‘The Congress aroused a passion for Muslim separatism’
Till today, many Indians have not reconciled to the creation of Pakistan. For them, the borders between the two countries are ‘artificial’ and ‘unnatural’. Moreover, they believe that ‘Mother India’ was ‘indivisible’ and all people inhabiting it irrespective of race, language, religion, culture, etc were one nation.
This was the idea of nationalism propounded by the Indian National Congress at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. Parallel to this grew the idea of Muslim nationalism articulated by the All- India Muslim League arguing that the Muslims of the subcontinent were a different nation from the rest of the Indians on the bases of language, religion, culture, etc. Initially, the League only demanded constitutional safeguards for the Muslim community within the Indian Union, however, when their demands were not accommodated by the Hindu majority dominating the Congress, the League demanded the partition of India and the formation of a separate state for the Muslims at its annual session in Lahore in 1940. This was an ‘alarming’ demand and should have ‘woken up’ Congress but the latter was overconfident that its ‘tyrannical majority’ could easily bulldoze the aspirations of the Muslim minority.
Ideally, the ‘wise men’ of the Congress should have huddled together on an emergency basis to look into the likely consequences of the demand for Pakistan; yet they kept sleeping! While the Congress snored in its dream land of ‘one India, one nation’; a more thoughtful party decided to investigate what this ‘Pakistan’ project was all about. This was the Independent Labour Party (ILP) of the Bombay province, whose Executive Committee tasked a six-member committee (all non-Muslims) under Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar to prepare a report on the demand of Pakistan, which it did in December 1940, and the same was published in the form of a book in 1941. I think all those Hindus that shed tears over partition have not bothered to read this document. Dr Ambedkar was not an ordinary politician. His findings on Pakistan become all the more significant keeping in view the fact that in addition to being a barrister with a doctorate to his credit, he was the head of the commission that drafted the constitution of independent India and in a recent nationwide public survey conducted by the Indian ‘Outlook’ magazine was adjudged “the greatest Indian after Gandhi”; well over the heads of the political stalwarts such as Nehru, Patel, Prasad, Azad, etc. His findings are as relevant today as these were in 1940.
Let’s take up the Hindu arguments that negate the idea of Muslim nationhood in India. Firstly, it is said that there was no difference of race between the Hindus and the Muslims. Well! It may be stated that race should not be confounded with one nation as human history, unlike other species is a different zoology and the fact is that there is no pure race. Secondly, it is argued that there was a linguistic affinity between the two communities as the Hindus and the Muslims of a province say Punjab or Bengal spoke the same language. True! Common language is a factor that pulls people together but it cannot be used as an instrument to compel people to live together. Ironically, it was the Congress which used the ‘Linguistic Principle’ and caused divisions in India by separating Bihar from Orissa during the Congress rule (1937-39). Similarly, Andhra demanded separation from Madras and Karnatak from Maharashtra. Ambedkar argued that linguistic difference was just another name for cultural difference and if the Congress was not averse to the separation of Andhra and Karnatak then why was it shocked over the demand for the separation of Pakistan?
Thirdly, the Indian nationalists while presenting a holistic view aver that the subcontinent was inhabited by the two communities for centuries and as a result their social life was honeycombed to the extent that some Muslim pirs had Hindu disciples while Hindu yogis had Muslim ‘chelas’. This may be undeniable but Ambedkar thoughtfully pointed out that these commonalities were ‘accidental’ and ‘superficial’ whereas the divisive aspects were ‘essential’ and ‘fundamental’, and thus far more vital than the aspects that united the two communities. To elaborate the point, he wrote that while the Hindus drew religious inspirations from the Ramayan, Geeta, etc; the Muslims from the Quran and Hadees. He quoted Bhai Parmanand’s pamphlet “The Hindu national movement’ which clearly highlighted that the Hindus revered Prithvi Raj, Rana Partap, Shivaji and Beragi Bir whereas the Muslims looked up to Mohammad bin Qasim and Aurangzeb. Can anyone disagree with Ambedkar when he states that not only was there an “absence of common historical antecedents” but the past of these two communities was also imbedded in their religions. To expect either of the two communities to forget its past was like asking it to give up its religion, and “to hope for this is to hope in vain”.
What was then inherently wrong with the concept of nationalism touted by the Indian nationalists? Well! They just kept ‘calling’ all Indians one nation without ever realizing the fact whether all the Indians ever actually ‘felt’ as being one nation. This difference between ‘calling’ and ‘feeling’ as a nation has not been understood by the Indians, even today. Despite all the commonalities being found between the two communities, the Muslims and the Hindus never longed to belong to each other. In other words, the Muslims never ‘felt’ to be a part of the Indian nation. The persistent Hindu rejection of the separate Muslim identity eventually gave rise to a ‘passion’ and a ‘will’ among the Muslims to live as a separate nation. This ‘will’ is the most superior of all the factors that determine a nation.
Ambedkar gives several examples to prove the importance of the sovereignty of the will of a people. Once the people ‘will’ for something then that ‘will’ in itself becomes the determining factor to justify their demand. He quoted the example of Switzerland. The Swiss spoke three or four different languages; in spite of this, they created a state because they ‘felt’ and ‘willed’ to be one nation. On the contrary, the Americans and the Englishmen speak the same language yet they ‘willed’ to remain separate nations.
There can be another interesting scenario whereby a nation may be aware of its separate identity yet it does not ask for a separate country. Ambedkar citied the examples of the French living in Canada and the British in South Africa but added that this did not mean that the Indian Muslims could be denied separate nationhood even if they insisted on it. The critics of Muslim nationalism object that the birth of Muslim nationalism was a relatively more recent phenomenon and if the Indian Muslims were conscious of their separate identity then why didn’t they ask for it much earlier. This charge is valid but Ambedkar has explained it quite philosophically. He states that nations can exist for centuries in ‘unreflective silence’ i.e. without being ignited with the passion of nationalism. In other words, it can be said that the Muslims of India were conscious of their unique separate status but didn’t ‘feel’ the passion to press for this feeling. They might have continued to live in united India, as the Indian nationalists wished, had the Congress not pushed them to the wall. In conclusion, Ambedkar blames the shortsighted policies of the Congress which aroused a passion for Muslim separatism, which, by each passing day, matured into the ‘will’ of the Muslim masses to settle for nothing short of a homeland of their own.
The writer is an academic and journalist. He can be reached at [email protected]
It is otherwise a good and thought provoking piece. However, have you ever thought that there are more muslims living in secular India of their own choice than the entire population of Pakistan? If a survey is conducted and given the option to choose between India and Pakistan, how many indian muslims would like to go to Muslim Pakistan? Also, how many Pakistani Muslims would like to shift to India? Just ponder over it!
Qamar
Common misconception there are more Muslims in Pakistan, than in India
Who are you talking to? Indians have no problem with formation. We have problem you not moving on. Pakistani government,people andd others compare everything with India. Leave us alone . You carry on and get yourself rid of Indian obsession.
Hypocrisy is indians surfing Pakistani newspaper sites all day long and at the same time accusing us of india obsession. The concept is certainly lost on you isnt it.
Surfing the net and visiting Pakistani news websites is not an obsession. No Indian is accusing other Indians of obsession with Pakistan. Reading papers does not mean obsession. India has moved on. You Pakistanis have habit of over-selling yourself. I strongly feel that the creation of Pakistan proved to be good for India.
Mr Qamar
Here the question is of WILL,as mr Ambedkar,"nation can exist for centuries in unreflective silence i.e.without being ignited with the passion of nationalism." so here essence is WILL.
Thanks
Mirza
Ashe norm the fault elsewhere.the irony is that even after forming a separate nation are they united and if so why do Bangladesh go separate?
http://www.ibtl.in/blog/2019/ambedkar-what-the-da… these were dr ambedkars view on islam
no sir your wrong..new generation of Indian are happy by the creation of pakistan…if pakistan was not created the border would have been with Afghanistan…they would have faced the nuisance of talibans..now pakistan is buffer state between India and Afghanistan
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Nah …
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Afg. as the reason to define the liking of Pak's creation is a twisted logic …
The birth place as well as the home port of Taliban is Pakistan …
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thanks a lot to politicians who separate pakistan frm india.otherwise india also a part of worlds most dangerous place and terrorist hub..pakistan is destroyed by religion.million thanks to dr ambedkar
The very first sentence in this column : "Till today, many Indians have not reconciled to the creation of Pakistan. – what a Bunk !. I must have read this assertion by all and sundry columnists from Pakistan. Could any one of you provide a source ( a reputable one – not another Pakistani website!) where the 'many Indians' can be assigned a number or percent of total Indian population? I am sure, before the final break up, some may have felt sad and nostalgic. But now? I challenge you to show me one Indian ( who has no relatives on Pakistan side of the border) who does not say "Good Bye and Good Riddance". (Before anybody start foaming at their mouth, let me assure you that I am quite aware that the feeling is mutual)
The author is a moron who has irrefutably accepted that there is nothing good about Pakistan…so let us go to the last step on the ladder…Indians do not like us but we are surviving..so we won….
Seriously, Today's Indian do not want anything to do with a terror enterprise and most dishonoured country in the world..Except for aid of billions from US and KSA Pakistan is a financially bankrupt country and add that to obsession with an irrational, barbaric, violent religion with zero tolerance…it is a mess created not by humans but the very ideology of Islam…the very foundation!!!!
Few generalizations do not make a truth.Many Indians,meaning how many? may be handful of peaceniks? Million?Billion? How many is many? Seriously stupid statement.But then , I do not expect any thing better from a pakisthani! Listen carefully.I care two hoots ( and so are millions of other Indians) for the terrorist infested cess pool called pakisthan,It is most unfortunate that we Indians have to live next to a historical garbage dump called pakisthan. That can not be altered,but we disregard you pakis,Absolutely.We dislike you,yep. no doubt, because of your destructive terrorist mentality.
To mr ( An Indian ) (Santhan Gopal)(Jeet)(Anon)(genesis)Well well well to much non sense,well at the moment population of Pakistan is 200 million & the population of Muslims in India is 250 Million,still all the people in India feel the same pain as our combine ancestors did before 1947,Separate country campaign started from central Indian provinces not from the side of Pakistan people joined them bc cause is same,both feel disgraced some from Hindus & some from the people carrying Hindu's culture,I mean just like Four caste system in Hinduism,Its same just version is different here its Sardar,Chaudry,Wadera who works 4 British Govt after their deal with them rule them as u wish just under control to collect wealth.They were tex collectors 4 them & they repay them by let them rule their area as they wish to just like hindu caste system or one can say( they were Gods of their area decide life death wealth & even the use of their ladies future according to their will.when Muslims League took this message to every street where Muslims live,they got the support bc All the Muslims wants the freedom from both system ( Hindu ) Who treat Muslims like Achoots lowest cast in Hindu system & Islamic state & LAWS is also going to get their freedom from that feudal system,So freedom fight fire 4 independent state 4 Muslims spread like fire & the Well well well to much non sense,well at the moment population of Pakistan is 200 million & the population of Muslims in India is 250 Million,still all the people in India feel the same pain as our combine ancestors did before 1947,Separate country campaign started from central Indian provinces not from the side of Pakistan people joined them bc cause is same,both feel disgraced some from Hindus & some from the people carrying Hindu's culture,I mean just like Four caste system in Hinduism,Its same just version is different here its Sardar,Chaudry,Wadera who works 4 British Govt after their deal with them rule them as u wish just under control to collect wealth.
They were tex collectors 4 them & they repay them by let them rule their area as they wish to just like hindu caste system or one can say( they were Gods of their area decide life death wealth & even the use of their ladies future according to their will.when Muslims League took this message to every street where Muslims live,they got the support bc All the Muslims wants the freedom from both system ( Hindu ) Who treat Muslims like achoots lowest cast in Hindu system & Islamic state & LAWs is also going to get their freedom from that feudal system Gods had no other choice to join this fight bc if they don't they will be vanished.So decided to join bc they were leading in their area's & thought that they will become the Lords of entire country not just their locals lands.well every one knows what happened next on 1947 & condition of Pakistan no doubt good at the moment its bc those feudal Lords are not ready to give up their Lordship & on other hand ,
we have old enemy from the day Muslims came in to existence ( Christian & Jews ) the religion Muslims converted from,we are threat to their religion & their power if their religion squeeze their power will squeeze too & know very well if v Muslims follow our religion according to Quran,Soon their religion will be vanished so they always penetrate in to our system & uses those Feudal Lords as they are most rich powerful from the day Pakistan came in to existence & want their Lordship to continue so both parties unite & fighting with the common people & their minds confusing them & are the three types of people( Muslims ) well one is very small group 5 % want truly Islamic Laws others who says like molvi's use it to be wealthy & attain power,Second is very Large group almost increased from 30 to 60 % they were confused people bc of illiterate from basic laws & principals of Islam,Now the more they forced to neglect religion the more they read & understand their religion the more their awareness level increase & they start joining the people to implement or think that the Islamic Laws should be implemented so the mess u sees now a days is just that,We are glad that indians are playing crucial role 2 unite & strengthen our Muslim Nation specially in Pakistan as the more they work with Israil,USA its alias against Pakistan & try to divide us the more people getting awareness quickly bc every action has equal & opposite reaction & results can be seen all around the world more they show Muslims terrorist more non Muslims read about Muslims & accepts Islam in every part of this world u can see their media reports about that issue Islamophobia. even in India thousands of people accept Islam willingly why is that when Muslim suffer & neglected the most in u country.And the future of Pakistan Now every one can see even in such mess no other country ever survived but we did & USA & its alias are trying to run a way from Afghanistan but can not without our help & after that same situation will came back in Afghanistan taliban will lead their nation bc thats what people want & is the reason USA lost that war in Afghanistan after spending trillions of $ now USA is about to be defaulter with in few years every one know financial condition of USA.thats why USA want pakistan to split bc they know if Pakistan get on rite tract they will destroy them.USa knows people of Pakistan hate them that much that they them self rate us at number 1 haters of USA & their alias even v hate them more then v hate your Indian Govt who is under Brahman control number 1 cast,no doubt we have great respect 4 other caste of Hindi religion bc they were suppressed like dogs & v did try our best to give All cast Hindu;s same rights as no ! caste has & vanished the cruel rules from India to burn women a life & steal the wealth of those children & a list of such acts,so don't u worry about us we are rising again & again like a star like sun in the sky after every night.Anything als u want to discuss just ping me don't be shy friends from India We do respect u hatred 4 us thats not u fault bc u are brain washed.Just ask any Muslim in u country can Hindu & Muslim can be one nation according to their Religion , Quran , Aren't u disgraced or not as Muslim in India.Not just Muslims other religions as well.My e mail if u want to say something https://www.facebook.com/kmehmod
Trying to figur out what he was saying bu still flummoxed!Anyway one point I could understand and answer,when Muslims cannot live as one nation(Like shias and Sunnis not forgetting Ahmadiys and Bhais},i cannot fathom how Hindus and Muslims could have lived as one nation and in that sense Pakistan was good! Good luck.A stable and prosperous nieghbour is a good neighbour and let us wish for that.
Kamran, All I want to tell you in response to your long thesis is 'Come of of fear of insecurity', stop hating those human beings whose ideas differ from you. Life is as beautiful as you make it. There is no 'Afterlife' so enjoy what you have in hand than what MAY come. BE A GOOD HUMAN BEING.
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