The Two-Nation
Theory
By P. M. Alvi
Via email
It would be wrong to say that
the Two-Nation Theory was dead. A proper thing
to say would be that the term of the Two-Nation
Theory has expired.
The two-nation theory was an idea put forward
by The All India Muslim League as an answer to
the claims made by The Indian Congress that all
constituent areas of The British Indian Empire
were part of a singular Indian state and therefore
Briton must transfer the business of the entire
empire to the leaders of the Indian Congress.
Muslim subjects of British India rejected this
claim and made a counterclaim of their own that
within the empire existed not one but two nations
and the empire must be divided between the two.
Hence, the Two-Nation Theory.
The basis of the division was that the Muslim
majority areas shall constitute a separate nation-state
called Pakistan. This theory only existed within
the framework of The British Indian Empire. Once
the empire was divided and the two new nations
emerged, the term of the theory expired and the
two newly created nations were to chart their
own course independent of each other. The two-nation
theory has served its purpose and now must be
put to rest so that the two countries and its
citizens, regardless of their religion, must concentrate
on their own national affairs without looking
over their respective shoulders. As for Bangladesh;
the fact that it is a separate country outside
Indian Union is a testimony to the two-nation
claim of the pre-partition days.
As for Muslims of post-partition India; they are
full citizens of that country just as non-Muslims
of Pakistan are full citizens of hers. I would
say Jai Hind for them and Pakistan Zindabad for
us. Put the history to rest and let’s move
on with the new challenges of the day,
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