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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION: 2
HISTORY OF TWO-NATION THEORY: 2
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (1857): 3
HINDI-URDU CONTROVERSY: 3
SIR SYED AHMAD KHAN AND TWO-NATION THOERY: 3
ALLAMA IQBAL AND TWO-NATION THOERY: 4
TWO NATION THEORY IN THE EYES OF QUAID-E-AZAM: 4
ROLE OF TWO NATION THEORY IN DEMANDING OF PAKISTAN: 5
MUSLIMS WHO CHOSE TO STAY IN INDIA AFTER PARTITION:
CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT: A DISCRIMINATORY LAW 6
 TWO-NATION THEORY

INTRODUCTION:
The phenomenon of Two Nation Theory sprigged up with the advent of Islam. The sense
behind the creation of Pakistan was quite unique as it was generally based on the ideological
commitments in the light of Islam. The basic concept of Two Nation theory was that Muslims
differ from Hindus in terms of religious, social, cultural and daily life and that they must
establish their own Independent Muslim state where they can easily exercise their
fundamental rights and live their life according to the teachings of Islam. This concept was
enough in giving rise to two different political thinking which became the result in the
partition of the sub-continent.
Quaid-e-Azam said:
“We should have a State in which we could live and breathe as free men and which we
could develop according to our own lights and culture and where principles of Islamic
social justice could find free play.”
Islam had already given the concept of two nation theory during the days of Prophet
Mohammad (SAW) which was based on Tauheed (oneness) therefore could not be merged
in any other system of religion. According to Islam, there are only two nations in the world:
Believers and Non-Believers.

HISTORY OF TWO-NATION THEORY:

The History of Two Nation Theory is as archaic as the Muslims in India. Although, Muslims
and Hindus had been living together for the centuries but they never tried to work out their
relationship with each other as they always lived as two separate nations, two different social
systems and two opposite polar nations having two distinct religions. Islam was introduced in
India shortly after its advent which highlighted the concept of two nations (Hindus and
Muslims), but it only became a theory after the outbreak of War of Independence in 1857. Sir
Syed Ahmad Khan, the pioneer of Ideology of Pakistan is considered as the “Father of Two-
nation Theory” because he was the first person who used the word “Two Nation” for
Muslim and Hindus after being convinced of Hindu’s hatred, prejudice and hostility for the
Muslims and demanded for the separate independent homeland. Ideology of Pakistan took
firm roots through the process of evolution. Sir Syed began the period of Muslim self-
awakening and started making efforts to make Muslims aware of the significance of Modern
education. Allama Iqbal provided the philosophical explanation of idea presented by Sir Syed
and Quaid-a-Azam took the ground and converted the theory into a practical work which later
transformed into a political reality.

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (1857):

The British took over the Muslim’s rule in the sub-continent through the East India Company
which led Muslims towards their downfall in South Asia. War of Independence was an
attempt to regain the power which they had lost and formed enmity towards the British and
to remove the British rule from the South Asia. The tables turned when British won the war.
However, people from different part of the areas, religions and ethic group took to the field
but Imperialist British Empire considered Muslims to be the lone wagers for the mutiny as
they were already in good terms with Hindus. The British followed a repressive policy
against the Muslims to stop such a reoccurrence in the future. Properties and estates of those
even remotely associated with the insurgents were confiscated and conscious efforts were
made to close all the avenues of honest living for them.

HINDI-URDU CONTROVERSY:
Urdu was the National language of India during the British Raj Period. Some of the
prominent leaders of India started a movement against Urdu, the Hindus wanted to replace
Urdu with Hindi. They tried to replace the Arabic Script of Urdu in Devnagri in which Hindi
was written They had also started a movement in Benaras in the year 1867 to replace Urdu
with Hindi as Official language. The Muslims all over the South Asia formed Defense
societies in response to this to safeguard Urdu from the shackle of Hindu fawning. Sir Syed
Ahmad Khan strongly opposed the idea and thus he safeguarded Urdu as well as Muslim
identity with the demand of separate state. This controversy realized the Muslims that Hindus
will never fraternize with them.

SIR SYED AHMAD KHAN AND TWO-NATION THOERY:

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was the main protagonist behind the concept of two nation theory. He
was a great Muslim Leader and a great philosopher. His efforts to bring the Muslims close to
British as well as to make the Muslims realize of the benefits of modern education as he was
aware of the fact that Muslims could not play their due part in society without utilizing to the
fullest, the opportunities offered by the new western culture and education. He formed many
educational institutions under the flag of the Aligarh movement. He diverted Muslims
attention towards the Two-Nation theory so that Muslims could comprehend their differences
from Hindus. Due to antagonistic attitude of Hindus towards the Muslim, Sir Syed Ahmad
khan realized that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nation and that both nations cannot
live together. He declared that Muslim were a separate nation. He said:
“I am convinced now that Hindus and Muslims could never become one nation as their
religion and way of life was quite distinct from each other.”

ALLAMA IQBAL AND TWO-NATION THOERY:

Allama Iqbal was a great philosopher, poet, politician as well as an educationist and scholar
in British India who was well-known as the “Poet of East”. He was among the few people,
who for the first time gave the concept of Two Nation theory through his philosophy and
poetry. He said:
“India is not a country. It is a Sub-Continent of human beings belonging to different
languages and practicing different religions. Muslim nation has its own religious and
cultural identity”.
He supported the idea of Sir Syed and united the Muslims of South Asia through his works.
His presidential address to the 1930 Allahabad session of All India Muslim League united all
the people from different backgrounds in a single state. He presented long and short terms
solution for the independence which was promoted from the platform of Muslim League.
According to Iqbal:
“I remained the supporter of this idea but now I am of the view that preservation of
separate Nationhood is useful for Hindus and Muslims birth. To have the concept of single
nation In India is no doubt poetic and beautiful but impractical regarding present
circumstances”.

TWO NATION THEORY IN THE EYES OF QUAID-E-AZAM:

Quaid-e-Azam’s long lasting efforts for the Independence of a separate Muslim state was the
main reason behind the creation of Pakistan who was the solid defender of Two Nation
theory and considered Muslims as a separate nation from every aspect. He said:
“Pakistan came in to being the very day when first Non-Muslim became a Muslim.”
He took the Sir Syed’s concept forward and turned it into a reality by introducing a political
platform called the All India Muslim League in 1906. Sole purpose of the establishment was
to take up the Muslim demands with the government through the constitutional means.
Jinnah came up with the 14 points agenda issued by All India Muslim League in March 1929.
Later, He played the role of religious communalism and provincialism in forming the
movement for Pakistan as the Sole Spokesman of AIML. Several other movements were also
launched along with that such as Lucknow Pact 1916, Khilafat Movement etc. which
impacted the unity of Muslims India and the concept of Two Nation Theory positively as
well as negatively.

ROLE OF TWO NATION THEORY IN DEMANDING OF PAKISTAN:

The Two Nation Theory played a vital and sole role in demanding of Pakistan. All the
eminent Muslim leaders took advantage of it and with the occurrence of many events, this
theory along with the ideology of Pakistan which was based on Islamic beliefs and ideals
became the foundation of an Independent Muslim state called “Pakistan”. From the outbreak
of war of Independence to the Hindu-Urdu controversy, Muslim came to realize their
fundamental rights as well as that they are a separate nation from the rest of the world due to
oneness in their Ideology. Lahore Resolution was the formal adoption and implementation of
Two Nation Theory. Their roots became stronger after all the struggle they went through for
the separate homeland paid off when finally, Muslim league won 46 out of 56 seats in by-
elections.
This succession was because of Lahore resolution or Pakistan resolution because it gave the
Muslims of sub-continent a new aim and direction towards the future where they could live
their life freely. Lahore resolution was basically based on Two Nation Theory as it was the
final steps towards the implementation of theory and creation of a new state.

MUSLIMS WHO CHOSE TO STAY IN INDIA AFTER PARTITION:

Some of the Muslims in the sub-continent were not in the favor of partition so they decided to
stay back in India even after the partition in 1947. Several reasons including geographic and
socio-economic conditions, difference in cultural values as well as difference in opinions
forced them to not leave their country, India. Muslims of India were spread all over the
eastern, western and southern part of India so it was difficult for some Muslims to travel in
that time as well as the circumstances became quite violent after the announcement of
partition which made the travelling a lot more difficult. People did not know whether there
will be a better future for them in Pakistan or not as poverty was rampant in both countries.
Some Muslims were doing well financially, and their bases were stronger in India from a
long time. They could not give up on all of their achievements and ventures and pack up their
bags unless they got a backup in another place. Lastly, Majority of the Muslim from different
parts of the sub-continents were supporting congress as they had been enjoying all the
privileges given to the congress supporter which was the sole reason of their stay back in
India.

CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT: A DISCRIMINATORY LAW

Muslims in India have been increasingly at risk since the Hindu nationalist party Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an extremist
Political Leader, won elections in 2014. He had been creating many difficult situations not
only for the Muslims of India but the Muslims of Pakistan as well. Due to his extremist
speeches which contain hatred and antagonism towards Muslims rises communal tensions in
the country. The inhumane treatment of Muslims in India as well as in Kashmir were
encouraged by the government which shows that all the prominent Muslim leaders were right
about the Hindus that they will never accept Muslims or give them their fundamental Human
rights. Even after the 90 years of period, the concept of Two-Nation Theory still comes to the
spotlight that Hindus and Muslims are two separate nation, their cultural religious views are
so different from each other which will never let them live together ever. On December 12,
2019, the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was passed by the Parliament.
Under this act, religion is a basis for granting citizenship for the first time in India. The law
specifically claims of non-Muslim irregular immigrants from the Muslim-majority countries
including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. This law with the government’s push
started a nationwide citizenship verification process through National Population Registration
(NPR) which aimed at identifying “Illegal immigrants”, has led to fears that millions of
Indian Muslims including those who lived there for generations could be stripped of their
citizenship rights.
Indians of all faith protested peacefully against the discriminatory law throughout the country
by singing songs, reciting poetry, and reading aloud from the constitution which commits to
secularism and equality. This irked the some of the leaders of BJP deriding the protestors and
showing their extremist attitude by calling them “anti-national” or “Pro-Pakistan”. The
BJP supporters became violent as the number of protests risen with the each passing day. The
Muslims were killed because of trivial reasons, they were injured, tortured, women were
raped, mosques were burnt, their houses were put on fire, properties were confiscated, the
Human rights were openly violated. The abuses continued but neither police nor government
intervene to prevent the further violations from happening. All of this happening pointing to
the fact that Quaid-e-Azam had foreseen the behavior of Hindus towards Muslim. He knew
no matter how much time had passed; the true nature of Hindus will not change. They will
always put Muslims under their foot.