The case for Union of South Asia, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

The case for Union of South Asia

By Soulat Pasha

Pakistan of 1947 was demanded by then Muslim League of India, a party of Muslim landowners and middle class led by a westernized lawyer Mr. Jinnah who is known by the Pakistanis as Quaid-e-Azam- the great leader. Indian Muslims were generally apprehensive of Hindu domination in any democratic arrangement of India. They had these feelings long before the formation of Muslim League or Mr. Jinnah assuming its leadership; as in the third quarter of 19th century when the first political party of India- the Congress was formed, a renowned Muslim scholar Sir Syed warned Muslims of these political reform movements and advised them not to join the Congress or its efforts for any form of self rule or democracy or independence as it will amount to majority rule of Hindus, which would be harmful for the Muslim minority of India, he advised them to remain loyal of colonial power as it could help save Muslims from tyranny of Hindu majority.

Although Muslim League may be regarded as communal in the context of united India of 1940’s, nevertheless its leader and the sole driving force since 1935, Mr. Jinnah, was essentially a secular, westernized, enlightened and liberal man. He in fact agitated against mixing of religion with politics as was started by Mr.Gandhi and Maulana Jouhar during Khilafat movement of 1918-20. By that time Mr. Jinnah had become an accomplished leader of Congress, and was known as crusader for solidarity of all Indians, an Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity; he abhorred the very concept of using Islamic jargons like Khilafat for this movement, he sincerely felt that restoration of Khilafat was an absurd and impractical utopia and the movement is an exercise in futility, but the rhetoric, emotions, heat and fervor of the movement was so exciting that the voices of dissent like those of Mr. Jinnah were of no essence. Being dejected he disassociated himself from the movement and ultimately the Congress as well.

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