EVOLUTION OF THE TWO-NATION THEORY

Meaning:
The Two-Nation Theory argued that Hindus and Muslims were two distinct nations with separate cultural, social and political identities. This idea gradually evolved under British rule and became the ideological basis for the creation of Pakistan.

1887:
- British leaders like Viceroy Dufferin and Lt. Governor Colvin attacked the Indian National Congress.
- Syed Ahmed Khan and Raja Shiv Prasad were promoted as an anti-Congress front.
- Syed Ahmed Khan advised Muslims not to join Congress.
- Despite this, many Muslims joined Congress: Badruddin Tyabji, Mir Musharraf Hussain, A. Bhimji, Hamid Ali Khan.
- Marks early seeds of political separation.

1906:
- Agha Khan led the ‘Shimla Delegation’ demanding separate Muslim electorates.
- Lord Minto accepted the demand and promised extra representation.
- All India Muslim League was founded to protect Muslim political rights and support British rule.

1909 (Morley–Minto Reforms):
- Legally introduced separate electorates for Muslims.
- Communal politics became institutionally recognised.
- Punjab Hindu Sabha formed as a Hindu counter-organisation.

1916 (Lucknow Pact):
- Congress accepted separate electorates.
- Congress and Muslim League presented joint constitutional demands.
- Congress gave political legitimacy to the Muslim League.
- Increased communal bargaining and identity politics.

1920–22:
- Muslims took part in Rowlatt, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements.
- Yet communal thinking deepened within Muslim leadership.
- Younger Muslim nationalists shaped League politics with communal ideas.

1920s – Communal Movements Intensify:
- Arya Samaj started Shuddhi (reconversion) and Sangathan (organisation) movements.
- Muslims responded with Tabligh and Tanzeem movements.
- Swarajists split along communal lines; some joined Hindu Mahasabha.
- Ali brothers accused Congress of being pro-Hindu.
- Congress could not counter rising communal politics effectively.

1928 – Nehru Report & Jinnah’s 14 Points:
- Nehru Report rejected separate electorates.
- Muslim hardliners and Sikh League opposed the report.
- Jinnah’s 14 Points demanded safeguards, reservations and separate representation.
- Congress negotiations strengthened communal politics.
- Undermined nationalist Muslims and encouraged group-based demands.

1930–34:
- Muslim participation in Civil Disobedience Movement was limited.
- Communalists attended all Round Table Conferences; Congress boycotted two.
- Communal Award (1932) accepted most Muslim communal demands.
- Rahmat Ali introduced the idea of “Pakistan”.
- Iqbal supported the concept philosophically.

After 1937 Elections:
- Muslim League performed poorly and shifted to aggressive communalism.
- Claimed Muslims were a “separate nation”, not a minority.
- Communal propaganda grew into a mass movement.
- Shift from “liberal communalism” (safeguards) to “extreme communalism” (separation).

Extreme Communalism:
- Causes:
  1. Radicalised elements sought social base through communalism.
  2. British used communal divisions to weaken the national movement.
  3. Congress failed earlier to resist communal narratives.
- Rise of Hindu communal groups like Hindu Mahasabha, RSS.

1937–39:
- Jinnah blocked compromise:
  - Demanded Congress call itself a Hindu body.
  - Demanded League be recognised as the sole representative of Muslims.
- Communal divide hardened.

1940 – Lahore (Pakistan) Resolution:
- Muslim League demanded independent states for Muslim-majority regions.
- Clear, formal call for Pakistan.

World War II Period:
- British gave Muslim League de facto veto power.
- League insisted on Pakistan in:
  - August Offer (1940)
  - Cripps Mission (1942)
  - Shimla Conference (1945)
  - Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)
- Maintained rigid stand throughout negotiations.

1947:
- British accepted partition.
- Pakistan created from Muslim-majority provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, NWFP, Bengal.

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Subject: Modern History

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