Lahore Resolution / Pakistan Resoution

 Lahore Resolution / Pakistan Resolution

(A Landmark toward destiny of Pakistan)

 

1.      Introduction

·         Place:                                Minto Park (Iqbal Park), Lahore,

·         Day and Date:                   23^rd March, 1940

·         Words of Resolution:        400 words and four short paragraph

·         Session:                             27^th Session of All India Muslim League

·         President of Session          M.A. Jinnah

·         Resolution presented by:  Sher-e-Bengal, Maoulvi Faz-ul-Haq

·         Prominent Personalities present at that Session: Sir Abdullah Haroon, Qazi M. Isa, I.I. Chundgrigarh, Sayad Rauf Shah, Dr. Alam, Sayyid Zakir Ali, Abdul Hamid Qadri, Chaudry Khaliquzaman, Nawab M ismail Khan, Nawab Bahadur Yar Jhang, A.K. Faz-ul-Haq, Sardar Abdur Rab Nashtar, Khawaja Nazimuddin, Abul Hashim, Sardar, Aurangzaib Khan, Malik Barkat Ali,

·         No. of People attended the Session:         More than fifty thousand

2.       Idea of Partition of Sub Continent proposed by various leaders, and scholars, like

a.      Khair brothers, Syed Jamal ud din Afghani, Abdul Haleem Sharar, Maulana M Ali Jauhar,   

b.      C.R.Das, Lala Lajpat Ray in a letter they categorically stated that the Hindus and the Muslims were two separate and distinct nations which could never be merged into a single nation.

c.       Josheph Stalin of Russia

d.      Blunt and John Bright (British intellectuals)

e.      Resolution passed by AIML of Sindh

f.        Ch. Rehmat Ali Proposed name of Pakistan in his pamphlet “Now or Never” in 1933

g.      “Pakistan was Inevitable” a book written by Syed Hassan Riaz, whom M.A. Jinnah gave an interview and clarified that AIML decided division of subcontinent in 1930 and till 1940 efforts were done to make mind of masses.

h.      Allahabad Address of Allama Iqbal in 1930 in which he proposed the formation of a Muslim state in the North West of subcontinent.

3.      Major aspects of presidential address of M.A. Jinnah

a.      The Muslims and Hindu are separate Nations. 

“Both Hindu and Muslims belong to different religious philosophies, social customs and literatures. They neither intermarry nor inter dine together, and, indeed they belong to two different civilizations which are based on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their aspects on life and of life are different. It is quite clear that Hindu and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes, and different episodes. Very often the hero of one is the foe of the other and likewise their victories and defeats overlap. To yolk together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the government of such a state”

b.      Muslims are a nation to any definition of nationhood. Thus they must have their separate homeland. 

c.       The problem of subcontinent is not a communal issue of Hindu Muslim, but it is an international issue and must be treated according to international law

d.      If Czechoslovakia got separate identification as a result of the partition and Ireland got freedom from England, independence of Spain and Portugal came into being due to partition,  so formation of a separate Muslim state in South Asia can also logical.

e.      Muslim’s Security must be insured in Hindu majority areas after partition of subcontinent.

4.      Important points of Lahore Resolution

a.      No constitutional plan will be workable in this country or accepted by the Muslims except the partition of subcontinent.

b.      Geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted that Muslims majority areas such as Eastern and North Western zones of India should be grouped to constitute “independent states” in which constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign. 

Present Political Map of Pakistan

c.       That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguard should be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in these units and in regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political and administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them.

d.      And in other parts of India, where Muslims are in a minority, adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards should be specifically provided in the constitution for them and other minorities for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political and administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them.

5.      Reaction on Lahore Resolution

a.      Hindu Leaders

                                                                          i.      Rajagopaacharia: Mr. Jinnah’s step towards the partition of India is like a dispute between two brothers over the ownership of a cow and the two brothers ultimately divide the cow between themselves by cutting it into two parts.

                                                                        ii.      Ghandhi: The two nation theory is a lie. I violently stop the partition.  My soul rebel against this view point.

b.      Hindu Press:

                                                                          i.      Partap, Bnade Matram, Milap, Tribune, and Modern Review, Amrita Bazar Patrika, and Hidustan Times called Pakistan Resolution was horrible and unacceptable.

c.       British Press

                                                                          i.      The Times, The Manchester Guardian, the Daily Herald and the Daily Telegraph totally ignored the plan and give a brief news only.

d.      Muslim Scholars

                                                                          i.      Moulana Shabbir Ahmad Usmani, Maulana Zafar Ahmed Ansari, Maulana Asharf Ali Thanvi and some other Muslim leaders support the plan.

                                                                        ii.      Muslim League adopted the terminology of Pakistan Resolution instead of Lahore Resolution because Hindu press declared this plan as demand for Pakistan.

6.      Conclusion

a.      According to Governor of Punjab. H. Craik, there were three results clearly emerged from Lahore Session i.e.

                                                                          i.      The importance of the All India Muslim League as the representative Muslim Organization had been immensely enhanced.

                                                                        ii.      Jinnah’s own personal prestige had greatly risen. His position as the only AIML leader was now unchallenged and in practice he alone was in a position to dictate the League’s policy

                                                                      iii.      Muslim opinion was now outwards at least unanimous in favor of the partition of India

 

References

K.K Aziz, “Britain and Muslim India”

Shafiuddin Pirzada, “Foundation of Pakistan”

Amen Zubairi, “Siasat-e-Millia”

Abdul Kalam Azad, “India wins Freedom”

Trek to Pakistan, Ahmad Saeed and Kh. Mansoor Sarwar

Pakistan in the Formative Phase