The anti-imperialist movement in the Indian subcontinent culminated in 1947 with the emergence of two independent nation states-India and Pakistan-amidst a communal holocaust unparalleled in history. Formed on the basis of religion as an equivalent to nationality, Pakistan materialized out of the Muslim majority provinces of Punjab, Bengal, Sind and NWFP, which now emerged as the new centers of Muslim power in the subcontinent.
The present work focuses on the movement for Pakistan spearheaded by All-India Muslim League under the leadership of M.A. Jinnah. The demand for independent Muslim states, first raised in 1940, came to fruition within seven years of its inauguration. It not only resurrected Jinnah from his self imposed exile into the charismatic leader of 1940s, but also transformed an obsolete political party into a mass movement. How did this transformation come about? Within six years of the demand being proclaimed a political goal for the Muslim community, it scored a decisive victory in the elections of 1945-46. How did the league win for itself this mandate? How was Jinnah able to unify divergent Muslim opinion within the fold of All-India Muslim League? Crucial to this transformation would be the League’s ability to mobilize political support in the Muslim majority provinces claimed for the establishment of Pakistan.
Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction: emergence of the demand for Pakistan. 2. Consolidation: M.A. Jinnah and the Muslim league. 3. Growth of Pakistan movement: Bengal. 4. Growth of Pakistan movement: Punjab. 5. Growth of Pakistan movement: N.W.F.P. and Sind. 6. The elections of 1945-46. Conclusion. Biographical notes. Appendices. Select bibliography. Index.
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