Saturday 23rd March 1940 was a historic day for the Muslims of the subcontinent, which created a hope of creating a state in the subcontinent. Where they would be able to live according to their ideals and free from Hindu domination. It was the first time that Muslim League officially demanded a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent on the basis of their separate identity.
Since the beginning of the downfall of the Mughal Empire Muslim thinkers were presenting different remedies for the revival and regaining the lost glory of Muslims in the subcontinent. Muslims wanted to live peacefully with dignity and honour but the biased and hostile attitude of the Hindu majority proved biggest obstacle for the Muslim survival which led the Muslim leadership for adopting the “Lahore Resolution”.
From 1757 to 1940 Muslim struggle passed with many phases different policies were adopted for their reviva and survival.
Phase 1
Armed Struggle : Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah in Bengal (1757), Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan in Maysore (1783 – 1799) through armed struggle tried to defeat and expel the Britishers from the subcontinent but failed. In early half of 19th century Syed Ahmed Shaheed and Shah Ismail Shaheed with their followers invited people for jihad to overthrow the Sikh empire in Punjab and liberate the Muslims from the tyranny of the Ranjeet Singh. In 1831 Syed Ahmed Shaheed and Shah Ismail Shaheed with hundreds of their followers embraced the martyrdom at Balakot and Jihad movement ended without getting any significant achievement.
Last part of the Armed struggle was the War of Independence 1857 which was termed as “Mutiny” by the Britishers. The failure of the War of Independence strengthen the British rule in the subcontinent and in 1858 it came directly under the control of the British Crown.
The armed struggle was for regaining the lost power in the subcontinent.
Phase 2
Sir Syed;s Era: After the failure of the war of War of Independence 1857 Sir Syed emerged as the most prominent Muslim personality and remained so till his death in 1898. He worked for getting a better status for the Muslims of the subcontinent. At that time Muslims had become the third rate citizen of the subcontinent. Britishers the new ruler were the first rate citizen, Hindus the majority of the population were the second rate citizen and Muslims previous ruler and minority had become the third rate citizen.
For uplifting the Muslim social conditions in the subcontinent Sir Syed worked on two strategies:
1. Focus on Education: Sir Syed tried to convince the Muslims that they should realize that now the Britishers are superior in military power and Muslims failed every time they fought since 1757. He suggested that only through education Muslims can get an honourable place in the subcontinent. So instead of wasting time they should acquire the modern education.
2. Cooperation with Britishers: Sir Syed also emphasized for developing good relations of the Muslims with the new rulers of the subcontinent. Under the guidance of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Muslim leaders started working in this direction.
But Sir Syed strategy was bitterly opposed by some schools of thought. They rejected both British education system and cooperation with the Britishers. They emphasized on religious education and non cooperation with the Britishers.
Phase 3
Political Struggle: In the beginning of the 20th century change in the government in England and introduction of constitutional reforms in the subcontinent compelled the Muslim leaders for participating into political activities and Muslim under the leadership of Sir Agha Khan III entered into political dialogues. He led the Simla Deputation and became the first President of All India Muslim League in 1906.
During the political struggle after the annulment of the partition of Bengal change occurred in Muslim political thinking, younger generation came to the ranks leadership. Under young leaders Muslim League adopted the policy of cooperation with Hindu majority in lieu of British rulers. Luckhnow Pact 1919, Khilafat Movement1919 and Non Cooperation Movement 1920 were the outcome of this Hindu Muslim cooperation. But this Honeymoon period of Hindu Muslim Unity did not last long. After the failure of Khilafat and Non Cooperation Movement in 1924 Hindus launched Shuddhi and Sanghtan which were against Muslims who responded with Tableegh and Tanzeem. Later Nehru Report 1928 formally ended the Hindu Muslim Unity by ignoring the Muslims concerns on future constitutional reforms.
Constitutional Safeguards: Muslim leaders decided to get constitutional safeguards after the rejection of the Quaid-i-Azam sincere amendment in Neru Report which he had suggested to make it acceptable for Muslims. Quaid-i-Azam fourteen points, Dehli proposal were presented after the disappointment from the Hindu majority. In this era of constitutional deadlock Allama Iqbal in his presidential address at Alahabad in 1930 had presented his vision of the subcontinent’s communal and constitutional problems. For the constitutional safeguards Muslim leaders had participated in three Round Table Conferences in London.
Phase 4
Congress Rule “The last prick on the camel;s back” It was not until Muslim leaders saw the glimpse of the Congress rule they decided to part ways. After the provincial assemblies’ elections of 1937 Congress formed majority in seven out of the eleven Indian provinces. Congress rule was the most bitter experience the Muslims had in British India which convinced the Muslim leaders that Muslims could not have lived with dignity and honour under the Hindu domination. Hindu openly raised the slogan that now “we will take the revenge of one thousand years slavery”. Anti Muslim riots became order of the day only in those provinces where Congress had formed government. Vidya Mandir and Wardha schemes were introduced in education, anti Muslim song Bande Matarm was adopted as national anthem. This two and a half year Congress rule (July 1937 – December 1939) compelled Muslim leaders for demanding a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent.
23rd March 1940:
On Saturday 23rd March 1940 finally and first time from the platform of the Muslim League the demand for the Muslim state was presented in Lahore Resolution. This resolution was presented by Bengal Chief Minister Moulana Abul Kasim Fazal e Haq. The 22 representative from all Indian provinces seconded the resolution. This resolution was unanimously passed. Amjadi Bano Begum (wife of Muhammad Ali Jauhar) from UP while seconding the resolution called it Pakistan Resolution and next day Indian press made it a banner headline that Muslim League demands Pakistan. Chaudhary Rehmat Ali in his pamphlet “Now or Never” had coined this word Pakistan by taking the initials of Punjab, Afghania (NWFP), Kashmir, Sindh and last three letter of Baluchistan, Later Muslim League also adopted this name for the proposed Muslim state and Lahore Resolution is now known as Pakistan Resolution.
This resolution motivated the Muslims the idea of establishing a Muslim state in one part of subcontinent provided them a tangible outcome of their struggle. They got united under the banner of Muslim League. The overwhelming Muslim majority supported this idea and became the ideology of Muslims of the subcontinent and the next seven years they continued their struggle to realize the dream of a Muslim state on the map India. This historic day was the foundation of the creation of our beloved country Pakistan and because of historical significance 23rd March is our National Day
