CSS Notes > Discuss the view of Iqbal and Jinnah regarding the Two Nation Theory.
Introduction
Pakistan is creation of an idea. The said idea was produced by Allama Muhammad Iqbal. To give it a practical and material shape Muhammad Ali Jinnah played the pivotal role. This idea was actually called Two Nation Theory which the Muslims of Sub-Continent adopted. Both the leaders believed in and expressed their views to strengthen the Two Nation Theory.
Views of Iqbal Regarding the Two Nation Theory
Iqbal, an intellectual with a vision, is believed to have strongly advocated the ideas of Muslim Nationalism and Separation actually mere pointed out the question of that day which was Hind-Muslim Conflict in his famous presidential address at Allahabad on 30th December, 1930. He said, “The various caste units and religious units in India have shown no inclination to lose their individualities in a large whole. Each group is intensely jealous (guarding) of its separate existence.”
He added, “I would like to see Sindh, Punjab, NWFP and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single state. Self-Government within the British Empire or without the formation of a consolidated Northern Western Indian Muslim States appears to me to be the final destination of Muslims at least of the Northern Western India.”
In this historical speech he boded the need of future, but the use of words ‘With or Without’ explicitly reveal that he did not laid stress on the separate Muslim state. This vision of Iqbal remained intact till 1934 but later the ground realities molded his view for the idea of a separate homeland on the basis of ‘Two-Nation Theory’.
Views of Jinnah Regarding the Two Nation Theory
Jinnah started to believe in the Two Nation Theory years after Iqbal openly and publicly professed it. The views of Jinnah on Two Nation Theory can be understood clearly from his address in Lahore at the stage of Pakistan Resolution in 1940.
In this regard, the most important aspect was his presidential speech at the annual session of Muslims League held on 22 to 24th of March 1940. A resolution famous with the title of ‘Lahore Resolution’ was presented on 23rd March and it was unanimously accepted on 24th of March was the first such document in which creation of Pakistan was demanded for the first time from the platform of the League. Jinnah while addressing the giant gathering of Muslims at Minto Park Lahore said,
“It has always been taken for granted that the Muslims are a minority; the Muslims are not a minority. They are a nation by any definition – by all the canons of International Law we are a nation.”
He also added; “India is neither a nation nor a state. It is a sub-continent composed of various nations. Hindus and Muslims are the two different religions, philosophies, social and cultural setups – they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions.”
Following that event, Jinnah defended and propagated the Two Nation Theory almost at every platform he could find. He adopted it and worked to strengthen this idea for the creation of a separate homeland.
Conclusion
The views of both the leaders regarding the Two Nation Theory evolved over the years. Iqbal adopted this theory in 1930 while Jinnah started to accept it in 1940.