Muhammad Ali JINNAH (1876-1948) is the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah joined the Indian National Congress in an effort to seek independence from British colonial rule. He originally believed in Hindu-Muslim unity while still advocating for political rights for Muslims. He left the Congress after the introduction of Satyagraha, which he vehemently opposed as he preferred a constitutional approach.
As he experienced a resurgence of his Muslim identity, he worked to establish a sovereign state for Indian Muslims who were worried about being in a minority in Hindu-dominant India. Jinnah helped the All-India Muslim League to declare the independent states of Pakistan, West and East Pakistan, by passing the Lahore Resolution. The Two Nation Theory appeared to be a solution as Jinnah believed that the religious differences between Muslims and Hindus were too great to uphold a secular state. Instead of ethnicity, Pakistan’s foundation for state-building and nationalism became Islam.
FURTHER READING
Brass, Paul R. Routledge Handbook of South Asian Politics India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2009, 27-40.
Jinnah, Mahomed Ali. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: Speeches, Statements, Writings, Letters, Etc. 1st ed. Lahore: Sang-e-Meel Publications, 1976.
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