Highlights

• Religious differences- The majority of the population in the Indian subcontinent was Hindu, while Muslims were the second-largest religious group. There were many religious tensions between the two groups, and some Muslims felt that they would not be able to practice their religion freely in a Hindu-majority India.
• The Two-Nation Theory- This theory, which was developed by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, argued that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations, and that they could not live together in a single country. This theory was very influential in the Pakistan Movement.
• The failure of the Indian National Congress to represent Muslim interests- The Indian National Congress was the leading political party in India, but it was dominated by Hindus. Many Muslims felt that the Congress did not represent their interests, and that they would be better off in a separate country.
• The British policy of divide and rule- The British rulers of India often played on the religious differences between Hindus and Muslims in order to maintain their control over the subcontinent. This policy helped to create an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion between the two groups, which made it more difficult for them to work together.

However, the religious differences between Hindus and Muslims, the failure of the Indian National Congress to represent Muslim interests, and the British policy of divide and rule were all significant factors that contributed to the creation of Pakistan.

For centuries the people of the Subcontinent lived together in a loose confederation. But then something changed.

The creation of Pakistan was a momentous event that had a profound impact on the history of South Asia. It led to the mass migration of millions of people, and the violence that accompanied this migration resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. However, the creation of Pakistan also gave Indian Muslims a homeland of their own, and it has since become a thriving nation with a rich culture and history.

In addition to the factors mentioned above, there were a number of other factors that contributed to the creation of Pakistan. These include:

• The economic and political marginalization of Indian Muslims under British rule.
• The rise of Hindu nationalism in India.
• The failure of the Indian National Congress to adequately represent the interests of Indian Muslims.
• The creation of Pakistan was a complex event with many causes. However, the Two-Nation Theory, the rise of the All-India Muslim League, the communal violence of the 1940s, and the British government's decision to partition India were all major factors that contributed to its creation.
• On 23 March 1940 the All-India Muslim League, at its Lahore session passed a resolution demanding a separate homeland for Muslims in India. This demand appealed to Muslims of every persuasion. It leveraged religious notions of jihad for political and strategic gains against an apparently hegemonic India.

The Muslim League

The Muslim League was founded in 1906 with the aim of safeguarding the rights and interests of Muslims in India. It was an alternative political group to the Indian National Congress. The League's leaders believed that Muslim politics should be separate from Hinduism and that Muslims were a nation with a right to a homeland.

The League demanded that the British government grant Muslim representatives their own electorates, which it did in the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909. The League also wanted a state where Muslims could practice Islamic law and practice their religion freely.

Its leaders, such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, became key figures in negotiating the partition of India with the British government. The creation of Pakistan was the result of their efforts.

However, the Muslim League's success led to the rise of a powerful elite that focused on their own interests. These tycoons used their wealth to gain influence and prestige in the country. The poorer citizens struggled for basic needs and suffered due to their selfishness.

After the creation of Pakistan, the Muslim League remained active until it merged with other political groups in the 1970s. It reformed into the Convention Muslim League and the Council Muslim League in 1967. During the years of martial law and the Khilafat movement, the League was almost defunct.

The British

There is much nuance and complexity to the question of why Pakistan was created, but the simple answer is religion. The sprawling mass that was colonial India was split into three distinct places because a majority of the population practiced one of two religions, Hinduism or Islam. The demand for a separate Muslim homeland was a reaction to this religious disparity.

Although Indian Muslims shared a common religious identity, they were divided along regional, linguistic, class, and sectarian lines. The Muslim League’s campaign for Pakistan brought together these disparate groups and united them around the cause of a separate state.

The British were not entirely opposed to the idea of partition, but they did have concerns about how it would affect economic, social and cultural life in the colonies. They also feared that a state based on religion could lead to political instability.

After independence, the Muslim League drafted a constitution that declared the country an Islamic republic. This meant that all laws must be brought into line with Islam and that the government would have a strong executive. In addition, the constitution required that no new law should contradict Islamic tradition or teachings. These provisions were intended to ensure that the nation would not deviate from its Islamic roots and prevent it from becoming a secular state.

The Hindus

There is much nuance, complexity and history to the question of why Pakistan was created. However, one of the simplest explanations is that it was created on the basis of religion. The sprawling land mass that was colonial India under British rule was split into three distinct parts: India, West Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). These three countries were divided based on the proportion of Hindus and Muslims.

The Hindus viewed this move as an attempt by the British to neutralise growing Indian nationalism. The Muslim leadership saw the creation of a separate state as an opportunity to assert their own nationality.

Both Hindus and Muslims have their own unique histories, philosophies, social customs, and literature. To yoke together two such nations under one banner is bound to create a cultural clash. It will eventually destroy the fabric of any state that may be formed.

The premise behind the formation of Pakistan was that Islam would be the dominant force, while simultaneously allowing non-Muslims to enjoy their own religious freedom. This was a bold and courageous idea, but it wasn’t without its flaws. As time went by the Pakistani government began to grow increasingly authoritarian, and India used its superior geopolitical position to destabilise East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The two countries still have not been able to resolve their differences over Kashmir.

The Muslims

A group of Muslim scholars and thinkers including the poet-philosopher Allama Mohammad Iqbal demanded a separate state for Muslims in the 1930 annual session of the Muslim League at Allahabad. The idea was to create a self-governing Muslim state comprising of four provinces: Punjab, Sind, NWFP and Baluchistan by amalgamating the four Muslim majority areas. It was believed that this would enable Muslims to order their lives according to Islamic principles and also help them restructure society on a truly Islamic basis.

The demand for a separate Muslim state was supported by religious currents and based on the two nation theory. However it was a major setback for the Muslims as it negated their ideals of a secular state. The Muslim League’s leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah had sold this line to the masses during the pre-partition period.

The orthodox Muslim clergy opposed the idea of a secular state as it contradicted their concept of a nation which was based on common territory. After Pakistan became a reality these clerics who felt a sense of alienation sought desperately to establish an Islamic state. This led to the first controversy in the country that involved both religion and politics namely the Ahmadiya controversy which lasted from 1948 to 1953. The Ahmadiyas are a sect that follow the teachings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmed who claimed to be a prophet.