held talks with Jinnah to discuss about the future of India, but no fruitful results came out of it because Gandhi did not accept Muslims as a separate nation. Louis Feisher wrote: “The wall between Jinnah and Gandhi was the Two Nation Theory.” 1945 25th June – Simla Conference Lord Wavell called a conference at Simla. The conference failed to achieve any purpose due to one sided attitude of Lord Wavell. In this conference, Quaid-e-Azam made it crystal clear that the Muslim League can represent Muslims of India. 2nd December – General Elections Elections for the central and provincial assemblies were held in 1945-1946 in which Muslim League won 30 seats of central legislative meant for Muslims and 430 seats out of 495 in the provincial legislative. Quaid-e-Azam said on this occasion: “I have no doubt now in the acheivement of Pakistan. The Muslims of India told the world what they want. No power of world can topple the opinion of 10 crore Muslims of India.” 1946 24th March – Cabinet Mission Cabinet Mission visited India in 1946 and submitted its recommendations to the Britishers. As a result Interium Government was formed but Congress and League couldn’t co-operate amongst themselves. 8th – 9th April – Delhi Convention Quaid-e-Azam called a convention of all the Muslim League members at Delhi. At the convention every member took the pledge to under go any danger for the attainment of national goal of Pakistan. 16th August – Direct Action Day League withdraw its acceptance of Cabinet Mission and Direct Action Day was observed peacefully throughout India, except in Calcutta, where riots broke out. 1947 3rd June – 3rd June Plan Lord Mount Batten prepared the plan for transference of power according to the wish of people. He emphasized on the partition of the country and told that it was the only solution of the Indian political deadlock. Both League and Congress accepted the plan. 18th July – Indian Independence Act In July, the British parliament passed the Indian Independence act which was enforced promptly. The Muslims of the Sub Continent finally succeeded in carrying out an independent Islamic State for Muslims. 14th August – Transfer of Power The transfer of power ceremony was held in Karachi. On August 15, Quaid-e-Azam was sworn in as Governor General of Pakistan and Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan was appointed his Prime Minister. “That was the culmination of a long struggle which the Muslims of the South Asian Sub Continent had weged for a separate homeland in the name of Islam.”
Allama Iqbal’s Presidential Address – 1930 Prelude On December 30, 1930 the annual meeting of the All India Muslim League was held at Allahabad. Allama Iqbal presided over the meeting. On this occasion he delivered his famous historical address which proved to be a milestone in the proceeding to make a demand for an independent Muslim state. Main Points of the Address 1. N.W.F.P, Sind, Punjab and Baluchistan should be combined in one state. 2. The Muslims are entirely a different nation from Hindus. Their way of living and social manners are totally different from the Hindus. Their religion is entirely different in nature from other religions. Thus the Muslims should get a state of their own in the area of Muslim majority where they may be able to cultivate their own religious and moral traditions. Importance of the Address Iqbals’s speech at the League session created a mild flutter but generally it was not taken seriously. Though he had, in detail explained the basis leading to demand a separate homeland. He mentioned that Islam was not simply the name of a few creeds, the oral recognization of which would make our ideal Muslim. It had given its followers, the concept of a particular and unique political society which covered all the phases of their life. Even though the Muslims of South Asia were disorganized and lay scattered in different parts of the region, yet their central position was the same. They had the same culture, the same history and the same civilization. These elements gave similarity and agreement to all the Muslims of the Sub Continent on the one hand and made them quite distinct from the Hindus on the other. In his presidential address, Allama Iqbal said: “I would like to see the Punjab, North West Frontier Province, Sind and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single state. Self Government within the British empire of without the British empire, the formation of a consolidated North West Indian Muslim State appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims at least of north West India.” The greatest historical significance of Iqbal’s Allahabad Address was that it washed away all political confusions from the minds to the Muslims. Thus, enabling them to determine their new and clear cut destination and work out a definite program to achieve their goal. Some writers have taken Iqbal to mean that he only wanted a consolidated Muslim unit without the federation of India but this does not seem to be correct. He pleaded that there should be no central government and the provinces should be autonomous and independent dominions. Allama Iqbal’s idea that the Muslim formed a separate nation and they had a right to lead their lives on their own was readily accepted by all Muslim circle. The demand gradually gained popularity and ultimately developed in the form of Pakistan Resolution in 1940. Conclusive Sentences It is on his Allahabad address that Allama Iqbal is known as the dreamer of Pakistan. His address proved to be a milestone in the history of the Sub Continent and the creation of Pakistan
Ideology of Pakistan in the light of Quaid-e-Azam’s Sayings Ideology of Pakistan and Quaid-e-Azam Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the great leader of Muslims of Sub Continent gave practical shape to the ideology given by Allama Iqbal. He had a strong believe in Hindu Muslim unity and was of the opinion that both Hindus and Muslims should launch joint efforts to get rid of British rule. After joining Muslim League in 1913, he continued with his efforts to bring about Hindu Muslim unity but he was greatly disappointed to see the prejudicial attitude of the Congress and Hindus towards the Muslims. Following are some extracts from the speeches and statements which he delivered from time to time for explaining the ideology of Pakistan. Address at Second Round Table Conference in 1931 Quaid-e-Azam believed that Congress and Hindus would never recognize the rights of Mulsims. He declared while representing the Muslims in the Second Round Table Conference in 1913: “The Hindu Muslim dispute must be settled before the enforcement of any system or constitution. Untill you do not give guarantee for the safeguard of the Muslim interests, untill you do not win their (Mulims) co-operations, any constitution you enforce shall not las for even 24 hours.” Quaid-e-Azam and Two Nation Theory Quaid-e-Azam was a firm advocate of two nation theory which became the ideological basis Pakistan. He considered the Muslims as a separate nation. He said: “Pakistan was created the day the first Indian national entered the field of Islam.” He defined the two nation theory as: “The Muslims are a nation by every right to establish their separate homeland. They can adopt any means to promote and protect their economic social, political and cultural interests." Address on 23rd March, 1940 – Pakistan Resolution At the historic session of the Muslim League at Lahore, he said: “The Mussalmans are not a minority. They are a nation by any definition. By all canons of International lwa we are a nation.” In his presidential address at the annual session of Muslim League at Lahore in 1940, he said: “India is not a nation, nor a country. It is a Sub Continent of nationalities. Hindus and Muslims being the two major nations. The Hindus and Muslims belongs belong to two different religions, philosophies, social customs and literature. They neither intermarry nor interdine and they belong to two different civilization which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their aspects on life and of are different. It is quite clear that Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history.” Address on March 8, 1944 While addressing the students of Muslim University, he said: “Hindus and Muslims through living in the same town and villages, had never been blended into one nation. They were always two separate entities.” Quaid-e-Azam and Millat-e-Islamia Quaid-e-Azam emphasized on the Islamic ideology as being the basis of the struggle for Pakistan because he believed that only Islam was the unifying force of the Muslim Millat. He said: “What relationships knits the Muslims into one whole, which is the formidable rock on which the Muslim edifice has been erected, which is the sheet anchor providing base to the Muslim Millat, the relationship, the sheet anchor and the rock is Holy Quran.” Address at Islamia College Peshawar In 1946, Quaid-e-Azam declared: “We do not demand Pakistan simply to have a piece of land but we want a laboratory where we could experiment on Islamic principles.” Address on 18th June 1945 In his message to the frontier Muslim Students Federation, he said: “Pakistan only means freedom and independence but Muslims ideology, which has to be preserved which has come to us as a precious gift and treasure and which w hope, others will share with us.” Conclusion The above sayings and statements largely prove that Quaid-e-Azam wanted a establish an Islamic system as a code of life because he believed that it was the sole objective of the Pakistan Movement.
Nehru Report Brief Account In November, 1927, the British Government appointed a statutory commission head by Sir John Simon to inquire into the constitutional affairs of the country. Since, no Indian was present in this commission, the Indians did not welcome the Simon Commission. When the members of this commission were talking about the political situation of India, the Congress called on all parties conferences in Bombay on May 19, 1928. The Muslim League boycotted this conference. The all parties conference appointed a committee headed by Pundit Moti Lal Nehru to submit a report after considering the principles of a constitution for India. The committee recommended a proposal generally known as “Nehru Report.” Important points of Nehru Report The main points of Nehru report are as follows: 1. The Nehru Committee demanded repudiation of separate elections. 2. It demanded the Form of Government at the center would be Federal with substantial powers invested in the control of government. 3. It recommended separation of Sindh from Bombay. 4. It recommended the one-third Muslim representation at the central legislative. 5. The committee demanded interdiction of reforming Baluchistan and N.W.F.P provinces. 6. The foreign affairs, defense and army should be placed under the control of parliament and viceroy. 7. Unitary form of the Government to established in the center. 8. Hindi should be the official language. Conclusions from Nehru Report 1. Nehru’s Recommendations were against the interests of the Muslim Community. 2. The Muslims could not surrender their right to separate electorates. 3. The principles of non-reservation and joint electorates were to make their position in Punjab and Bengal provinces. Reactions Towards Nehru Report The Nehru Report projected the Hindu leaderships mentality ailed at the digestion of the Muslim nation under the cover of one nation in the India-Pakistan Sub Continent. Since the report was totally against the interests of the Muslims, therefore, Muslim League and other Muslim Parties of the country rejected it. Quaid-e-Azam said: “The majorities are apt to be tyrannical and oppressive and particularly religious majorities and the minorities, therefore, they have a right to be absolutely secured.” He was shocked to hear the proposal of Nehru Report, therefore in March,1929, he called a meeting of Muslim League and put forwarded his Fourteen points as the minimum demands for any political settlement. Maulana Mohammad Ali Johar considered at as an attempt to secure predomination of Hindus over Muslims. His brother, Maulana Shaukat Ali said: “As a young man he had been a keen owner of grey hounds, but he had never grey hounds deal with hare as the Hindus proposed to deal with the Muslims.” In a Nut Shell Thus, the Nehru Report reflected the hostility, mental level and attitude of the Hindus towards the Muslims of India. All its proposals were made disregarding the interests of the Muslims