Communalism, nationalism, and the road to independence

Independence Day-August 14-is not merely a celebration of freedom for the Muslims of India; it marks liberation from British colonial rule and escape from Hindu domination. It reflects the long struggle led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Quaid-i-Azam, and underscores the political awakening of Muslims in the early 20th century. The rise of sectarianism and communalism in India, particularly after the formation of the Indian National Congress, heightened Muslim concerns. The establishment of the All India Muslim League gave Muslims a platform to counter the Hindu-majority narrative and demand political safeguards. These demands were crystallised in Allama Iqbal's Allahabad Address and the Lahore Resolution of 1940.

At the historic Lahore session, Jinnah declared that Muslims were a nation by "any definition," distinct in religion, culture, and social customs from Hindus. He warned that forcing the two under one state-where Muslims would be a minority-would lead to instability and eventual collapse. This became the foundation of the Pakistan Resolution, silencing critics who rejected the Two Nation Theory. The violent events of Partition tragically validated his warnings, a reality still echoed today as India's Muslims face discrimination and violence under rising Hindu extremism.

Communal tensions dominated political negotiations between the Muslim League and Congress. Despite repeated meetings, including between Jinnah and Gandhi, differences over language, representation, and constitutional safeguards persisted. The 1944 Standing Committee on communal and minority issues produced no concrete results. As World War II drew attention to India's future governance, Congress envisioned a federal setup dominated by the Hindu majority, while the League opposed any arrangement that compromised Muslim autonomy. Gandhi argued for resolving issues on "self-determination" rather than "two nations," but Jinnah firmly rejected the idea of India as a single nation.

Jinnah did not reject democracy but opposed a federal structure that would allow Hindu dominance. The League maintained that a democratic framework in British India could not work with two antagonistic communities. The Cripps Mission, Wavell Plan, Simla Conference, and Cabinet Mission all failed to reconcile the fundamental divide.

By February 1947, Prime Minister Attlee announced Britain's decision to transfer power no later than June 1948. Mountbatten's 3rd June Plan advanced the date to August 15, 1947, given the volatile political climate and escalating communal violence. Partition created two sovereign states, but also left behind deep disputes-Kashmir, boundary demarcation, and water distribution-that still strain bilateral ties.

Today, as Pakistan and India celebrate their independence, these unresolved conflicts remain the "new normal." Communal divides endure, hindering prospects for peace. Pakistan, while confronting its own sectarian challenges, must realign with the Quaid's vision-ensuring unity at home while advocating for justice and equality for all communities in the region.

— The author is former faculty Quaid-i-Azam University. He is Editor CISS, AJK and can reached at: pakirish@yahoo.com