Monday, August 17, 2009

Bangaladesh, Two Nation Theory

Prominant Muslim Leaders like the Aga Khan,Choudhury Rahmat Ali and Sir Muhammad Iqbal made efforts to convince Jinnah to return from London (where he had moved to to in 1931 and planned on permanently relocating in order to practice in the privy council bar) to Indiaandtake charge of a now reunited Muslim league . In 1934 Jinnah returned and began to reorgnise the party, being closely assisted by Liakat Ali Khan, who would act as his right hand man. In the 1937 elections to the Central Legislative Assembly, the league emerged as a competant party, capturing a significant number of seats under the Muslim electorade , but lost in the Muslim-majority Punjab,Sindh,and the North West Frontier Province.Jinnah offered an alliance with the Congress- both bodies would face the British together, but the Congress had to share power, accept separate electorates and the League as the representative of the Muslims in India.The latter two terms were unacceptable by Congress, which had its own national Muslim Leaders and membership and adhered to secularism.Even as Jinnah held talks with Congress President Rajendra Prasad, Congress leaders suspected that Jinnah would use his position as a lever for exaggerated demands and obstruct govt. and demanded that the league merge with the congress. The talks failed, and while Jinnah declared the resignation of all Congressmen from provincial and central offices in 1938 as a "Day of Deliberance" from Hindu dominations, some historians assert that he remained for an agreement.

Muhammad Iqbal
In a speech to the League in 1930, Sir Muhammad Iqbal mooted an Independent state for Muslims in "North West India". Choudhury Rahmat Ali published a pamphlet in 1933 advocating a state called Pakistan.
Choudhury Rahmat Ali