THE PAKISTAN MOVEMENT

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The Pakistan Movement did not start abruptly. It grew out of necessity, slowly and gradually. Muslims of India were surrounded by inimical alien rulers and well organized Hindus.

The British had not forgotten the War of Independence waged by the Muslims against them. The Hindus had never forgiven the Muslims for having ruled India for centuries. Therefore, both the communities conspired against the Muslims to turn them into a poor, helpless and ineffective minority.

The Hindus soon learnt the English language, adopted the western ways of living and occupied important government posts. Muslims were left far behind socially, educationally and economically. Then the events took a new turn. Hindus who had received western education in England or some other countries of Europe formed in connivance with the British rulers a political party called the Indian National Congress which aimed at sharing power with the British in ruling India. They were successful in their plans. But Muslims were losers and so when councils were set up, they were left out. The ruling British sensed this and felt concerned because the Muslims did not get adequate representation.

In the meantime, a deputation of Muslims known as 'Simla Deputation' led by Sir Agha Khan met Lord Minto, the then Viceroy of India on October 1,1906 and expressed the concern of the Muslims of India over the situation and also impressed upon him to look into the genuine demands of the Muslims. The Viceroy promised to sympathetically and judiciously consider the Muslim viewpoint. It was probably the result of these efforts that the Muslims were granted the right of separate electorate in the Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909.

Indian National Congress was founded in 1885, which was an overwhelmingly Hindu body. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan advised the Indian Muslims to stay away from it. The Muslims of India had no political organization of their own; therefore in 1906 they decided to form a political party known as All India Muslim League. The objective of the All India Muslim League was to safeguard and promote interests of the Muslims of India and also strive for better understanding among different communities of India particularly the British.

The annual meeting of the Muslim League which was held at Allahabad in 1930 was presided over by Allama Iqbai who in his Presidential address said that the N.W.F.P. Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan should be combined in one State. AJIama further said that there was no way out; it was destined to become an independent state because this was the only way by which Muslims could live an honourable life. They must have a homeland so that they could preserve their culture, civilization and modes of worship. Thus a forceful demand was put forward for an independent Muslim State. The Allahabad address caught the imagination of the Muslims who started working hard for the preservation of their rights and ultimate independence.


The British Prime Minister, at the failure of the Cabinet Mission as well as the Interim Government announced the Intention of the British Government to transfer power to the people of the subcontinent and also announced the appointment of Lord Mountbatten In place of Lord Wavell.

Lord Mountbatten studied the political situation and later with the approval of the British Government announced the June 3 Plan in which it was decided to partition the sub-continent. Punjab and Bengal were to be divided on the basis of Muslim majority and Hindu majority areas. A Boundary Commission was also to be appointed to demarcate the boundaries of Pakistan and Bharat.

Provincial Assembly of Sindh and 'Shahi Jirga' of Balochistan were to decide about their future. N.W.F.P. was given an option to hold a referendum and decide their own fate. Similarly, Sylhet of the Assam Province was given the option to decide about their future.

When it was decided to partition Punjab and Bengal the British Government appointed Sir Radcliff, as the Chairman of the Boundary Commission. Mountbatten and Radcliff, betraying all norms of fair play and justice, gave some of the Muslim majority areas to Bharat. By giving away Gurdaspur, a Muslim majority district to Bharat, the British Government gave Bharat an access to Kashmir which ultimately proved to be the greatest hurdle in the smooth neighbourly relations between Bharat and Pakistan.

In the distribution of assets, Mountbatten again showed great partiality and Pakistan was deprived of her legitimate share In the finances, defence equipment, railway engines and bogies and the like.