Lahore Resolution

Background

 Two Nation Theory

The Muslims believe that by virtue of their faith, they have separate identity from the other world.
Their spiritual and national aspiration could only be realized in a state which was Islamic in nature.
Where they could live in accordance with Islamic injunctions

 British Democratic System

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan said that it is inappropriate to implement the Western system of democracy
here without proper changes as people of different races and nationalities live here and thus there
is a fear of permanent power of the same sect (Hindus). Because Hindus live in the majority in the
subcontinent.

 Urdu-Hindi Controversy
Reacting to the Urdu-Hindi conflict which started from Banaras in 1867, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan said that it
was an attempt to eradicate even the Muslim civilization. He took the initiative to protect Urdu in all
circumstances. In addition, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan strongly condemned movements such as the extremist
Arya Samaj in the last two decades of the nineteenth century.

 Extremist Hindu leadership

In the twentieth century, the leadership of the Hindus passed from the hands of balanced and
enlightened people to the hands of anti-Muslim, sectarian and bigoted personalities including Madan
Mohan Malviya, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Srinivasa Nath Banerjee. Muslims opposed the proposal to
form a central political party to counter their activities.

 Establishment of Indian National Congress

A.O. Hume founded the Indian National Congress in 1885. The Hindus welcomed the party and joined it
in large numbers. Later, they had complete control over the party. Syed Ahmad Khan included the
Muslims in it. Prohibited from doing so could endanger their identity.

 The Partition of Bengal

In 1905 Lord Curzon divided Bengal into two parts, i.e. East Bengal and West Bengal. This step was
taken due to administrative reason. Because this befitted the Muslim so Hindus and Congress opposed
the partition. The Muslims felt that they should have a political platform, so they established Muslim
League.

 Simla Deputation
Thirty five top ranking Muslim leaders called on the then viceroy Lord Minto at Simla on 1st Oct 1906,
and presented Muslims demands. Separate electorate was the most significant of the Muslim demands.
Viceroy’s attitude was sympathetic and encouraging.

 Allahabad Address
On the one hand a round table conference was being held in Britain and on the other hand the annual
meeting of the Muslim League was held at Allahabad in 1930. Presiding over the meeting, which was
chaired by Allama Iqbal, Allama Iqbal envisioned a separate Muslim state in the Muslim-majority areas
and interpreted the subcontinent as a continent rather than a country, and Muslims as a separate
nation and Islam as a whole. Named the theory of life.

Annual Session of the Muslim League

The annual meeting of the Muslim League was held in Lahore in 1940. After Friday prayers, addressing a
gathering of more than one lakh people at Minto Park (now Iqbal Park), the Quaid-e-Azam RA said that
any definition of a nation Muslims are a separate nation. We must have our homeland, our territory and
our state. We, as a free and independent nation, want to live in peace and harmony with our
neighbours. Efforts are being made to establish a central government in India, despite its 1200 years of
the history. That this unity was never achieved. India has always been divided into Hindu India and
Muslim India.

The Quaid-e-Azam RA said that if Muslims were demanding a separate state, it could not be considered
unhistorical that Britain had separated from Ireland and Spain from Portugal. The political issue of the
subcontinent is not a national or sectarian issue, it is an international issue and it must be resolved in
this context. The subcontinent is not a country but it is the homeland of different nations. They have
been nationals here and their interests are different.

Approval of Lahore Resolution

On March 23rd, 1940, the Chief Minister of Bengal, Maulvi Fazal Haq, presented a landmark resolution at
the Lahore meeting of the Muslim League, which later became known as the Pakistan Resolution. The
resolution was passed at the March 24th meeting.
The resolution was passed unanimously, first endorsed by UP leader Chaudhry Khaliq-ul-Azman,
followed by leaders from other provinces besides Sindh, Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan.

Salient Features of Lahore Resolution

The Lahore resolution made it clear that in the future, only a constitution that is framed with the
following principles in mind will be acceptable.

 Annulment of the Federal Scheme

The federal scheme was introduced by the British in the Act of 1935, so the Muslims rejected any
scheme to try to control the provinces through the federation. Because Muslims were of the view that
this scheme is totally unsuitable for the Sub-continent. So the Muslims opposed the said scheme and
demanded an independent state.

 Establishment of sovereign states

It was clearly stated that a constitution acceptable for the Muslims of India shall be based on the
following principle”Geographically contagious units be demarcated into regions…….in which the
Muslims are numerically a majority, as in the north-west and in the north-east zones of India, should
grouped to constitute independent state in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and
sovereign.

 Rights of Minorities
In the newly formed Muslim and non-Muslim states, adequate constitutional safeguards should be
provided to minorities, with their consultation, for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic,
political and administrative rights and interests.

 Extent of States Sovereignty

The working committee of the Muslim League has been empowered to formulate a constitutional
scheme in the light of the above points in which the states have been given the authority to take care of
all matters including defense, foreign affairs, messengers, customs and other necessary matters.

Reaction to Lahore Resolution

The resolution was to be passed when the Hindu newspapers and leaders started opposing the
resolution. The word Pakistan resolution was never used by the Muslims, but the next day the Hindu
newspapers called it the Pakistan Resolution. The Lahore resolution became the Pakistan resolution as if
more Hindus than Muslims played a role in making the resolution so popular.

Importance of Lahore Resolution

 Goal setting
For the first time since the Lahore Declaration, Muslims have declared the establishment of an
independent Islamic state as their ultimate goal from the platform of the Muslim League. Muslims had
never demanded Pakistan from the platform of the Muslim League before. A large number of Muslims
participated and approved the resolution.

 Popularity of Leadership
Quaid-e-Azam RA said that half the battle is won by choosing the right leader. This is what happened
after Lahore Resolution, the way Muslims expressed complete confidence in the leadership of Quaid-e-
Azam RA and the Muslim League and Quaid-e-Azam RA emerged as only popular leaders.

 Popularity of the Muslim League

After the approval of the Lahore resolution, the Muslim League became the most popular party of the
Muslims of the subcontinent. And the main reason was the clear determination of the destination.
Which resulted in the 1945-46 elections when the Muslim League won 100% of the Central Assembly
and 90% percent of the Provincial Assembly.

 Unity of the Muslims

Only seven years after the Lahore Resolution, the Muslims of the Sub-continent established their
independent state. This resolution led to the political unity of the Muslims. Earlier, Muslims were
divided into different groups at the provincial and regional levels and after the adoption of the Lahore
resolution, the political unity of the Muslims of the subcontinent increased incredibly.
 Election victory
The 1945 elections were fought on the basis of the Lahore Resolution. In these elections, the manifesto
of the Muslim League was the establishment of Pakistan while the manifesto of the Congress was United
India. Muslim League won 100% of the Central Assembly and 90% percent of the Provincial Assembly.

 Creation of Pakistan
This resolution set the destiny of the Muslims and they started fighting for the establishment of Pakistan
with new determination and courage and it was achieved in a short span of only seven years.