Ideology Of Pakistan: Two-Nation Theory
Outline:
•
Definition Of Ideology
• Ideology Of Pakistan And Two-Nation Theory
• Ideology Of Pakistan And Allama Iqbal
• Ideology Of Pakistan And Quaid-e-Azam
• Conclusion
Definition Of Ideology:
Ideology can be defined as the set of beliefs, especially the political beliefs on which people, parties or countries base their actions.
Ideology Of Pakistan And Two-Nation Theory:
Ideology of Pakistan was actually the Islamic Ideology on the basis of which Muslims of the Sub-continent claimed a separate independent Muslim state. The Islamic Ideology gave rise to Two-Nation Theory according to which the Hindus and Muslims were two distinct nations with their own separate religions, cultures, traditions, manners and languages. By establishing a separate independent Muslim-State, the Muslims wanted to spend their lives according to the teachings of Quran. Two-Nation Theory provided the foundation for the Lahore Resolution which demanded a sovereign independent nation for the Muslims.
Sir Syed was the first Muslim leader who put forward the idea of separate religious, cultural, social and political backgrounds of the Hindus and Muslims. Subsequently, other Muslim leaders particularly Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam developed the Two-Nation theory on sound footings which led to the creation of Pakistan.
Ideology Of Pakistan And Allama Iqbal:
Allama Iqbal was not only a great poet but also he was a prominent philosopher. After the First World War, he took active part in politics and along with other Muslim leaders endeavoured to guide the destiny of the Muslims. In respect of the future of the Muslims he believed that the Hindus and the Muslims were different communities which could not live together in peace. As early as 1909, he had rejected the idea of common nationhood for the Hindus and Muslims by saying:
“The vision of a common nationhood for India is a
beautiful ideal and has a poetic appeal. But looking
to the conditions and the unconscious trends of
two communities, appears incapable of fulfilment.”
From 1920 to 1929, Allama Iqbal watched the political development in India very closely and anti-Muslim attitude of Hindus convinced him to believe that the two major communities of the Sub-continent cannot pull on together in an amicable manner. Thus he openly declared that:
“We suspect each other and inwardly aim at dominating
each other ……….Perhaps we are unwilling to recognize
that each group has a right to free development according
to its own cultural traditions.”
In December 1930, Allama Iqbal presided over the annual session of the Muslim League held at Allahabad. The presidential address delivered by him has become a milestone in the history of Pakistan Movement, because in it he not only traced the individualities of the caste-units and religious units inhabiting the Sub-continent but also for the first time put forward the demand for a separate sovereign Muslim State. He declared:
“India is a continent of human groups belonging to
different races, speaking different languages and
professing different religions. Their behaviour is
not at all determined by a common race-consciousness.
Even the Hindus do not form a homogeneous group.
The principles of European democracy cannot be
applicable to India without recognizing the facts of
communal groups. The Muslims demand for the
creation of Muslim India within India is, therefore,
perfectly justified……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 State appears
to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of the
North-West India.”
Thus Allama Iqbal was a great advocate of Two-Nation Theory or Ideology of Pakistan. He Strongly opposed the concept Of Indian nationalism because he believed that the sub-continent was actually not a country but Asia in miniature. It was inhabited by human groups belonging to different races and professing different religions. Thus on this ground he demanded a separate nation for the Muslims.
Ideology Of Pakistan And Quaid-e-Azam:
Quaid-e-Azam, the founder of Pakistan was a great exponent and advocate of Two-Nation Theory. He successfully pleads a case for Pakistan on this theory and finally forced the British to accept the partition of the sub-continent. In this regard, his presidential address delivered on 22nd March, 1940 was the high watermark of Pakistan Movement. During his address he said;
“The Hindus and Muslims belong to different religious
Philosophies, social customs and literatures. They
neither intermarry nor interdine together and indeed
they belong to two different civilizations which are based
on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their concepts on
life and of life are different. It is quite clear that Hindus
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 other and likewise, their victories and defeats
overlap. To yoke together two such distinct nations
under a single state, one as a numerical majority and
other a minority, must lead to a growing discontent and
final destruction…….”
On the basis of Two-Nation Theory All-India Muslim League passed its Lahore Resolution on 23rd March, 1940 which made the achievement of Pakistan as great for the political struggle by the Muslims. After the passage of Lahore Resolution, there was only one main chant by the Muslims i.e.
Ban Ke Rahega Pakistan
Le Ke Rahenge Pakistan.
Later on, in 1944, during his talks with Gandhi, Quaid-e-Azam clearly said;
“We hold and maintain that the Hindus and Muslims
are two major nations by any definite or a taste of a
nation. We are a nation of a hundred million and what
is more we are a nation with our own distinctive culture
and civilization, language and literature, art and archi-
-tecture, 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. By all canons of international law we are nation.”
Conclusion
The fundamental concept of the ideology of Pakistan is that Muslims are separate nation having their own culture, literature, religion and way of life. They cannot be merged in any other nation. They should be able to develop their culture and religious traditions in an Islamic State and they should be able to create a true Islamic society for themselves.
Thus the ideology of Pakistan which developed through the period of Mohammad Bin Qasim and others and followed by political leaders like Quaid-e-Azam was materialized in 1947.