The idea of Pakistan.

[Indus Pakistan]

Sir Allama Iqbal's ( Kashmiri origin born in Sialkot, Punjab ) contribution to Pakistan is known to most Pakistani. However let us look at the 1930s and look at other significant milestones that led to creation of Pakistan. We all know that it was Sir Allama Iqbal who concieved the idea of Pakistan. This conception was announced to the world in the Allahabad Address of 1930.

The concept or the blueprint he advocated was almost the exact definition of what we have as Pakistan in 2015. His blueprint in 1930 did not include East Bengal and only covered the north western part of British India - that is today's Pakistan.

Sir Allama Iqbal did not include Kashmir in his speech but it has to be borne in 1930 Jammu & Kashmir was separate state ruled by a Maharajah. East Bengal was not included as it appears that the originial idea was more than one Muslim state in British India. The original blueprint below:-

“ India is a continent of human groups belonging to different races, speaking different languages, and professing different religions. Personally, I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sindh and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State. Self-government within the British Empire, or 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. ”

Allahabad Address - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

in 1933 a young idealistic Punjai Muslim student in Cambridge by the name of Rehmat Ali, ( Naqash-e-Pakistan ) published a pamphlet titled "Now or Never; Are We to Live or Perish Forever", also known as the Pakistan Declaration. The pamphlet started with a famous statement:

"At this solemn hour in the history of British India, when British and Indian statesmen are laying the foundations of a Federal Constitution for that land, we address this appeal to you, in the name of our common heritage, on behalf of our thirty million Muslim brethren who live in PAKSTAN – by which we mean the five Northern units of India, Punjab, North-West Frontier Province (Afghan Province), Kashmir, Sind and Baluchistan."

The two ideologues of the Pakistan Movement. Seated in the front Rahmat Ali and Sir Allama Iqbal

The idea of Pakistan I would like to point out, remained just a concept on the shelf despite the idea being mentioned by Sir Allama Iqbal in 1930 and the the name "Pakistan" being coined by Rahmat Ali in 1933. As such it remained a concept and only in 1940 with the Lahore Resolution dit it move to the prototype stage.
Look at it in the following order or stages, Concept > Prototype > Production.

"That geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of (British) India should be grouped to constitute 'independant states' in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign".

Lahore Resolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is apparent that the prototype being suggested in Lahore Resolution1940 involved two states. The "North Western" that is the Pakistan we have today and "Eastern Zones" that is the Bangladesh we have today. This idea of having two states is further confirmed in the use of "independant states" with the latter being "states" which is plural rather than singular.

There also this talk of a concentrated effort of a homogenous Muslim community all working toward one goal the establishment of Pakistan. This is absolute falsehood that needs clearing. The reality was there were lots of groups all driven by their own self interests. Nobody was doing this for the sake of setting up a 'citadel of Islam' that rubbish would come later when the Mullah's got their fingers into the body of the new born state.

In fact to even call this 'Pakistan Movement' is erroneous because that would suggest the Muslim League had been all along working towards a independant Pakistan. This never was the case as I will show. Disparate Muslim groups all over India joined the Muslim League for their own self interests and there was nothing holy about this.

The most significant people who were behind Muslim League were the Muslim Bengali who in fact were the main impetus behind setting up ML in 1906 by Agha Khan in Dhaka. Part of the reason was the agitation going in Bengal for it to be divided along Muslim and Hindu lines. So in fact ML can be said to be a product of Bengali Muslim politics.

Soon enough other Muslim communities who felt under threat of "Hindu Raj" like in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar where minority Muslims lived in a ocean of Hindu's became animated in protecting their economic and religious interests. Thus the point being is the various Muslim groups agitated for ML for their own self interests and furthermore the agitation was directly proportional to the threat they faced. In other words the Muslims living in Attock were least bothered because they lived in a sea of Muslims. However Muslims living in Patna, Bihar were very worried because they lived in a ocean of Hindus.

That is why you find that most of the active members of ML and those most vociferous of Muslim rights ( notice I say Muslim rights because non were asking for Pakistan ) were the minority Muslims.

Pakistan was never the goal of Muslim League or their supporters.

Despite what Sir aAllama Iqbal had enunciated in 1930 and what Rahmat Ali dreamed in 1933 their idea remained on the fringe. Even with the Lahore Resolution although a step forward the idea of Pakistan remained just a concept. It was not like in 1940 they decided "right Pakistan or nothing else". It was just a policy idea.

An example of how ML was just a umbrella for differant groups pushing for their interests against percieved threat from Hindu Raj was that Abdul Hashmem of Bengal Muslim League considered the Lahore Resolution as demand for a separate state for the Bengali's and in 1946 H. S. Suhrawardy of Bengal, a member of the All India Muslim League, mooted the United Bengal proposal with the support of Muslim and Hindu leaders, as well as the Governor of Bengal. However, it was opposed by Lord Mountbatten, the Muslim League, the Congress and the Hindu Mahasabha.

The Muslim League was primarily about trying to get the rights of minority Muslim's secured and that was not surprising as most of the active support came from UP, Bihar and other areas of minority Muslims. The land that would end up as Pakistan was relaxed because Muslims were in a dominant position and in fact in Western Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan it was the Hindu who were in danger.

We can see how the Muslim League as late as 1946 was involved with the Cabinet Mission Plan to arrive at formulae that would meet it's core demand. The protection of the interests of the minority Muslim groups. The following formulae was proposed to secure the interests of the Muslim's in a independant India.

Promulgated on 16 May 1946, the plan to create a united dominion of India as a loose confederation of provinces came to be known by the date of its announcement:

1. A united Dominion of India would be given independence.
2. Muslim-majority provinces would be grouped - Sind, Punjab and North-West Frontier Province would form one group (1), and Bengal and Assam (2) would form another.
3. Hindu-majority provinces in central and southern India would form another group (3).
4. The Central government, stationed in Delhi, would be empowered to handle nationwide affairs, such as defense, currency, and diplomacy, while the rest of powers and responsibility would belong to the provinces, coordinated by groups.

Therefore just over a year before Pakistan became a reality ML was not primarily demanding for Pakistan. All it was doing was trying to secure the interests of Muslim communities within a free united India. The idea was British India would have three groups as shown above which would balance each other out.

The reality is in May 1946 if Nehru had agreed to this plan there would have been no Pakistan. Jinnah and ML were agreed to this plan but Congress refused to accept this. The fact was Nehru and Congress were not prepared to be pragmatic and their refusal left no choice but Pakistan.

So in a perverse way we Nehru can be thanked for creating Pakistan. Therefore Jinnah did not set to create Pakistan rather Nehru left him no choice. Had it been upto Jinnah we would have had one India with three zones all equal with a central government in Delhi with only control over external affairs, currency and defence. Other than this the three groups would have ran themselves.

At no stage was the notion that mass numbers of people would move or migrate to others parts. In the last rush to 1947 Muslim League launched action day as a tool to apply pressure which led to communal tensions. This led to trouble in Bengal and Bihar. The killing and tension created was the factor in the movement of people. The great migration was result of power play not some demonstration of higher principle or proof of loyalty to any cause. Fear and threats were the factors. It is altogather another thing that decades later people blow trumpets of sacrifices they made. Sacrifice means you through deliberate act do something for a higher or external cause from yourself.Running away to save your skin is not sacrifice. It is looking after numero uno.

Now I want to move on the people who gave their piece of land in the jug saw that would become Pakistan. In the original Lahore Resolution of 1940 the following was included:-

"That geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of British India should be grouped to constitute ‘independent states’ in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign"

This is promising each province significant rights within the federation. We must take note that ML included the Lahore resolution within it's constitution. Therefore when those provinces voted the obligation and promise of the above has to be kept in mind.

Now let us look at the "bricks" that made Pakistan without them Pakistan would never have come into existance and even today if you dare take one out the country would fall apart.

1. Sindh
Sindhi nationalist leader, G. M. Syed, who reaffirmed his role as one of the leading figure in the movement. His role as founding father and key role in the Muslim League, G. M. Syed proposed the 1940 Pakistan Resolution in the Sindh Assembly, which ultimately resulted in the creation of Pakistan. On 26 June 1947, the special session held in Sindh Assembly decided to join the new Pakistan Constituent Assembly. Thus, Sindh became the first province to opt for Pakistan.


2. NWFP - Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Finally, a referendum was held in 1946 to decide the fate of the NWFP as to whether the people of the NWFP ( now Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) want to vote for Pakistan or India. In this refrendum, majority of vote was cast in favor of Pakistan , despite Bacha Khan wanting to accede with India.

* Despite what people say today it must never be forgotten that the Pashtun's voted in majority for Pakistan. If they had not done so I don't think Pakistan would have existed today.

3. Punjab
In 1947, the Punjab Assembly cast its vote in favor of Pakistan with super majority rule, which made many minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while Muslim refugees from India settled in the Western Punjab and across Pakistan.

* Again if the Punjabi had not cast their vote Pakistan would have remained "pie in the sky".

4. Balochistan.
Akbar Bugti was a staunch supporter and loaylist of Jinnah who played crucial role in supporting the idea of Pakistan in Baluchistan. Another young activist, Mir Hazar, helped initiate student rallies and public support for Pakistan Movement in Balochistan. In 2013, Mir Hazar Khoso, who noted and described Jinnah as his inspiration, also became Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2013. In 1947, the Balochistan Assembly passed the resolution and cast its vote in favor of Pakistan, with a majority approving the accession with Pakistan.

* Again the Baloch voted for Pakistan. I believe we have let this province down. When a people vote for a idea they expect good to come. It is clear we neglected this province other sucking the gas from Sui.

I would like to add that as each of these provinces were voting in 1947 to go with Pakistan they were undoing the injustice that had been done to them in 1843 and 1849 when the British marched into their lands are with guns blazing attached them to British India. Thus consider the above voting for Pakistan as reactions the British actions below..

The forced union with British India.

Sindh 1843 - Battle of Miani - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Punjab 1949 - Battle of Gujrat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


In conclusion.

The truth is ML had been pushing to secure the rights of Muslims in India in particular those that were threatened by Hindu Raj on account of living in Hindu majority areas. The idea of Pakistan remained on the fringes of ML despite some people in Punjab dreaming about it. The ML including Jinnah all the way upto 1946 were pushing for a balanced system in independant India that would secure the interests of the minority Muslims in Hindu majority areas. Only when Nehru refused in 1947 did a movement to secure minority rights become a movement for Pakistan.

Therefore it is my conclusion that Pakistan came into being in 1947 through accident just like the accident in 1843 and 1849 when this region by accident became attached to British India. On the other hand at least in 1947 there was element of choice whereas the 1843-49 accidents were achieved through British guns.

The strange twist in all this is ML failed to secure the interests of the minority Muslims living in Hindu majority areas and instead led to the undoing of Punjab and Sindh attachment to India by the British in 1843 nd 1849.That is how history can be somestimes. Had Sir Charles Napier in 1843 not dediced to conquer Sindh history might have been differant.

I would also add that the so called two nation theory which at it's height was weak died in 1971 with the emergence of Bangladesh. In fact circumstances have created the multiple nation theory. However the two nation theory served it's purpose in 1940s. It is now best left buried.

 

[syedali73]

In conclusion.

The truth is ML had been pushing to secure the rights of Muslims in India in particular those that were threatened by Hindu Raj on account of living in Hindu majority areas. The idea of Pakistan remained on the fringes of ML despite some people in Punjab dreaming about it. The ML including Jinnah all the way upto 1946 were pushing for a balanced system in independant India that would sage guard minority Muslims. On;y when Nehru refused in 1947 did a movement to secure minority rights become a movement for Pakistan.

Therefore it is my conclusion that Pakistan came into being in 1947 through accident just like the accident in 1843 and 1849 when this region by accident became attached to British India. On the other hand at least in 1947 there was element of choice whereas the 1843-49 accidents were achieved through British guns.

Very well-crafted though I do not agree with the last part of conclusion, the accident. If it was an accident, this accident was into making since the 1945 General Elections for Constituent Assembly and Banya's refusal to recognize and 'digest' Muslim's presence and right. That, in my opinion, was the turning point that made Quid-e-Azam, the leadership of AIML, and common Indian Muslim realize beyond doubt that a geographically distinct Pakistan was inevitable.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Very well-crafted though I do not agree with the last part of conclusion, the accident. If it was an accident, this accident was into making since the 1945 General Elections for Constituent Assembly and Banya's refusal to recognize and 'digest' Muslim's presence and right. That, in my opinion, was the turning point that made Quid-e-Azam, the leadership of AIML, and common Indian Muslim realize beyond doubt that a geographically distinct Pakistan was inevitable.

Thank you. I will add further thoughts on the subject. I do feel though that the very group that ML set out to secure was left even more insecure after 1947. So in one sense it was a spectacular failure and success as well.

 

[Maira La]

The idea of Pakistan I would like to point out, remained just a concept on the shelf despite the idea being mentioned by Sir Allama Iqbal in 1930 and the the name "Pakistan" being coined by Rahmat Ali in 1933. As such it remained a concept and only in 1940 with the Lahore Resolution dit it move to the prototype stage.

Btw, off topic, but you know, my great grandfather, a very powerful and influential Bengali politician of the time, was a member of the Muslim League Working Committee on Lahore Resolution.

On topic:

Other than religion, there is little reason for merging the non-contiguous landmasses of Bangladesh (the eastern frontier of the Dravidian/Indic race) and Pakistan (mostly part of the greater Middle East). And states should not be formed or run on the basis of religion - so it's good this unsustainable union ceased to exist.

Moving forward, I think it's in our best interest to join the Indian Union, as a special state with a greater degree of autonomy than that enjoyed by other states. I'm probably the only person on Earth to support this idea.

 

[halupridol]

Muslim-majority provinces would be grouped - Sind, Punjab and North-West Frontier Province would form one group (1), and Bengal and ASSAM(2) would form another.

height of wishful thinking,,,,at that time most of NE was Assam province(muslim majority province??),,,,goes to show how much thought was put into the "plan".
on topic-idea of Pakistan(yet again)
if not for the bengali n urdu speaking muslims,,Pakistan cud never have been formed,,,the natives of present day Pakistan,at that time,had no capacity(othr then the capacity of dreaming abt it) or intellect to achieve such a goal.

However the two nation theory served it's purpose in 1940s. It is now best left buried.

 

[Mabs]

height of wishful thinking,,,,at that time most of NE was Assam province(muslim majority province??),,,,goes to show how much thought was put into the "plan".
on topic-idea of Pakistan(yet again)
if not for the bengali n urdu speaking muslims,,Pakistan cud never have been formed,,,the natives of present day Pakistan,at that time,had no capacity(othr then the capacity of dreaming abt it) or intellect to achieve such a goal.

Don't ruin every thread man, if you're not gonna have an educated discussion, pls GTFO.

 

[Kabira]

height of wishful thinking,,,,at that time most of NE was Assam province(muslim majority province??),,,,goes to show how much thought was put into the "plan".
on topic-idea of Pakistan(yet again)
if not for the bengali n urdu speaking muslims,,Pakistan cud never have been formed,,,the natives of present day Pakistan,at that time,had no capacity(othr then the capacity of dreaming abt it) or intellect to achieve such a goal.

Read OP, natives of Pakistan came up with the idea of Pakistan. ML initially was only looking for minorty rights in hindu majority areas.

read this again

Thankfully congress rejected ML demands and here we are.

 

[AugenBlick]

Sir Allama Iqbal's ( Kashmiri origin born in Sialkot, Punjab ) contribution to Pakistan is known to most Pakistani. However let us look at the 1930s and look at other significant milestones that led to creation of Pakistan. We all know that it was Sir Allama Iqbal who concieved the idea of Pakistan. This conception was announced to the world in the Allahabad Address of 1930.

The concept or the blueprint he advocated was almost the exact definition of what we have as Pakistan in 2015. His blueprint in 1930 did not include East Bengal and only covered the north western part of British India - that is today's Pakistan.

Sir Allama Iqbal did not include Kashmir in his speech but it has to be borne in 1930 Jammu & Kashmir was separate state ruled by a Maharajah. East Bengal was not included as it appears that the originial idea was more than one Muslim state in British India. The original blueprint below:-

“ India is a continent of human groups belonging to different races, speaking different languages, and professing different religions. Personally, I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sindh and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State. Self-government within the British Empire, or 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. ”

Allahabad Address - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

in 1933 a young idealistic Punjai Muslim student in Cambridge by the name of Rehmat Ali, ( Naqash-e-Pakistan ) published a pamphlet titled "Now or Never; Are We to Live or Perish Forever", also known as the Pakistan Declaration. The pamphlet started with a famous statement:

"At this solemn hour in the history of British India, when British and Indian statesmen are laying the foundations of a Federal Constitution for that land, we address this appeal to you, in the name of our common heritage, on behalf of our thirty million Muslim brethren who live in PAKSTAN – by which we mean the five Northern units of India, Punjab, North-West Frontier Province (Afghan Province), Kashmir, Sind and Baluchistan."

The two ideologues of the Pakistan Movement. Seated in the front Rahmat Ali and Sir Allama Iqbal

The idea of Pakistan I would like to point out, remained just a concept on the shelf despite the idea being mentioned by Sir Allama Iqbal in 1930 and the the name "Pakistan" being coined by Rahmat Ali in 1933. As such it remained a concept and only in 1940 with the Lahore Resolution dit it move to the prototype stage.
Look at it in the following order or stages, Concept > Prototype > Production.

"That geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of (British) India should be grouped to constitute 'independant states' in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign".

Lahore Resolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is apparent that the prototype being suggested in Lahore Resolution1940 involved two states. The "North Western" that is the Pakistan we have today and "Eastern Zones" that is the Bangladesh we have today. This idea of having two states is further confirmed in the use of "independant states" with the latter being "states" which is plural rather than singular.

There also this talk of a concentrated effort of a homogenous Muslim community all working toward one goal the establishment of Pakistan. This is absolute falsehood that needs clearing. The reality was there were lots of groups all driven by their own self interests. Nobody was doing this for the sake of setting up a 'citadel of Islam' that rubbish would come later when the Mullah's got their fingers into the body of the new born state.

In fact to even call this 'Pakistan Movement' is erroneous because that would suggest the Muslim League had been all along working towards a independant Pakistan. This never was the case as I will show. Disparate Muslim groups all over India joined the Muslim League for their own self interests and there was nothing holy about this.

The most significant people who were behind Muslim League were the Muslim Bengali who in fact were the main impetus behind setting up ML in 1906 by Agha Khan in Dhaka. Part of the reason was the agitation going in Bengal for it to be divided along Muslim and Hindu lines. So in fact ML can be said to be a product of Bengali Muslim politics.

Soon enough other Muslim communities who felt under threat of "Hindu Raj" like in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar where minority Muslims lived in a ocean of Hindu's became animated in protecting their economic and religious interests. Thus the point being is the various Muslim groups agitated for ML for their own self interests and furthermore the agitation was directly proportional to the threat they faced. In other words the Muslims living in Attock were least bothered because they lived in a sea of Muslims. However Muslims living in Patna, Bihar were very worried because they lived in a ocean of Hindus.

That is why you find that most of the active members of ML and those most vociferous of Muslim rights ( notice I say Muslim rights because non were asking for Pakistan ) were the minority Muslims.

Pakistan was never the goal of Muslim League or their supporters.

Despite what Sir aAllama Iqbal had enunciated in 1930 and what Rahmat Ali dreamed in 1933 their idea remained on the fringe. Even with the Lahore Resolution although a step forward the idea of Pakistan remained just a concept. It was not like in 1940 they decided "right Pakistan or nothing else". It was just a policy idea.

An example of how ML was just a umbrella for differant groups pushing for their interests against percieved threat from Hindu Raj was that Abdul Hashmem of Bengal Muslim League considered the Lahore Resolution as demand for a separate state for the Bengali's and in 1946 H. S. Suhrawardy of Bengal, a member of the All India Muslim League, mooted the United Bengal proposal with the support of Muslim and Hindu leaders, as well as the Governor of Bengal. However, it was opposed by Lord Mountbatten, the Muslim League, the Congress and the Hindu Mahasabha.

The Muslim League was primarily about trying to get the rights of minority Muslim's secured and that was not surprising as most of the active support came from UP, Bihar and other areas of minority Muslims. The land that would end up as Pakistan was relaxed because Muslims were in a dominant position and in fact in Western Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan it was the Hindu who were in danger.

We can see how the Muslim League as late as 1946 was involved with the Cabinet Mission Plan to arrive at formulae that would meet it's core demand. The protection of the interests of the minority Muslim groups. The following formulae was proposed to secure the interests of the Muslim's in a independant India.

Promulgated on 16 May 1946, the plan to create a united dominion of India as a loose confederation of provinces came to be known by the date of its announcement:

1. A united Dominion of India would be given independence.
2. Muslim-majority provinces would be grouped - Sind, Punjab and North-West Frontier Province would form one group (1), and Bengal and Assam (2) would form another.
3. Hindu-majority provinces in central and southern India would form another group (3).
4. The Central government, stationed in Delhi, would be empowered to handle nationwide affairs, such as defense, currency, and diplomacy, while the rest of powers and responsibility would belong to the provinces, coordinated by groups.

Therefore just over a year before Pakistan became a reality ML was not primarily demanding for Pakistan. All it was doing was trying to secure the interests of Muslim communities within a free united India. The idea was British India would have three groups as shown above which would balance each other out.

The reality is in May 1946 if Nehru had agreed to this plan there would have been no Pakistan. Jinnah and ML were agreed to this plan but Congress refused to accept this. The fact was Nehru and Congress were not prepared to be pragmatic and their refusal left no choice but Pakistan.

So in a perverse way we Nehru can be thanked for creating Pakistan. Therefore Jinnah did not set to create Pakistan rather Nehru left him no choice. Had it been upto Jinnah we would have had one India with three zones all equal with a central government in Delhi with only control over external affairs, currency and defence. Other than this the three groups would have ran themselves.

At no stage was the notion that mass numbers of people would move or migrate to others parts. In the last rush to 1947 Muslim League launched action day as a tool to apply pressure which led to communal tensions. This led to trouble in Bengal and Bihar. The killing and tension created was the factor in the movement of people. The great migration was result of power play not some demonstration of higher principle or proof of loyalty to any cause. Fear and threats were the factors. It is altogather another thing that decades later people blow trumpets of sacrifices they made. Sacrifice means you through deliberate act do something for a higher or external cause from yourself.Running away to save your skin is not sacrifice. It is looking after numero uno.

Now I want to move on the people who gave their piece of land in the jug saw that would become Pakistan. In the original Lahore Resolution of 1940 the following was included:-

"That geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of British India should be grouped to constitute ‘independent states’ in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign"

This is promising each province significant rights within the federation. We must take note that ML included the Lahore resolution within it's constitution. Therefore when those provinces voted the obligation and promise of the above has to be kept in mind.

Now let us look at the "bricks" that made Pakistan without them Pakistan would never have come into existance and even today if you dare take one out the country would fall apart.

1. Sindh
Sindhi nationalist leader, G. M. Syed, who reaffirmed his role as one of the leading figure in the movement. His role as founding father and key role in the Muslim League, G. M. Syed proposed the 1940 Pakistan Resolution in the Sindh Assembly, which ultimately resulted in the creation of Pakistan. On 26 June 1947, the special session held in Sindh Assembly decided to join the new Pakistan Constituent Assembly. Thus, Sindh became the first province to opt for Pakistan.


2. NWFP - Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Finally, a referendum was held in 1946 to decide the fate of the NWFP as to whether the people of the NWFP ( now Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) want to vote for Pakistan or India. In this refrendum, majority of vote was cast in favor of Pakistan , despite Bacha Khan wanting to accede with India.

* Despite what people say today it must never be forgotten that the Pashtun's voted in majority for Pakistan. If they had not done so I don't think Pakistan would have existed today.

3. Punjab
In 1947, the Punjab Assembly cast its vote in favor of Pakistan with super majority rule, which made many minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while Muslim refugees from India settled in the Western Punjab and across Pakistan.

* Again if the Punjabi had not cast their vote Pakistan would have remained "pie in the sky".

4. Balochistan.
Akbar Bugti was a staunch supporter and loaylist of Jinnah who played crucial role in supporting the idea of Pakistan in Baluchistan. Another young activist, Mir Hazar, helped initiate student rallies and public support for Pakistan Movement in Balochistan. In 2013, Mir Hazar Khoso, who noted and described Jinnah as his inspiration, also became Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2013. In 1947, the Balochistan Assembly passed the resolution and cast its vote in favor of Pakistan, with a majority approving the accession with Pakistan.

* Again the Baloch voted for Pakistan. I believe we have let this province down. When a people vote for a idea they expect good to come. It is clear we neglected this province other sucking the gas from Sui.

I would like to add that as each of these provinces were voting in 1947 to go with Pakistan they were undoing the injustice that had been done to them in 1843 and 1849 when the British marched into their lands are with guns blazing attached them to British India. Thus consider the above voting for Pakistan as reactions the British actions below..

The forced union with British India.

Sindh 1843 - Battle of Miani - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Punjab 1949 - Battle of Gujrat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


In conclusion.

The truth is ML had been pushing to secure the rights of Muslims in India in particular those that were threatened by Hindu Raj on account of living in Hindu majority areas. The idea of Pakistan remained on the fringes of ML despite some people in Punjab dreaming about it. The ML including Jinnah all the way upto 1946 were pushing for a balanced system in independant India that would secure the interests of the minority Muslims in Hindu majority areas. Only when Nehru refused in 1947 did a movement to secure minority rights become a movement for Pakistan.

Therefore it is my conclusion that Pakistan came into being in 1947 through accident just like the accident in 1843 and 1849 when this region by accident became attached to British India. On the other hand at least in 1947 there was element of choice whereas the 1843-49 accidents were achieved through British guns.

The strange twist in all this is ML failed to secure the interests of the minority Muslims living in Hindu majority areas and instead led to the undoing of Punjab and Sindh attachment to India by the British in 1843 nd 1849.That is how history can be somestimes. Had Sir Charles Napier in 1843 not dediced to conquer Sindh history might have been differant.

I would also add that the so called two nation theory which at it's height was weak died in 1971 with the emergence of Bangladesh. In fact circumstances have created the multiple nation theory. However the two nation theory served it's purpose in 1940s. It is now best left buried.

The idea of Pakistan begins with India

 

[ifesvr]

Promulgated on 16 May 1946, the plan to create a united dominion of India as a loose confederation of provinces came to be known by the date of its announcement:

1. A united Dominion of India would be given independence.
2. Muslim-majority provinces would be grouped - Sind, Punjab and North-West Frontier Province would form one group (1), and Bengal and Assam (2) would form another.
3. Hindu-majority provinces in central and southern India would form another group (3).
   
4. The Central government, stationed in Delhi, would be empowered to handle nationwide affairs, such as defense, currency, and diplomacy, while the rest of powers and responsibility would belong to the provinces, coordinated by groups.

Therefore just over a year before Pakistan became a reality ML was not primarily demanding for Pakistan. All it was doing was trying to secure the interests of Muslim communities within a free united India. The idea was British India would have three groups as shown above which would balance each other out.

The reality is in May 1946 if Nehru had agreed to this plan there would have been no Pakistan. Jinnah and ML were agreed to this plan but Congress refused to accept this. The fact was Nehru and Congress were not prepared to be pragmatic and their refusal left no choice but Pakistan.

If the Muslim League's initial struggle upto 1946 was just about equality then why were they ready for this (above points 2 and 3) unequal settlement.

Sindh, NWFP and United Punjab be 1st group with 40-45 million people and muslim majority.
Assam, United Bengal be 2nd group with about 60 million with muslim majority.
Northern Provice (Uttar Pradesh), Bihar, Central Province (Madhya Pradesh), Bombay and Madras be 3rd group with 200 million with hindu majority.

If the proposal was for 5 or 6 states. say North-West, North, Central, West, East and South with around the same populations then that would have made sense.
I would have somewhat believed Jinnah was genuine in a United India if he had proposed 2 states that is one Hindu majority(North and South India) and the other Muslim majority(North West and East India). But this above settlement clearly meant there would be 2 Muslim majority states in the centre and only 1 huge Hindu majority state which would obviously tilt all major federal issues towards muslims.

 

[sylvester conception]

If the Muslim League's initial struggle upto 1946 was just about equality then why were they ready for this (above points 2 and 3) unequal settlement.

Sindh, NWFP and United Punjab be 1st group with 40-45 million people and muslim majority.
Assam, United Bengal be 2nd group with about 60 million with muslim majority.
Northern Provice (Uttar Pradesh), Bihar, Central Province (Madhya Pradesh), Bombay and Madras be 3rd group with 200 million with hindu majority.

If the proposal was for 5 or 6 states. say North-West, North, Central, West, East and South with around the same populations then that would have made sense.
I would have somewhat believed Jinnah was genuine in a United India if he had proposed 2 states that is one Hindu majority(North and South India) and the other Muslim majority(North West and East India). But this above settlement clearly meant there would be 2 Muslim majority states in the centre and only 1 huge Hindu majority state which would obviously tilt all major federal issues towards muslims.

Sir Allama Iqbal's ( Kashmiri origin born in Sialkot, Punjab ) contribution to Pakistan is known to most Pakistani. However let us look at the 1930s and look at other significant milestones that led to creation of Pakistan. We all know that it was Sir Allama Iqbal who concieved the idea of Pakistan. This conception was announced to the world in the Allahabad Address of 1930.

The concept or the blueprint he advocated was almost the exact definition of what we have as Pakistan in 2015. His blueprint in 1930 did not include East Bengal and only covered the north western part of British India - that is today's Pakistan.

Sir Allama Iqbal did not include Kashmir in his speech but it has to be borne in 1930 Jammu & Kashmir was separate state ruled by a Maharajah. East Bengal was not included as it appears that the originial idea was more than one Muslim state in British India. The original blueprint below:-

“ India is a continent of human groups belonging to different races, speaking different languages, and professing different religions. Personally, I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sindh and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State. Self-government within the British Empire, or 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. ”

Allahabad Address - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

in 1933 a young idealistic Punjai Muslim student in Cambridge by the name of Rehmat Ali, ( Naqash-e-Pakistan ) published a pamphlet titled "Now or Never; Are We to Live or Perish Forever", also known as the Pakistan Declaration. The pamphlet started with a famous statement:

"At this solemn hour in the history of British India, when British and Indian statesmen are laying the foundations of a Federal Constitution for that land, we address this appeal to you, in the name of our common heritage, on behalf of our thirty million Muslim brethren who live in PAKSTAN – by which we mean the five Northern units of India, Punjab, North-West Frontier Province (Afghan Province), Kashmir, Sind and Baluchistan."

The two ideologues of the Pakistan Movement. Seated in the front Rahmat Ali and Sir Allama Iqbal

The idea of Pakistan I would like to point out, remained just a concept on the shelf despite the idea being mentioned by Sir Allama Iqbal in 1930 and the the name "Pakistan" being coined by Rahmat Ali in 1933. As such it remained a concept and only in 1940 with the Lahore Resolution dit it move to the prototype stage.
Look at it in the following order or stages, Concept > Prototype > Production.

"That geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of (British) India should be grouped to constitute 'independant states' in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign".

Lahore Resolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is apparent that the prototype being suggested in Lahore Resolution1940 involved two states. The "North Western" that is the Pakistan we have today and "Eastern Zones" that is the Bangladesh we have today. This idea of having two states is further confirmed in the use of "independant states" with the latter being "states" which is plural rather than singular.

There also this talk of a concentrated effort of a homogenous Muslim community all working toward one goal the establishment of Pakistan. This is absolute falsehood that needs clearing. The reality was there were lots of groups all driven by their own self interests. Nobody was doing this for the sake of setting up a 'citadel of Islam' that rubbish would come later when the Mullah's got their fingers into the body of the new born state.

In fact to even call this 'Pakistan Movement' is erroneous because that would suggest the Muslim League had been all along working towards a independant Pakistan. This never was the case as I will show. Disparate Muslim groups all over India joined the Muslim League for their own self interests and there was nothing holy about this.

The most significant people who were behind Muslim League were the Muslim Bengali who in fact were the main impetus behind setting up ML in 1906 by Agha Khan in Dhaka. Part of the reason was the agitation going in Bengal for it to be divided along Muslim and Hindu lines. So in fact ML can be said to be a product of Bengali Muslim politics.

Soon enough other Muslim communities who felt under threat of "Hindu Raj" like in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar where minority Muslims lived in a ocean of Hindu's became animated in protecting their economic and religious interests. Thus the point being is the various Muslim groups agitated for ML for their own self interests and furthermore the agitation was directly proportional to the threat they faced. In other words the Muslims living in Attock were least bothered because they lived in a sea of Muslims. However Muslims living in Patna, Bihar were very worried because they lived in a ocean of Hindus.

That is why you find that most of the active members of ML and those most vociferous of Muslim rights ( notice I say Muslim rights because non were asking for Pakistan ) were the minority Muslims.

Pakistan was never the goal of Muslim League or their supporters.

Despite what Sir aAllama Iqbal had enunciated in 1930 and what Rahmat Ali dreamed in 1933 their idea remained on the fringe. Even with the Lahore Resolution although a step forward the idea of Pakistan remained just a concept. It was not like in 1940 they decided "right Pakistan or nothing else". It was just a policy idea.

An example of how ML was just a umbrella for differant groups pushing for their interests against percieved threat from Hindu Raj was that Abdul Hashmem of Bengal Muslim League considered the Lahore Resolution as demand for a separate state for the Bengali's and in 1946 H. S. Suhrawardy of Bengal, a member of the All India Muslim League, mooted the United Bengal proposal with the support of Muslim and Hindu leaders, as well as the Governor of Bengal. However, it was opposed by Lord Mountbatten, the Muslim League, the Congress and the Hindu Mahasabha.

The Muslim League was primarily about trying to get the rights of minority Muslim's secured and that was not surprising as most of the active support came from UP, Bihar and other areas of minority Muslims. The land that would end up as Pakistan was relaxed because Muslims were in a dominant position and in fact in Western Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan it was the Hindu who were in danger.

We can see how the Muslim League as late as 1946 was involved with the Cabinet Mission Plan to arrive at formulae that would meet it's core demand. The protection of the interests of the minority Muslim groups. The following formulae was proposed to secure the interests of the Muslim's in a independant India.

Promulgated on 16 May 1946, the plan to create a united dominion of India as a loose confederation of provinces came to be known by the date of its announcement:

1. A united Dominion of India would be given independence.
2. Muslim-majority provinces would be grouped - Sind, Punjab and North-West Frontier Province would form one group (1), and Bengal and Assam (2) would form another.
3. Hindu-majority provinces in central and southern India would form another group (3).
4. The Central government, stationed in Delhi, would be empowered to handle nationwide affairs, such as defense, currency, and diplomacy, while the rest of powers and responsibility would belong to the provinces, coordinated by groups.

Therefore just over a year before Pakistan became a reality ML was not primarily demanding for Pakistan. All it was doing was trying to secure the interests of Muslim communities within a free united India. The idea was British India would have three groups as shown above which would balance each other out.

The reality is in May 1946 if Nehru had agreed to this plan there would have been no Pakistan. Jinnah and ML were agreed to this plan but Congress refused to accept this. The fact was Nehru and Congress were not prepared to be pragmatic and their refusal left no choice but Pakistan.

So in a perverse way we Nehru can be thanked for creating Pakistan. Therefore Jinnah did not set to create Pakistan rather Nehru left him no choice. Had it been upto Jinnah we would have had one India with three zones all equal with a central government in Delhi with only control over external affairs, currency and defence. Other than this the three groups would have ran themselves.

At no stage was the notion that mass numbers of people would move or migrate to others parts. In the last rush to 1947 Muslim League launched action day as a tool to apply pressure which led to communal tensions. This led to trouble in Bengal and Bihar. The killing and tension created was the factor in the movement of people. The great migration was result of power play not some demonstration of higher principle or proof of loyalty to any cause. Fear and threats were the factors. It is altogather another thing that decades later people blow trumpets of sacrifices they made. Sacrifice means you through deliberate act do something for a higher or external cause from yourself.Running away to save your skin is not sacrifice. It is looking after numero uno.

Now I want to move on the people who gave their piece of land in the jug saw that would become Pakistan. In the original Lahore Resolution of 1940 the following was included:-

"That geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of British India should be grouped to constitute ‘independent states’ in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign"

This is promising each province significant rights within the federation. We must take note that ML included the Lahore resolution within it's constitution. Therefore when those provinces voted the obligation and promise of the above has to be kept in mind.

Now let us look at the "bricks" that made Pakistan without them Pakistan would never have come into existance and even today if you dare take one out the country would fall apart.

1. Sindh
Sindhi nationalist leader, G. M. Syed, who reaffirmed his role as one of the leading figure in the movement. His role as founding father and key role in the Muslim League, G. M. Syed proposed the 1940 Pakistan Resolution in the Sindh Assembly, which ultimately resulted in the creation of Pakistan. On 26 June 1947, the special session held in Sindh Assembly decided to join the new Pakistan Constituent Assembly. Thus, Sindh became the first province to opt for Pakistan.


2. NWFP - Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Finally, a referendum was held in 1946 to decide the fate of the NWFP as to whether the people of the NWFP ( now Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) want to vote for Pakistan or India. In this refrendum, majority of vote was cast in favor of Pakistan , despite Bacha Khan wanting to accede with India.

* Despite what people say today it must never be forgotten that the Pashtun's voted in majority for Pakistan. If they had not done so I don't think Pakistan would have existed today.

3. Punjab
In 1947, the Punjab Assembly cast its vote in favor of Pakistan with super majority rule, which made many minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while Muslim refugees from India settled in the Western Punjab and across Pakistan.

* Again if the Punjabi had not cast their vote Pakistan would have remained "pie in the sky".

4. Balochistan.
Akbar Bugti was a staunch supporter and loaylist of Jinnah who played crucial role in supporting the idea of Pakistan in Baluchistan. Another young activist, Mir Hazar, helped initiate student rallies and public support for Pakistan Movement in Balochistan. In 2013, Mir Hazar Khoso, who noted and described Jinnah as his inspiration, also became Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2013. In 1947, the Balochistan Assembly passed the resolution and cast its vote in favor of Pakistan, with a majority approving the accession with Pakistan.

* Again the Baloch voted for Pakistan. I believe we have let this province down. When a people vote for a idea they expect good to come. It is clear we neglected this province other sucking the gas from Sui.

I would like to add that as each of these provinces were voting in 1947 to go with Pakistan they were undoing the injustice that had been done to them in 1843 and 1849 when the British marched into their lands are with guns blazing attached them to British India. Thus consider the above voting for Pakistan as reactions the British actions below..

The forced union with British India.

Sindh 1843 - Battle of Miani - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Punjab 1949 - Battle of Gujrat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


In conclusion.

The truth is ML had been pushing to secure the rights of Muslims in India in particular those that were threatened by Hindu Raj on account of living in Hindu majority areas. The idea of Pakistan remained on the fringes of ML despite some people in Punjab dreaming about it. The ML including Jinnah all the way upto 1946 were pushing for a balanced system in independant India that would secure the interests of the minority Muslims in Hindu majority areas. Only when Nehru refused in 1947 did a movement to secure minority rights become a movement for Pakistan.

Therefore it is my conclusion that Pakistan came into being in 1947 through accident just like the accident in 1843 and 1849 when this region by accident became attached to British India. On the other hand at least in 1947 there was element of choice whereas the 1843-49 accidents were achieved through British guns.

The strange twist in all this is ML failed to secure the interests of the minority Muslims living in Hindu majority areas and instead led to the undoing of Punjab and Sindh attachment to India by the British in 1843 nd 1849.That is how history can be somestimes. Had Sir Charles Napier in 1843 not dediced to conquer Sindh history might have been differant.

I would also add that the so called two nation theory which at it's height was weak died in 1971 with the emergence of Bangladesh. In fact circumstances have created the multiple nation theory. However the two nation theory served it's purpose in 1940s. It is now best left buried.

Pakistan state of paranoia

Why so many disgruntled elements in Pakistan and how seriously Pakistan risks disintegration one often wonders.

On going through the country's checkered history Liaquat Ali Khan the first prime minister of Pakistan was shot dead by an assassin in 1951. Fatima Jinnah aka Madre-e-Millat, the sister of Mohammad Ali Jinnah the father of the nation had her throat slit in her home in 1967, the official cause of death was mentioned as heart failure.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan aka 'Frontier Gandhi' and veteran Sindhi nationalist leader and politician G.M Syed, both were considered anti-Pakistan. Poets Habib Jalib and Faiz Ahmad Faiz and others were imprisoned many times for highlighting the wrongs in Pakistan in their poems.

The Bengali Muslim population of East Pakistan openly revolted against Pakistan saying, "We can never live with Punjabi's." Ghulam Mustafa Khar a former governor of Punjab said, "He would return to Pakistan on an Indian tank". Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1979 was hanged in an extra-judicial killing.

Military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq in 1988 and twice elected prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto in 2007 were assassinated. Former Chief of Army Staff, General retd Pervez Musharraf facing high treason charges in 2016 is declared proclaimed absconder by a court.

Baloch tribal chieftains openly call for Indian military intervention against the Pakistan army in Balochistan. Former president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari on Jun 17, 2015 warned the army "I will come out with a list of accused army generals since Pakistan's creation." he also pointing to the army said, "We too know how to fight."

Altaf Hussain the self exiled Karachi politician in a telephonic speech from London on Aug 22, 2016 to supporters gathered outside the Karachi Press Club called for Indian military action against the Pakistan army in Karachi. Governor of Balochistan Mehmud Khan Achakzai on the floor of the National Assembly on Aug 24, 2016 said, "I can never Say Zindabad for Pakistan, where Pashtoons are slaves".

On 18 October, 2016 Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat ul Abad is labelled anti-Pakistan and on 25th October, 2016 Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is termed a security risk for Pakistan.

Searching for clues, your meticulously penned discussion points to why so many disgruntled elements in Pakistan. when you state, "There also is this talk of a concentrated effort of a homogenous Muslim community all working toward one goal the establishment of Pakistan. This is absolute falsehood that needs clearing. The reality was there were lots of groups all driven by their own self interests. Nobody was doing this for the sake of setting up a 'citadel of Islam' that rubbish would come later when the Mullah's got their fingers into the body of the new born state."

Further food for thought on how seriously Pakistan risks disintegration comes from a speech by the former chief of the army staff general Raheel Shareef in 2014 where he said, "A diffusion of power is taking place with non-state actors assuming greater role and clout than the state itself. These non-state actors, include not just various interest-based groups fighting for power - but multinational companies and non-governmental organisations, that have substantial financial muscle. These groups have the power to create a state of almost paranoia."



https://defence.pk/threads/the-idea-of-pakistan.378813/