Exploring Pakistan \y ~ The Two Nation Theory Introduction Concept of a nation Nation in the Indian Context Historical Evidence i, Religious Difference ii, Political Difference iii, Cultural Difference iv. Economic Difference 5. Evolutionary Factors i. Hindu exciisnienees and Muslim Sheree ii, Clash of two processes of revivalist movement Rue) ii, Impact of British rule (British Policy of Divide an iv. Introduction of British institutions v. Congress’ Anti-Muslim policies vi. Apprehensions of Muslim Salariat class vii. Role of personalities viii. Role of Historical dynamics 8. Significance of Two-Nation Theory i. Basis of Indian identity ii, Political consciousness ili. Conceptual dynamics to Pakistan movement iv. Basis of ideology v. Smashed the Myth of common nationality vi. Provided solution for communal problem 7. Conclusion . Rona 1. Introduction: Muslim: political movement revolved around two nation theory in the subcontinent. It provided conceptual dynamics to Muslim political movement. By this (two nation theory)we mean; “India had never been an abode of a single nation rather it was inhabited by more’ than two nations, and among those Hindus and Muslims were quite separate and distinct nations. On account of their art, architecture, traditions, sense of participation, both nations were separate.” 2. Concept of a Nation: : Nation as a political concept is quite simple to define, “Any group of people diverse or homogeneous, is a nation if it has established a state or for whatever reason, have desire for statehood.” According to this definition too, the Muslims of India qualified to be a nation. They had not established a state but they had a desire ‘Scanned with CamScannerexploring Pakistan 199 for statehood. Recording to Renan, a French Philosopher, “Nation is a soul, a spiritual Cee ai lere are two things that constitute this soul. One is past, the other-is present. ne IS possession of rich heritage of past memories, the other is the resent consist the desire to live together, the will to prescribe the worthy and undivided inheritance which has been handed down.” In Islam, the concept of rrationhood is quite ideological. In Islam nation is based on religious and ideological unity. Even this subjective concept of nationhood is accepted by Western ilosophers. According to Hertz, “Consciousness is a prerequisite for nationhood. There would be no .nation without Consciousness of nationhood.” It means ee reiousness unites the People about a single cause and event. According to al, “Nat , unity of thought i is es ideology.” ight and this unity of thought is provided by 3, Nation in Indian Context: Hindus and Muslims lived in the subcontinent for centuries, but they did not mix up with each other. The consciousness of two nationhood existence may be traced as far back a8 1000 years when it was first observed by Al-Beruni in his book, ul Hind, ‘Muslims and Hindus are two different nations. i. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Two Nation Theory: This nationhood was further highlighted by Mujadid Alif Sani and Shah Wali Ullah. But the credit goes to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, who expounded two nation theory in its present form. Sir Syed for the first time addressed the Musiims of India as a ‘Qaum’ as Urdu word which can be translated.in nationhood. During the Urdu- Hindi controversy (1867), Sir Syed told’Shakespeare, It is not possible for Hindus and Muslims to progress as a nation."T am Convinced both these nations will never join wholeheartedly in anything."’ Sir Syed Ahmed Khan expressed Two Nation Theory (TNT) more vocally in 1882 in Ludhiana. He said, “Remember, ation is noffing unless it is a nation in the real sense of the word. All individuals joining fold of Islam constitute a nation of Muslims as long as they practice and follow their beloved religion, they are a nation... remember you have to live and die by Islam. it is by keeping up Islam our nation is a nation.” ii. Alama Muhammad Iqbal and Two Nation Theory: This concept.of nation was further expounded by Sir Agha Khan, Mohsin-ul- Mulk, but it was Iqbal who expounded two nation theory quite unambiguously. In 1930, Iqbal said, “We are 70 million, far more homogenous than any other nation in India. Indeed the Muslims of India are the only people who can fittingly be described aS a nation in the modern sense of the word. The Hindus, though ahead of us in almost all respects have not yet been able to achieve the kind of homogeneity which 'S necessary for a nation and which Islam has given you as a free gift.’ Iqbal delivering address on Pan-Islamism, said, “Muslims should unequivocally declaré that they regard themselves as a nation, separate from other nations in India and like to {wo as such. They desire to co-exist as a separate cultural entity.” Iqbal also said, ''am fully convinced that the Muslims of India will ultimately have to establish a ‘Scanned with CamScanner= Exploring Pakistan L100 separate homeland as they cannot live with Hindus in the United India.” Iqbal said, “| would like to see Punjab, N.W.F.P. Sindh and Baochistan amalgamated into a single state.” In his letter to Jinnah in May 1937, Iqbal wrote, “The enforcement and development of Sharia and Islam is impossible without Muslim state or states.” Quaid-i-Azam and Two Nation Theory: The most emphatic exposition of Two Nation Theory (TNT) is found in Jinnah’s speeches and statements. He expounded Two Nation Theory in such a detail and with such an effect that the most Muslims and Hindus came to believe in its truth. On 2" March, 1941, addressing to Punjab MSF, he said, “We are a nation and a nation must have a territory. Nation does not live in the air, it ive on the land. It must govern land and it must have a territorial state that is what we want to get.” On 23 March, 1940, Jinnah said, “The problem of India is not inter-communal, it is international one and must be treated as such.....Muslims are a nation according to any definition of a nation. They must have their homeland, territory and their state. We wish to live in peace with our neighbors as a free and independent people.” In September. 1944, in a letter to Mr. M.K. Gandhi, he wrote, "We maintain and hold that Muslims and Hindus are two major nations by any definition and test of a nation. We are a nation of 100 million and what is more, we are a nation with our own distinctive literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of values and proportions, legal laws and moral codes, customs and calendar, history and traditions, aptitude and ambitions. In short, we have our own distinctive outlook ‘on life and of life.” While Mr. Jinnah also said that, “Ideology of Muslim League would be Islam." Mr. Jinnah opined, “Hinduism and Islam are not religion in strict sense of word but are, in fact, different and distinct social order and it is a dream that they can ever evolve a common nationality." Mr. Jinnah observed, “Hindus and Muslims belong to two different philosophical-cum-social order, customs, religions and literature. They neither inter-marry nor inert-dine. Indeed, they belong to two different civilizations, which are based merely on conflicting ideas and conceptions.” 4. Historical Evidence: There existed deep religious, political, social and economic differences between Muslims and Hindus and these differences couldn't be bridged over despite living for 1000 years side by side. A. Religious Difference: There is @ great religious difference existed between Muslims and Hindus regarding their religious performances; i. Ideological context: In ideological context,-Hindus and Muslims were diametrically opposed to each other in their religion. Stanley Wolpert wrote in his book_‘india’, “Hindu polytheism presents a most striking contrast to Islam monotheism than any other religion in the world.” Islam was a divine religion, Hinduism is a manmade religion. Islam is an iconoclastic religion. ‘Scanned with CamScannerr Exploring Pakistan (101 ii. Practical Context: The bitter experience of Congress rule amply demonstrated that Hindus wanted to establish Ram Raj and Muslims apprehended that, their religious liberty would be eroded under Hindu rule B. Political Difference: Aemorey VO Ce * Islarn was essentially 2 democratic faith, whereas Hinduism with its class system favored a minoritarian rule. Islam favored majoritarian rule. Hinduism with its caste system, established that the right to rule was reserved for two upper classes, ‘Brahmins and Khastries.'Muslim feared that they would be subjected under the tyrant rule of Hindus. This provided the rationale for separate electorate and independence. C. Economic Differences: Islam was a proletariat faith. It abhorred concentration of wealth in few hands, it encouraged fair distribution through zakat and sadagat whereas Hinduism was essentially a capitalistic religion. Hindus worshipped Lakshami, the Goddess of wealth. Usury was a chief source of income for Hindus. Hindus discriminated Muslims in jobs and tried to close all avenues of employment for Muslims. D. Social Differences: Hindus and Muslims belonged to different social structures. There is no difference of class system in Islam whereas Hindu social system was based on class system. The social difference was so stark that both nations did not intermingle even after 1000 years. 5. Evolutionary factors of Two Nation Theory: Following are the evolutionary factors behind the emergence of Two Nation Theory in the Indian subcontinent: i. Hindu Exclusiveness and Muslim Separateness: Both Hindus and Muslims tended to maintain their exclusive identity and couldn't be assimilated in each other when Muslims were in power, Hindu maintained their identity. Muslims being minority in India never intermingled with Hindus and preserved their separateness. Even when both nations were placed under tyrannical British rule it failed to produce sensible fusion between them ii, Clash of Two Processes of Revivalism: “According to Professor Shareef-u!-Mujahid, the Two Nation Theory further moved on as a result of clash of two processes of revivalism in 18 and 19" century. Arya Samaj, Rama Karishna mission, Deo Samaj, Pratna Semaj were Hindu revivalist. movements. Jehad movement, Aligarh movement, Himayat-e-Isiam Movement are Muslim revivalist movements. ~ om ‘Scanned with CamScannerExploring Pakistan {102 iii. Impact of British Rule: British rule established administrative anc political unity in India and thus created a strong sense of nationalism. Moreover, under the British rule, indians were oriented towards the discourse of nationalism. It resulted into the mix of two sub- nationalism i.e. Muslim nationalism and Hindu nationalism. British rule created a realization that Indian had Icst power and it instilled among Indian a sense of anti- imperialism which further provided impetus to Muslim separatism. British introduced new chennels, avenues and instruments to articulate nationalist identity such as print capitalism culture. iv. Introduction of British Institutions: Muslims deeply apprehended the transplantation of British representative in India on west minster model, British model. Under the electorates the Muslims thought that they would be placed under majoritarian rule of Hindus. v. Congress’ Anti-Muslim Policies: Congress proved to be completely antithetical to Muslim interests. Anti- Muslim policies of India National Congress espoused the cases of Hindus. It favoured one nation theory whereas Muslims demanded that there are two nations in India vi. Role of Hindu Militant Organizations: Shudhi, Sangh Sangthan and Hindi Mahasba Were the Hindu militant organizations Shudhi was meant to forcibly throw Muslims out of India and try to reconvert Muslims to Hinduism. Sangthan imparted military training to Hindus. These also produced Biasphemous-literature in 19203 and 30s to defame Islam and widened gaps between ‘wo nations. vii. Role of Personalities: Mujadad Alf Sani, Shah Waliullah, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Iqbal, Mohsin ul Mulk and Muhammad Ali Jinnah played a pivotal role in enlightening Muslims about the separate identity and galvanized them to realize them as a separate nation from Hindus. viii. Cultural Factors: The use of cultural symbols further contributed to the rise of two nation theory. Urdu-Hindi controversy, row over cow slaughter also added fuel to fire. ix: Role of Historical Dynamics: *Anti-Muslim policies of Indian National Congress, role of Hindus during the partition of Bengal, withdraw! of support by Gnadhi during Khilafat Movement, rejection of Muslim demands in Nehru report, Congress’ anti-Muslim role during Round Table Conferences, atrocities of congress ministries, opposition to-Pakistan ‘demand duririg™ Round™Table~ Conferences; ~-atrocities—-of—-congress—ministries; ‘Scanned with CamScannerExploring Pakistan | 103 opposition to Pakistan demand during 1940s contributed to the rise of two nation theory. 6. Significance of Two Nation Theory: The Two Nation Theory has a great significance for the Muslims of subcontinent in many domains of life like; i. Basis of Individual Muslim Identity: The Two Nation Theory provided the basis of individual Muslim identity in the subcontinent. It made the Muslims realized that they were aloof from the Hindus in the socio-economic, cultural, religious and political domains of life ii. Evoked Political Consciousness: The Two Nation Theory gave a separate entity to the Muslims in the subcontinent. Resultantly, they started organizing themselves for taking political representation in the political system of British India. They made a separate political party known as All India Muslim League for the protection of Muslim interests and rights. SE iii, Conceptual Dynamism to Pakistan Movement: The Two Nation Theory provided not only a separate entity to the Muslims rather it also gave the conceptual.dynamism-to a separate state. This movement for separate state is known as,Pakistan movement.) iv. Directed the Muslims towards their Destiny: The Two Nation Theory directed a straight way towards their destiny and that destiny was based upon a separate state for the Muslims of the subcontinent. v. Basis of Ideology of Pakistan: Two Nation Theory laid the foundation of the ‘ideology of Pakistan, because the both (Two Nation Theory and ideology of Pakistan) are based upon Islamic principles. vi. Smashed the Myth of Uni-nationalism: The Two Nation Theory smashed the myth of uni-nationalism. It emphasized that subcontinent was not consisted of Hindus only, rather it was comprised of various nationalities belonging to various religions and ideologies. And Hindus and Muslims were two distinct and separate nations. vii. Solution of Hindu-Muslim Problem: The Two Nation Theory gave a practical solution to the long awaited and unresolved issues among the Hindus and the Muslims. This theory provided a basis for creating awareness among the Muslims for a separate state. ‘Scanned with CamScanner104 Exploring Pakistan | Conclusion: \ i (Khalid Bin Sayyid | describes, "For the Congress, the Saeon l meert Pakistan was a cruel blow to their claim of being a Nationalist organiz "just and that Muslims did not trust the Hindus as a majority community to eee leaders generous towards Muslim interests and culturé. This explains why Cee British have often tended to attribute the creation of Pakistan almost entirely to the Policy of divide and rule.”79 ‘Scanned with CamScanner