The idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent took shape through a process of evolution. It started with the realization of the fact that the Muslims of south Asia are quite different from the Hindus and their future in a democratic India would be at stake. The passage of Lahore resolution on 23rd march 1930 was a landmark event in the history of Muslims of India. Though the Muslim demand was not new for a separate homeland but it was first time that such demand came from an authoritative platform in consolidated form.
Pakistan Day symbolises firm determination of the Indian Muslims under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to launch a historic struggle, which in a brief period of seven years (1940-47) culminated in the dawn of Pakistan - a free homeland of the Muslim of the sub-continent.
The historic resolution adopted by the All India Muslim League at its 27th annual session at Lahore on the 23rd of March 1940 was an eon making event which changed the course of history. It was momentous milestone in the history of Muslims of India. The Lahore resolution, stamped as Pakistan resolution by Hindus, was adopted by the AIML unanimously. Lahore resolution officially became ‘Pakistan Resolution’ in April 1943. The adoption of Pakistan Resolution gave the Muslims an objective – the establishment of an independent State, and a struggle for its achievement. United under the leadership of Jinnah, a successful movement was started to fight off British colonists and to forestall Hindu Imperialism.
The historic day of March 23, 1940 marks the demand for a homeland for a nation with distinct cultural identity within British colony of sub-continent. This demand for Pakistan was made in a resolution moved by A.K. Fazul-ul-Haq and came to be known as Lahore Resolution. The speakers who seconded and supported the resolution represented every part of India. It was a unique occasion in the history of Muslim India when the delegates discussed the future framework for the Muslims. The Muslim leaders of the minority provinces supported the resolution sacrificing their privileged positions for the creation of a Muslim homeland, without any reservation. It was an extraordinary sacrifice for the ideological goal, rarely seen before. The delegates jointly prepared a premeditated plan, defining the Muslim destiny in the geographical boundaries of British India.
The resolution defined and demanded the sovereign status for the Muslims to be realized by the AIML under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Thus the struggle for Pakistan initiated from the platform of the Lahore session was successfully conducted by the league's High Command and concluded on the formation of Pakistan in the August 14, 1947.
The League was planning to hold its annual session at an important place of India to announce its future policy and program. The last session of the League was held at Patna in December 1938 when the Congress rule was at its acme. The League considered the customary situation in the context of Congress Raj which pursued the so-called national program, contrary to the Muslim perceptions. The symbolic induction of 'Bande Matram' as national anthem in the public ceremonies, the introduction of Wardha scheme of education in the educational institutions envisaged to secularize the minds of young students at the school level and extending financial support for the propagation of Hindu ideology in the name of nationalism, created deep antipathy among the Muslim community.
The Muslims of India realized the impending danger to their religious and cultural traditions in perpetuation of the Congress rule. The league in its resolution, adopted at the Patna session proposed by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and seconded by Abdul Majid Sindhi stated that:
"The All India Muslim League reiterates its view that the scheme of Federation embodied in the Govt. of India Act, 1935, is not acceptable, but in view of further developments that have taken place or may take place from time to time, it hereby authorizes the President of the All India Muslim League to adopt such course as may be necessary with a view to explore the possibility of a suitable alternative which will safeguard the interests of the Mussalmans and other minorities in India”
The Congress rule further widened the gulf between the Hindus and Muslims. The impact of the Congress rule was so antagonistic that the Muslims of India condemned the Congress Raj in every part of the country for its anti-Muslim policies. The Muslims catalogued their grievances against the individual and collective misdeeds of the Congress leaders in three Reports known as 'Pirpur Report', the 'Shareef Report' and 'Muslim sufferings under the Congress rule', prepared by A.K.Fazlul Haq. The reports collected and compiled the Muslim grumble depicting the Congress rule as Ram Raj, established to re-generate the ancient Hindu mythology in India. The league's resistance to the Congress rule was appreciated and supported by the other minorities. The leaders of minorities extended moral support to M A Jinnah in his efforts to secure the rights and interests of the Muslims and other minorities. When the Congress ministries resigned in Nov. 1939 the Muslim league observed the 'Day of Deliverance' on Dec 22, in which many leaders of minorities participated which strengthened the Muslim cause.
Even before the Patna session the Muslim league concerted its efforts to prepare an alternative scheme to counteract the deficiencies and defect now fully experienced by the Muslims under the Government of India Act 1935, partially implemented in the provinces. The federal part of the Act yet to be implemented which was bound to subjugate the Muslim minority in every avenue of national life. An alternative scheme to the Government of India Act, safeguarding Muslim interests, became requisite need deliberated by the Muslim intellectuals and politicians.
The planning of partition of India by preparing alternate constitution was initiated by the AIML when the Council in its meeting held on 4th Dec., 1938, asked the Sub-Committee under Sir Abdullah Haroon to consider the schemes and proposals about the future Constitution.
During 1939 and early 1940 the Committee considered the various schemes, proposals and suggestions on the future Constitution. The committee submitted a number of recommendations regarding the "future of the Indian Muslim," for the consideration of the Working Committee. One such recommendation was:
“That in order to make the Muslim right of self-determination really effective, the Muslims shall have separate National Home in the shape of an autonomous state”
Its recommendations were carefully considered by the Working Committee (WC) of the League in its meeting held at Delhi on 4th March 1940. The W.C agreed to the broad out lines regarding the future constitution of India.
To finalize the proposals on the constitution and to give a definite shape to the Lahore Resolution, the W.C held its meeting on the 22nd March 1940 at Mamdot Villa, Lahore and "prepared the draft of a resolution regarding the future constitution of India for submission to the Subject Committee."
Finally the Subject committee unanimously approved the resolution, which was placed in the open session on 23rd March 1940 initiating the beginning of a new era in the Sub-continent and it was passed on 24th march, 1940.
The importance of the Lahore Resolution is obvious. It was through this resolution that the Muslim League committed itself to the establishment of Pakistan as it final goal and it was after its adoption that the Muslim nation zealously started a movement to attain that objective. Lahore (Pakistan) Resolution provided an ideology and a clear political objective which successfully united the entire Muslim Population of India under the leadership of the League; at the same time it generated the political will and the drive for its attainment. The Muslims by virtue of their community of interests could now claim to be a separate nation when they could have a government of their choice. Such a claim made in one voice by a large group of people, eighty million strong, having a close cultural affinity and marked off from others who inhabited the same land, truly gave a revolutionized turn to Muslim politics
On the historic Pakistan Day, when the path to Pakistan was illuminated let us renew our pledge to work with utmost dedication for the maximum good of the maximum number to make Pakistan a welfare state in reality, which should be the sole purpose of the men at the helm of affairs. We should try to resolve our differences through mutual consultation and with the sense of accommodating each other. It will help us to get on our ultimate destiny which is prosper, developed and moderate Pakistan.
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Daily Dawn, 23rd March,2008
1 comments:
that is not real history
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