BACKGROUND
The Lahore Resolution is an essential event in the history of Pakistan. The Pakistan Movement is as old as the history of Muslims in the sub-continent. This is because Pakistan was created based on the Two-Nation Theory. Two Nation Theory was formed in India on the day when the first Hindus accepted Islam.
Gradually, the rays of Islam spread, and at last, Muhammad Bin Qasim established the Islamic Government in 712 AD after conquering Sindh. Different Muslim Sultans ruled over the sub-continent, from forming the Islamic government to creating British rule.
LAHORE RESOLUTION
On March 23, 1940, the famous Resolution, the Pakistan Resolution, was moved and passed by the Participants unanimously. The Resolution was moved by the Bengal Chief Minister Maulvi Fzal-ul-Haq, known as Sher-e-Bengal, and seconded by Ch. Khaliq-uz-Zaman and others.
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION
The committee submitted the Resolution on March 22 1940. The working committee approved it, and the Resolution was moved by Mr. Fazal-Haq, premier of Bengal, on March 23 1940, which Ch. Khaliq-uz-Zaman seconded.
TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION
“It is the unanimous opinion of the meeting of all India Muslin League that in this country, no constitutional structure would be practical or acceptable to Muslims unless arranged on the following principles. Geographically joined areas are separated, and the necessary area-wise amendments are made so that north-western and north-eastern parts of India where population-wise Muslims are in the majority, should after joining make such free states which are independent and powerful.”
POSTULATE OF THE LAHORE RESOLUTION
a) The Northwest and Eastern zones of India Must be constituted into an independent state in which all the constitutional units must have autonomy and sovereignty.
b) Effective, adequate, and mandatory safeguards shall be provided to all the minorities in the constitutional units for the protection of their religious, political, social, economic, administrative, and other nights.
LAHORE RESOLUTION AS PAKISTAN RESOLUTION
On March 24, 1940, Begum Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar called the Lahore Resolution the Pakistan Resolution in her Speech. In the All India Muslim League meeting in Madras, it was called the Pakistan Resolution.
JINNAH’S PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS
Quaid-e-Azam gave his historical second presidential address he remarked:
“Muslims are a nation by all definitions of nation and must have their homeland, territory, and state.”
REACTION OF MUSLIM LEAGUE
The happiness shown by the Muslims of the sub-continent on the Pakistan Resolution is widely seen in history. A committee of scholars was made to advertise the Pakistan Resolution’s importance and explain the Muslim League’s position.
REACTION OF CONGRESS
Because of the hostility against the Muslims, Congress leaders and Hindu newspapers reacted harshly. Raj Gopal Acharaia said;
The step of Mr Jinnah is like two brothers fighting over some cow, cutting it and dividing it.
HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE LAHORE RESOLUTION
Following are the points of the importance of the Lahore resolution
- The setting of goals
- Muslim unity
- Strong demand for an Islamic state
- Rise of the Muslim League
- Quaid-e-Azam proved to be an international personality
1. SETTING OF GOALS
The approval of the Pakistan Resolution set a target for the Indian Muslims, which was the creation of Pakistan. Now, the Muslims had only one demand, one destination, and there was only one solution to their problems, i.e., the Creation of Pakistan.
2. MUSLIMS UNITY
After setting goals, the enthusiasm for the unity of Muslims increased rapidly. Muslims started to unite on the platform of the Muslim League. This helped in the agreement of Muslims in India.
3. STRONG DEMAND FOR AN ISLAMIC STATE
After the Pakistan Resolution’s approval, Muslims’ demand for an Islamic state grew stronger and stronger daily. This is why the Muslin League developed quite rapidly and got well organized.
4. RISING OF MUSLIM LEAGUE
From its formation on December 30 1906, till the approval of the Pakistan Resolution on March 24, 1940. Muslim League could not unite the Muslims of India at its platform, although it had made every effort to do so.
With the approval of the Pakistan Resolution, Muslims started to gather at the platform of the Muslim League to achieve their goal. As a result, the Muslim League became the only representative party of the Indian Muslim
5. PERSONALITY OF QUAID-E-AZAM
Gopal Krishan Khokhlay, in his Speech at the meeting of Congress in 1906, said
“Whenever India is given independence, it would be because of Mr. Jinnah.”
CONCLUSION
Not only in the history of the sub-continent but in world history, the Pakistan Resolution is a milestone. This is the only Resolution that was a cause for the freedom of six crore Muslims and also a cause of the creation of Pakistan.
Due to this Resolution, the dispersed workforce of Muslims in India and their mental qualities were united and powerful. In the election of 1945-46, the Muslim League succeeded with flying colours. In short, because of the Pakistan Resolution, Muslims of India got a separate homeland.
REFERENCES
- Pakistan Studies by Waqar Ahmad Cheema
