Lahore Resolution

• In order to protect their political, social and religious

rights they first demanded for separate electorates.

However, due to the political developments that took

place in the country they realized that even the right

of separate electorates would not be enough and they

had to search for some other long term solution.

• League demanded independence as Congress also

demanded independence of India, Transfer of Power

and establishment of Constituent Assembly.

• Sind Assembly had already passed a resolution for

establishment of a separate state.

• Annual session of Muslim League held in Lahore

in1940 and thousands of muslims participated in the

session.

• With the clarity of mind and backing of the Muslim community behind him, Quaid-i-Azam called for the 27th annual session of All India Muslim League to be held from March 22 to 24, 1940 at Lahore.

• Overwhelming support from the Muslim masses for his call to celebrate Day of Deliverance on December 22, 1939 was actually a vote of confidence given by the Muslim Community in the leadership of Jinnah, whom they by then had started considering as their Quaid-i-Azam.

• The venue of the session was Minto Park near

Badshahi Masjid and Lahore Fort.

• Maulvi Fazal-ul-Haq presented a resolution about a

Separate State for Muslim of India.

• Resolution was passed unanimously by participants

and was named “Lahore Resolution”.

• Resolution was about establishment of separate

States for Muslims of India comprising of Punjab,

Sind, NWFP and Baluchistan in North West and of

Bengal and Assam in Eastern India, where they can

live with peace and harmony practicing their religious

rites.

• “Hindus and the Muslims belong to two

different religious philosophies, social customs

and literature. They neither inter-marry nor

inter-dine together, and, indeed, they belong to

two different civilizations that are based

mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions.

Their concepts on life and of life are different.”

• “Very often the hero of one is a foe of the

other, and likewise, their victories and defeats

overlap. To yoke together two such nations

under a single state, one as a numerical

minority and the other as a majority, must lead

to growing discontent and final destruction of

any fabric that may be so built up for the

government of such a state.”

Reaction

• The Hindu reaction was, of course, quick, bitter and

malicious. They called the “Pakistan” demand “anti-

national.” They characterized it as “vivisection; above

all, it was inspired to obstruct India’s march to

freedom.

• Gandhi declared it a sin and morally illness of

Muslim League.

• They also failed to take cognizance of the fact that a

hundred million Muslims were now supremely

conscious of their distinct nationhood and were

prepared to stake everything to actualize their self-

perceived destiny – the creation of an independent

Muslim state in the sub-continent.

Impacts on Politics

• Enhancement of prestige of Muslim League .

• Unity among Muslims.

• Change of Government attitude .

• No change of Constitution without consent of

Muslims.

• Equal representation of Muslims in Executive

Council.

• Muslim Nationalism.

• Strengthen the concept of two different nations.

• Gave impetus to freedom movement.

Conclusion

• The All India Muslim League Resolution of March 1940,

commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution, is

undoubtedly the most important event that changed the

course of Indian history and left deep marks on the world

history. With the passage of this Resolution, the Muslims

of the sub-continent changed their demand from

“Separate Electorates” to a “Separate State.”

• It gave new energy and courage to the Muslims of the region

who gathered around Quaid-i-Azam from the platform of the

Muslim League to struggle for their freedom.

• The dynamic leadership of the Quaid and the commitment and

devotion of the followers made it possible for them to achieve

an independent state within seven years of their struggle, and

that too when the odds were against them.

Elections-1945

• With the failure of the Simla Conference, Lord

Wavell announced that the elections of central and

provincial legislature would be held in the winter of

1945 and after the elections a constitution making

body would be set up.

• Both Muslim League and Congress rose opposite

slogans during their campaign. Muslim League

presented one point manifesto; if you want Pakistan

vote for Muslim League. Congress on the other hand

stood for United India.

• Quaid-i-Azam himself toured the length and breadth

of India and tried to bridge up all the factions of the

Muslim community under the banner of Muslim

League.

• Elections held according to Wavell Plan.

• Muslim League’s stand :

– Sole representative of Muslims of India

– Goal is Pakistan

• Congress’s stand :

– Representative of all Indians

– Independence of India

• Central legislature elections in December 1945 :

– Muslim League won all 30 Muslim seats

– Congress won total of 57 seats

• Provincial elections in February 1946.

• Muslim League won most of the seats.

– 75/86 in Punjab, four joined later on

– 113/119 in Bengal

– 28/35 in Sind

– 17/38 in N.W.F.P

• League celebrated January 11, 1946 as the Day of

victory and declared that the election results were

enough to prove that Muslim League under the

leadership of Quaid-i-Azam was the sole

representative of the Muslims of the region.

Cabinet Mission March 1946

• Britain's Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced

on February 19, 1946 the dispatch of the Mission of

three Cabinet Ministers - the Secretary of State for

India, Pethic Lawrence, President of the Board of

Trade, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander. The

announcement was accompanied by a statement of

the terms of reference of the Mission "to promote in

conjunction with the leaders of Indian opinion, the

early realization of full self-Government in India."

• Major points :

• Union of India comprising British India and Princely states.

• Three groups of provinces:

A- 6 hindu majority provinces

B- Punjab, NWFP, Sind, Balochistan

C- Bengal and Assam

• Provinces and states to be the basic unit and residuary

powers with provinces.

• Congress declared it as an ‘appeal and an advice’

• And demanded transfer of power to Hindu dominated

legislature.

• Muslim League accepted the long term and short term

plan and will join the constitution making body.

3rd June Plan 1947

• The last Viceroy of India Mountbatten worked out a

partition plan.

• Congress and Muslim League accepted the partition plan.

• The plan got approval of British government.

• According to it states shall be free to join either state.

• Boundary commission will be set up under Radcliffe to

divide Bengal and Assam.

• Military assets will be divided among the two

countries.

• The states shall make their own constitution.

• On July 4, the Viceroy announced ‘Independence Act

of 1947’.

• Finally the power was transferred to both the states.

• Consequently Pakistan emerged as independent state

on 14 August 1947.