History of Pakistan (Part -I)

HISTORY OF PAKISTAN

Background:

    The disintegration of Mughal Empire gave an opportunity to the British to be the masters of India. The sign of disintegration gave birth to different reformation movements, like Shah Walliulah, Syed Ahmed Shaheed, Faraizi movement of Haji Shariatullah and at the last phase the war of Independence 1857 but of no avail.

    In United India, as long Muslim remained as rulers. they felt no threat to their culture civilization and their political interests. But with the advent of British in 1857, they felt greatly miserable, as the British believing them enemies started settling some old scores. They tuned them out of govt jobs. snatched lands from them and declared them unfit for govt. jobs. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was the first Muslim who realized the helplessness of the Muslims, he asked Muslims to bridge up their differences with the British. For this purpose, he wrote the causes of Indian revolt, Tabin-ul-Kalam (a commentary on the Bible). Asar-i-Sanadeed (about buildings of Muslims) and Khutabat Ahmadia (in response to William Muir life of Muhammad). He established his Madrassah at Muradabad in 1859 and Ghazipur in 1863 and finally M.A.O. School Aligarh in 1875. This was inaugurated by Lord Lytton. This M.A.O. School became College in 1877 and university in 1920. Sir Syed opposed the introduction Hindi as govt. working language 1867 and advised Muslims to be away from Congress that he believed as Hindu organization and meant to save Hindu interests in India.

Parallel to Sir Syed Aligarh movement there came into existence Dar-al-Uloom Deoband (1867). Its founders were Haji Abid, Maulana Zulfqir Ali. The founders of Deoband at Saharanpore had twin objectives in mind, to face Hindu and British missionaries and to spread religious education in the far and wide of India. As Deoband was ultra religious and Aligarh a bit secular both came in conflict with each other. Nadwa-tul-Ulema Lucknow (1898) was aimed to reconcile the good points of these august institutions and to bring renaissance in the Muslims society. It's founder was Deputy Abdul Ghafoor. Muhammad Ali Cawnpuri is also said to be the founder of Nadwa. This rnadrasah produced big names, like Sulamain Nadvi, and Abu-al-Kalam Azad. However, it was not as successful as Aligarh. Sindh Madrassah-ul-lslam in Karachi was founded by Hussain Ali Afandi and Islamya College Peshawar was founded by Sahib Zaida Abdul Qaium Khan. The Quaid-e-Azam donated sizable portion of his property to these Madrassahs.

Formation of Indian National Congress Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 by SIR ALLAN OCTAVIAN HUME, a retired British Civil Servant. It provided a forum in which Indian politicians would meet annually and apprise the government of their demands and problems. It's objectives were:

Fusion of all nationalities of India into one nation.To consolidate the union between the INDIANS and BRITISH. The Indians should forget all their religious, social and politic.al differences and live together. SIR SYED advised the Muslims not to join the Congress at this stage.

REASONS:

The Indian National Congress was mainly a Hindu body as they had advanced far enough in education, political consciousness and wealth to fully dominate the Congress and to use it as a forum to raise the demands of the Hindus even if they adversely affected the Muslims.

Sir Syed did not want to involve the Muslims in any politics and warned them to concentrate on their education. He was of the opinion that once the Muslims indulged in politics it would divert their attention from the constructive task and would revive the British mistrust. in 1867 the Hindus demanded that HINDI should be made the official language.

The government surrendered and made (Hindi) the official language in 1900. The attitude of the Congress towards the Muslims and their demands convinced Sir Syed that Hindus and Muslims

were two different nations having their different outlook towards life in the religious, social and cultural aspects and their own distinctive national identity.

He expressed his views for the first time in 1868 on the mo NATION-THEORY, to the Governor of Benarus.