The Making of the Pakistan Resolution

The Pakistan Resolution of 1940—amended in 1941 with a view to accommodate Punjab’s viewpoint—was a watershed in the Indian Muslims’ struggle for freedom and emancipation. Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the All-India Muslim League had tried to secure the rights of Muslims as minorities in a united India. When that hope dissipated the All-India Muslim League changed tactics and called for a separate nation for the Muslims, thereby circumventing the minority status of Indian Muslims. Political opponents of the Muslim League, both local and foreign, have termed the Pakistan Resolution a bargaining counter or a British ploy. Muhammad Aslam Malik, after scrutinizing primary and basic documents relating to the Pakistan Resolution, rejects all such criticism. Based on original sources, this work objectively analyses events leading to independence. Although the theme is old, this book fills a long-felt need for a properly addressed and researched study based on new material. It is an excellent addition to modern South Asian history.