The Making of the National Movement: 1870s--1947
The Making of the National Movement: 1870s--1947 > Ask Alfie
Hi
Discuss the developments of the 1937-47 period that led to the creation of Pakistan.
1. In 1940 the Muslim League had moved a resolution demanding “Independent States” for Muslims in the north-western and eastern areas of the country. The resolution did not mention partition or Pakistan.
2. From the late 1930s, the League began viewing the Muslims as a separate “nation” from the Hindus.The provincial elections of 1937 seemed to have convinced the League that Muslims were a minority. The Congress’s rejection of the League’s desire to form a joint Congress- League government in the United Provinces in 1937 also annoyed the League. The Congress’s failure to mobilise the Muslim masses in the 1930s allowed the League to widen its social support. At the end of the war in 1945, the British opened negotiations between the Congress, the League and themselves for the independence of India which failed. The League saw itself as the sole spokesperson of India’s Muslims which the Congress could not accept. The Congress did well in the “General” constituencies in 1946 but the League’s success in the seats reserved for Muslims was spectacular. 3. It persisted with its demand for “Pakistan”. In March 1946 the British cabinet sent a three-member mission which suggested that India should remain united and constitute itself as a loose confederation with some autonomy for Muslim-majority areas. But it could not get the Congress and the Muslim League to agree to specific details of the proposal. Partition now became more or less inevitable. 4. After the failure of the Cabinet Mission, the Muslim League decided on mass agitation for winning its Pakistan demand. It announced 16 August 1946 as “Direct Action Day”. On this day riots broke out in Calcutta, lasting several days and resulting in the death of thousands of people. By March 1947 violence spread to different parts of northern India. Millions of people were forced to flee their homes, killed and tortured. Women had to face untold brutalities during the Partition. A new country, Pakistan, was born. The joy of independence came mixed with the pain and violence of Partition.
2. From the late 1930s, the League began viewing the Muslims as a separate “nation” from the Hindus.The provincial elections of 1937 seemed to have convinced the League that Muslims were a minority. The Congress’s rejection of the League’s desire to form a joint Congress- League government in the United Provinces in 1937 also annoyed the League. The Congress’s failure to mobilise the Muslim masses in the 1930s allowed the League to widen its social support. At the end of the war in 1945, the British opened negotiations between the Congress, the League and themselves for the independence of India which failed. The League saw itself as the sole spokesperson of India’s Muslims which the Congress could not accept. The Congress did well in the “General” constituencies in 1946 but the League’s success in the seats reserved for Muslims was spectacular. 3. It persisted with its demand for “Pakistan”. In March 1946 the British cabinet sent a three-member mission which suggested that India should remain united and constitute itself as a loose confederation with some autonomy for Muslim-majority areas. But it could not get the Congress and the Muslim League to agree to specific details of the proposal. Partition now became more or less inevitable. 4. After the failure of the Cabinet Mission, the Muslim League decided on mass agitation for winning its Pakistan demand. It announced 16 August 1946 as “Direct Action Day”. On this day riots broke out in Calcutta, lasting several days and resulting in the death of thousands of people. By March 1947 violence spread to different parts of northern India. Millions of people were forced to flee their homes, killed and tortured. Women had to face untold brutalities during the Partition. A new country, Pakistan, was born. The joy of independence came mixed with the pain and violence of Partition.
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