Lahore Resolution
(1940)
By
Raj Muhammad Khan
M. Phil (Pakistan Studies)
National Institute of Pakistan Studies, (QAU) Islamabad
Outline
Background
Apprehensions of Muslim Salariat in united India
Popularity of partition proposal
Atrocities of Congress Ministries
Desire for a Separate Muslim Homeland
Jinnah's Sagacity
Features
Reaction
Significance! Impact
Establishment of an independent state
Beginning of Pakistan Movement
Unity of Entire Subcontinent
A sense of identity for Muslims
Only peaceful solution of Hindu Muslim Conflict
Protection of minorities rights
Objectives
22-24 March 1940
Presented by A.K Fazal ul Haq
Session Presided by Quaid
Two States to be established
Manto Park Lahore
Introduction
Lahore Resolution ,a milestone in the Muslim political
movement of subcontinent and its political struggle.
It marked the beginning of Pakistan movement.
Never in the history of world a resolution consisting
mere 40 words had change the destiny of a nation,
Lahore Resolution did this miracle.
ahore Resolution was passed on the 27th annual
session of AIML at Lahore
Background of the passage of the Lahore Resolution
Quaid-e-azam made several attempts during 1935-39 to make the
Congress leaders to understand the Muslim point of view. Such as:
1) He started in 1935 with Rejinder Prasad (then congress president)
but failed.
2) In 1937, he exchanged letters with Gandi and Nehru and both
refused to understand him.
3) He exchanged letters with newly elected Congress President Subhas
Chandra Bose, which had no eventful result.
4) Then again he exchanged letters with Nehru in 1939 who adamantly
believe that there was no Hindu-Muslim problem existed
Cont…
Ideologically speaking Muslims had not lived under the
sovereignty of non-Muslim rulers and believed in the
Darul-Harb and Darul-Islam.
In history they passed through many ups and downs since
the birth of Islam but always revived.
Western education had given them the concept of
nationalism which they redefined on the basis of Islamic
nationalism with reference to tradition, religion and
society
Five Points of Quaid for Settlement
Quaid-e- Azam made a last attempt to reach at
agreement with congress in1939, if the congress
accepted his five points:
1. Coalition ministries in he provinces.
2. No legislation affecting Muslims if 2/3 of the
Muslims opposed it.
3. No congress flag to be hoisted on public buildings.
4. No Bande-Matran as national song.
5. To stop Congress affect to destroy Muslims League
Factors
Hindu-Muslim Rifts
o Hindu Muslim rifts reached to the point that they could not defied
any solution.
o All the suggestions given by the Muslims were rejected by
Congress .
o Muslims were left with no other option but secession.
o The only peaceful solution was the separation of country.
Disillusionment of Muslims
o Till 1940, Muslims had been thoroughly disillusioned from
Hindus.
o The bitter experience of Congress Ministries and Hindu Mentality
for Ram Raj in India.
o Hindus wanted to subjugate Muslim under their tyrannical rule
Nationalist Muslim leaders turned into separatist (Jinnah, lqbal,
etc.)
Cont…
Popularity of Partition proposals: •
The proposals received huge impetus in 1930s and
1940s and attracted popular response.
Abdul Haleem Sharar (1860-1926) made this proposal
in his weekly journal Mohazab.
Kheri Brothers proposed the partition of India into
Muslim and Hindu India.
Cont…
At Stockholm Conference of Socialist International in
1917.
In 1933, Ch. Rehmat All coined the term ‘Pakistan’ in
a pamphlet ‘Now or Never.’ demanding a separate
Muslim state.
In 1939, Dr. Zafarul Hasan and Dr. Afzal Hussain Qadriin
‘The Problems of Indian Muslims and their Solution’.
Popularly known as ‘Aligarh Scheme,’ and proposed the
partition of country into three completely independent
and autonomous states.
There came about 170 proposals form 1858 to 1940 to
divide India
Cont…
Apprehensions of Muslim Salaried and Business class in united
India.
According to Hamza Alvi, Muslim salaried class was fearful of
domination of salaried class of Hindus.
Hindus were far ahead of Muslims in education and social
development and commerce.
Salaried class of Bengal, Punjab, NWFP and Sind got together under
the banner of AIML.
This proved to be the economic rationale behind the creation of
Pakistan
Cont…
Atrocities of Congress Ministries:
Congress rule created a deep sense of insecurity among Muslims which led to
the creation of Pakistan.
Congress ministries produced an unbridgeable gap between Hindus and
Muslims.
Desire for a Separate Muslim Homeland:
Muslims feared that their cultural identity might be threatened.
To save their culture, Muslims needed a separate homeland where they would
be able to practice their religion, culture freely and openly.
Urdu and Islamic Traditions was under threat and Muslims wanted to preserve
it.
Cont...
Outlook of World War II and resignation of Congress
Ministries.
This was a colossal blunder on the part of Congress and
provided Jinnah with a pretext that Muslims want a separate
homeland.
Muslims constituted about 52% of the Indian army and
‘WW-Il could not be continued without Muslim support.
Jinnah played his trump card and made it clear to the Hindus
that there are three parties in India; Hindus, Muslims and
British.
Jinnah’s Sagacity:
Jinnah’s sense of timing, that he realized that the Muslims
had been alienated from Hindus and British needed Muslim
support in the Second World War
Factors-Summary
Two Nation Theory
Denial of Separate Electorate
Defiance from Laknow Pact
Nehru Report • Hindu-Muslim Violence
Atrocities of Congress Ministries
Desire for independence
Islamic Political System
Economic Exploitation
Jinnah’s Vision
Features
No constitutional plan would be workable in this
country or acceptable to Muslim unless it is designed
on the geographical contiguous units.
Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North-
Western and Eastern Zones of India should be
grouped to constitute ‘Independent States’ in which
the constituent units shall be autonomous and
sovereign .
Adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards should
be specifically provided in the constitution.
In the regions steps to be taken for the protection of
their
Cont…
Religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative
and other rights and interests.
In other parts of India where the Muslims are in a
minority, adequate, effective and mandatory
safeguards shall be specifically provided in the
constitution for them and other minorities for the
protection of their religious, cultural, economic,
political, administrative and other rights.”
Quaid on Resolution
In his presidential address the Quaid alluding to
the religious and cultural differences between the
Hindus and Muslims said,
The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different
religious philosophies, social customs, literatures.
They neither intermarry, not inter dine together, and
indeed they belong to two different civilizations which
are based on conflicting ideas and conceptions.
Their aspects on life and ideology of life are different.
It is quite clear that Hindus and Musalmans drive their
inspiration from different sources of history.
Cont…
They have different epics, different heroes, different
episodes.
Very often the hero of one is the foe of the other and
likewise, their victories and defeats overlap.
To yoke together two such nations under a single state,
one as a numerical minority and 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.’
Reaction
The Hindu leaders and the Hindu press started a tirade
against the Resolution.
‘Partap’, ‘BandeMatram’, ‘Milap’, ‘tribune’ and other
Hindu newspaper.
• called it as the Pakistan Resolution.
It was done in spite of the fact that the word ‘Pakistan’
was not used anywhere in Lahore resolution.
The daily Tribune called.
Cont…
The Pakistan scheme unacceptable and horrible.
Hindustan times and Modern Review.
• Termed it as the ingenuity of the most ingenious
constitution will be unable to divide India.
Statesman wrote,
• ‘It is a revolutionary proposal but those who are willing
to oppose it, must study it before criticizing it. They
must understand that the League has seriously
presented it; therefore, it cannot be ignored as a mere
fanciful dream.
Ghandi on Resolution
In, Gandhi announced his plan of individual
Satyagrah which led oven 600 person including top
Congress leaders in to prison.
Gandhi provoked a mass movement but failed because
it was not for the freedom of India but for British
government to recognize Congress as only
representative of the Indian people
Others
Hindu Leaders
Ram Gopal Achria-division as Cutting Cow.
Britishers
Was it divide and rule ? No
Significance! Impacts
Establishment of Independent states
Muslim India committed itself to the establishment of an
independent state as its final goal.
All the internal differences of Muslims came to an end and
they started efforts to create a separate homeland.
It marked the beginning of Pakistan Movement
A political movement turned into Pakistan movement when
Muslim League adopted Lahore Resolution as its main motto.
Pakistan movement got public imagination in Muslim
majority provinces.
In 1937, AIML won only 2 seats whereas in 1946, it set record
victory in Punjab. AIML won about 90% in centre and 100%
in provinces
Cont…
Beginning of the end of Administrative unity of Entire
Subcontinent:
The administrative unity ,had been established by
Muslims and British further cemented it with 8 years
from 1940-1947, Pakistan was created and Muslims
paved way for the end of administrative unity of sub-
continent.
Protection of the Minorities rights:
The Lahore Resolution not only protected the rights of
the Mu in the subcontinent. Rather it also pleaded the
case for the protection of minority rights.
Cont…
A sense of identity for Muslims.
It provided a sense of direction to the Muslims.
AIML was transformed into a movement when it adopted
Lahore Resolution as a slogan.
Lahore Resolution assured Muslims not only a physical
protection within a separate state, but also secured them
a political status as a community.
Muslims were free to shape their destiny according to the
genius of people.
Only peaceful solution for Hindu Muslim Conflict:
It afforded only peaceful solution to the age old
unresolved Hindu-Muslim Conflict
Cont…
Lahore resolution is regarded as a milestone in the Muslim
political movement of subcontinent mere 40 words made it a
magna carte.
It provided a mechanism upon which the provinces were
given hope that future form of government would be based
upon autonomy.
The resolution later created considerable confusion and
misunderstanding , Those Bengali leaders, who felt after rift
with the Center, that a state dominated by West Pakistanis
was not after the interests of Bengal, claimed that the original
Resolution visualized two independent Muslim states, one of
West Pakistan and the other of East Bengal.” Khalid bin
Sayeed, Pakistan the Formative Phase 1857-1947 p.114
Conclusion
Start of Pakistan Movement
A way to Muslim Separate homeland
Aim of Muslim League
First forceful demand of AIML
Creation of Two States were promised
Strengthening Muslim Nationalism
Magna Carta of Pakistan Movement
Final step to separatism
Support
After the presentation of the annual report by Liaquat
Ali Khan, the resolution was moved in the general
session by A.K. Fazlul Huq, the chief minister of
undivided Bengal and was seconded by Khaliq uz
zaman who explained his views on the causes which
led to the demand for partition.
Subsequently, Mauling Zafar Ali Khan from Punjab,
Sardar Aurangzeb Khan Gandapur from the North-
West Frontier Province, Sir Abdullah Haroon from
Sindh, and Qazi Esa from Baluchistan, and other
leaders announced their support
Thank You!
