HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF

THE CREATION OF
PAKISTAN
PAKS 1119
 MUSLIMS POLITICAL STRUGGLE
• East India Company came to India for trade purposes.
• Overpowered the political system which result in the end of glorious Muslim Rule over India.
• The Muslims were a great Nation before the advent of British.
• They were administrators, soldiers, traders, peasants, scholars and artisans.
• Muslims were keenly looking for an opportunity for their revival to the old position of
eminence in society.
• Struggle for revival began under Syed Ahmad Shaheed Brailvi – which unfortunately failed.
• To throw off the yoke of slavery in 1857, the war of independence was fought against British.
• This effort too proved a futile and the Muslims were left in lurch.
• British took a number of actions to crush the Muslims completely.
• The respectable social life was denied to the Muslims.
 MUSLIMS POLITICAL STRUGGLE
• Sir Syed Ahmad Khan come forward to pull the Muslims out of the position of despondency.
• He advised the Muslims to get modern education.
• Embark upon political revival in order to get back their old position in society.
• Sir Syed launched his Aligarh Movement to guide the Muslims to recapture their lost glory
in the Indian social set up by bringing stability to their:
• Social, economic, education and political aspects of life.
• The British ascended the Indian throne on 1st November 1858.
• Direct British rule was imposed on India.
• The East India Company ceased to exist from the day the British Crown took over the
political reins of India.
 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ACT, 1861
• The first ever constitutional structure was formulated in 1861.
• Sir Syed advised the British Government to include the Indian people in the administration of the
country.
• He advised to give representation to the local people in the Legislative Councils.
• Legislative Councils Act was introduced to introduce better provisions for the Governor-General’s
Council and for Local Government.
• Indian people were included in the Governor-General’s Council for the first time.
• The number of the member of legislative Councils was increased.
• The Governor-General was given authority to nominate at lest six persons to the Council.
• The head of the provinces were to be called as Lieutenant-Governors.
• The enforcement of the Legislative Council Act of 1861 was the first step taken for the
constitutional reforms in India.
 INDIAN COUNCIL ACT, 1892

• Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 on the initiative of the retired British Civil
Servant:
• Sir Allan Octivian Hume

• It was originally intended to provide a platform for the safeguard of the interests of the Indian
people.
• The Indian National Congress expressed its dissatisfaction over the inadequate representation
which the Legislative Council Act of 1861 gave to the Indian people.
• The Congress demanded that the nomination to the Central and Provincial Legislative
Councils should through general elections instead of nomination.
• The appointment to the Government service through competitive examinations.
 INDIAN COUNCIL ACT, 1892

• Sir Syed Ahmad Khan vehemently criticized these demands and advised the Muslims to keep
away from the Congress politics.
• In 1892 the Government introduced another Act known as the Indian Councils Act of 1892.
• The salient provisions of this Act were as follows:
1. The number of the non-official members, in the Central and Provincial Councils was increased.
2. The members of the Legislative Councils were given the right to put questions. They were also authorized to
discuss the annual budget.
3. The local bodies were given right to send their elected members to the Legislative Councils.
The Act of 1892 could not ensure the maximum safeguards to the Muslims. The Muslim leaders now rightly felt
for a separate electorate to protect the Muslims Interest.
 HINDI-URDU CONTROVERSY

• The Hindi-Urdu controversy began in the year 1867.

• Sir Syed was extremely disappointed to see the Hindus behaving in a prejudicial manner.
• Sir Syed expressed his views about Hindus and Muslims as two separate nations for the first
time in 1868.
• The Hindu opposition to Urdu created a new political awareness among the Muslims.
• The anti-Urdu stance by the Hindus strengthened Muslims belief in the Two-Nation concept.
• Two-Nation concept came to be the crowning factor in the Muslims struggle for a separate
homeland.
 PARTITION OF BENGAL
• Bengal was the biggest province with a population of 78 million.
• The whole province was under one Lieutenant-Governor who could not look after the
administrative requirements of such a vast area alone.
• Major portion of the province remained neglected due to its cumbersomeness.
• In view of size and population the province of Bengal should be divided into two parts.
• Lord Curzon became the Viceroy of India in 1899.
• He undertook an extensive tour of the province of Bengal and felt that the province was too
big to be administrated effectively.
• Lord Curzon decided to divide the province into two provinces.
• After the approval of British Crown the province of Bengal was divided into two parts on 16th
October, 1905 as: Eastern Bengal and Western Bengal
PARTITION OF BENGAL
 PARTITION OF BENGAL
Muslims Reaction:
• The partition of Bengal provided chances of great progress to the Muslims.
• The partition of Bengal provided them with a chance to rehabilitate their social position.
• The Muslims, therefore, expressed their utmost happiness over the partition of Bengal.
Hindu Reaction:
• The Hindus reacted toward the partition of Bengal in hostile and violent manner.
• The day of 16th October, 1905 was declared as national tragedy.
• Strikes were held throughout the country.
• The partition of Bengal was ultimately annulled on 12th December, 1911 at Delhi Darbar by
King George.
 SIMLA DEPUTATION
• The Liberal Party of England had won the General Elections under the leadership of Lloyd
George in 1905.
• The Liberal Party announced that it would introduce constitutional reforms in India.
• The Muslims leaders decided to avail this opportunity in order to apprise the Viceroy of the
Muslims demands.
• A delegation of prominent Muslim leaders was formed under the leadership of Sir Agha Khan
• The Viceroy was vacationing at Simla.
• With the assistance of Mr. Archbold, the Principal of Aligarh College who got in touch with
the Private Secretary of the Viceroy Col. Dunlop Smith and requested him with an
appointment with the Viceroy.
• The Muslim delegation comprising 35 Muslim leaders known as Simla Deputation, called on
the Viceroy on 1st October, 1906 at Simla.
 SIMLA DEPUTATION

• The deputation apprised the Viceroy of the Muslim demands.

• Lord Minto gave a patient hearing to the demands of the Muslims presented by the Simla
Deputation.
• It was a great achievement of the Simla Deputation to have convinced the Viceroy about the
genuineness of the Muslim’s demands.
• The most important demand of separate electorate was accepted by the Government and
included in the Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909.
FORMATION OF ALL INDIA MUSLIM LEAGUE
• The success of Simla Deputation made it imperative for the Muslims of the sub-continent to
have their own political organization.
• The Congress anti-Muslim activities too emphasized the need of a political platform for the
Muslims.
• The annual session of All India Muslim Educational Conference was held in 1906 at Dacca.
• The objective of this meeting was presided over by Nawab Viqr-ul-Mulk to discuss the
possibilities of forming a political association for the Muslims.
• Nawab Salim Ullah of Dacca had already circulated an idea of the political organization
known as All India Muslim Confederacy.
• Nawab Salim Ullah of Dacca, therefore, moved a resolution which was supported by Hakim
Ajmal Khan, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and other participants.
OBJECTIVES OF ALL INDIA MUSLIM LEAGUE

1. To promote among the Muslims of India feelings of loyalty to the British Government and to
remove any misconception that may arise as to the intention of the Government with regards
to any of the measures.
2. To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India and to
respectfully represent their needs and aspirations to the Government.
3. To prevent the rise among the Muslims of India of any feelings of hostility towards other
communities without prejudice to other aforementioned objects of the League.
The Muslim League met with immediate success to the initial stages of its struggle. It drew
Government’s attention towards the Muslims’ demand expressed by the Simla Deputation.
 CHANGE IN MUSLIM POLITICS
• THE Muslim had extended full co-operation to Hindus by concluding the Lucknow Pact in 1916.
• The Hindus for the some time, also expressed their willingness to accept Muslims demands.
• The failure of Khilafat movement put an end to the Hindu Muslim unity which was accomplished
through sincere efforts of Quaid-e-Azam at Lucknow Pact in 1916.
Delhi Proposals.
• The conclusion of Lucknow Pact was a milestone in the history of the sub-continent as it had
achieved Hindu-Muslim unity.
Delhi Proposals are as follows:
• Sindh should be separated from Bombay.
• Reforms should be introduced in Balochistan and NWFP and they should be given status of the
province.
• The Muslims should have 1/3 seats in the Central Legislature as already granted.
• The Muslims should be given representation in Bengal and Punjab in accordance to their strength.
 SIMON COMMISSION
• In 1927, the British Government appointed a Commission under Sir John Simon to report on
the constitutional progress of India.
• Since the Commission had no Indian member, the Congress and section of Muslim League,
under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam decided to boycott the Commission.
• There were large scale agitation against the Simon Commission in India.
• The Commission had to face violent reaction by the people.
• The people received the Commission with the slogans, Simon go back, Simon go back.
• In spite of non-cooperation from the Indian political leaders, the Commission prepared a
detailed report for Constitutional reforms in India.
• The Congress and Muslim League refused to accept the recommendations of the Simon
Commission.
 NEHRU REPORT
• The Congress and Muslims League rejected the recommendations of the Simon Commission.
• Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India was greatly annoyed with diverse public
opinion and much offended on the treatment extended to the Simon Commission.
• He said:
• “The Indians are so divided, opposed and fed up of each other that they are unable to produce a unanimously
accepted constitution.”

• Indian political leaders accepted the challenge and all parties conference was convened in
February, 1928 to prepare a draft constitution.
• The conference appointed a committee presided over by Moti Lal Nehru with insignificant
representation of the Muslims in the committee.
• The report submitted by the committee is know as Nehru Report.
 NEHRU REPORT
• Nehru Report was published in August 1928.
• The Report clearly reflected the Hindu prejudicial approach and was based on anti-Muslim
sentiments.
• The Congress immediately accepted the report and threatened the government to launch a non-
cooperation movement if the report was not implemented by December, 1929.
• In All Partied National Convention held at Calcutta in December, 1929, Quaid-e-Azam
proposed three amendments:
• 1/3 representation for the Muslims in the Central legislature.
• Muslim representation in the Punjab and Bengal on the basis of population.
• Residuary powers be given to the provinces instead of Central Government.

• All these amendments were rejected by the Hindu majority.

 FOURTEEN POINTS OF QUAID-E-AZAM
• Quaid-e-Azam decided to give his own formula for the Constitutional reforms in the reply to the
Nehru Report.
• In meeting of the Muslim League in 1929 in Delhi he gave his famous Fourteen Points Formula.
• He said no constitution shall be accepted by the Muslims of India without the Fourteen points.
Allama Iqbal Presidential Address, Allahabad, 1930.
• The Fourteen Points of the Quaid-e-Azam had infused a new political insight in the Indian Muslim.
• Annual session of the All-India Muslim League was held at Allahabad in 1930 which was presided
over by Allama Iqbal.
• Iqbal discussed the political situation of the sub-continent at length.
• He declared Islam as a complete code of life.
• His presidential address further clarified the Two-Nation Theory.
 ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE
• The first session of the Round Table Conference began in London on 12th November, 1930.
• All parties were represented except the Congress.
• The Conference approved the federal system for India and eight sub-committee were formed
to deal with different matters.*
• The First Round Table Conference ended on 19th January, 1931.
• The British accepted the proposals for full responsible Government in Provinces and Federal
system in the Centre.
• Second Round Table conference opened on 7th September, 1931 till 1st December, 1931.
• Gandhi was there as sole representative of the Congress.
• Third Round Table Conference began on 17th November, 1932 till 24th November, 1932.
• It too, could not resolve the Hindu-Muslim problem and was not attended by Gandi and Quid-
e-Azam. (Sir Agha Khan led the Muslim delegation).
 CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• The Round Table Conference could not resolve the Constitutional problems of India.
• Recommendations of the Round Table Conference were contained in white paper and
published in 1933.
• Lord Linlithgow, the Viceroy of India considered the recommendation.
• The report of the committee was published in 1934 which was contained in a Bill of Law.
• The Parliament passed the Bill which after the Royal assent on 24th July 1935 was enforced in
the country as Government of India Act, 1935.
• The Government announced the elections to the provincial legislative assemblies in 1936-37.
• Both Muslim League and Congress issued their manifestoes.
• Congress achieved a big victory and managed to get clear majority in five provinces.
• Congress adopted a rigid attitude after winning the elections and behaved in a dictatorial
manners.
 CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• The Congress took office in eight province.
• As Muslim League had got sizeable success in Muslim minority province with a hope that
Congress would include the Muslim League in the Government.
• Congress was reluctant to share powers with the Muslims.
• Congress had formed its ministries in eight provinces.
• The Muslims living in these provinces under Congress rule, were subjected to most inhuman
treatment.
• Congress adopted an unconstitutional method to rule the provinces.
• Severe punishments were awarded to those who slaughtered the Mother Cow.
• Bande Matram, Warda Scheme introduced to strengthen Hindu nationalism and to ignore the
religion of Muslims.
 CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• With the beginning of Second World War in 1939, government appealed to all political parties
for help and assistance in the war.
• Congress with a view of putting pressure on government, refused to extend cooperation and in
November 1939, resigned from Congress ministries.
• Muslim population took a sigh of relief as they have been relieved of the most tyrannical and
oppressive rule of the congress.
 PAKISTAN RESOLUTION
• On 23rd March, 1940, the famous resolution, which came to be known as Pakistan Resolution was
moved and passed by the participants unanimously.
• Hindu reaction to the Pakistan Resolution was hostile.
• Hindu press came out with most aggressive propaganda against the resolution.
ELECTIONS
• The general elections to the Provincial and Central Legislature were held in India in 1945-46.
• Both Congress and Muslim League contested and results showed a decisive victory for Pakistan.
• The Muslim League won all the Muslim seats in Central Assemblies and 446 out of 495 Muslim
seats in Provincial Assemblies.
• The Congress won the similar victory in the Hindu constituencies.
• The elections of 1945-46 proved that the Muslim League alone represented the Muslims of India.
 PAKISTAN RESOLUTION
June 3 Plan
• Mountbatten had worked out a partition plan by the middle of April 1947.
• Working Committee of Congress met on 1st May, 1947 and accepted the partition plan.
• Muslim League also gave its approval to the partition plan.
• After approve of the British Government by Mountbatten it was issued on3rd June, 1947 and known as June 3
Plan.
Radcliffe Award.
• It was provided in June 3 Plan that as soon as the legislature of Punjab and Bengal decided in favor of partition,
a Boundary Commission should be set up to demarcate the boundaries.
• Boundary Commission under the Chairmanship of Sir Cyril Radcliffe who visited India on 8th July, 1947.
• On July 4, 1947, the Viceroy announced the Partition Plan on Radio.
• According to this Plan, India was divided into two sovereign States of Pakistan and India and British Control
over India would come to and end on 15th August, 1947.
 TRANSFER OF POWER
• Two sovereign states came into existence on 14th August and 15th August, 1947 according to
the June 3 Plan.
• Lord Mountbatten keenly desired to become the joint Governor-General of India and Pakistan.
• Congress had agreed, Quaid rejected the proposal of having a joint Governor-General for
Pakistan and India. Rejected by Muslims League as well.
• Quaid-e-Azam reached Karachi on 7th August, 1947.
• Lord Mountbatten announce the establishment of the Government of Pakistan on 15th August,
1947 in Assemble building at Karachi.
• Quaid-e-Azam too oath as first Governor-General on 15th August and national flag with
Crescent and Star was unfurled.
• Cabinet was sworn in and Pakistan was born.