Question

Trace the evolution of Pakistan Movement. Also discuss whether the partition of India and Pakistan could have been averted

Answer 1

Approach:

1. Discuss the roots of separatist movement in Aligarh Muslim Movement.
2. Explain the policy of divide and rule of the British.
3. The role of Muslim League and Hindu Rightist groups.
4. Mention about the Pakistan resolution and failure of the efforts of cabinet mission plan.
5. Discuss about the possibilities of averting of partition.
6. Provide a befitting conclusion.

Aligarh Muslim Movement:
The policy of maintaining good rapport with the British government was advocated by the Sayed Ahamed Khan. This made the educated muslims to stay away from the mainstream freedom movements. By this action they expected advantage in government jobs for the community. It created the seeds of the seperatist movement in India.

Divide and rule policy of British:
The friction between the Hindus and the Muslims was used by the British to their own interest. They followed the policy of minority appeasement which prevented the Hindu- Muslim unity in India. These can be seen in the following actions of the British:

• Formation of the Muslim League
• Bengal partition
• Separate electorate by Minto-Morley reforms

Muslim League and Hindu Right groups: The Muslim League which was formed in 1906 with the support of the British government kept away the muslim intellectuals from joining Indian National Congress.They fought against the Congress instead of the Colonial power. The Hindu Right groups are also equally contributed to the social distrust through their Shuddhi movement.

Thus the religiously conscious group fell into the trap of British Indian Government which prolonged their exploitation of India.

Pakistan resolution and failure of cabinet mission plan:
The solid demand for the separate Pakistan was made through the Lahore resolution in 1940 by the Indian Muslim League. But the demand was made a decade before by Iqbal, poet-philosopher for an seperate muslim majority North West Indian Muslim State. The term Pakistan was formed by Chaudhury Rahmat Ali by demanding Punjab, Afghan province, Kashmir, Sindh and Balochistan to be part of the new State.

The cabinet mission plan was the last effort to maintain a united India failed which led to worst communal violence in the form of direct action day by Muslim League. Thus the partition of the British India into two States became inevitable.

Possibilities of preventing partition: Number of measures have been taken to prevent partition by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress. If they wouldhad been a success the partition of India was not a result. Some of the important steps are:

• C.Rajagopalachari Formula or C.R Formula
• Gandhi-Jinnah Talks
• Desai-Liaquat proposals
• Cabinet Mission Plan

Conclusion:
The partition of India was the result of the alienation of the different communities for more than a century which turned into disastrous effect on India. Both the British India and Religious rightist groups have to be blamed for the partition. The hardships faced due to the partition permanently created a mutual suspicion between India and Pakistan that haunts peace and stability in South Asia.