Amritsar Tregedy (Continued: Pakistan Movement)

Amritsar Tregedy ,1919

The immediate reaction of the authorities against hartal was to prohibit one of the leader, Satyapal, froms peaking in public. This did not frighten the citizens and on March 30, a hartal was observed and a meeting was held in Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar). On April 4th, another leader, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, was restrained. on April 6th, complete hartal was observed but peace was maintained. the Deputy Commissioner immidiately asked for additional military force. On April 9, there was Hindu festival and large processions of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs streamed through the streets.

Gandhijee who at the invitation of the leaders was travelling to the Punjab was stopped at Palwal and prohibited from engring the province.

On the next morning i.e. April 10, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal were deported from Amritsar to an unknown place. This act of deportion touched off a new wave of injury to popular sentiment. A huge prrocession of 20,000 to 30,000 was peacefully taken out at Jallianwala Bagh in the afternoon of April 13th to protest against the areest of the leaders. They were peacefully listening to the speeches of the leaders when Genral Dyer and his men appeared at the main gate. General Dyer immediately deployed his troops and without any warning, opened fire and continued firing till the ammunation ran short. The casualities were officially estimated at 379 killed and over 1,200 wounded.

In Gujranwala, Gujrat, Lahore, Kasur and Multan on April 13th, the mobs excited by news from Amritsar committed arson and plunder. The authorities proclaimed martial law all over the Punjab. The horrors of Lahore and Amritsar were repeated and thousands of people in cities and villages were killed. Jinnah was shocked beyond measure at the suffering of Muslims in Punjab under martial law.

Rowaltt Act (Continued: Pakistan Movement)

Rowaltt Act, 1919

Towards the close of the first World War the anti - British feeling in India reached its climax and the British government found the normal machinery of law end order to be totally inadequate to cope with the situation. Consequently, on December 10, 1917, the Government appointed a Committee "to investigate revolutionary crime in the country, and to suggest legislative measures for its eradication". Mr. Justice S.A.T. Rowaltt was appointed the president, two judges of the High Courts in India .. one English man and other an Indian, and two non - officials , one English man and one Indian, were made members of the committee.

After a review of the situation, the Rowaltt Committee produced much evidence of detailed subversive activity and made proposals for strengthening the law. Acting in the light of these recommendations the Government of India drafted twi bills, what were popularly knows as the Rowaltt Bills and were published on January 18, 1919, and introduced in the Imperial Legislative Council on the Feberuary 6, 1919. Wgeb the Rowaltt Bills were presented before the Imperial Legislative Council, they were condemned as reactionary by all sections of Indian opinion. But despite of unanimous oppositions of the Indian members of the Council, the new legislation was rushed through the legislature with indecent haste. The bills were presented to the House on 6 and 10 March, respectively, and were immediately reffered to Select Committee. The Select Committee gave its report on March 12, and on March 18 , Council passed one of the bills into law which came into operation from March 21, 1919. The main features of the act were:

1. The Government was authorized to discard any bail or bond of any body.
2. The act gave to provincial governments the power of internment.
3. Small matters were also invertened by authorities comprising; publishing, news paper distribution, processions or participations in processions.
4. Any body could be asked to report at police station on their discretion.
5. Extraordinary powers of search, arrest, demand of security etc were conferred on the provincial government.
6. The act allowed judges to try political cases without juries in specified cases. A special court from whose judgement there could be no appeal, trial in camera and consideration of evidence not admissible by the law of evidence, were provided for this purpose.
7. The government was authorized to ban any Indian's entry into India from abroad.
8. If any person found in possession of prohibited literature, he will be charged for that even if he has no desire to publicize it.

Since opposition to the Rowaltt Bills with in the Legislatve Council proved ineffictive, the challange was next taken ip by Mr. Gandhi. Even before the Rowaltt Bills were enacted, Gandhi started his Satyagrah campaign against Government at Ahmedabad on Feberuary 24, 1919 in connection with the Rowaltt Bills. The word 'Satyagarah' is, according to Mr. Gandhi, of modern origin, having been invented by him, and means insistence on truth, and force derivable from such insistence.

On March 23, Gandhi, having marshalled his forces, began the war against the Act by proclaiming a hartal (a suspension of economic activity) on an all - India scale. The date was first fixed as march 30, 1919, but subsequently changed to April 6. It was to be a day of fasting and prayer, the day on which India opened non - violent war against British imperialism. Gandhi jee wrote to the Viceroy, The Satyagarah compaign constitutes an attempt to revolutionize politics and restore moral force to its original position".

The response to the call was amazing. Towns and villages in every part of country joined with one another to make the hartal a success, to demonstrate that a common feeling stirred the hearts of all Indians, A new confidence was born, and it was the beginning of a new era.

In Delhi the Satyagrah day was observed on March 30, Scenes of unprecedented enthusiasm were enacted. Hindus and Muslims joined in the demonstrations. Swami Shraddhananda, an eminent Arya Samaj leader, was invited to address the Muslims gathered in the greate Masjid. Jama Masjid, Delhi. A huge pocession inarched through the streets. The unity of the Hindus and Muslims and the excitement in the masses were signs of danger in the eyes of the authorities. The only method known to them for dealing with such a phenomenon was to try and suppress it by force. Police obstruction, rioting, violance and shooting were the inevitable results.

In Bombay, where Gandhijee himself was present, immence crowds gathered on Chaupati Beach and marched through the city without any incident. Gandhijee and Sarojini Naidu made speaches in the Masjid. Gandhijee's books on which Government had placed ban were openly sold in defiance of orders.

Already many meetings of protest had taken all over the province. On April 6, hartals were staged in Lahore and other towns and on April 10 on the receipt of the news of Gandhijee's arrest a procession was taken out at Lahore. The police fired upon student processionists. A crowd and a meeting were subjected to shooting. Three local leaders were deported. On April 12, a serious rising at Kasur took place. Mobs from the town had invaded the Kasur railway station; held up the trains; brutally murdered two British Warrant Officers; attempted to murder others, looted and burnt the station; cut the telegraph wires. They then attacked the Treasury, and were finally driven off after the police guard opened fire.

Government of India Act (Continued: Pakistan Movement)

Montagu - Chelmsford Reforms
(Govt. Of India Act), 1919

Edwin Montague, The secretary of State for India, visited India from November 1917 to April 1918 and, in cooperation with the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, held discussion with Indian leaders of all opinions. The result of these conversations and the Viceroy - Secretary of State deliberations was the Montagu - Chelmsford Report, which was published on July 8, 1918. The proposals of the report were supported by all the members of the council of the Secretary of State and of the Viceroy's Executive Council, and were welcomed by the non - official members of the Imperial Legislative Council, but were severely criticized by the Muslim League and the Congress. The Report's plan was so far removed from that of the Congress - League scheme that no attempt was made to arrange a compromise, and the official recommendations were drafted into a Government of India Bill, which passed through Parliament in November 1919 and received the Royal Assent on December 23. The main features of the Act were:

1. The Act gave separate representation to the Muslims and also extended it to other minorities i.e. Sikhs, Christians and Anglo - Indian Christians.
2. At the centre, the Central Legislative Council was to be replaced by the bicameral legislative; the Council of State and the Indian Legislative Assembly. In both great majority of members would be elected.
3. In the provincial field, Act introduced the system of 'Dyrachy' i.e. a division of powers between the responsible ministers and the irresponsible Executive Councilors.
4. The Provincial Legislatures were enlarged and 70 percent seats were ensured for elected representation.
5. The normal tenure of the Assembly was fixed at 3 years, but the Governor General had the power to extend it or dissolve the House earlier.
6. Franchise was extended by lowering the property qualification.
7. Universities, landholdings, industries and commerce received representation as constituencies.
8. Law and order, and Land Revenue departments were kept reserved for British administration. While departments of education, agriculture, public health and local government were transferred to Indian ministers.
9. Under this Act of 1919 a statutory commission was also to be appointed after 10 years to examine the working of the system and to advice for the future of the Indian Constitution.

The principle under lying the new and unusual system of Dyrachy in the Act of 1919 was to train Indian politicians in representative government before trusting them with full powers in all fields. For this reason some subjects were made popular and given into the charge of popularly selected ministers who were responsible to the provincial legislatatures. And some subjects were reserved to to eGovernor, who administrated them through appointed executive councilors who wre not accountable to the provincial assemblies.

But the scheme under the act was not entirely successful. Governament at the centre remained under the control of the British officials, responsible to the British Government. The important departments in the provinces also remained under the British officials, known as Executive Councilors, responsible to the British Governors and through them to the Governeor General.

In the elections held in 1920 under the new Act, the Congress took no part. In 1923, however, the Congress decided to contest the next elections, not with a view to working the constitution but to destroy it from within. The Muslims, on the other hand, did not disapprove the Act of 1919 though they were not completely satisfied with it.

Lucknow Pact (Continued: Pakistan Movement)

Lucknow Pact, 1916

In December 1916, the Congress and the Muslim League held a joint session at Lucknow in which Hindu - Muslim unity was passionately preached from one platform and approved a joint scheme of the reforms to be presented to Viceroy which could satisfy both the Muslims and the Hindus. The scheme is generally termed as Lucknow Pact. The agreement was confirmed by the Muslim League and Indian national Congress at their following annual sessions. Important points of the agreement were as follows:

1. Separate electorates were accepted by the Congress.
2. The Congress agreed to enforce electorates in those provinces also, where they did not exist, for example Punjab and Central Provinces.
3. No bill affecting the particular community should be proceeded within any council, if three - fourths of the representatives of that community opposed it.
4. The Muslims and the Hindus were to have weightage in provinces where they formed minorities. The Muslim strength in the different provinces shall be as follows:

Serial No.	Provinces	Percentage of Muslim Population		Percentage of seats reserved for the Muslims
1	Punjab	55		50
2	Bengal	53		40
3	Madras	07		15
4	Bombay	20		33.3
5	Utter Pradesh	14		30
6	CP	04		15
7	Bihar	10		25

The Punjab and Bengal got less representation than their percentage of Muslim population, whereas the other provinces, in which the Muslims were in a minority, received more. Contemporary newspapers show how strongly some Punjabi and Bengali leaguers reacted to the injustice extended to their provinces. Weightage of the heaviest variety given the Muslim minorities in Bihar and CP and Madras and UP did not in any manner help the Muslims of India; it did not even help the recipients except to give them a hollow confidence. On the other hand, the deprivation imposed upon the Punjab and Bengal sealed their fate. In Bengal, There was unstable ministries, political uncertainty and the strange incident of a Muslim League - Hindu Mahasabha coalition. the Punjab was saved from such hazards by the establishment of Unionist party.



The Lucknow Pact proved to be the only beacon light on the political horizon of India. If this sense of cooperation could have been carried on, a better atmosphere of understanding and cooperation could have been generated. But the Hindu did not honestly stick to these principles. Instead of understanding and cooperation, mistrust, hatred and non - cooperation crept into the political life of the Indian people. The Lucknow Pact and the non - cooperation movement in which the Congress collaborated with the Khilafat movement demonstrated the force of unity, and held it been further pushed the political struggle could have marked the beginning of new era.

Efforts For Hindu - Muslim Unity (Continued: Pakistani Movement)

Efforts For Hindu - Muslim Unity

After the announcement of the Minto - Morley reforms, Hindu - Muslim relations got strained. But on January 1st, 1911, in Lucknow representatives of the Hindu and the Muslims discussed their communities relations. The meeting which was held following the Congress session in 1910, established the claim of the Muslim League as representative of the Muslims of the subcontinent.

In December 1913 the annual session of the Congress was held at Karachi in which Bhopindra Nath Basu expressed his good feelings for the Muslims and stressed the need of better understanding and cooperation.

Tt was during the end of 1913 when Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah joined the Muslim League on condition that his association with the League would not in any way curtail his loyalty to the Congress. At that time he was the greatest advocate of the Hindu - Muslim unity.

On December 31, 1915, the annual session of the Congress was held at Bombay. Mr. Jinnah invited the Muslim League to hold its session at Bombay. So both the Congress and Muslim League, in a joint session agreed to constitute committees for both political bodies which would consider for special needs of both the Hindus and Muslims and to sort out the way for political reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims by negotiation. These two committees drew up a scheme for the constitutional reforms in India.

Minto - Morley Reforms (Continued: Pakistan Movement)

Minto - Morley Reforms
(Indian Councils Act), 1909

It was during the later half of 1906 that the Secretary of State for India Lord Morley began to pay serious attention to the formulation of the constitutional reforms. He was in touch with the Viceroy of India Lord Minto who appointed a committee in 1906 to consider the necessity for further reforms in the legislative councils and prepare a dispatch.

In the meantime, a Muslim deputation lead by the Aga Khan met the Viceroy and made demands including separate electorates for Muslims.

The dispatch, prepared by committee, was ready in early 1907 and was sent to London on March, 19. It served as the basis of the reforms which were enacted into law by Indian Councils Act of 1909. The main features of the Act were:

1. The Muslims demand for separate electorates for the Muslims was accepted.
2. The method of election was partly indirect and partly direct.
3. Provincial Councils were enlarged.
4. Small non-official majorities were provided in the Provincial Councils but an official majority was retained at the center.
5. Besides the Viceroy and his Executive Council, nearly 60 members were added to the Central Legislative Council
6. Members of Central Legislative council were given authority to raise questions relating to administration and policy.

Lord Morley described these reforms as " the opening of a very important chapter in the history of relations of England and India" and "the turning over a fresh leaf in the history of British responsibility to India." The enhancement of the number and powers of the members of the Legislative Councils and the introduction of the principle of election for them were steps towards gradual establishment of parliamentary government in India through the farmers of the Act had no intention of it.

The Hindu politicians and the Congress immediately started a campaign of criticism and opposition. At the 1901 session of the Congress condemned the provision of separate representation for the Muslims and demanded its removal. From then on up to the passing of the 1935 Act, the Congress made a habit of it to pas a resolution at its gathering in condemnation of separate electorates and in favor of their removal. The only occasion on which congress agreed to their retention was the Lucknow Pact 1916.

The Foundation Of Muslim League (Continued: Pakistan Movement)

The Foundation Of Muslim League, 1906

The demand for separate electorate which was indeed a singular initiative of Mohsin ul Mulk was conceded. The acceptance of this demand for the Indian Muslims helped him to move a little ahead. He ventured to set up a political organization to safeguard the rights of the Indian Muslims, when political reforms were introduced under the Indian Councils Act of 1892.

In pursuance of this resolve, the Muslim leaders met at Dhaka in December 1906 on the occasion of the annual meeting of Muhammadan Educational Conference. In the meeting that took place at Shahbag (Dhaka) under the presidency of Nawab Vaqar ul Mulk, Sir Salimullah, the Nawab of Dhaka, moved a resolution for the establishing a Muslim organization to be called the All Indian Muslim League. Muhammad Ali Johar, Hakim Ajmal Khan and Maulana Zafar Ali Khan supported the resolution.
The league adopted as its objects:

1. To promote among the Muslims of India feelings of loyalty to the British Government and to remove any misconceptions that may arise as to the intentions of government with regards to any of its measures.
2. To protect and advance the political rights and interests of Muslims of India and respectfully to represent their needs and aspirations to government.
3. to prevent the rise among Muslims of India of any feelings of hostility towards other communities without prejudice to other objects of the League.
   

The first objective of the Muslim League, viz "to promote among the Muslims of India feelings of loyalty to the British Government" was criticized by the Hindus on the basis that the Muslim League was created "not to safeguard interests by to strengthen the British rule in India". The critics, however, forgot that the Congress professed the same political aim. It should be appreciated that no better objective could be chosen in those circumstances. The Muslim League changed its creed after a few years and emerged as the sword - arm of the Indian Muslims in their political battle. At the birth of the Muslim League a propaganda campaign was launched by the Congress against the League because its leaders did not like the Muslims to organize themselves and threaten the Hindus concept of majority rule.

The origin of the Muslim League can be easily explained. Two factors went into its establishment:

1. Hindu attitude towards Muslim interests; the Bengal agitation had exposed Hindu feelings beyond any doubt.
2. To cope with the Minto - Morley Reforms.

The first session of All India Muslim League was held at Karachi, in December 1907 and was presided over by Sir Adamjee Pir Bhai. The constitution was adopted with some modifications in the draft. Sir Aga Khan was appointed the first president of the newly born organization.

On one hand the Hindu majority had alienated the Muslim minority. On the other hand, a representative system of government was soon to be introduced in India. It was not enough to keep away from the Congress. It was also important that a separate Muslim organization should be created to safeguard their interests. After Minto's acceptance of the demand for separate representation it was an act of ordinary common sense to have a political party to fight the elections.

Simla Deputation (Continued: Pakistan Movement)

Simla Deputation, 1906

The Hindu attitude during the anti - partition agitation had convinced the Muslims of the futility of expecting any justice or fair play from the Hindu majority. Therefore, to safeguard their interests at this critical moment, Mohsin - ul - Mulk and other prominent Muslims leaders drew up a plan of separate electorates for their community and presented it to the Viceroy, Lord Minto, at Simla on October 1st, 1906 through a representative deputation headed by the Aga Khan. The Muslims put forward the following demands.

1. Separate electorate
2. Muslims must be given weightage in all elected bodies, i.e. in the Central Legislature and in the Legislatures of those provinces where the Muslims were in a majority, the number of seats for the Muslims would be proportionately greater than the percentage of Muslims in the population concerned. In the provinces where the Muslims were in a majority, they would obtain seats less than their proportional number
3. Full representation services and councils.
4. Representation in University senate and syndicates.
5. Aid for the establishment of Muslim University.

The Viceroy did not promise anything substantial to the deputation of the fear of offending other communities. But he assured the Muslims that "their political rights and interests as a community will be safeguarded by an administrative reorganization".

Both the demands by the Muslims and the sympathetic attitude shown to them by the Viceroy were the most deep and profound aspects of Simla deputation. The demand of separate electorate proved that the Muslims considered themselves as a separate nation. Realistically speaking the door of cooperation with Hindus closed for ever by demanding separate identity as a nation.

The Simla deputation, as it is known, proved to be a stepping stone in the history of Indian Muslims because, by acceding to the principle of separate electorates, the British recognized the Muslims as a separate nation. The demand for separate electorate was an unavoidable necessity because the members elected by joint electorates could not be the true representatives of the Muslims.

Annulment of Partition (Continued: Pakistan Movement)

Annulment of Partition, 1911

The vigorous Hindu agitation rocked the government which could not withstand the extreme pressure of the movement. The Hindus threatened the government to boycott the forthcoming tour of King George to India. The threat proved successful and the British Government surrendered in front of the Hindu agitation. The partition of Bengal was ultimately annulled by a royal announcement by his Majesty King George V ( five) on 12 December 1911, at the occasion of his coronation at Delhi Durbar.

Partition Of Bengal (Continued : Pakistan Movement)

The Partition Of Bengal, 1905

The administrative problem that faced Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, was the bigness of the Bengal presidency. The area of the presidency was too large, the population was too dense, and the communication was too difficult. The Bengal with a population of 54 million, of which 42 million were Hindus and 9 million Muslims, and Eastern Bengal and Assam, with a population of 31 million of which 18 million were Muslims and 12 Million Hindus. The territories to be transferred from Bengal to the new province consisted of the districts of Chittagong and Dhaka divisions, those of Raj-shahi division except Darjeeling, and the district of Malda.

This scheme was sent to London by Lord Curzon in February, 1905. It was sanctioned bu the Secretary of State for India, St. John Brodrick, in June, and the proclamation of the formation of the new province was issued in September. The province of Eastern Bengal and Assam came into being on 16 October, 1905.

Muslim Reaction Toward Partition:

The new province if Eastern Bengal brought happier prospects of political and economic life for the Muslims. The Muslims turned into majority by the creations of new province. The partition of Bengal provided chances of great progress to the Muslims who formed the majority group in the new setup. In the combined province of Bengal, the Muslims were a suppressed class of society. The Hindus had monopolized trade and government services which aggravated the economic condition of the Muslims. The partition of Bengal provided them with a chance to rehabilitate their social position. They hoped that their social status would get a tremendous boost in the new province. The Muslims expressed their utmost happiness over the partition of Bengal. They offered their gratification in the loyal way to the government for taking a step for their social, economic and political uplift.

Hindu Reaction Toward Partition:

The Hindus reacted toward the partition of Bengal in a hostile and violent manner. The Hindus could never support a move which was to bring prosperity and happiness to the Muslims. The reasons for Hindus opposition to the partition were as follows:

1. The Hindus believed that they would come under the domination of the Muslim majority in the new province and their superior position would be downgraded to the inferior status.
2. As the provincial High Court and other judicial bodies were to be shifted to Dhaka, the Hindu lawyers feared that their legal practice would be affected.
3. Since Dhaka was to become the center of journalistic and other academic activities, the Hindu press and media believed that from now onward the Muslim point of view would be projected in the newspapers and magazines. They also feared that their income would seriously be lessened.
4. The Hindu landlords, capitalists and traders did not like the partition as it was to put an end to their exploitation of the poor Muslims.
5. Before the partition of Bengal the Hindus enjoyed dominant position in the political sphere of the province over the Muslims. The new setup was to put an end to their superior political position and their political dominance over the Muslims would finish.
   

The Hindus, therefore, launched an intensive movement against the partition of Bengal, They termed the partition as degrading and an insult to the national character of the Hindu population. Religions color was given to the agitation and the partition was termed as the dissection of the 'Scared Cow Mother' in order to arouse intense opposition by the Hindu masses. They considered the partition as an attempt to sow the needs of hatred and discontentment among the Indian people to weaken the national movements for independence.

The day of 16 October, 1905, when the partition was enforced, was declared as a national tragedy. Strikes were held throughout the country. The Indian National Congress also jumped in to support the agitation against partition. The Hindu students put up violent demonstrations against the partition. The Congress severely criticized the partition in the annual session of 1906.

The Hindu agitation soon turned into a violent reaction. The people disobeyed government orders by refusing to pay taxes and rentals. Communal clashes erupted at a number of places which upset the law and order situation in the country. The political disorder and unrest largely largely prevailed in the country. Bombs were thrown and attacks were made on the lives of the British people. Swadeshi movement was organized by the Hindu majority to boycott the British manufacturers. The train carrying the Governor of the Eastern Bengal was derailed and an attempt was made on the Viceroy's life which failed.

The Muslims kept away from the Hindu agitation and adopted a humble and loyal posture. They welcomed the partition and passed resolutions supporting the partition of Bengal. They impressed upon the government to maintain its decision of the partition of Bengal.

The most serious result of the Hindu agitation was a steep rise in Hindu - Muslim riots. The net result of this was that the Hindu agitation definitely disunited the Muslims from the Congress.

Establishment Of Indian National Congress (Continued : Pakistan Movement)

Establishment of Indian National Congress, 1885

In 1885, the Indian National Congress was formed on the initiative of the retired British official, Allan Octavian Hume. It had the blessings of the Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, who desired the organization to develop into a controlled and responsible opposition and serce as a canalizing agent for the agitating discontent among the intelligentsia, Its first president was Mr. Womesh Chandra Banerjee.

There were a number of factors that helped in the emergence of this organization which may be thus summarized:

1. The principal source of patriotic inspiration was furnished by the English literature, European and American history and their accounts of struggles for freedom. The western education cam first to Hindus: so did the new nationalism
2. The revivalist movements among the Hindus promoted Hindu nationalism. On the one hand, Swami Vivekananda, the spokesman of Rama Krishna mission asserted that the world had still to learn a lot from the spirtual Hindu nation and even from idolatry which he called "the most admirable and enlightened form of devotion". On the other hand, emerged the Arya Samaj movement founded by Swami Dayananda, which, although liberal in outlook, preached a return to the ancient Vedic faith, stressed the Unity of God and overthrow of alien faiths like Islam and Christianity.
3. Then there was a racial hatred against the British who had gone to their peak of isolation after the shock they suffered in 1857. The personal ties with the people were almost non - existent.
4. Some Englishmen in India even forgot he most elementary rules of decent behavior. Indians were not allowed into English society, restaurants and clubs. The mutual hatred assumed dimensions when a very large number of Indians were killed by some Englishmen who either remained unpunished or got light penalties.
5. In 1882, the Ilbert Bill was suggested, which allowed the Indian magistrates of some standing to try European criminals. The English community in the subcontinent raised a strong voice against this measure, and to counter this the Indians organized great demonstrations particularly in Bengal. That strengthened further the nationalist movement.

This body had three objects:

1. To fuse into one nation whole of all the different elements that constitute the population of India.
2. To gradually regenerate along all lines, mental, moral, social and political, of the nation thus evolved.
3. To consolidate the union between England and India, by securing the modification of such of its conditions as may be unjust or injurious to the latter country.

The Congress was not the innovation of one man; it was not the creation of a few individuals; or even of a few organizations coming together for a common purpose. It was the culmination of more than half a century's labours put in at different times and in different capacities by men like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore and Kristo Das Pal; it was the outcome of sustained work done for decades by public organizations like the British India Association, the Brahamo Samaj and the Prathna Samaj.

Pakistan Movement (An Overview)

Pakistan Movement

The first brick in the foundation of Pakistan was laid in 712 A.D. when Mohammad Bin Qasim anchored at Debal Port (now known as Karachi), freed the Muslim women and children from the prisons of Raja Dahir and constructed the first mosque at the town. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Founder of Pakistan, acclaimed the event- "the Pakistan Movement started when the first Muslim put his foot on the soil of Sindh, the Gateway of Islam in India."

Pakistan Movement is synonymous with the very spirit of Islam. The War of Independence in 1857 was an open manifestation of the Muslim spirit of revolt against the domination of the British Government and its stooges in India. Frustration and lack of direction, however, pervaded the rank of Muslims after the unfortunate failure in the War. At this critical juncture emerged Sir Syed Abroad Khan who served as a beacon light for the Muslim Nation in distress and disarray. He equated education with power and declared that the Muslims could improve their political, social and economic condition only through the medium of modem and scientific education. He cultivated the concept of a separate Muslim Nation on the basis of religion, culture and history .He inspired the Muslims of the sub-continent to demand a separate homeland where they could arrange their lives and affairs of the State according to the dictates of Holy Qur'an and Sunnah.

After the establishment of the Indian National Congress in 1885, the Muslim leaders saw through the game of "National" movement and warned their people of the hovering dangers. In 1906, the Muslim League was founded as a challenge to the Indian National Congress. Maulana Hasrat Mohani presented a plan to the Government for the country envisaging two separate states for the Hindus and Muslims. Chaudhary Rehmat Ali further developed this concept. He displayed great wisdom and foresight by putting forth not only a name but in large measure the scheme that culminated in the creation of Pakistan. Maulana Mohamed Ali, Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Zafar Ali Khan spread the message of Pakistan through their lucid lectures and articles in newspapers.

The most outstanding contribution, however, came from Dr. Sir Mohammad Iqbal, the great philosopher and poet and the symbol of Muslim nationalism. Pakistan ideology found ever-clearer expression in his religion-philosophical, didactic and poetic works. At its base was the idea that spiritual unit founded on Islam was the most vital and integral element of national society. Islam emerges in this ideology as a form of National unity and absorbs all political thoughts. While presiding over the Session of the All India Muslim League at Allahabad in 1930, Dr. Iqbal's Address represented the first clarion call for the establishment of an independent Islamic State in the sub- continent.

From 1937 onwards, Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah became identified in the Muslim mind with the concept of the charismatic community, the concept which answered their psychic need for endowing and sanctifying their sense of community with a sense of power. Increasingly did he become, with the passage of time. the embodiment of Muslim national consensus. And this explains why and how Muslims acknowledged him as their 'Quaid-e-Azam' even before the launching of the Pakistan demand in March 1940. From now on events moved fast. Due to the persistent intransigence of the Indian National Congress, the Muslims were left with no alternative but to demand the partition of the Sub-continent through the famous Resolution of 23rd March 1940. It declared that no constitutional plan would be workable in the country or acceptable to the Muslims unless it was designed on the basic principle that geographically contiguous units were demarcated into regions in a manner that the areas in which the Muslims were numerically in a majority were grouped together to constitute an independent state.

After a hard and heroic struggle by the Muslims of the sub- continent, the British Parliament was forced to approve the Indian Independence Act, 1947 leading to the birth of Pakistan on 14th August. 1947. On this historic day the Quaid-e-Azam, while addressing the first session of Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in Karachi eulogised the services and sacrifices of the Muslims of the Sub-continent to achieve Pakistan, in the following words:-

"My thoughts are with the valiant fighters in our cause who readily sacrificed all they had, including their live,. To make Pakistan Possible.”

Thus the response of the millions, sacrificing their lives and homes, to the call of "UNITY, FAITH and DISCIPLINE" from their Quaid-e-Azam fitfully placed Pakistan on the world map.

Quaid-e-Azam was a great man and a great Muslim. He vehemently advocated morality in politics. He declared that morality in politics was even more important than in private life "because,' if you do something wrong in public you hurt and harm more people".

Let us endeavour to achieve the objective laid down by the Quaid - e - Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his broadcast to the Nation on 3Oth October 1947.

"Now is the time, chance and opportunity for every Mussalman to make his or her fullest and best contribution and make the greatest sacrifice and

work ceaselessly in the service of our Nation and world."

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